JVC GZ-HM300 Dual Slot High Definition Camcorder
by JVC
List Price:
Our Price: $214.90
You Save: $185.05 (46%)
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Buy Used: from $134.00 (click here)
Category: Digital Camera
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Customers in the UK,
buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Photo Product Details
Manufacturer: JVCFormat: CD
Model: GZ-HM300
Color: black
Product features:
- It has 200x digital zoom
- It has 20x optical zoom
- Optical image stabilizer
- It has one year warranty
- Laser Touch Operation with Sub-trigger and Zoom Function
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of JVC GZ-HM300 Dual Slot High Definition Camcorder
Customer Review: Great Camera for the money.
Summary: 5 Stars
I have read some of the negative reviews posted for this camera as well as the HM320 and HM340 (which are identical cameras with built in flash memory). First, I think the "haters" need to understand where this product is positioned in the market. This is a mid-level consumer grade HD camcorder, that has been market down to ~$200, making it an entry level price. If you want to compare this camera to flag ship Sony and Canon cameras, the "haters" can fairly say that those cameras are superior in most respects and they are welcomed to buy them for an extra $600 to $800. This JVC Everio GZ-HM series of cameras will give roughly 80-85% of the performance of those cameras, for a fifth of the price. I have had roughly 8 camcorders, and I currently own a Canon HG10-which was the top of the line Canon two years ago. That camera still takes the best video footage I have ever seen short of a professional grade camera.
In outdoor shooting, the JVC comes reasonably close to the Canon's performance--so long as the zoom is kept below 8X, unless you're using a tripod. The lack of optical image stablization does reduce the watchability of the long range zoom--but this should not be a bit deal for most users. Because this camera has a small sensor, using zoom above 8x does reduce the quality of the video, although it is still very watchable.
As far as fit and finish is concerned, the camera is SMALL--it is basically a smidgen larger than a Flip UltraHD camera and weighs about an ounce more. This camera can fit in your pocket, although you will get a slight bulge (not a bad thing for some of the guys out there). The camera seems to be solidly built, although it is mostly plastic. I would have preferred a mechanical lens cover as proposed to the manual clip on cover that can be easily lost. It's not the end of the world--but for a camera with a list price of $399.99--this is a bit cheap. Although the camera does have a multi-function on/off button, turning the camera on or off is as simple as opening and closing the lcd screen. The camera is equipped with not one, but two SD card slots. I purchased two transend 32gb class 10 cards for $49 each here on Amazon, giving me 63gb of storage--more than enough to cover any trip. If you run out of space, just throw in another SD card and keep shooting. The user interface is a little difficult to operate. I am not a fan of the "lasertouch" functionality, which is nothing more than a capacitative strip on the side of the screen. It's not particularly sensitive and I find that make the wrong selections half the time. I would definitely prefer a touchscreen or a joystick control like the one used by Canon on its R-series of cameras. Once you managed to navigate the choices, however, you have a wide array of settings, including manual white balance and focus settings. I have found that, for the most part, you're better off just leaving the camera in full auto mode and only tinkering if you're in some oddly lit room.
When this camera launched, it had a list price of $399.99. I found the a factory reconditioned version of this camera online from another retailer for $125.00 and snapped it right up. Currently, fresh new cameras can be had for $175-$210. This puts the JVC in the same price range as the Sony Bloggie Touch, Flip Ultra HD, Mino HD, Kodak Playtouch and Playsports etc. Those are cheap, entry level HD cameras that can't come close to matching the JVC in terms of quality or performance. If you can buy this camera for $225 or less, you got a good deal.
If you would like to see some sample footage, I posted some test shots on youtube: [...]
Description of JVC GZ-HM300 Dual Slot High Definition Camcorder
Elegant Full HD memory camcorder with dual SD card slot for seamless recording featuring Advanced Image Stabilizer and unique shooting functions.Touch-sensitive scroll bar and buttons for smooth operation (except for GZ-MS110). Allows zooming and recording using either the Laser Touch or standard zoom lever and REC button. Browsing through indexes and menu selection is easier than ever. Since you don't touch the LCD screen itself, you can keep the screen clean and fingerprint free.Camcorders
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