JVC Everio GZHD3 3CCD 60GB Hard Disk Drive High Definition Camcorder with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom

by JVC

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 6.1 x 5.7 x 3.2 inches ; 1.4 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000TRBD3M
• Item model number: GZ-HD3
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,071 in Camera & Photo (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: October 1, 2001

Product Description

Manufacturer Description

Manufacturer Description HD plus HDD plus 3CCD -- the advantages add up. The HD Everio GZ-HD3 offers HD (High-Definition) recording with 1440 x 1080i resolution. These HD pictures are extremely fine and detailed, containing 4.5 times the visual information of conventional SD (Standard Definition) pictures. With a 60GB built-in hard disk drive you can record up to seven hours of HD video (in SP mode), plus you get two additional recording modes to select according to your requirements.

JVC GZ-HD3 Highlights

Three 1/5-inch progressive-scan CCDs with Pixel Shift technology For bright, realistic colors the HD Everio uses three 1/5-inch CCDs -- one each for red, green and blue. Naturally, by having dedicated CCDs for each primary color, the camera is able to gather the maximum visual information which leads to more realistic color reproduction and presence. Using Pixel Shift Technology, the Red and Blue pixel locations are shifted relative to Green, allowing the sampled color information to be quadrupled through interpolation.

Konica Minolta HD lens The HD lens of the GZ-HD3 was developed by camera specialist, Konica Minolta, to ensure that the lens performance was optimized for use with our 3CCD image sensor and MPEG-2 recording technology. The result is an extremely detailed picture with clear contrast and strong presence throughout the image -- the type of stable and consistent performance that becomes essential when recording images at HD specifications. The lens structure also contributes to the miniaturization of the camera.

HD Gigabrid Engine for optimum HD images Developed specifically for HD Everio, this image processing engine processes the CCD images as a progressive scan signal. This provides the maximum image information to work with, regardless of the actual recording mode that is used. Also integrated into the chip are five digital noise reduction technologies that collaborate to improve vertical resolution by about 30 percent from previous JVC Standard Definition camcorders. It's at the heart of JVC's HD recording system.

Built-in 60GB HDD for 7 hours of HD recording In addition to an SP mode that allows up to about seven hours of HD recording, the GZ-HD3 is also equipped with an XP mode that records at a higher bit rate for those extra special scenes. There’s also a 1440CBR mode, which is convenient for those who wish to edit using HDV-compatible software.

Hybrid design with SD/SDHC memory card In addition to a built-in 60GB hard disk drive, the GZ-HD3 also has a slot for SD/SDHC memory card so you can store videos (SP mode only) and stills on this commonly available memory card.

Compact body, simple controls To make it easy to take the GZ-HD3 anywhere, the palm-sized camcorder features a lightweight, compact body 27 percent smaller than the GZ-HD7, and weighing a mere 1.5 lbs. It also offers point-and-shoot simplicity so no crucial scenes are missed, plus manual controls for more ambitious users.

Focus Assist identifies out-of-focus areas of the image

Variety of shooting assist functions

• Focus Assist function Focus Assist outlines in-focus image contours in color so you can easily tell which parts of the image are in or out of focus.
• Zebra function Displays a striped pattern across highlight areas on the image, making it easier to manually set the exposure.
• Auto illumination light Built-in Video Light automatically illuminates the scene if you are recording video in a dim environment.
• Program AE A full array of effects is available so you can choose the right exposure or shutter speed automatically according to the scene you're shooting. Easily accessible via visual menu dial.

Accessory shoe and mic input Mount an optional microphone on the accessory shoe for clear, high-quality audio recording. A convenient Mic Input terminal with plug-in power supplies power to the mounted microphone.

Multiple interfaces for expanded connection HD Everio accommodates a wide variety of usage environments with its full array of digital and analog interfaces. In addition to new HDTV displays, HD Everio footage can be viewed on conventional analog TVs as well, thanks to its down-conversion function. And with USB and i.LINK connectors, it's ready to transfer recordings to a personal computer for full-fledged editing.

Windows/Mac applications provided for advanced editing For those who wish to edit and archive using their PCs, HD Everio comes supplied with full-fledged software. Blu-ray disc compatible applications let you store original HD content with full impact. And with plug-ins supplied for Mac software, Macintosh users will be able to create HD files using their own editing applications.

The GZHD3 delivers plenty of workflow options

Additional Features

• 2.8-inch 16:9 widescreen Clear Bright LCD monitor for viewing a bright, high-contrast image while shooting
• Quick Power Off to prevent battery drain if the camera is left on by mistake
• The built-in lens cover protects the lens
• Data Batteries allow the user to check remaining recording time, displaying battery level and maximum remaining recording time
• Direct Backup button on the camcorder automatically launches the appropriate application to back-up only recordings that haven’t yet been backed up to a computer
• New Dimple Pattern Grip design for solid and comfortable shooting
• Index button to display remaining disk space and recording time
• Remote control

  Optional Features

  PC-less solution with Share Station With JVC's optional Share Station DVD Burner (CU-VD40), a totally PC-less solution for the archiving and playback of HD content becomes possible. With it, you can store HD Everio's footage directly on a DVD without using a PC. HD footage is stored as data so you can use normal DVD-R/RW disc for burning. You can save everything, or the clips you want in the order you like, and other ways. Playback of archived data is simple, too. Just connect the CU-VD40 to your TV, no PC or HD Everio required.

  HD archiving: Just connect to the CU-VD40 via USB2.0 and you can archive your HD video files on DVD discs without using a PC. Thanks to HD Everio's USB host function, simply follow the instructions on HD Everio's LCD and you're done. Since DVD-R DL disc is supported, you can store up to 55min. of HD video (SP mode) on a single disc (8.5GB).

  HD playback: Playback is possible directly from the CU-VD40 to a connected TV/Display. Simply load a created HD data disc and you can enjoy powerful HD video on HDTV. No need to connect the camcorder. Analog component or down-converted SD video output also available.

Product Description

The art and practicality of the HD video camcorder has reached a convenient size for simple everyday use with the JVC Everio GZ-HD3. With recording capability of up to 1440x1080 resolution, your vids can fill the high performance screen of your new widescreen HDTV for a new era of viewing pleasure. The lens of the GZ-HD3 was developed by KonicaMinolta and delivers an extremely detailed picture with clear contrast and strong presence throughout the image ? the type of stable and consistent performance that becomes essential when recording images at HD specifications. For bright, realistic colors the it uses three 1/5-inch CCDs - one each for red, green and blue - for natural, vivid images. It's designed for friendly use. Focus Assist outlines in-focus image contours in color so you can easily tell which parts of the image are in or out of focus. A full array of effects is available so you can choose the right exposure or shutter speed automatically according to the scene you're shooting. Easily accessible via visual menu dial. Go creative with the Zebra Function that sisplays a striped pattern across highlight areas on the image, making it easier to manually set the exposure. Moving to HD MPEG2 video recording offers pro quality. With JVC GZ-HD3 in your hand, it's simple to be a pro for all you and your family's video camcorder needs - ready for viewing on your widescreen HDTV. Video Record Modes - FHD (1920x1080i, 26.6Mbps) / SP (1440x1080i, 19Mbps) / 1440CBR (1440x1080i, 27Mbps [CBR]) XP (1440x1080i, Max. 30Mbps, Ave. 26.6Mbps) Connections - USB 2.0/1.1, HDMI Out, iLINK Out, Component Video Out, S-Video Out, AV Out, SD/SDHC Memory Card Slot, DC In Still Image Res [4 - 3] 1440x1080 / 1024x768 / 640x480; [16 - 9] 1920x1080 Unit Dimensions - 3-1/4 x 3 x 6-1/8 (82mm x 75mm x 154mm) / About 20 ounces Includes battery and charger / Video and still transfer software Easily transfer video

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Easy to use. Image clarity good but not great. Zoom & focus are okay. Sucks in low light., December 2, 2007

By 

wildcatgoal (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: JVC Everio GZHD3 3CCD 60GB Hard Disk Drive High Definition Camcorder with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Electronics)

EASY TO USE:

If you spend 10-minutes fooling around with the menu and all the buttons, you get the hang of it really quick. I will probably never use the advanced manual functions, but from the look of it manual function menus they seem easy to operate. I would, for this price, expect that there'd be a manual focus ring rather than a screen-based tool for manual focus. The buttons that you use the most like the zoom control, record button, and snapshot button, are in the right places. The camera overall is heavier than a SD camera but not bad at all. It feels sturdy and the battery doesn't add noticable heft to the device. Connecting to the TV with an HDMI cable is easy because it uses a real, full-size HDMI port and automatically activates it when you plug it in. This might be common to all camcorders, but you can use an HDMI hi-def TV as a huge viewfinder if you want... which potentially could be useful.

IMAGE CLARITY:

This is an HD camera, so naturally I expect the image quality to be very, very good. It is crisp but I feel as if it is a little bit grainy, especially in low light. I was not impressed by it at all and I'm highly considering returning it. The 3CCD system is supposed to reproduce the best colors but I felt as if reds and blues were muted - of course I'm no color theory-trained person. The first few times I used this were during a snow storm to record the beating we were getting here in Minneapolis and at an ice-skating rink. Not the two biggest color-rich environments but still I saw colors and details that the camera screen didn't see and to me, for an HD 3CCD camera, I feel it should have.

ZOOM & FOCUS:

The optical zoom operates at the right speed I'd say. The camera focuses fairly quickly, though I question why it doesn't go any faster. The big problem is, when you get passed approx. 6x it starts to lose its ability to focus up-close. So say you are sitting at your desk that is against a wall and you want to zoon in on the face of the person in the artwork on that wall. You zoom, zoom, zoom all the way to 10x which gets you close enough to fill the entire screen with the person's little face in the artwork. But it's blurry. The camera actually automatically backs-out the zoom until it is able to focus. I find that ridiculous. I zoomed in that far because I wanted to see the face of the person in the artwork fill the entire screen from the distance at which I was holding the camera. If you move the camera closer manually, it does a better job but is still obviously limited. I was dissapointed here.

LOW LIGHT:

I'm not expecting greatness in low light. I realize that top movie cameras even need lighting to capture people properly at light. But while at the ice skating rink, they turned the lights down low for that romantic feel (I suppose) and all of a sudden everyone's face disappeared and colors significantly reduced. It wasn't dark, it was amber-like; there was actually quite a bit of light remaining. I tried the night-mode which immediately increased the camera's ability to see light to where I think it should have been able to do w/out a setting but it became choppy and lost all use - the shutter speed slowed. Why in the world would I want the shutter speed to slow so much that the filming looks like I'm making a slasher movie - all choppy and traily. The only use of it is to plant the camera on a tripod and make people walk very slowly. It doesn't have that green-looking night-vision mode like Sonys do, which, even though its not in prestine color, allows you to see things happening at night, which is the point. The only time it does "well" at night is when there is a light bulb in the area and it picks up the light well from that for a certain distance away from the light source. Then it just sort of reverts back to its dismal low-light capability around the edges. I was dissapointed here.

Picture quality, focus, and low-light ability are like the kitchen and bathroom of a house. You can have just okay features otherwise, but if these features aren't great, you just don't have a good camera. I don't consider these features to be great, especially for a camera with an MSRP of over $1,000. I got it for $830 for Marcus Audio through Amazon.com. I think I'd be willing to pay $700 for it as it is.

I'll update you if I decide to return it (and let you know if Marcus Audio is a pain in the butt to return a product to). I need to see if the Sony or other brands are any better. I need something that is good in low light. I don't need the best colors at low-light, but I need to see faces. Problem is, trying to test these things without a salesperson looming over you at Best Buy or Circuit City is a pain because they never have power, they are usually screwed up because some kid took a billion pictures or videos with it and hit a bunch of buttons, or they are attached to an alarm system that keeps going off. Annoying. Hence my love of Amazon.com.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent digital camera/camcorder!!, June 6, 2008

By 

Techno-buddy (Virginia Beach) - See all my reviews

This review is from: JVC Everio GZHD3 3CCD 60GB Hard Disk Drive High Definition Camcorder with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Electronics)

I love this camera!! It's very simple to use and has many features to support most video/photo adjustments the average person would want to make to take a great shot. My wife likes it and she's not particularly tech-savvy. I'm a software developer so I tend to do well with technology.

I was drawn to the camera because of the HDD digital storage and it seemed to be high quality when compared with others that I experimented with in it's class without being bulky, or having an awkward or complicated user interface. Once I discovered this unit at my favorite technology retail store, I did a lot of research on the device - its features and usability, and tried to find it's weaknesses from any professional review I could locate. I did all my searching on the Internet. What I found was that nearly all the reviews were raving when compared with others (it was a leader in major publishers). The weakness that was pointed out by only a few reviews was that it seems to have an ever so slight difficulty managing orange toned colors. Particularly in bad lighting. This was an acceptable downside to me considering how well it outperformed many other areas in autofocus, zoom, anti-wobble (stabilization for shaky hands), shutter speed, backlighting, flash (with anti-red-eye), color accuracy (despite the orange issue), viewfinder, user interface, digital storage speed, and quality of resulting video. The photography aspect doesn't come lacking either. However, the orange issue applies also to stills. BTW, (reviewer note) this is more apparent to me since the interior of my house is painted with earth tones. The camera doesn't have any trouble at all in natural (outdoor) lighting.

The camera's hard drive also has a shock-proof feature to protect the hard drive in a fall, an input jack for an optional external microphone, 10x/40x/300x zoom, and several other features. Another professional review was displeased with the built in microphone (I haven't noticed this problem). But that's certainly eliminated with the optional external microphone and mount-point. Another great usability feature is that the most common scene capture adjustments you would want to make can be set from a mini on-screen popup menu, the more uncommonly used adjustments are made via the main menu. The popup menu can be accessed and adjusted during video recording (which would also be noticed on the resulting video).

One downside I have encountered is that the file output is not a common output format (perhaps it is to support higher quality video recordings). MOD is this file format. I don't know what that is so I end up converting all my movies to MPG. If I didn't have a way to record a script on my computer this batch conversion process would have been very frustrating and time consuming.

The user manual was straight-forward and thorough. I read the whole thing in a few sittings when I bought it and have been very glad I did. I couldn't have gotten up to speed with it nearly so fast. Firstly, the user interface has very few controls, very few buttons. That's what I wanted, but it meant that I would have to learn to navigate the menus in order to know where to find what I wanted to execute it quickly in live action. The manual certainly met my needs in that area. So there is a learning curve. It's been 15 months (birth of our first-born) since I bought it and I'll be returning to the manual for a refresher on those infrequently used features which could be helping me and I've simply forgotten.

Overall, the camera is easy to adjust and get into the action quickly. I personnally dislike having to make a party wait for the camera man to adjust his (complicated) camera. I didn't want to be that camera man. This camera has been an excellent fit.

I know the 3CCD is a major innovation but I don't remember much about it - but it takes great videos and pictures. I certainly recommend it, but I

can't give it 5 stars for the orange tone management. Probably a 4.5!!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Easy to use, May 24, 2008

By 

W. Johnson (Long Beach, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: JVC Everio GZHD3 3CCD 60GB Hard Disk Drive High Definition Camcorder with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Electronics)

Bought the camera 1 month ago from Amazon. Easy to use and download software (I'm not a techi). I needed to spend some time to get used to the editing software with the camera, but now I can use most basic functions. Microphone can pick up any adjustments you make to the camera while filming, so just try to use adjustments sparingly. Excellent HD camera for the price. Happy with the purchase and will probably upgrade camera with microphone to help pick up speeches etc...