JVC GZ-HM300 Dual Slot High Definition Camcorder

by JVC

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 4.3 x 2 x 2.4 inches ; 7 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0032FPX5C
• California residents: Click here for Proposition 65 warning.
• Item model number: GZ-HM300
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,708 in Camera & Photo (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: January 7, 2010

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

GZ-HM300 Features
Elegant Full HD memory camcorder with dual SD card slot for seamless recording featuring Advanced Image Stabilizer and unique shooting functions

Advantages

• 1/5.8-inch 1.37M pixel CMOS
• 20x Optical Zoom / 200x Digital Zoom
• Memory Card Slot for SDHC/SD (Dual)
• Laser Touch Operation with Sub-trigger and Zoom Function
• Software provided (for Windows)
• 24Mbps High Bit Rate Recording
• HD Gigabrid Premium II Engine
• Seamless Recording
• Advanced Image Stabilizer
• Time-Lapse REC
• Auto REC
• 1920x1080P Output
• HDMI® (V.1.3 with x.v.ColorTM)
• KONICA MINOLTA HD LENS
• One Touch Upload to YouTube (HD Compatible)
• Face Detection / Face Flow Thumbnail
• Laser Touch Operation with Sub-trigger and Zoom Function
• USB2.0 High-Speed Transfer
• Full HD 1920x1080 Recording

Laser Touch Operation 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.

Advanced Image Stabilizer Great improvement on New Everio is its anti-shake performance. A new technology called Advanced Image Stabilizer expands the effective area at wide angle to 4 times that of 2009 models, delivering powerful compensation for camera shake. You can enjoy stable results even if you're trotting alongside your subject.

Super LoLux Low light performance is one of the key factors for quality video. New Everio's Super LoLux ensures superior sensitivity to low light. To provide this, High Definition models (selected) are equipped with a Back-illuminated CMOS sensor that allows intake of more light while Standard Definition models offer a large 1/6" high-sensitivity CCD. The result is clear images with precise colors even in low light. No worry while indoors or in dark situations.

Time Lapse REC Various unique shooting functions are equipped on New Everio. Time-Lapse REC records one frame at a time at set intervals (1sec.–80sec.). So you can watch an hour-long movement in just a short amount of time when played back. It's great when you want to observe an event that takes place over a long period of time, or to record unique-looking scenes in a creative way.

Auto REC Another unique function is Auto REC. When a subject enters the detecting area and the luminance changes, recording starts automatically. Recording continues as long as there is movement within the area and automatically stops after 5 seconds of no movement. You can use it like a surveillance camera, or to observe something. Discover new ways to use the camera.

Everio MediaBrowser - Integrated PC Software Included All Everio models come with high-value software that provides everything from file playback, management, as well as easy sharing functions, within a single application. Its calendar type graphical user interface displays thumbnail images of your recordings, superimposed on the date they were taken.

Software System Requirements (Windows)

OS	Microsoft Windows XP SP3, Home Edition/Professional (pre-installed) Microsoft Windows Vista SP2, Home Basic/Home Premium (32-bit/64-bit, pre-installed) Microsoft Windows 7, Home Premium (32-bit/64-bit, pre-installed)
CPU	[HD Edition] Intel Core Duo: at least 1.66GHz, Intel Core 2 Duo: at least 2.13GHz recommended [SD Edition] Intel Pentium 4: at least 1.6GHz, at least 2.4GHz recommended
RAM	[HD Edition] Windows XP: at least 1GB, Windows Vista/Windows 7: at least 2GB [SD Edition] Windows XP: at least 512MB, Windows Vista/Windows 7: at least 1GB
Others	Standard USB2.0 port, Installation of iTunes is required for exporting to iTunes, An Internet-accessible environment for uploading videos to YouTube.

Note: Software for Macintosh is not included. The applicable software is required. The system requirements information above is not a guarantee that the provided software will work on all personal computers meeting those requirements.

One-Touch Sharing Button on the Camera Some models are equipped with "UPLOAD/EXPORT" button on the main unit. When connected with a PC, press this button to start data conversion and upload the file to YouTube or export the file to your iTunes library*. * Installation of bundled software is required. Export is not available with some models.

One-Touch Sharing Button on the Camera

Face Detection equipped on HD Everio has been upgraded. When shooting, it intelligently detects up to 16 faces then accurately adjusts the focus and exposure. It works for both video and digital stills. And while browsing through scenes in the Play mode, thumbnails can be displayed with close-ups of detected faces so you can easily identify who's in the file.

Product Description

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.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent camera for the price!!, May 28, 2010

By 

R. G. Sherwood "Sherwood Forrest" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: JVC GZ-HM300 Dual Slot High Definition Camcorder (Electronics)

I am an amateur when it comes to cameras, camcorders and the like. I'm basically a point and shoot type of customer that wants a good quality camcorder for recording our families activities. This is an outstanding camcorder for the money! First and foremost it takes very good quality videos. While I'm sure the videos aren't the highest of hi-def possible keep in mind this is a $300 and change camcorder. The video quality far outshines your standard camcorder. The two other features - the time elapse and the motion detection both work very well, although outside of surveillance I'm not sure what the use of either is. The motion detection might be handy at something like a basketball game where you would point it at one end of the court and only capture the action when it's on that end. The only con I had with the camera wasn't really the camera's fault. I couldn't get the Patriot 16GB memory card to work consistently. I bought the Transcend cards and they work perfectly.

54 of 62 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Would be great if Low-Light video was better, May 4, 2010

By 

J. Thomas - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: JVC GZ-HM300 Dual Slot High Definition Camcorder (Electronics)

This camcorder seemed like a great deal, with a 20x optical zoom, HD filming, Time-Lapse, and CLAIMS of super low-light performance.

Reality: Low-Light performance is TERRIBLE !!! Horribly grainy pictures in even moderate lighting. Inside at night, with normal lighting from 3 overhead lights plus a lamp on, the video is grainy and washed out. The video looks like the sample pic in their description that shows what it should NOT look like. This thing has a TEENY TINY little sensor. There is no way this could ever take good video in low or moderate light. I bought this to take video of my soon-to-be-born first child, which will be mostly indoors with normal lighting. To use it for this purpose, I would need to invest in several industrial-strength halogen lights and aim them all at the baby at the same time to illuminate him enough.

Outside, this takes good video, assuming there is plenty of light.

The time-lapse feature seems awesome at first, but it sucks down the battery very quickly, unless it is plugged in. The screen must be kept open while filming or else the camera will shut off. Why not have a time-driven system that only turns on the camera for a few seconds at a time, which would vastly improve the battery life???

This camera is HD, but it is 1080(i)... Interlaced, and not full true 1080p. The description is misleading when it states that it can PLAY BACK in 1080p... they don't come right out and say "oh but by the way, it only records in 1080i." Quite misleading.

This cam does not come with a HDMI cable (most in this price range don't, either). It does come with a RCA type connector and usb cable. This is an HD cam, WHY oh WHY would I EVER choose to use an RCA cable to watch it??? I can't even tell you if it takes decent hi-def video because I can't hook it up properly to my HD tv. Should really INCLUDE HDMI CABLE... they could include one for very cheap, since they would be buying them in bulk at probably 50 cents apiece.

I returned this the day after I bought it. I have ordered the Sanyo FH1a instead, which has a MUCH larger sensor, and is actually CHEAPER now than this JVC! Whatever you do, watch some youtube videos showing demo videos of the actuall camcorder you want to buy, BEFORE you purchase.

This gets 2 stars, one for good zoom and one for time-lapse. But this cam really is 100% worthless indoors. I tested it indoors first at Best-Buy, but they have those very bright ceiling lights, so I was unaware of how bad this cam really is.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not Bad at All, July 6, 2010

By 

Charles Robinson (Sylmar, CA, US) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: JVC GZ-HM300 Dual Slot High Definition Camcorder (Electronics)

It was a tough choice, but I feel confident that I bought the right camcorder. The timelapse function was the main factor in my search, but don't feel that I sacrificed much else in this decision (except for horrible low-light sensitivity).

My only real regret about this camera is the output file format. The software allows for some output options, but the .mts file format is not compatible with most apps. Apparently, the HD output will not be as good as what you see thru the camera playback. The software assumes that you will be burning the videos onto DVD, which is OK if you don't care for HD. I'm still not sure if full HD playback is possible without the camera as the player. There are some conversion programs out there that will allow the videos to be edited with the popular editing apps, but I don't yet have any experience with such conversions. This is the biggest problem with the JVC GZ-HM300.

Good zoom, excellent resolution, and good battery life. Now, if I can only get that HD video out into the real world.
If I'm wrong, please someone set me straight...