JVC Everio GZ-HD7

CNET Editors' Rating 6.3/10 Good Editorial policies >>
Average user rating from 12 users 6.1/10 Good Read user opinions >>

Product Summary

The good: Nice manual features; attractive design; high-quality audio; low-noise, low-light video.

The bad: Ineffectual optical stabilizer; needs a built-in ND filter; some horizontal jitter and stuttering during playback; low-resolution video; sad battery life.

The bottom line: If this camcorder cost $500, we'd give it a much higher rating. But for its quadruple-digit price, we expect far better performance and video quality from the JVC Everio GZ-HD7.

Specs: Video input type: Camcorder; Optical zoom: 10 x; Media type: Hard disk drive See full specs >>

Price range: $679.96 - $1,199.99

CNET editors' review

Reviewed by: Lori Grunin
Reviewed on: 06/01/2007
Released on: 02/27/2007

Photo gallery:
JVC Everio GZ-HD7

As many camcorder manufacturers have discovered, three low-resolution sensors can sometimes take you a lot farther than a single high-resolution sensor. Unfortunately, while that may have been true for a standard-definition world, it doesn't seem to carry over to high-def--at least, not in the case of the JVC Everio GZ-HD7. Perhaps it's because JVC uses three extremely small 1/5-inch sensors, each with approximately 976x548 pixels, interpolating and interlacing to generate 1,920x1,080 1080i HD video. Perhaps it's because of the demanding MPEG-2-TS (transport stream) compression and encoding the HD7 uses to write video to its 60GB hard disk drive.

But whatever the reason, the HD7 simply can't produce video to rival that of similarly priced single-chip competitors like the Sony Handycam HDR-SR1. It's a pity, too, because the HD7 has all the features you'd expect from a camcorder in its price class, including manual aperture and shutter speed adjustment; a very nice manual focus implementation; low-noise, low-light video; bright LCD and eye-level viewfinder; an external mic input; and an accessory shoe. With a few exceptions, the control layout, too, seems designed for actual manual use rather than for show. (For details and further commentary on the design and features, click through to the slide show.) I docked it a point in the design ratings, though, because several important shooting controls--gain control, wind filter, white balance--are buried in the menu system, and because you're forced to use the LCD too often. The latter is especially significant in light of the HD7's poor battery life.

The HD7 can output in two different 1080i formats. The first, 1920x1080, dubbed "FHD" for "Full HD," uses variable bit rate compression for a theoretically better picture. The second, 1440x1080, dubbed "1440 CBR" uses constant bit rate compression, and is the HD format you must use if you wish to edit your video with iMovie; iMovie doesn't speak FHD. On Windows, I suggest you stick with the bundled Cyberlink software for playing, editing and burning your FHD video. Figuring out which third-party software will work with FHD and how to finesse it takes some major Googling.

Sample photos from the JVC Everio GZ-HD7

The video generally looks pretty good--but you can get much better HD video from tape-based models such as the Canon HV10 or HV20 for far less money. You may be willing to pay a premium for hard-disk-drive convenience, but you shouldn't sacrifice video quality. Some of the problems with the HD7's video include severe interlace artifacts, horizontal jitter and stutter, and blown-out highlights. Video looks far sharper when shot using a tripod, with very little motion in the scene, but even then you can see interlace artifacts while zooming and on moving objects. For better or worse, the FHD and 1440 CBR video looked quite similar to each other.

But performance represents the weakest aspect of the HD7. First, the battery lasted for only 20 to 30 minutes of my field testing, despite the fact that I shoot primarily via the less power-hungry eye-level viewfinder. Second, the optical image stabilizer seemed completely ineffectual. The product manager admits that the OIS is "underperforming" and that the company is "looking into it." Hmmm. The lens focuses relatively fast and displays surprisingly little chromatic aberration--just the expected amount on high-contrast edges--but exhibits some barrel distortion at the wide end, which isn't so wide that it's worth forgiving. Only the audio performed as expected, and the wind filter completely cut the effect of the day's loud breeze.

All of which adds up to a pretty disappointing camcorder, especially given the JVC Everio GZ-HD7's relatively high price tag. Check out any of the models on our top HD camcorders list for a better option.

See more CNET content tagged:: JVC,; camcorder,; Apple iMovie,; 1080i,; compression

User opinions

6.1/10 Average user rating from 12 users Good

WRITE YOUR OWN REVIEW How would you rate this product?

6/10 Good May 5, 2007

by doc4140 (see profile)

"Great camera for closeup. Terrible for sports and distance" Read more >>
9/10 Spectacular April 28, 2008

by johnpainter (see profile)

"Confused by all the negative comments, very good camera" Read more >>
7/10 Very good October 29, 2007

by Dermfellow (see profile)

"A lot of good mixed with bad" Read more >>
WRITE YOUR OWN REVIEW See all 12 user opinions >>