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Reviews
Reviews of new products like camcorders, video editing software, groovy gadgets and all kinds of fab stuff.
JVC’s Everio GZ-HM1 reviewed
Jul 29th
We’re seeing a flurry of higher-specification high definition camcorders which offer increasingly high capacity flash memory storage, high recording bit-rates and the kind of improved connectivity we’ve been requesting for a long time. Will JVC be able to stand up to aggressive competition with its new Everio GZ-HM1 flagship?
JVC Everio GZ-HM1S High Definition Camcorder
It hasn’t been easy for JVC to keep up with the leading HD video camera brand manufacturers like Panasonic, Canon and Sony, but to give the company credit it’s been turning out some very respectable AVCHD format products of late – especially at the top end of the consumer video camera market.
The impressive new Everio GZ-HM1 is a worthy new addition to the range and earns its place as the head of the family. It compares favourably with major competing products despite there being one or two features that let it down very slightly. That said, many users will be perfectly happy with their new fully-featured full-HD camcorder so we shouldn’t knock it too much.
Read our latest review for yourself right here
Panasonic’s flagship HDC-TM700 reviewed
Jun 9th
The latest in a line of superb quality HD camcorders from the company that now lays claim to being the UK’s number one HD camcorder brand, Panasonic’s top-of-the-range AVCHD cam offers more facilities at higher quality than any of its previous HD camcorder products. Read our exclusive in-depth review of this new model.
Flying the flag: Panasonic HDC-TM700 3MOS AVCHD
As well as providing Full-HD 1080/50p (60p) progressive frame recording in addition to its default 1080/50i (60i) setting, the TM700 offers users the choice of either 32GB built-in Flash Memory or SDHC/SDXC Card recording and playback. And if users run out of space on one of these, the camera can be told to automatically continue recording onto the other without any noticeable glitches thanks to its handy “Relay Recording” mode.
Serious video-making enthusiasts will, of course, welcome the addition of a microphone input, headphone output and useful accessory shoe adaptor for supporting a mic or video light.
Moreover, it has an electronic viewfinder and generates stunning high definition video images thanks to the incorporation of three 1/4.1″ CMOS image sensors (“3MOS”).
As always, we’ve spent a fair bit of time getting to know this latest flagship camcorder from Panasonic and – true to form – you can now get the full SimplyDV lowdown right here, right now.
Read our exclusive review of the Panasonic HDC-TM700 here.
Panasonic HDC-TM700's viewfinder. Note accessory shoe adaptor.
Review: Canon Legria HF-S21
Apr 9th
Canon’s flagship Legria HF S21 offers full 24Mbps 1920×1080 HD video recording plus 25P progressive scan video and is already grabbing the attention of serious videomakers. But can it improve on its predecessors?
In the last year or so, Canon, Sony and JVC have incorporated the highest 24Mbps bit rate recording option on their premium consumer / semi-professional AVCHD camcorder ranges.
Only Panasonic has so far limited maximum bit rates at 17Mbps due to problems that can exist when copying to DVD and then playing back using other complementary devices. Given that it’s not in the business of selling players or TV displays Canon has no such issues, and has pushed ahead to offer a maximum bit rate that is certain to find continued favour with the more serious videomakers in the market place.
2010 Flagship Model: Canon LEGRIA HF S21 AVCHD Camcorder
The latest flagship AVCHD camcorder from Canon offers five HD video recording modes, ranging from the 5Mbps, 1440×1080 “LP” mode at the lower end to a 17Mbps, 1920×1080 “FXP” mode as well as 24Mbps, 1920×1080 “”MXP” mode at the top end. The enthusiast will welcome the PF25 Cine Mode, which enables shooting in 25P progressive scan (24P in NTSC markets like USA, Canada, Japan, etc).
There’s also a host of standard features like PreREC (the camera continually caches 3 seconds of recording even when in standby in order that you don’t miss an unexpected action), multiple Face Detection, a built-in ability to trim clips or build playlists in-camera, fast start, and so on.
These are supplemented by enthusiasts’ must-have features like an external microphone input, headphone output and a good level of manual control over all main operations thanks to its Control dial which sits snug to the large 58mm diameter lens barrel.
We’ve had a good look at the Legria HF S21 and we’re very impressed with Canon’s new top-of-the-range AVCHD product.
Read our review of the Canon LEGRIA HF-S21 AVCHD camcorder here
Review: Panasonic HDC-SD60
Mar 5th
Offering full-HD movies, SDXC card support, a good lens with 25x zoom and other commendable features designed to appeal to first-time users, does the SD60 set the benchmark for 2010?
Spring has sprung, the days are getting longer and folks are thinking of getting away for the Summer. One thing Summer demands is a good camcorder in order to capture all those golden moments.
Panasonic HDC-SD60 AVCHD Camcorder in Silver
Of course, 2010 is undoubtedly the year of High Definition, and to prove it we’re now at a situation where AVCHD has become the de-facto standard format for consumer (not to say professional in some instances) high definition video. Panasonic was the first company to introduce a camcorder that utilised AVCHD and today the company continues this onward march with some excellent HD camcorder products that are not just great for complete newbies but are offered at the right price.
To that end, the new HDC-SD60 is one of a family of four models that offer great pictures and sound, and which enables the recording of full resolution HD video to SD memory cards. More particularly, it makes use of the higher capacity SDHC and also SDXC memorys cards.
Improved quality image sensor and sleek, easy-to-use design is enough to guarantee the success of this new product in 2010. First-time video-makers looking for superb high definition video in a convenient and easy-to-use design coupled with great price aren’t going to be disappointed.
What do we think?
JVC’s GZ-HM400 – first impressions
Dec 3rd
JVC Everio GZ-HM400 AVCHD Camcorder
JVC’s impressive new Everio GZ-HM400 full-HD camcorder boasts a generous 1/2.33″ progressive CMOS image sensor that produces impressive images at up to 10.3 megapixels (movies and JPG stills) whilst writing MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 format video sequences to flash memory at a choice of four recording modes.
When recording and playing back at the highest UXP quality setting, the HM400 makes use of the maximum 24Mbps data rate possible under the current AVCHD specification and provides almost 3 hours’ recording and playback on the camcorder’s 32Gb internal memory, meaning that a total of 64Gb is available when a 32Gb SDHC memory card is also inserted.
In an exclusive review of JVC’s latest addition to its growing AVCHD family of full-specification HD camcorders, we consider how it will received by the more serious video-making enthusiasts looking for full connectivity in addition to good form factor and manual controllability.
Panasonic HDC-TM350 reviewed
Nov 3rd
Simply the best? Panasonic HDC-TM350 AVCHD camcorder
Panasonic has at last released its flagship HDC-TM350 3MOS AVCHD camcorder in the UK - but in Panasonic Stores only.
This fabulous new flash memory marvel model inherits features of the ground-breaking TM300 but has now been given a whopping 64GB of built-in Flash Memory in addition to a high capacity SD (SDHC) card slot. That means that users can be out shooting full-specification 1920×1080 HD video with a potential 96GB of solid-state memory available for the recording and playback of video and stills.
There’s a host of other welcome features, too, like a special accessory shoe adaptor (for mics and lights), good manual controllability and also dedicated headphone output and microphone input sockets.
Like other models in the Panasonic “300″ and even “200″ series 3MOS AVCHD camcorders, the TM350 handles beautifully and will be welcomed by enthusiasts looking for a higher level of functionality – even if that means forking out more than £1000 for the privilege. SimplyDV grabbed the first UK review sample as soon as it landed, and we’re keen to let you know what we think.
