JVC Everio GZ-HD320

Still Features (8.45)

While the JVC GZ-HD320 can take still photos, it is rather limited in the qualities and sizes available. The maximum still image resolution on the camcorder is only 1920 x 1080. In an age where 10-megapixel still cameras are common, a 1920 x 1080 (just over 2 megapixels) is simply not going to cut it. Photos can be captured in regular video mode (even during recording) by pressing the shutter button, or you can switch over to still mode by flipping the tiny blue button inside the LCD cavity. In still mode there are more options for controlling photographic settings.

Dedicated still photography mode is entered via a tiny switch in the LCD cavity.

Along with 1920 x 1080 images, the camcorder can also take photos at 1440 x 1080 and 640 x 480—both of which are 4:3 aspect ratios. There is no flash on the JVC GZ-HD320, although the camcorder does have a video light that could help brighten your subject if you're in a pinch. The shutter button is easily accessible on the top of the camcorder, just behind the zoom toggle.
 
 In still mode the same set of manual controls that are available in video mode are also applicable. Scene modes, manual focus (with focus assist), brightness adjustment (exposure), shutter speed, white balance, backlight compensation, photometry area, and digital effects can all be selected and applied to still images. There are also a few settings that control still images only. There's a self timer, which can be set at two or ten seconds, or it can be programmed to take a photo when a new face is detected within the frame. A continuous shooting mode is also available, and it will consistently snap photos for as long as you hold the shutter button down (at a rate of roughly four photos per second).                

In still mode, there are some new options in the menu.		The menu during still playback is relatively sparse.

Still Colour (8.52)

The GZ-HD320 didn't do as well in our still colour testing as it did in our video colour tests. At best, the camcorder measured a colour error of 4.11 in the still image test. Its saturation level was 110.4%. This is still a decent colour accuracy, it's just not as good as the camcorder's results in our bright light video testing. (More on how we test still colour.)

The still photography colour error map: the length and direction  of each line indicates how the camcorder processed  each particular colour.

The JVC HD320 has limited photo capability to begin with, so the colour accuracy of its still images probably won't be much of a concern for anyone. In the images below, the JVC GZ-HD320 actually looks quite good in comparison with the Panasonic HS20, Canon Legria HF20, and Sanyo VPC-HD2000.

JVC GZ-HD320 Still Colour Comparisons
JVC GZ-HD320	Panasonic HDC-HS20
Canon Legria HF20	Sanyo VPC-HD2000

Still Noise (6.46)

Still Sharpness (1.45)