JVC Everio GZ-HD620

The Canon HF M31 does not record to an internal hard drive. Instead, it has 32GB of internal flash memory along with its SD/SDHC memory card slot. This means the camcorder can store a lot less video internally, but you don't have to worry about its flash memory becoming corrupted as easily (flash memory has no moving parts, unlike internal hard drives). 

The Canon HF M31 has a number of other features that allow it to stand out from the crowd as well. These include an alternate frame rate option (PF25), top-notch motion and sharpness performance, and a very sleek design. The M31's touchscreen is one of the most responsive touch-based interfaces we've seen and the camcorder's hand strap is plush and comfortable. Of course, the camcorder is also a bit of a downer in low light and its multiple image stabilization options did not fare well in our testing.

We like the HF M31, we really do, and there are quite a few reasons to go with it over the GZ-HD620 or some of the other mid-range HD models available. But, when you boil it down to overall performance, the other models did better in our tests. The Canon's high noise levels, sensitivity results, and poor colour accuracy were not what we like to see from an HD camcorder of its caliber. Still, if you need alternate frame rates or you are planning on doing most of your shooting in bright light situations, the Canon HF M31 is a strong model in those categories.

	Comparison Specs
	JVC GZ-HD620	Canon HF M31
Price	£510	£755
Primary Recording Media	120GB internal hard drive	32GB internal flash memory
Secondary Recording Media	MicroSD memory card	SD/SDHC memory card
Image Sensor	1/4-inch CMOS	1/4-inch CMOS
Effective Pixel Count	1.16 megapixels	2.99 megapixels
Mic Input	None	Yes
LCD	2.7 inches with 123,000 pixels	2.7 inches with 211,000 pixels
Viewfinder	None	None
Weight	310g	380g
Dimensions	53 x 63 x 115mm	68 x 60 x 123mm
HD	Yes	Yes
Frame Rates	50i	50i, PF25
Compression	AVCHD	AVCHD
Maximum Bitrate	24Mbps	24Mbps
Optical Zoom	30x	15x
Stabilisation	Digital with advanced mode	Optical with dynamic and powered settings

	Scores
	JVC GZ-HD620	Canon HF M31
Colour	10.57	9.14
Noise	10.15	9.53
Video Sharpness	8.6	10.97
Low Light Sensitivity	6.3	3.77
Low Light Colour	9.83	6.58
Low Light Noise	11.48	7.92

Bright Light Noise Comparisons
JVC GZ-HD620 100% Crop	Canon HF M31 100% Crop

Sharpness Score Comparison