JVC Everio GZ-HM340 Camcorder Review

by Jeremy Stamas
Published on Mar 9, 2010 2:46 PM

 
Intro
 Product Tour
Color & Noise Performance Motion & Sharpness Performance
Low Light Performance Compression & Media
Manual Controls Still Features
Handling & Use Playback & Connectivity
Audio & Other Features JVC GZ-HM200 Comparison
Panasonic HDC-TM10 Comparison Samsung HMX-H106 Comparison
Conclusion Photo Gallery
Specs and Ratings


The testing in this review was carried out on a US model of this camcorder, which uses the NTSC TV standard. Although we have found little difference between PAL and NTSC performance in our tests, minor differences many exist. To find reviews of UK models with tested in the PAL TV standard, visit our reviews & ratings pages.
Introduction
The JVC GZ-HM340 The GZ-HM340 from JVC is a new entry-level HD camcorder that performs like a solid mid-range model. Its performance is on par with that of last year's GZ-HM200 from JVC, but it lacks most manual controls and its design leaves something to be desired. More...
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Section The Good The Bad
Product Tour Lens has a 20x optical zoom. No built-in lens cover
Color & Noise Performance Good color accuracy, saturation, and noise levels in bright light. No color presets or controls
Motion & Sharpness Performance Sharpness was very good for a camcorder with such a low pixel count. Artifacting and discoloration were both noticeable in our motion test.
Low Light Performance Color accuracy and noise levels in low light were both very good. Low light sensitivity needs improvement.
Compression & Media 16GB of internal flash memory No standard definition recording option
Manual Controls Auto controls are decent; peaking available for manual focus Aperture and shutter speed cannot be adjusted manually.
Still Features Self-timer and continuous shooting mode are good features. Camcorder doesn't capture high-quality still images.
Handling & Use Compact body with a simple design Laser Touch can be finicky; construction feels cheap; low-resolution LCD
Playback & Connectivity Onboard editing features are decent. Ports located inside the LCD cavity are unprotected.
Audio & Other Features Time Lapse Record and Auto Record can be very useful in specific situations. No external mic or headphone jack; no manual audio controls

 

JVC GZ-HM340 Comparisons
the JVC GZ-HM200 the Panasonic HDC-TM10 the Samsung HMX-H106
JVC GZ-HM200 Panasonic HDC-TM10 Samsung HMX-H106



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