JVC GZ-X900

Ease of Use (5.75)

While we found the JVC GZ-HD320 to be quite simple to use, the GZ-X900 was a bit more difficult. The GZ-X900 has more buttons, more options, and more settings than any of the new JVC models this year, so it shouldn't be much of a surprise that it is more difficult to use. Its multiple shooting modes (high-speed settings), as well as the hybrid video/photo set up got a bit confusing—not to mention the provided instruction manual was horrible.

There's also the process of learning how to use JVC's laser touch operation system, which actually has a pretty steep learning curve. The laser touch can be cumbersome, quirky, and difficult to control. However, once mastered, it can also make scrolling through menus and making large-scale adjustments easier. We also noticed the laser-touch on the GZ-X900 to be better designed than JVC's previous attempts. It has a flat, even construction that is smoother and more responsive.

The laser touch strip can be difficult to get used to.

We do like the simple layout of the GZ-X900. There aren't too many buttons on the camcorder, there's only one menu screen, and the rectangular construction makes it easy to hold in a variety of ways. There's also the helpful information box that scrolls by when you go into the camcorder's menu, which is an excellent tool for beginners.

JVC's 'one-touch' Export and Upload buttons can offer simple transitions from the camcorder to the web, but they aren't as easy to use as you'd expect. You need to press the buttons before you start recording if you want the clips to be available for quick uploading or exporting using a computer. We're not quite sure why JVC implemented the 'one-touch' buttons in this manner, as it makes them far less effective. The thing is, you can upload and export any video you shoot with the GZ-X900 using the camcorder's provided software. All the 'one-touch' buttons do is make this process a bit faster. See the Editing section of this review for more information.

Handling (6.25)

The JVC GZ-X900 handles differently than most camcorders. Notably, it doesn't have a hand strap, or at least, the traditional concept of a hand strap. It is meant to be held in whatever manner is most comfortable. This means you can hold it with your fingers wrapped around its top (like a traditional camcorder), or you can grip it with your fingers tucked underneath and your thumb resting on the top. Both of these methods are possible because the camcorder doesn't have that bulky strap taking up its right side. Of course, the lack of a hand strap also makes the X900 more prone to drops or falls. The camcorder does come with a wrist strap, however, that attaches to a metal loop on the back of the X900.

The X900 can be held in a traditional manner like this...

We're actually don't miss the hand strap on the GZ-X900. The strap featured on JVC's GZ-HD320 and HM200 are downright horrible—the material is thin, flimsy and doesn't provide much support. The GZ-X900's thin, rectangular design has no protrusions so it can comfortably fit in your palm without the aid of a hand strap. Essentially, the X900 looks like a small, rectangular box when the LCD panel is closed.

... or it can be held with your thumb on top as shown above.

In our GZ-HD320 review, we wrote extensively about the laser touch operation. The GZ-X900 uses the same system, but its touch-sensitive strip is slightly longer (thanks to the larger LCD), and it has a flat, level design that we thought helped produce a more responsive performance. It is still a difficult system to get used to, however, and it definitely isn't good for making precise, accurate adjustments. The buttons on the bottom of the LCD panel are also touch-sensitive, although they don't use the laser-touch strip system. The buttons are a bit too close together, but they are quite responsive and work well.

The camcorder has no hand strap on its right side.

The rest of the camcorder doesn't have too many buttons. There's the mode dial on the back that switches between shooting modes, as well as a Flash and Info button above it. The mode dial is a good system since the camcorder has so many different shooting modes, but it can be a bit confusing since the various modes aren't very well labelled. More buttons are located inside the LCD cavity. These are the worst buttons on the camcorder because they are built right into the X900's body. We call this design 'membrane buttons' because the buttons are located beneath a skin-like covering. Not only are these buttons much harder to press, but it is often difficult to tell whether you are pushing a button at all (since there's no physical protrusion or edges). We really don't like these buttons, although we must admit that 'membrane buttons' do offer better protection from the elements, as well as a compact, streamline design.

Stabilisation (2.13)

The JVC GZ-X900 uses optical image stabilisation (OIS), which usually represents an upgrade over digital stabilisation (used on JVC's lower-end camcorders). Unfortunately, however, the X900 didn't do very well in our stabilisation testing. With our low shake test, the camcorder reduced 11% of the shake. In our high shake test the X900 faired a bit better, reducing 25% of the shake. These results aren't nearly as good as what the high-end models from Panasonic and Sony are capable of, and they are also worse than the numbers put up by the JVC GZ-HD300. We expected the GZ-X900 to perform much better here, considering it is JVC's first camcorder of 2009 to include an optical image stabilisation system.  (More on how we test stabilisation.)

Portability (9.29)

The GZ-X900 is a compact camcorder with a very streamlined design, but it really doesn't offer much more portability than the competition. The JVC GZ-HM200 is only a few grams heavier than the X900 and the JVC GZ-HD320, which has a 60GB internal hard drive, only weighs roughly 70 grams more. The GZ-X900 is definitely not light or small enough to be classified as an ultra-compact like the Flip UltraHD.

Its flat, rectangular design, however, does help make the X900 fit in a pocket easier—although you'll need a very loose pocket if you want to transport the camcorder comfortably. The GZ-X900 is better off in a small purse or camera bag, of which it will fit into with ease. The GZ-X900 doesn't have a hand strap like most traditional camcorders do. In fact, it really doesn't have any protrusions whatsoever (as long as the LCD screen is closed). For this reason, the X900 is thinner than most camcorders of its class, while its length and height are of average dimensions.

Weight & Size
Weight	298g with battery
Size	37 x 66 x 124mm

Battery Life (3.85)

The battery life for the GZ-X900 was not good. In our testing the camcorder's provided battery lasted just 1 hour, 16 minutes, and 58 seconds. This is more than 20 minutes less than the battery life we measured on the JVC GZ-HD320, and it's even farther behind the Sanyo VPC-HD2000 and Panasonic HDC-HS300. (More on how we test battery life.)

Battery Life Comparisons

Making things even more disappointing in the battery department is the GZ-X900's awkward battery compartment. The battery loads inside the LCD cavity, which means the LCD panel closes right on top of where the battery sits. The camcorder will work with larger batteries that offer longer record times, but it means the LCD panel won't close all the way when a fatter battery is loaded into the compartment. The back-side battery compartment that is traditional used on consumer camcorders (like the GZ-HD320) makes it much easier and more comfortable to insert larger battery packs.

The GZ-X900 with its provided battery pack.

LCD & Viewfinder (8.07)

The GZ-X900 has a 2.8-inch LCD with a 207,000-pixel resolution. The LCD swings out from the camcorder and rotates with the same manner as most consumer models. The screen is a decent size, although the panel itself is much larger because it has to accommodate a number of buttons and features. On the left side of the panel is the laser touch strip that's used to scroll through menus and make manual adjustments. Beneath the screen, on the bottom of the panel, are a row of touch-sensitive buttons that have different functions depending on what mode the camcorder is in.

The 2.8-inch LCD screen

If you're having trouble dealing with glare the brightness of the LCD screen can be adjusted manually. The X900 offers 11 increments of LCD brightness, as well as monitor backlight options of auto, brighter, or standard. Of course, using a brighter setting will reduce the camcorder's battery life. The outside of the LCD panel is host to the camcorder's built-in stereo microphone, which is an odd design. This means the position of the microphone is entirely dependent on the tilt and position of the LCD panel.

As with most compact camcorders, the GZ-X900 does not have a viewfinder. So, all your framing and shooting must be done using the LCD screen

Menus (4.25)

For the most part, the menu system on the JVC GZ-X900 is quite good. It has the same one-list menu set up as the rest of JVC's 2009 line-up. The only difference, however, is that the GZ-X900 has more options and more settings than JVC's mid-range and low-end models. Everything is organized under one menu screen, which is accessed by pressing the menu button on the bottom of the LCD panel. Depending on what mode the camcorder is in, different options appear on this menu screen. In manual mode (video or still), a Manual Setting option appears in the main menu. Here's where you find manual controls like focus, brightness, shutter speed, aperture, etc. At the bottom of the menu screen are three sub menus: Display Settings, Basic Settings, and Connection Settings.

The Main menu on the GZ-X900 has a number of submenus.		Display Settings, Basic Settings, and Connection Settings are located at the bottom of the Main menu

Our only complaint with this is that it is sometimes confusing as to whether a control is located in the Manual Setting menu or elsewhere. For example, to change the camcorder's focus assist colour, you have to go into Display Settings—while the focus assist activation option is in Manual Setting. Also strangely hidden away is the GZ-X900's Continuous Shooting Speed option, which is found in the Basic Setting submenu. Why isn't something like Continuous Shooting Speed in with the rest of the manual controls?

The Manual Setting menu

We're also not crazy about using the laser touch system to scroll through menus. Sure, it can make scrolling through long lists easier, but when you want to select an option that is just one step down, the laser touch isn't the best system. It is difficult to make precise, simple adjustments or selections with the laser touch—at least until you get the hang of it. We must say, the GZ-X900's laser touch does feel slightly better than the ones featured on the JVC GZ-HD320 and HM200.

Still, the menu set up on the GZ-X900 is fairly intuitive and easy to use. Everything can be found when you press the Menu button the LCD panel and there are no hidden menus anywhere else.As you highlight options throughout the menu, a little blurb of scrolling text appears that tells you what each setting does. The scrolling design isn't the best, as you must wait for the text to move before you can read everything, but it is a helpful tool for beginners and new users.