JVC Picsio GC-FM1 Camcorder Review

Low Light Performance Summary
• Overall low light performance was pretty good. • Colour accuracy and saturation levels were similar to what the FM1 achieved in our bright light testing. • Noise levels were actually slightly lower in our low light testing than bright light.
	Motion & Sharpness Performance	(Page 5 of 17)	Compression & Media

Low Light Sensitivity (3.77)

The low light sensitivity on the JVC GC-FM1 isn't bad, but several budget camcorders have performed better. The Flip UltraHD and Kodak Zx1, in particular, had much brighter images in low light. Of course, this is somewhat of a trade-off for the Picsio's high pixel count; we didn't have high expectations for the GC-FM1 because of its 8-megapixel sensor. Usually when we see this kind of pixel count, the low light sensitivity of the camcorder suffers—this is what happened with the Sony MHS-PM1. The Picsio, on the other hand, did a decent job here. Kudos for JVC in figuring out the right formula for creating a workable low light sensitivity with a high pixel count camcorder. (More on how we test low light sensitivity.)

All the ultra-compact budget camcorders listed below record at a 30p frame rate (with the exception of the Kodak Zx1, which has a 60p mode as well). This gives them an advantage in low light over regular consumer camcorders that shoot at 60i—the lower frame rate lets more light hit the sensor. Most budget camcorders also have automatic slow shutters that lower the shutter speed to around 1/30 of a second in low light. This is a setting that we usually disengage before testing, but ultra-compacts do not give you that option. The good news is that the Picsio doesn't appear to lower its shutter speed quite that far, so the footage recorded at 15 lux looks reasonably good.

Low Light Colour (8.77)

At 60 lux, the level we do our low light testing, the GC-FM1's image doesn't look much different than its bright light image. Colours are still strong with an 86.56% saturation level, and their accuracy is very good with a colour error of 3.8. These numbers, particularly the saturation, are nearly identical to what the camcorder showed us in bright light. This is a good showing for the JVC GC-FM1. (More on how we test low light colour.)

Auto Low Light Colour Performance
Colour Test Chart (above), Colour Error Map (right)
The JVC GC-FM1 produced a colour error of 3.8 and a saturation level of 86.56% in our low light colour testing. (The map on the right is a diagram of the colour error. The length and direction of each line indicates how the camcorder processed each particular colour.)

Many ultra-compact camcorders actually do better in our low light colour test than with our bright light because their auto white balance systems are able to function better with our LED lights (which we use for low light testing). So, all the camcorders shown below had good colour accuracy in low light, most of them outperforming themselves from their bright light scores (particularly the Kodak Zx1). Still, that doesn't diminish the fact that the JVC GC-FM1 put forth a good showing in this test. It is one of the few ultra-compact budget camcorders that had good colour accuracy in all kinds of light.

Low Light Comparison
JVC GC-FM1	Flip UltraHD
Sony MHS-PM1	Kodak Zx1

The Sony MHS-PM1 also had decent colour accuracy in both bright and low light, but its overall numbers weren't as good as the FM1. In addition, the MHS-PM1's colours didn't appear as vivid or saturated as the other camcorders. You can see this quite clearly in the comparison images above.

Low Light Colour Score Comparison		Compare the JVC GC-FM1 to the Flip UltraHD
		Compare the JVC GC-FM1 to the Sony MHS-PM1
		Compare the JVC GC-FM1 to the Kodak Zx1

Low Light Noise (10.08)

Since the GC-FM1's low light image looked very similar to its bright light image, we weren't that surprised to see that it managed roughly the same amount of noise in low light as it did in bright light—1.0925%. Still, the fact that the camcorder averaged slightly less noise in low light than bright light is a bit unusual. This means that in bright light the FM1 is a sub par noise performer, while in low light it did better than average for a camcorder of its class. (More on how we test low light noise.)

Noise at 60 lux Auto
JVC GC-FM1 100% Crop	Flip UltraHD 100% Crop	Sony MHS-PM1 100% Crop	Kodak Zx1 100% Crop

You can see the GC-FM1 retained a lot of detail in low light, although its image isn't quite as clean. There is more noticeable artefacting and discolouration than in bright light. The Flip UltraHD also stayed rather sharp, but its image has a lot of splotchy discolouration. The Sony MHS-PM1 lost a lot of sharpness and looks very fuzzy and washed-out in low light, while the Kodak Zx1 is extremely blurred in some portions of its image and sharp in others (like the vertical trumpet). It is hard to pick a winner from the above crops, but the JVC GC-FM1 looks to have the strongest overall low light image of the group.

Low Light Noise Score Comparison		Compare the JVC GC-FM1 to the Flip UltraHD
		Compare the JVC GC-FM1 to the Sony MHS-PM1
		Compare the JVC GC-FM1 to the Kodak Zx1