Compare Prices : JVC GZ-HD7

Review summary: A great next-generation camcorder, but it lacks editing support for the recording format

Verdict: But video quality is only half the story. The HD7 is held back by the lack of compatible software. Although it offers a FireWire connection and is detected by Windows, we couldn't get any software to capture from it. Instead, the USB port must be used ...

Review summary: Prosumer styling and controls; JVC is on to a winner

Pros: Lots of great features ; Glorious performance ; Excellent lens ;

Cons: Not cheap ;

Verdict: The viewfinder, like the lens, is given a professional touch thanks to the inclusion of an eyecup. However, at just 0.57in, we cant help feeling that it could be a little bigger. The viewfinder pulls out from the body of the cam, but cant be angled up ...

Pros: Good saturated colour balance, lots of features, manual focus ring, relatively crisp shots

Cons: Some noise in indoor shots, a little motion blur

Verdict: JVC's Everio GZ-HD7 is a good, high-definition hard disk camcorder, however it is outperformed in several areas by competing models. For many users it will be perfectly adequate, but the high price tag and smattering of image quality issues mean there ...

Review summary: High-def, hard drive storing, 1080i-capable camcorder misses the mark.

Pros: Hard drive stores five hours of video. Works with external mics. Nice manual focus ring.

Cons: Expensive. Not-so-sharp imagery. Bad image stabilization. No headphone jack. Footage hard to edit in Final Cut. Not fully iMovie '08 compatible.

Verdict: . We love the HD7's roomy hard drive, but the camera's sky-high price and subpar image quality should make you think twice before buying. If you plan to edit video in anything other than iMovie HD 6, we'd recommend skipping the Everio HD GZ-HD7 ...