| |
Model
|
| JVC GZ-HD40 | Sony HDR-CX11 | Canon HV30 | |
| Picture ? | | | | Picture ? |
| Manufacturer | JVC 
| Sony
| Canon
| Manufacturer |
| Name | GZ-HD40 | HDR-CX11 | HV30 | Name |
| European name ? | GZ-HD40 | HDR-CX11E | HV30 | European name ? |
| US name ? | GZ-HD40 | HDR-CX12 | VIXIA HV30 | US name ? |
| lowest US price | | | | lowest US price |
| On the market since | August 2008 | August 2008 | April 2008 | On the market since |
| Manufacturers URL | link to JVC | link to Sony | link to Canon | Manufacturers URL |
|
|
Test preview
|
| [ top ] | JVC GZ-HD40 | Sony HDR-CX11 | Canon HV30 | |
| slashCAM rating ? | Good
 | Good
| Good
| slashCAM rating ? |
| test picture 1200 Lux | | | | test picture 1200 Lux |
| Test image 12 lux auto-mode | | | | Test image 12 lux auto-mode |
Video
|
| [ top ] | JVC GZ-HD40 | Sony HDR-CX11 | Canon HV30 | |
| Video formats ? | AVCHD
MPEG2-TS
| AVCHD
| MiniDV
HDV
| Video formats ? |
| Recording Medium | Built-in hard disk
microSD/microSDHC
| Memory Stick PRO Duo
| MiniDV/HDV-Cassette
| Recording Medium |
| video resolutions EU ? | AVCHD 1920 x 1080/50i
MPEG2 1920x1080 50i
MPEG2 1440 x1080/50i
| AVCHD 1920 x 1080/50i
| HDV 1440 x 1080/50i
MiniDV 720 x 576/50i
MiniDV 720 x 576/25F
HDV 1440 x 1080/25p
| video resolutions EU ? |
| video resolutions US ? | HDV 1440 x 1080/60i
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/60i
MPEG2 1920 x 1080/60i
| AVCHD 1920 x 1080/60i
| HDV 1440 x 1080/60i
HDV 1440 x 1080/24p
HDV 1440 x 1080/30p
MiniDV 720 x 480/60i
720 MiniDV x480/24p
| video resolutions US ? |
| Max Bitrate ? | 17 Mbit/s | 16 Mbit/s | 25 Mbit/s | Max Bitrate ? |
| Compression format ? | MPEG2
MPEG4
| MPEG4
| DV
MPEG2
| Compression format ? |
| on-board memory ? | 120 GB | | | on-board memory ? |
| Optics |
| Optics Manufacturer ? | JVC HD
| Carl Zeiss
| Canon
| Optics Manufacturer ? |
| Optical Zoom ? | 10 x | 12 x | 10 x | Optical Zoom ? |
| Wide Angle 16:9 ? | 43,6 mm | 40 mm | 43,6 mm | Wide Angle 16:9 ? |
| Filter diameter ? | 43 mm | 37 mm | 43 mm | Filter diameter ? |
| Image Stabilization ? | electronical
| optical
| optical
| Image Stabilization ? |
| ND Filter ? | No
| No
| Yes
| ND Filter ? |
| Exchangable optics ? | No
| No
| No
| Exchangable optics ? |
| Image Sensor |
| Number of sensors ? | 1 | 1 | 1 | Number of sensors ? |
| Size of image sensor ? | 1/3 inch | 1/3,1 inch | 1/2,7 inch | Size of image sensor ? |
| image sensor effective pixel count 16:9 ? | 2 Pixel | | 2070000 Pixel | image sensor effective pixel count 16:9 ? |
| Image Sensor Type ? | CMOS
| CMOS
| CMOS
| Image Sensor Type ? |
| Controls |
| White Balance ? | auto
manual
presets
| auto
manual
presets
WB-Shift
| auto
presets
| White Balance ? |
| Focus ? | auto
manual
| auto
manual
| auto
manual
| Focus ? |
| Minimum shutter time ? | 1/4000 | 1/auto
| 1/2.000 | Minimum shutter time ? |
| Maximum shutter time ? | 1/2 | auto
| 1/2 | Maximum shutter time ? |
| Apperture control ? | auto
manual
| auto
manual
| auto
manual
AE-Shift
| Apperture control ? |
| Infrared recording ? | No
| Yes
| | Infrared recording ? |
| Expanded Focus ? | No
| No
| | Expanded Focus ? |
| Peaking ? | Yes
| No
| | Peaking ? |
| Signal Processing |
| Zebra ? | Off
70%
100%
| Off
70%
100%
| | Zebra ? |
| Histogram ? | No
| No
| | Histogram ? |
| adjustable sharpness ? | Yes
| No
| | adjustable sharpness ? |
| Adjustable color ? | No
| No
| | Adjustable color ? |
| Cinegamma ? | No
| No
| | Cinegamma ? |
| Black Strech ? | No
| No
| | Black Strech ? |
| Knee ? | No
| No
| | Knee ? |
| Colorbars ? | No
| No
| | Colorbars ? |
| Misc. |
| Shot Transition ? | No
| No
| | Shot Transition ? |
| Custom Presets ? | No
| No
| | Custom Presets ? |
| Set Time Code ? | No
| No
| | Set Time Code ? |
Configuration
|
| Connections |
| [ top ] | JVC GZ-HD40 | Sony HDR-CX11 | Canon HV30 | |
FBAS ?
synonymous: RCA, composite | Out
| Out
| | FBAS ?
synonymous: RCA, composite |
YC ?
synonymous: S-Video | | via accessories
| | YC ?
synonymous: S-Video |
YUV ?
synonymous: Component Signal | Out
| Out
| Out
| YUV ?
synonymous: Component Signal |
| HDMI ? | Out
| Out
| Out
| HDMI ? |
DV / HDV (FireWire) ?
synonymous: ILink / IEEE-1394 | Out
| - | In
Out
| DV / HDV (FireWire) ?
synonymous: ILink / IEEE-1394 |
| USB ? | USB 2.0
| USB 2.0
| USB 2.0
| USB ? |
| Microphone / Audio input ? | Mini-jack
| No
| Mini-jack
| Microphone / Audio input ? |
| Headphones ? | Mini-jack
| No
| Mini-jack
| Headphones ? |
| Lanc ? | No
| No
| No
| Lanc ? |
| Time-code interface ? | No
| No
| No
| Time-code interface ? |
| Genlock ? | No
| No
| No
| Genlock ? |
| Accessory shoe ? | Standard
| AI
| | Accessory shoe ? |
| HD-SDI ? | No
| No
| No
| HD-SDI ? |
| Misc. |
| Weight (without battery) | | 370 g | 535 g | Weight (without battery) |
| Weight (with battery) | 450 g | 450 g | | Weight (with battery) |
| Battery type | | Sony NP-FH60
| Canon BP-2L13
| Battery type |
| Battery capacity | | 1000 mAh | | Battery capacity |
| Charger ? | internal
| internal
| | Charger ? |
| Remote control | Yes
| Yes
| | Remote control |
| Size |
| Height | 73 mm | 69 mm | 82 mm | Height |
| Width | 68 mm | 67 mm | 88 mm | Width |
| Depth | 123 mm | 130 mm | 138 mm | Depth |
| Relative Size ? | 6 | 6 | 9 | Relative Size ? |
| Viewfinder |
| Viewfinder available ? | No
| No
| Yes
| Viewfinder available ? |
| Color Viewfinder ? | | - | Color
| Color Viewfinder ? |
| Viewfinder format ? | | - | 16:9 | Viewfinder format ? |
| Viewfinder pixels ? | | | 123000 Pixel | Viewfinder pixels ? |
| Display |
| Display available ? | Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| Display available ? |
| Color display ? | Color
| Color
| Color
| Color display ? |
| Display size | 2,8 Inch | 2,7 Inch | 2,7 Inch | Display size |
| Display format ? | 16:9 | 16:9 | 16:9 | Display format ? |
| Display pixels ? | 207000 Pixel | 211000 Pixel | 211000 Pixel | Display pixels ? |
| Touch Screen ? | No
| Yes
| No
| Touch Screen ? |
| External controls |
| Manual Zoom ? | Rocker
| Rocker
| | Manual Zoom ? |
| Manual Focus ? | Menu
| bi-functional focus or aperture wheel
| | Manual Focus ? |
| Manual Aperture ? | Menu
| bi-functional focus or aperture wheel
| | Manual Aperture ? |
| Focus switcher ? | No
| No
| | Focus switcher ? |
| ND Filter ? | No
| No
| | ND Filter ? |
| Exp Lock ? | No
| No
| | Exp Lock ? |
| Gain ? | | No
| | Gain ? |
| White balance ? | No
| No
| | White balance ? |
| Push AF ? | No
| No
| | Push AF ? |
| Audio Levels ? | No
| No
| | Audio Levels ? |
Custom Keys ?
synonymous: User buttons | No
| No
| | Custom Keys ?
synonymous: User buttons |
Audio
|
| [ top ] | JVC GZ-HD40 | Sony HDR-CX11 | Canon HV30 | |
| Audio Formats ? | MPEG-1 Layer2
| AC-3 Dolby Digital 5.1 640 kbit max.
| MiniDV: 2x48kHz 16bit PCM
MiniDV: 4x32kHz 12bit PCM
HDV: 2x48kHz 16bit MPEG 1
| Audio Formats ? |
| Microphone ? | Mini-jack external
| 5.1 Internal
| | Microphone ? |
| Audio Control ? | auto
manual
| auto
| manual
| Audio Control ? |
| Audio levels ? | Screen
| No
| | Audio levels ? |
Still
|
| [ top ] | JVC GZ-HD40 | Sony HDR-CX11 | Canon HV30 | |
| Recording Medium ? | microSD
hard drive
| Memory Stick Duo
| MiniSD
| Recording Medium ? |
| Medium included ? | No
| 4 GB
| | Medium included ? |
| Effective pixels ? | | | | Effective pixels ? |
| Resolutions ? | 1920x1080
1440x1080
640x480
2432 x 1368 | 640x480
1600x1200
2848x2136
3680 x 2760
3680 x 2070 | 1920x1080
1440x1080
848x480
640x480
2048 x 1536 | Resolutions ? |
| Standard ? | JPEG Exif 2.2
| JPEG Exif 2.2
| | Standard ? |
| Flash ? | No
| Yes
| Yes
| Flash ? |
Misc.
|
| [ top ] | JVC GZ-HD40 | Sony HDR-CX11 | Canon HV30 | |
| Specials | -included: dockingstation with USB,AV-Out, component outt and FireWire
-maximum bitrate 17 MPbps AVCHD, 27 Mbps MPEG-2 TS
| -smile shutter: a photo is shot automatically when detecting a smiling face
| | Specials |
Product Shots
|
| [ top ] | JVC GZ-HD40 | Sony HDR-CX11 | Canon HV30 | |
| View 1 | | | | View 1 |
| View 2 | | | | View 2 |
Test results
|
| Test pictures |
| [ top ] | JVC GZ-HD40 | Sony HDR-CX11 | Canon HV30 | |
| luminance resolution | | | | luminance resolution |
| chrominance resolution | | | | chrominance resolution |
| lens distortion | | | | lens distortion |
| test small ISO image | | | | test small ISO image |
| noise / internal microphone | | | | noise / internal microphone |
| test picture 1200 Lux | | | | test picture 1200 Lux |
| Test image 12 lux auto-mode ? | | | | Test image 12 lux auto-mode ? |
| Test image 12 lux optimized ? | | | | Test image 12 lux optimized ? |
| slashCAM rating |
| Lowlight ? | Good | Good | Satisfactory | Lowlight ? |
| Resolution ? | Satisfactory | Good | Very good | Resolution ? |
| Color performance ? | Very good | Very good | Very good | Color performance ? |
| subj.Picture impression ? | Very good | Very good | Very good | subj.Picture impression ? |
| Optical Zoom ? | Sufficient | Sufficient | Sufficient | Optical Zoom ? |
| Wide Angle ? | Poor | Sufficient | Poor | Wide Angle ? |
| Configuration / image ? | Good | Satisfactory | Satisfactory | Configuration / image ? |
| Configuration / sound ? | Satisfactory | Poor | Satisfactory | Configuration / sound ? |
| Handling ? | Sufficient | Good | Sufficient | Handling ? |
| Portability ? | Very good | Very good | Very good | Portability ? |
| Photo function ? | Sufficient | Satisfactory | Satisfactory | Photo function ? |
| Optics ? | Good | Good | Good | Optics ? |
| Dynamics ? | Good | Good | Good | Dynamics ? |
| Conclusion slashCAM |
| slashCAM rating ? | Good
| Good
| Good
| slashCAM rating ? |
Total score ?
(maximal 570) | 342 | 340 | 340 | Total score ?
(maximal 570) |
| Pros | + Many manual controls
+ two formats (AVCHD and MPEG2)
+ good image and lowlight quality
| + manual, multi-functional ring
+ focus and exposure control via touchscreen works well
+ Good image in terms of sharpness and color
| + excellent resolution in brightness and color
| Pros |
| Cons | - the controls are hard to getting used to
- formats are not arbitrarily mixable
| - no manual shutter control
- no microphone and headphone jacks
| - small wide angle
- dull audio section
| Cons |
| Conclusion | The possibility to record both HD-consumer formats is a good thing, but some details are missing (the formats can not be combined at playback, no backup-tape, no HDV-recording on SD cards).Nice to see that with this introduction of CMOS sensors JVC closed the gap of lagging behind in picture qualityMany important parameters can be adjusted manually, which is great, but the operation requires a little too much patience and practice.If JVC would have included the rich manual controls of the HD7 this cam would have been a real winner for every ambitioned movie maker. | On the one hand, buying the CX11 is the cheapest way to get Sonys 1/3" Exmor image quality (which together with Canon is the non-plus-ultra in the price range of 1000 Euros camcorders).Other great features are the manual control ring and the menu control via touch screen (especially practical on small cameras, but not to be found on competing models).On the other hand a viewfinder, microphone / headphone jacks and manual shutter control are badly missed.Likewise negative: the high costs for memory sticksUnfortunately, the great display of the SR-11/12 was not used, but on the other hand the camera is clearly more compact than its HDD-siblings | Thanks to the excellent resolution of its CMOS the Canon HV30 makes almost full use of the HDV-system in brightness as well as colorNoticeable is the high resolution in diagonals.In lowlight situations the performance is only average.The lens shows little abberations, but offers only a small wide angle. | Conclusion |
More information
|
| Reviews and Forums |
| [ top ] | JVC GZ-HD40 | Sony HDR-CX11 | Canon HV30 | |
| slashCAM Review | | | | slashCAM Review |
| external reviews/tests | | |  www.camcorderinfo.com
| external reviews/tests |
| Comparison | JVC GZ-HD40 compared to Panasonic HC-V707
JVC GZ-HD40 compared to Sony HDR-CX570
JVC GZ-HD40 compared to Sony HDR-CX350V
JVC GZ-HD40 compared to Canon HF M31
JVC GZ-HD40 compared to Canon HF200
JVC GZ-HD40 compared to Sony HDR-SR11
JVC GZ-HD40 compared to Panasonic HDC-HS60
JVC GZ-HD40 compared to Canon HF10
JVC GZ-HD40 compared to JVC GZ-HM550
JVC GZ-HD40 compared to Canon HF11
JVC GZ-HD40 compared to JVC GZ-HD30
JVC GZ-HD40 compared to Canon HV20
JVC GZ-HD40 compared to JVC GZ-HM400
JVC GZ-HD40 compared to Canon HV10
JVC GZ-HD40 compared to JVC GZ-HD6
JVC GZ-HD40 compared to Sanyo Xacti HD2000
JVC GZ-HD40 compared to Panasonic HDC-HS20
JVC GZ-HD40 compared to Canon HF R16
| Sony HDR-CX11 compared to Canon HF M306
Sony HDR-CX11 compared to Canon HF10
Sony HDR-CX11 compared to Canon HF11
Sony HDR-CX11 compared to Samsung HMX-H204
Sony HDR-CX11 compared to Canon HG20
Sony HDR-CX11 compared to Canon HV30
Sony HDR-CX11 compared to Canon HV20
Sony HDR-CX11 compared to Sony HDR-SR10
Sony HDR-CX11 compared to Sony HDR-XR155
Sony HDR-CX11 compared to Sony HDR-CX155
Sony HDR-CX11 compared to Sony HDR-CX116
Sony HDR-CX11 compared to Sony HDR-CX115
Sony HDR-CX11 compared to JVC GZ-X900
Sony HDR-CX11 compared to Panasonic HDC-SD10
Sony HDR-CX11 compared to Panasonic HDC-SD20
Sony HDR-CX11 compared to Canon HF R106
Sony HDR-CX11 compared to Sanyo Xacti HD1010
Sony HDR-CX11 compared to JVC GZ-HM200
| Canon HV30 compared to Canon HF M306
Canon HV30 compared to Canon HF10
Canon HV30 compared to Canon HF11
Canon HV30 compared to Samsung HMX-H204
Canon HV30 compared to Canon HG20
Canon HV30 compared to Sony HDR-CX11
Canon HV30 compared to Canon HV20
Canon HV30 compared to Sony HDR-SR10
Canon HV30 compared to Sony HDR-XR155
Canon HV30 compared to Sony HDR-CX155
Canon HV30 compared to Sony HDR-CX116
Canon HV30 compared to Sony HDR-CX115
Canon HV30 compared to JVC GZ-X900
Canon HV30 compared to Panasonic HDC-SD10
Canon HV30 compared to Panasonic HDC-SD20
Canon HV30 compared to Canon HF R106
Canon HV30 compared to Sanyo Xacti HD1010
Canon HV30 compared to JVC GZ-HM200
| Comparison |
| Forum posts | Problem JVC GZ-HD40
JVC GZ-HD40 and Canon HF200?
SonyHDR-SR11 or Canon HF100 or JVC GZ-HD40
| SonyHDR CX11 - AVCHD files on Mac os x cut!
SonyHDR-CX11E AVCHD files via Mac in Apple Final Cut 4
| Canon HV30 or Hf20?
Canon HV30 DV / HDV Firewire port broken ... what?
Proper Tripod for me? Canon HV30 + Dolly conversion may
Canon HV30 - suddenly no longer playing
Canon HV30 lens cover broken - fix it?
Canon HV30 tapes
Canon HV30 with control SonyVCT-60AV
Technical Question Field Mixer Sound Devices 302 and Canon HV30
Distinction between "Vixia HV30" and "HV30"
Canon HV30 + Wide Angle? What with AutoFocus?
Idea: HV30 and Rode Stereo VideoMic / Störgeräuschminderung
Microphone for Canon HV30 missing - recordings of diesel sound
Export from Pro cs4 film onto videotape of Canon HV30
| Forum posts |
| |
