| |
Model
|
| JVC GZ-HM550 | JVC GZ-HM1 | Canon HF S11 | |
| Picture ? | | | | Picture ? |
| Manufacturer | JVC 
| JVC
| Canon
| Manufacturer |
| Name | GZ-HM550 | GZ-HM1 | HF S11 | Name |
| European name ? | GZ-HM550 BEU | GZ-HM1 | Legria HF S11 | European name ? |
| US name ? | GZ-HM550 | GZ-HM1 | VIXIA HF S11 | US name ? |
| lowest US price | 550 $ | 779 $ | 920 $ | lowest US price |
| On the market since | March 2010 | April 2010 | September 2009 | On the market since |
| Manufacturers URL | link to JVC | link to JVC | link to Canon | Manufacturers URL |
|
|
Test preview
|
| [ top ] | JVC GZ-HM550 | JVC GZ-HM1 | Canon HF S11 | |
| 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-HM550 | JVC GZ-HM1 | Canon HF S11 | |
| Video formats ? | AVCHD
| AVCHD
| AVCHD
| Video formats ? |
| Recording Medium | SDHC card
built-in flash memory
| SDHC card
built-in flash memory
| SDHC card
built-in flash memory
| Recording Medium |
| video resolutions EU ? | AVCHD 1440 x 1080/50i
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/50i
| AVCHD 1920 x 1080/50i
| AVCHD 1920 x 1080/50i
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/25p
| video resolutions EU ? |
| video resolutions US ? | AVCHD 1920 x 1080/60i
AVCHD 1440 x 1080/60i
| AVCHD 1920 x 1080/60i
| AVCHD 1920 x 1080/60i
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/24p
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/30p
| video resolutions US ? |
| Max Bitrate ? | 24 Mbit/s | 24 Mbit/s | 24 Mbit/s | Max Bitrate ? |
| Compression format ? | MPEG4
| MPEG4
| MPEG4
| Compression format ? |
| on-board memory ? | | 64 GB | 64 GB | on-board memory ? |
| Optics |
| Optics Manufacturer ? | Konica Minolta
| JVC HD
| Canon
| Optics Manufacturer ? |
| Optical Zoom ? | 10 x | 10 x | 10 x | Optical Zoom ? |
| Wide Angle 16:9 ? | 48 mm | 48 mm | 43,6 mm | Wide Angle 16:9 ? |
| Filter diameter ? | 37 mm | 46 mm | 58 mm | Filter diameter ? |
| Image Stabilization ? | electronical
| optically and electronically
| optical
| Image Stabilization ? |
| ND Filter ? | No
| No
| No
| ND Filter ? |
| Exchangable optics ? | No
| No
| No
| Exchangable optics ? |
| Image Sensor |
| Number of sensors ? | 1 | 1 | 1 | Number of sensors ? |
| Size of image sensor ? | 1/2,33 inch | 1/2,33 inch | 1/2,6 inch | Size of image sensor ? |
| image sensor effective pixel count 16:9 ? | 5650000 Pixel | 5650000 Pixel | 6010000 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
| auto
manual
presets
| White Balance ? |
| Focus ? | auto
manual
| auto
manual
| auto
manual
| Focus ? |
| Minimum shutter time ? | 1/4000 | 1/4000 | 1/2.000 | Minimum shutter time ? |
| Maximum shutter time ? | 1/2 | 1/2 | 1/6 | Maximum shutter time ? |
| Apperture control ? | auto
manual
| auto
manual
| auto
manual
| Apperture control ? |
| Infrared recording ? | No
| No
| | Infrared recording ? |
| Expanded Focus ? | No
| No
| Yes
| Expanded Focus ? |
| Peaking ? | Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| Peaking ? |
| Signal Processing |
| Zebra ? | No
| Off
70%
100%
| 70%
100% | Zebra ? |
| Histogram ? | No
| No
| No
| Histogram ? |
| adjustable sharpness ? | No
| Yes
| Yes
| adjustable sharpness ? |
| Adjustable color ? | No
| No
| Yes
| Adjustable color ? |
| Cinegamma ? | No
| No
| Yes
| Cinegamma ? |
| Black Strech ? | No
| No
| No
| Black Strech ? |
| Knee ? | No
| No
| No
| Knee ? |
| Colorbars ? | No
| No
| Yes
| Colorbars ? |
| Misc. |
| Shot Transition ? | No
| No
| No
| Shot Transition ? |
| Custom Presets ? | No
| No
| Yes
| Custom Presets ? |
| Set Time Code ? | No
| No
| No
| Set Time Code ? |
Configuration
|
| Connections |
| [ top ] | JVC GZ-HM550 | JVC GZ-HM1 | Canon HF S11 | |
FBAS ?
synonymous: RCA, composite | Out
| Out
| Out
| FBAS ?
synonymous: RCA, composite |
YC ?
synonymous: S-Video | No
| No
| No
| YC ?
synonymous: S-Video |
YUV ?
synonymous: Component Signal | Out
| Out
| Out
| YUV ?
synonymous: Component Signal |
| HDMI ? | Out mini
| Out
| Out
| HDMI ? |
DV / HDV (FireWire) ?
synonymous: ILink / IEEE-1394 | - | - | - | DV / HDV (FireWire) ?
synonymous: ILink / IEEE-1394 |
| USB ? | USB 2.0
| USB 2.0
| USB 2.0
| USB ? |
| Microphone / Audio input ? | No
| Mini-jack
| Mini-jack
| Microphone / Audio input ? |
| Headphones ? | No
| 3.5 mm mini-jack
| also AV-output
| Headphones ? |
| Lanc ? | No
| | No
| Lanc ? |
| Time-code interface ? | No
| No
| No
| Time-code interface ? |
| Genlock ? | No
| No
| No
| Genlock ? |
| Accessory shoe ? | No
| Standard
| Advanced Mini
| Accessory shoe ? |
| HD-SDI ? | No
| No
| No
| HD-SDI ? |
| Misc. |
| Weight (without battery) | 260 g | 400 g | 450 g | Weight (without battery) |
| Weight (with battery) | 300 g | 485 g | 500 g | Weight (with battery) |
| Battery type | JVC BN-VG114E
| JVC BNVF815U
| Canon BP-807
| Battery type |
| Battery capacity | 1400 mAh | 1460 mAh | 890 mAh | Battery capacity |
| Charger ? | internal
| internal
| internal
| Charger ? |
| Remote control | Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| Remote control |
| Size |
| Height | 55 mm | 67 mm | 69 mm | Height |
| Width | 62 mm | 72 mm | 70 mm | Width |
| Depth | 110 mm | 141 mm | 136 mm | Depth |
| Relative Size ? | 3 | 6 | 6 | Relative Size ? |
| Viewfinder |
| Viewfinder available ? | No
| No
| No
| Viewfinder available ? |
| Color Viewfinder ? | - | - | - | Color Viewfinder ? |
| Viewfinder format ? | - | - | - | Viewfinder format ? |
| Viewfinder pixels ? | | | | Viewfinder pixels ? |
| Display |
| Display available ? | Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| Display available ? |
| Color display ? | Color
| Color
| Color
| Color display ? |
| Display size | 2,7 Inch | 2,8 Inch | 2,7 Inch | Display size |
| Display format ? | 16:9 | 16:9 | 16:9 | Display format ? |
| Display pixels ? | 123000 Pixel | 207000 Pixel | 211000 Pixel | Display pixels ? |
| Touch Screen ? | No
| No
| No
| Touch Screen ? |
| External controls |
| Manual Zoom ? | Rocker
| Rocker
| Rocker
| Manual Zoom ? |
| Manual Focus ? | Menu
| bi-functional focus or aperture wheel
| Wheel
Menu
Joystick
| Manual Focus ? |
| Manual Aperture ? | Menu
| bi-functional focus or aperture wheel
| bi-functional focus or aperture wheel
| Manual Aperture ? |
| Focus switcher ? | No
| No
| Yes
| Focus switcher ? |
| ND Filter ? | No
| No
| No
| ND Filter ? |
| Exp Lock ? | No
| No
| No
| Exp Lock ? |
| Gain ? | No
| No
| No
| Gain ? |
| White balance ? | No
| No
| No
| White balance ? |
| Push AF ? | No
| Yes
| No
| Push AF ? |
| Audio Levels ? | No
| No
| No
| Audio Levels ? |
Custom Keys ?
synonymous: User buttons | No
| 1 | 1 | Custom Keys ?
synonymous: User buttons |
Audio
|
| [ top ] | JVC GZ-HM550 | JVC GZ-HM1 | Canon HF S11 | |
| Audio Formats ? | Dolby AC-3 Digital 2 channel 48 KHz
| | Dolby AC-3 Digital 2 channel 48 KHz
| Audio Formats ? |
| Microphone ? | Stereo internal
| Stereo internal
Mini-jack external
| Stereo internal
Mini-jack external
| Microphone ? |
| Audio Control ? | auto
| auto
manual
| auto
manual
| Audio Control ? |
| Audio levels ? | | Screen
| Viewfinder
Screen
| Audio levels ? |
Still
|
| [ top ] | JVC GZ-HM550 | JVC GZ-HM1 | Canon HF S11 | |
| Recording Medium ? | built-in flash memory
SDHC card
| built-in flash memory
SDHC card
| built-in flash memory
SDHC card
| Recording Medium ? |
| Medium included ? | No
| No
| No
| Medium included ? |
| Effective pixels ? | 9290000 Pixel | | | Effective pixels ? |
| Resolutions ? | 3520 x 2640 - Max
| 3648 x 2736 max
| 3264 x 2448 | Resolutions ? |
| Standard ? | JPEG Exif 2.2
| JPEG Exif 2.2
| JPEG Exif 2.2
| Standard ? |
| Flash ? | Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| Flash ? |
Misc.
|
| [ top ] | JVC GZ-HM550 | JVC GZ-HM1 | Canon HF S11 | |
| Specials | Bluetooth | | | Specials |
Product Shots
|
| [ top ] | JVC GZ-HM550 | JVC GZ-HM1 | Canon HF S11 | |
| View 1 | | | | View 1 |
| View 2 | | | | View 2 |
Test results
|
| Test pictures |
| [ top ] | JVC GZ-HM550 | JVC GZ-HM1 | Canon HF S11 | |
| 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 ? | Very good | Good | Good | Lowlight ? |
| Resolution ? | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Resolution ? |
| Color performance ? | Very good | Good | Very good | Color performance ? |
| subj.Picture impression ? | Good | Good | Very good | subj.Picture impression ? |
| Optical Zoom ? | Satisfactory | Sufficient | Sufficient | Optical Zoom ? |
| Wide Angle ? | Poor | Poor | Poor | Wide Angle ? |
| Configuration / image ? | Satisfactory | Good | Good | Configuration / image ? |
| Configuration / sound ? | Sufficient | Satisfactory | Satisfactory | Configuration / sound ? |
| Handling ? | Satisfactory | Good | Satisfactory | Handling ? |
| Portability ? | Very good | Very good | Very good | Portability ? |
| Photo function ? | Satisfactory | 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) | 357 | 354 | 354 | Total score ?
(maximal 570) |
| Pros | - Adjustable aperture and shutter
-Very good sharpness
-Very good low light behavior
| -Sharpness
-Good low light behavior
- External buttons for focus, shutter, aperture + custom key
| + Many manual controls
| Pros |
| Cons | - manual controls are a bit slow
- sparse wide angle
- display not sharp enough
- "loud colors"
| - small wide-angle
- strong, non-adjustable colors
| - focusing is hard
- no 1/25 sec. shutter speed in cinema mode
- small wide angle
| Cons |
| Conclusion | Such a remarkable sharpness, good low light and manual options cannot be found elsewhere in this price range.However, the complicated operation of the camera with its deep submenus ruins the potential fun of manual control.Also, one should be aware of the creative limits set by the minimum focal length of about 48 mm (kb).Setting the focus maually is difficult due to the small and not very sharp display.Clearly, this camera is interesting mainly for "automatic" film makers, who do not need much manual control or wide angle, but are searching for great sharpness and a good low-light performance without having to spend much. | The GZ-HM1 is leading in the race for sharpness in its 1000 Euro range of 2010 camcorders.Also in low light conditions the camera makes a good impression.In spite of its price tag it is not possible to adjust the colors, which is unfortunate because they remain a matter of taste and are sometimes even on the verge of being critical.The external controls will be interesting for people who like to manually adjust things and be in control.In addition to the inertia of the parameters, the user must decide if a fast white balance or the focus aids should be assigned to the custom key.Because for the other it means diving into the menue via laser touch.Also, the small wide angle is not very inspiring. | Compared with its predecessor Canon indeed could enhance ist low light capabilitiesThe high photo pixel resolution results in a good but not unique video resolution and focussing is harder with a Canon model compared with a Sony or Panasonic.In return the cam has got a lot of interesting controls and features ehich are only topped by Panasonic | Conclusion |
More information
|
| Reviews and Forums |
| [ top ] | JVC GZ-HM550 | JVC GZ-HM1 | Canon HF S11 | |
| slashCAM Review | | | | slashCAM Review |
| external reviews/tests | | | | external reviews/tests |
| Comparison |  JVC GZ-HM550 compared to Panasonic HC-V707
JVC GZ-HM550 compared to Sony HDR-CX570
JVC GZ-HM550 compared to Sony HDR-CX350V
JVC GZ-HM550 compared to Canon HF M31
JVC GZ-HM550 compared to Canon HF200
JVC GZ-HM550 compared to Sony HDR-SR11
JVC GZ-HM550 compared to Panasonic HDC-HS60
JVC GZ-HM550 compared to Canon HF10
JVC GZ-HM550 compared to Canon HF11
JVC GZ-HM550 compared to JVC GZ-HD30
JVC GZ-HM550 compared to JVC GZ-HD40
JVC GZ-HM550 compared to Canon HV20
JVC GZ-HM550 compared to JVC GZ-HM400
JVC GZ-HM550 compared to Canon HV10
JVC GZ-HM550 compared to JVC GZ-HD6
JVC GZ-HM550 compared to Sanyo Xacti HD2000
JVC GZ-HM550 compared to Panasonic HDC-HS20
JVC GZ-HM550 compared to Canon HF R16
| JVC GZ-HM1 compared to Panasonic HDC-HS900
JVC GZ-HM1 compared to Panasonic HDC-TM900
JVC GZ-HM1 compared to Panasonic HDC-SDT750
JVC GZ-HM1 compared to Panasonic HDC-TM700
JVC GZ-HM1 compared to Panasonic HDC-SD707
JVC GZ-HM1 compared to Sony HDR-CX570
JVC GZ-HM1 compared to Sony HDR-XR550V
JVC GZ-HM1 compared to Panasonic HDC-SD600
JVC GZ-HM1 compared to JVC GZ-HM845
JVC GZ-HM1 compared to Sony HDR-CX350V
JVC GZ-HM1 compared to Panasonic HDC-HS300
JVC GZ-HM1 compared to Panasonic HDC-SD300
JVC GZ-HM1 compared to Sony HDR-CX305V
JVC GZ-HM1 compared to Canon HF M31
JVC GZ-HM1 compared to Canon HF20
JVC GZ-HM1 compared to Canon HF M41
JVC GZ-HM1 compared to Canon HF M36
JVC GZ-HM1 compared to Panasonic HDC-HS60
| Canon HF S11 compared to Panasonic HDC-HS900
Canon HF S11 compared to Panasonic HDC-TM900
Canon HF S11 compared to Panasonic HDC-SDT750
Canon HF S11 compared to Panasonic HDC-TM700
Canon HF S11 compared to Panasonic HDC-SD707
Canon HF S11 compared to Sony HDR-CX730
Canon HF S11 compared to Sony HDR-XR550V
Canon HF S11 compared to Panasonic HDC-SD600
Canon HF S11 compared to JVC GZ-HM845
Canon HF S11 compared to JVC GZ-HM960
Canon HF S11 compared to Panasonic HDC-HS300
Canon HF S11 compared to Panasonic HDC-SD300
Canon HF S11 compared to Sony HDR-CX305V
Canon HF S11 compared to Canon HF M32
Canon HF S11 compared to Canon HF21
Canon HF S11 compared to Canon HF20
Canon HF S11 compared to Canon HF M41
Canon HF S11 compared to Canon HF M36
| Comparison |
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| Forum posts |
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