| |
Model
|
| Sony HDR-CX690 | JVC GZ-HM960 |
| Picture ? | | |
| Manufacturer | Sony 
| JVC 
|
| Name | HDR-CX690 | GZ-HM960 |
| European name ? | HDR-CX690VE | GZ-HM960 |
| US name ? | HDR-CX690 | GZ-HM960 |
| lowest US price | (1199) $ | (999) $ |
| On the market since | March 2011 | April 2011 |
|
|
Test preview
|
| [ top ] | Sony HDR-CX690 | JVC GZ-HM960 |
| slashCAM rating ? | Very good
 | Good
 |
| test picture 1200 Lux | | |
| Test image 12 lux auto-mode | | |
Video
|
| [ top ] | Sony HDR-CX690 | JVC GZ-HM960 |
| Video formats ? | AVCHD SD MPEG2
| AVCHD
|
| Recording Medium | SD Card SDHC card Memory Stick PRO Duo SDXC card
| SDHC card built-in flash memory SDXC card
|
| video resolutions EU ? | AVCHD 1920 x 1080/50p AVCHD 1440 x 1080/50i AVCHD 1920 x 1080/50i AVCHD 1920 x 1080/25p SD MPEG2 720 x 576
| AVCHD 1920 x 1080/50i
|
| video resolutions US ? | AVCHD 1920 x 1080/60i AVCHD 1920 x 1080/24p AVCHD 1440 x 1080/60i SD MPEG2 720 x 480 AVCHD 1920 x 1080/60p
| AVCHD 1920 x 1080/60i
|
| Max Bitrate ? | 28 Mbit/s | 24 Mbit/s |
| Compression format ? | MPEG2 MPEG4
| MPEG4
|
| on-board memory ? | | 16 GB |
| Optics |
| Optics Manufacturer ? | Sony
| JVC HD
|
| Optical Zoom ? | 10 x | 10 x |
| Wide Angle 16:9 ? | 26,3 mm | 29,5 mm |
| Filter diameter ? | 37 mm | - mm |
| Image Stabilization ? | optically and electronically
| optically and electronically
|
| ND Filter ? | No
| No
|
| Exchangable optics ? | No
| No
|
| Image Sensor |
| Number of sensors ? | 1 | 1 |
| Size of image sensor ? | 1/2, 9 inches
| 1/2, 33 inches
|
| image sensor effective pixel count 16:9 ? | 6140000 Pixel | |
| Image Sensor Type ? | CMOS
| CMOS
|
| Controls |
| White Balance ? | auto manual presets WB-Shift
| auto manual presets
|
| Focus ? | auto manual
| auto manual
|
| Minimum shutter time ? | 1/10.000 | 1/4000 |
| Maximum shutter time ? | 1/8 | 1/2 |
| Apperture control ? | auto manual AE-Shift
| auto manual
|
| Infrared recording ? | Yes
| No
|
| Expanded Focus ? | Yes
| No
|
| Peaking ? | Yes
| Yes
|
| Signal Processing |
| Zebra ? | 100% No
| No
|
| Histogram ? | No
| No
|
| adjustable sharpness ? | | No
|
| Adjustable color ? | | No
|
| Cinegamma ? | Yes
| No
|
| Black Strech ? | No
| No
|
| Knee ? | No
| No
|
| Colorbars ? | No
| No
|
| Misc. |
| Shot Transition ? | No
| No
|
| Custom Presets ? | No
| No
|
| Set Time Code ? | No
| No
|
Configuration
|
| Connections |
| [ top ] | Sony HDR-CX690 | JVC GZ-HM960 |
FBAS ? synonymous: RCA, composite | Out
| |
YC ? synonymous: S-Video | About Special Equipment
| No
|
YUV ? synonymous: Component Signal | Out
| Out
|
| HDMI ? | Out
| Out
|
DV / HDV (FireWire) ? synonymous: ILink / IEEE-1394 | - | - |
| USB ? | USB 2.0
| USB 2.0
|
| Microphone / Audio input ? | Mini-jack
| No
|
| Headphones ? | 3.5 mm mini-jack
| No
|
| Lanc ? | No
| No
|
| Time-code interface ? | No
| No
|
| Genlock ? | No
| No
|
| Accessory shoe ? | AI
| No
|
| HD-SDI ? | No
| No
|
| Misc. |
| Weight (without battery) | 455 g | 330 g |
| Weight (with battery) | 490 g | 370 g |
| Battery type | Sony NP-FV50
| JVC BN-VG114E
|
| Battery capacity | | 1400 mAh |
| Charger ? | internal
| internal
|
| Remote control | Yes
| Yes
|
| Size |
| Height | 66 mm | 54 mm |
| Width | 74 mm | 62 mm |
| Depth | 143 mm | 121 mm |
| Relative Size ? | 6 | 4 |
| Viewfinder |
| Viewfinder available ? | Yes
| No
|
| Color Viewfinder ? | Color
| - |
| Viewfinder format ? | 16:9 | - |
| Viewfinder pixels ? | 201600 Pixel | |
| Display |
| Display available ? | Yes
| Yes
|
| Color display ? | Color
| Color
|
| Display size | 3,0 Inch | 3,5 Inch |
| Display format ? | 16:9 | 16:9 |
| Display pixels ? | 921000 Pixel | 920000 Pixel |
| Touch Screen ? | Yes
| Yes
|
| External controls |
| Manual Zoom ? | Rocker Zoom ring multi-assigned
| Rocker
|
| Manual Focus ? | Menu bi-functional focus or aperture wheel
| Menu
|
| Manual Aperture ? | Menu bi-functional focus or aperture wheel
| Menu
|
| Focus switcher ? | No
| No
|
| ND Filter ? | No
| No
|
| Exp Lock ? | No
| No
|
| Gain ? | No
| No
|
| White balance ? | No
| No
|
| Push AF ? | No
| No
|
| Audio Levels ? | No
| No
|
Custom Keys ? synonymous: User buttons | No
| 1 |
Audio
|
| [ top ] | Sony HDR-CX690 | JVC GZ-HM960 |
| Audio Formats ? | AC-3 Dolby Digital 5.1 640 kbit max. Dolby AC-3 Digital 2 channel 48 KHz
| Dolby AC-3 Digital 2 channel 48 KHz
|
| Microphone ? | Stereo internal Mini-jack external
| Stereo internal
|
| Audio Control ? | auto manual
| auto
|
| Audio levels ? | Viewfinder Screen
| No
|
Still
|
| [ top ] | Sony HDR-CX690 | JVC GZ-HM960 |
| Recording Medium ? | Memory Stick Duo SD Card SDHC card SDXC card
| built-in flash memory SDHC card SDXC card
|
| Medium included ? | No
| No
|
| Effective pixels ? | | |
| Resolutions ? | 4672 x 2628 - Max
| 3968 x 2976 - Max
|
| Standard ? | JPEG Exif 2.2
| JPEG Exif 2.2
|
| Flash ? | Yes
| Yes
|
Misc.
|
| [ top ] | Sony HDR-CX690 | JVC GZ-HM960 |
| Specials | integrated (?) USB cable | 2D -> 3D converter, Bluetooth, 3D display |
Product Shots
|
| [ top ] | Sony HDR-CX690 | JVC GZ-HM960 |
| View 1 | | |
| View 2 | | |
Test results
|
| Test pictures |
| [ top ] | Sony HDR-CX690 | JVC GZ-HM960 |
| luminance resolution | | |
| chrominance resolution | | |
| lens distortion | | |
| test small ISO image | | |
| noise / internal microphone | | |
| test picture 1200 Lux | | |
| Test image 12 lux auto-mode ? | | |
| Test image 12 lux optimized ? | | |
| Manufacturers URL | Website Sony | Website JVC |
| slashCAM rating |
| Lowlight ? | Very good | Very good |
| Resolution ? | Very good | Very good |
| Color performance ? | Good | Good |
| subj.Picture impression ? | Very good | Good |
| Optical Zoom ? | Sufficient | Sufficient |
| Wide Angle ? | Excellent | Excellent |
| Configuration / image ? | Good | Satisfactory |
| Configuration / sound ? | Poor | Poor |
| Handling ? | Good | Satisfactory |
| Portability ? | Very good | Very good |
| Photo function ? | Satisfactory | Satisfactory |
| Optics ? | Good | Good |
| Dynamics ? | Good | Good |
| Conclusion slashCAM |
| slashCAM rating ? | Very good
 | Good
 |
Total score ? (maximal 570) | 400 | 378 |
| Pros | + 50P Recording + Big wide angle + Good touch functions + Very good low light behavior
| + Lowlight + wide angle
|
| Cons | - Image characteristics can not be changed - few image control options - Small (touch) screen
| - few manual control options - Complicated operation
|
| Conclusion | The hardware configuration is quite interesting considering the price range.The sharp display could be somewhat larger though.The wide-angle with virtually no lens distorsion is unique.The Bildqualiät and the low light performance are also competitive.Those who can do without helpful things like histogram or changeable image characteristics get a nice piece of technology for a reasonable price.For ambitious filmmakers who want more control over their shooting the competition offers more value for the money. | The JVC GZ-HM960 is a very sharp camera with a solid technical foundation, but unfortunately it doesn´t recommend itself for ambitious videographers.Too little manual control is offered along with the otherwise very up-to-date technical specs.Rather, the GZ-HM960 will appeal to users who are interested in technical gadgets.The 3D mode, however, is no comparison to real 3D camcorders and should be seen more as a gimmick.The similarly constructed but cheaper GZ-HM845 on the other hand, would be a pretty interesting device in its price class, if only JVC would have enabled more manual features.In its 1000 Euro price class the competition by now allows more manual control. |
More information
|
| Reviews and Forums |
| [ top ] | Sony HDR-CX690 | JVC GZ-HM960 |
| slashCAM Review | | |
| external reviews/tests | | |
| Forum posts | Test: SonyHDR-CX700 and CX690 HDR
| |
| |