Camcorder Test: JVC GZ-HM400

Product Unavailable Our suggested alternatives: Editor's Choice Sony HDR-CX700 Great Detail Panasonic HDC-SD900 Perfect Stability Canon HF G10

The GZ-HM400 is the new camcorder at the top of JVC's range.  With 32 GB of internal memory and an SD card reader, it offers the chance to shoot video in HD and take 9 Megapixel photos for under £800.

For its latest camcorder, JVC has managed to strike the difficult balance between ease of use and the ability to customise key features.  It's so well-finished that it looks like a professional model, and the Full HD video enjoys a great 24 Mbps bitrate in AVCHD.  Compared to its two principal rivals, the Sony HDR-CX520 and the Canon HF S11, the JVC GZ-HM400 costs less, but has only half as much internal memory.  That leaves all three neck-and-neck ...

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