Review: JVC GY-HM650 ProHD Camcorder
In performance testing, the JVC GY-HM650 produced exceptionally sharp quality. It offers very good manual controls and outstanding auto-mode performance, and shoots very well-balanced pictures in a range of lighting conditions.
By
Jan Ozer
Posted on September 16, 2013
Interestingly, unlike any other camera I can recall, when you flip from manual to automatic mode, and then back to manual, the HM650 resets the manual settings to those used in automatic mode. It’s almost like it’s saying, “Try these--your result will improve.” Obviously, there are many situations where you can’t shoot in automatic mode; for example, when a subject is backlit. When the situation calls for auto mode, it’s nice to know that your camcorder can answer the call, and the HM650 certainly can.
Otherwise, low-light quality was good, but not exceptional, about what you would expect from a camcorder with 1/3” CMOS sensors. Color reproduction was very good, but a touch muted—again, what you would expect, and nothing that you couldn’t correct with a slight saturation boost in post. From a shooting perspective, the HM650 performed very, very well.
To reiterate some of my frustrations from the previous review, I wish JVC enabled 1080p and 720p formats in AVCHD capture mode; you have to shoot in MPEG-2 for either of these formats, and I prefer H.264 over MPEG-2. More to the point, my Panasonic AG HM150 supports both these modes in AVCHD; why can’t the HM650?
Otherwise, beyond the LCD panel issue described above, which impacts only outdoor shooting, the HM650 produced exceptionally sharp quality, offers very good manual controls and outstanding auto-mode performance, and shoots very well balanced pictures in a range of lighting conditions.
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