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MillimeterJVC GZ-HD7: World’s First 1920x1080 MPEG-2 Camcorder, Part 1
Sep 7, 2007 12:00 PM, By Steve Mullen
White Balance
Like most consumer camcorders, the HD7 has been tuned to image Caucasian skin as a “healthy” pinkish-tan rather than a more accurate pale white. This red push, plus the camcorder's saturation level, can lead to “sunburned” faces. Therefore, I recommend these settings: use MWB for artifical illumination; use AWB (or MWB) under Sunlight; use MWB under Overcast/Cloudy, and Open Shade; use Fine for Daylight Fluorescent Illumination; and use Cloudy when shooting indoors and the majority of illumination is from skylight.
The HD7's latitude and vertical smear are typical of CCD-based camcorders.
Click here for a larger image
Sensitivity
I estimate the GZ-HD7 has about a 9-lux sensitivity with AGC enabled. (That would be a Japanese rating of 18 lux.) If I'm correct, a 9-lux sensitivity will be a significant negative to many shooters. According to JVC, the maximum gain applied in AGC mode is +18dB—although my estimate is +12dB. Whatever the numbers, the GZ-HD7 is very useable in most situations where there was a normal level of illumination. When you need to avoid video gain noise, simply engage Twilight mode to limit gain to about +6dB.
Focus and Zoom
Fujinon supplies the Everio’s 10X optical-zoom lens, which maintains nearly the same brightness (f/1.8-f/1.9) throughout its f=3.3mm-to-33mm optical zoom range (a 35mm equivalent of 39.5mm to 395mm). Unlike most lenses, the Fujinon has little lateral chromatic aberration on high-contrast objects.
To focus, you can use either auto or manual focus. With manual focus, you will likely want to engage Focus Assist. The 207,000-pixel, 2.8in. LCD and large 0.57in., 269,000-pixel color VF will now switch to black and white. Use the wonderful wide rubber ring on the lens to adjust focus. Edges in sharp focus can be outlined in red, blue, or green.
Because the focus ring drives an “inner focus” servo system, you do not need to zoom to full Tele before you focus. However, if you plan to zoom in during a shot—before the shot—zoom in to the maximum point of your planned zoom and focus. If you don’t plan to zoom, or plan to zoom back, frame your shot and focus.
You can enable AF with the Focus Assist system engaged so you can monitor AF operation. Allow AF to achieve focus and then disengage AF before the shot. While AF worked well under good illumination, in low-light, I did not find AF useable as it “hunted.”
Unless you have the HD7 on a tripod, even with a very steady hand, you will not want to zoom past 3X because of the camera’s dreadfully ineffective OIS system. Thankfully, at 3X, the 35mm equivalent focal length is about f=140mm—a more than an adequate “medium-tele” focal length.
Audio Functions
The HD7’s audio limiter effectively prevented clipping. Moreover, there was no “pumping” of the audio level from gain added at low signal levels. Unfortunately, the omni-directional surface mounted stereo mic is exceedingly sensitive to wind, even with Wind Filter engaged. When there was no breeze, the integral mic sounded fine. When you plug in an external mic to the 1/8in. stereo “power-plug” jack, dual level meters are displayed.
The HD7 camcorder has an industry standard four-pole, 1/8in. AV jack. Unfortunately, whoever designed the original AV jack specification a decade ago made it incompatible with all 1/8in. headphone plugs (circles). The solution is simple: head to Radio Shack and buy an iPod cable plus an “in-line” 1/8in. female stereo jack. Wire as shown in the diagram at right.
