John Neely

Since the summer of 2006, a record number of consumer HD camcorders have burst onto the scene, with more HDV models than ever before, as well as a burgeoning selection of AVCHD camcorders that record to flash memory, DVD, and HDD. Yet the buzz around JVC’s first HD Everio – the GZ-HD7 – has caused more than a few camcorder buyers to bide their time in anticipation of its spring 2007 release. Well, the wait is finally over, and we can confidently say the GZ-HD7 delivers on some, but not all, of its promises. The focus ring is excellent, and the Focus Assist makes dialing in crisp manual focus a breeze. In addition, a cluster of image controls on the back of the body that includes shutter speed, aperture and exposure compensation are highly accessible and efficient. In fact with its relatively large body, plethora of external buttons, and focus ring, the HD7 feels and handles like a scaled-down prosumer cam...