Review: JVC GY-HM170 / GY-HM200 4K camcorder 

I am owner of this camera. Just an information: There is a firmware upgrade on the JVC-website for 24p since one month.

An excellent review. I'm grateful for the pros and cons and your positive presentation even with the caveats you mentioned. I benefited very much from this review. Thank you.

Thanks for this interesting review, always interesting to hear what is available and what it can do! We recently bought the Panasonic HC-VX870 so 4K suddenly became interesting ;-D

Now they come with the XLR handle like the HM200, Free JVC QAW0067-003 mic and coming soon (December 2015) 120FPS at 1080P. Search here for "GY-HM200 1920x1080 120p footage". Applies to HM170 and HM200.

2018 update, you can buy this camera bundled with the XLR handle, and it also will now do live streaming. For the money its the best I could find and your review confirms this. I needed something I could plug my audio mixer into and get good control over professional audio. The small camcorders just fail to work that way, so had to move up to this camera, and from what I have seen it will be far more professional that what I really need. Great review. Thanks.

great review. got this camera and am very happy w/ it so far. i plan on using it for fiction filmmaking, and i think it will work out as long as i take my time w/ the camera. some video that i shot on it a few weeks ago - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-xdX-0jzP36A.html

I don't know why the manufacturers of these camcorders don't think to have fixed lenses with constant apertures. Imagine how much better it would be if it were f2.8 constant! Yes, that would add some cost and bulk, but I think a lot of pros would be willing to pay the premium.

A reviewer on the US B&H website mentions" long start up time" as a negative. I guess you can never get everything you want in one package - there's always going to be something that's less than perfect and it's not a deal-breaker as they say. I may be spoiled by the old Panny revving up in 3 seconds flat from switch on. I think the plus points are going to far out-weigh any minus points!

Thanks for the review. I'll be using one of theses next week for an event. Very helpful.

Thanks for the great review ! I just bought one (should get it in a week) with the XLR handle. Can't wait to try it out !

Great Job -- I appreciate your work on this. Onward!

Thanks for the review, I like your style!! A question I have is about the lens-faults. For example at minute 14:00 and especially minute 14:10, there is a huge difference between centre-focus and focus at the edges of your image. At minute 14:10, all cars are at almost the same distance to the lens. So I would expect a comparable sharpness across the frame, yet that is not the case at all. Both edges are very 'nervous' to my eye. It also has some chromatic aberration (purple/green fringing). Would you think this can be solved by stopping down the lens to f/2 and higher??

do you have that problem with the light (getting dark) when you zoom in other camcorder like panasonic 970 or sony ax100?

JVC could not have done more, I agree. But you should take lessons in two areas: Teaching and video controls. You spent about 45 sec to talk about the lens protection cap, but not one second about the so-called "hood" (sunshade). The user manual says "align the hood with the two markings and turn it clockwise until locked". Well, I tried it with more and more force until I returned the camera, It never locked anywhere and I did not want to break it. Zoom: You don't understand why we need a ring for manual zooming> My first camera (50 ears ago) was a BOLEX 8mm. It had a ring and I screwed a stick on it. Why? There are people who want to zoom slower than any automatic (which we didn't have at that time). Not those who want to pan and zoom as fast as possible to show everything in 3 seconds that might need 30. I've seen people on top of a mountain standing doing 360 degree pans. And then I saw Sergio Leone's movies - slowly zooming on to the mouth of an arrogant lady eating a cherry by holding the stem until the last moment. Then the mouth of a priest chewing his food without offering anything to god. Zooming was not invented for dilettantes to be faster, but for professionals to have a better way to put emphasis into a scene. Some dilettantes come to think they are professionals in every field - like teaching the functions of a video camera. I could go on, but it would be lost time on you. The JVC 170 180 ... are great cameras for those who really want to bring the full power of image sequences, live reports or interviews, and much more onto a TV screen. Take the teaching lessons, please, and then come back. You talk but you are missing most points.

That was such a very good and informative video and comparison of the two "almost similar" JVC basic 4K UHD camcorders !!!! *- How you can compare "JVC HM-200" to the "Canon XA10 or XA20" ??* *- Which camcorder possibly you will choose for yourself to have for usage it by yourself ??* I am owner of that Canon XA10 for a while. - For any changes in set-ups and manipulation, you have to go through ugly touch screen of the LCD display. It is a hilarious time consuming procedure, to go EVERY TIME from main Menu, through all the branches of so many sub-menus to find the function which one you want to adjust. It is a very much complicated, inconvenient and very much time consuming procedure !!!! - - Canon XA10 & 20 camcorders they have no physical buttons or rings on the lens, dedicated or assigned to the basic and the most usable functions of this video camera like: WB, iris, focus, Gain, manual zoom, etc. - - - At least, going through the branches of so many sub-menus of Canon XA10, you can bring on the LCD screen: Waveform Monitor / Histogram & Vectroscope !!! - - - - Moreover, when you are shooting in strong sunlight ... the screen is less visible. So the whole process to change something on the touch LCD screen, is also a big time challenging and also a time consuming adventure. Beside this Canon XA-10, also I own these funny video cameras: 1. JVC GZ-HM35BU ... UHD camcorder, I have purchased from the second hand store 2. JVC GZ-HD5U ... (3 CCD - HD), I received as a gift from my fellow friend 3. JVC GC-XA1BU ... Wi-Fi action camera, I have also purchased from the second hand store - - - - - Sir ... you can believe me or not, but even if I have my own "Canon" XA10, mostly I am using these JVC made little video cameras for my video productions. I like them more, for some convenient reasons. - - - - - - One of so many reasons, why I prefer shooting with JVC camcorders, is the overall much better quality of the recorded picture and sound. Recordings from JVC are better colour saturated (warm), they appear richer in detail and more beautifully colorful. They're look kinda ~juicy~ & brighter especially on sunshine day !!!! - - - - - - - Instead, from Canon XA10 camcorder, recordings are less saturated and colours are more bluish mixed with the gray (cool & frosty) !! The best simple difference between recordings with JVC & Canon, is possible to observe using your eyes, when you are looking at the same green grass and colorful flowers of being shoot simultaneously under the same lighting condition. - - - - - - - - JVC camcorders are responding much better with colour reception than Canons. !!!! For Canon video camera recordings I have to later always use colour correction software, while I am editing them together. It is a time & effort consuming unwanted procedure !!!! I am looking forward to possibly sell my XA-10 and to buy similar or even a bit better JVC 4K Ultra HD camcorder for a reason of unification of my video equipment. From your professional experience, which model of JVC camcorder you would suggest me to purchase, to replace my Canon XA10 ?? Sir, any idea ?? Please, respond !!!! Thank you so much. Have a great day :o) Sincerely, Remi Kowalski Ontario, CANADA

FIRMWARE UPDATE 120 FPS!!! PLEASE UPDATE REVIEW!!! Seeing that they updated the firmware can you go back and review the 120fps feature added to the JVC GY-HM170. they say full hd, but does it record 1080p at 120fps? or only 720p ? 4k 120fps? they don't give the specs on their site as to what exactly do they mean by hd 120fps. Too many companies are still riding the "Full HD" (actually 720p) wave. Thanks!

Thanks for the so honest and open review! If some feature is bad, only a native Britishman can share it in such a politely manner, thanks for that as well !!!!

where/how do you try out this camera to see if it is right for you? Also, very helpful and detailed video.

does it have better quality than panasonic hc-wx970 or sony ax100 ??

Great review! Yours was the first to pop up when I searched on it. Considering using this for my new studio camera as it can output 1080p 30 on its HDMI port.

I want to buy this camera to film skateboarding, with and without a fisheye lens, would you recommend this camera?

Was finally let down on a shoot by both of my tape based HD Canon XH-A1 and looking at buying a couple of these in 2022 for E1200 (each of course) and this was a very helpful video. Great work all those years ago.

Is this camera good for narrative work? Because that's what I do the most. I do some event recording but I will mainly use it to shoot short films. Is this camera great for that or should I look elsewhere?

I juat unboxed my camcorder and the focus ring or zoom rings do not work at all... is there a certain shooting mode I need to be in to have access to these features?

I have been having real difficulties filming (interview) people with dark skin color in low light conditions. Is there a way to adjust settings or anything to remedy this? (lamps is not an option).

Please how to charge? The cords are strange looking. Please help

What are the dimensions of the camera without the lens cover?

Hi! Great review, thanks for that! Could you tell me if there is a possibility to shoot in log with this model? The hm300 got j-log with the 2.0 update, but the 170 and 200? I can't find any info...

Hi David, Thank you for the excellent review of the JVC HM 170. Are you going to make another review for the HM 200 too? I liked the shots you showed in the review, but I'm not sure, how to interpret it. You said, that you made the shots in 4K and then reproduced in 2K. Can I play the 4k record directly from the camcorder on a 2K TV via HDMI, or do I have to process the 4K record first by a suitable editing program on the PC to get 2K out of 4K? (This is more a stupid general question , which applies to the Sony X70 and Panasonic X1000 as well) Finally, what would be your recommendation, if I could choose between Sony PXW X 70, the JVC HM 200 and Canon XF200? The Canon is the most expensive here in Austria and only 2K, but I just want a crispy sharp picture with nice colors in 2K and of course I'd prefer to have more rings and buttons.. Originally I considered also the Panasonic X1000, but the reviews are not convincing, and the footage I saw so far was not as good as the one you showed now on the JVC review. Please help me with your experienced advice! Thank you! Nikola

thanks for putting in the time on these videos. Very helpful. I was wondering your opinion on the which camera I should get. I am struggling with the JVC GY-HM200, Canon XA30, and the Sony HXR-NX100. What is your opinion about picking one of those cameras? Thanks!

I love your channel! You do great videos, they are really enjoyable! I am thinking of getting a prosumer/professional camcorder. I know you made the video a while back about choosing your own camcorder to suit your needs, but I want to ask you this: Should I get the Canon XA25, or save up a bit more money to get the HM200? I need both the XLR and SDI, so these 2 camcorders seem best for me. Though the JVC is a bit out of my price range. Thank you! :)

Thanks for the excellent review and I purchased the camera after seeing it. I don't think you mentioned the slow start-up time (9 seconds from switch on to filming which can seem quite a long wait!)) I'm a pro stills photographer but only an amateur/hobbyist camcorder user so haven't used many other camcorders for comparison however my Panasonic AG-HMC41 is ready for action in about half that time. Keep up the good work!

habla español

Nice review, liked. -- You mentioned the Sony around 01:09 which I tested and sent straight back after matching it against the much better JVC GY-HM170 (I managed to obtain at a special price of just £1100-odd at that). On top of the JVC GY HM170 and-200 being so much more ergonomical and lightweight -- I nearly strained my wrist on the heavy-metal :) Sony-thing sporting a very bad and non-adjustable strap angle --, the JVC line of models have so much better image quality (granted, if you get around those weaknesses in the built-in lens you mentioned, or use the GY-LS300 altogether and with a decent lens). For my money, it's clearly the JVC GY-HM 170 and "older siblings" over anything similar.

Hello, thanks for your reviews on JVC GY-HM170. Will you be able to do one that show the 12x zoom and 24x dynamic zoom? Will like to find out the quality of the dynamic zoom before making purchase. Thanks a million!

Hello! You have reviewed both JVC GY-HM170/200 and Sony HXR-NX100. As I watch the demo footage they both have great image quality, also they are almost the same price level. What you recommend to keep in mind, if you must choose between those two? Thanks!

You didnt say anything about how it shoots in the dark. I loved your review on the sony Sony HXR-NX100. I will be buying one of theses Cameras based on your reviews. what camera do you like better. We will be doing weddings and bands so need something thats good in low light as well. Sony HXR-NX100 or the JVC GY-HM170UA ? Keep in minde that this JVC model now comes with the handle with XLR inputs this was added a few months ago. thanks

Good review ! I often film theatre-play. It's one of my jobs. Do you think this camera would feet ? ("high light"/"low light"/focus > "leading problems" when you film the scene). Thank you

Im too confused now.. i can spend up to 1k or up to 2k Euro for a good 4k camera for low light long time shooting with some monopod used for time to time. Any recomendations for the 2 price gaps i said ? Was going to buy the Canon XC10 but the 4k shooting on Cfast card at 300Mbps is overkill for me. Looking for something up to 150-200Mpbs.. So any recomendations ?

stupid design with lens cap.. on the handle side the locking nut which holds mic is to near to the shoe so you have use an extension bar to fit external monitor good review.

Hey UKA, than you so much for the excellent review. Do you think this camcorder would work really good with inside filming videos for RU-vid, just like this review with soft light boxes? Thanks

Great review and very informative! I'm contemplating purchasing this but keep hearing about a 'purple mud' effect under blue indoor LED lighting... is this something avoidable with settings or is there indeed a issue under blue LED conditions? Anyone hear of this problem?

how much of recording time did you get with the included battery? and what model is it please?

Thank you so much for a fantastic review. Based on your review I just bought the 170 today. The price was very attractive and I think it'll help my nonprofit shoot much better footage.

Which are best in low light Canon XA20, Sony X70 or JVC GY-HM200? Jvc seems good in 1.2 -1.8.

Im interesting in this camera for social events example wedding, Do you think it would be useful this camera?

I noticed that this camcorder has a CMOS sensor instead of the 3 CCD (groan). Does this camcorder suffer from the rolling shutter "jello" effect?

What do you recommend between the GY-HM200 and the Sony PXW-X70?

is there a reason why I can't hear any audio while i'm recording? Literally my headphone are plugged in and I can't hear anything unless I rematch the video. I want to be able to hear everything while the audio is being recorded, not just replaying it after I finish shooting? I wish I knew why this was a problem

Thanks for this very informative, objective review. My concerns relate primarily to post-production workflow, but elsewhere I learned that the 4K footage from the HM200 can be transferred seamlessly into Final Cut Pro X, which is absolutely key. You didn't deal with that in this particular video, but in any case I'd be more interested in the HM200. It would have been great to see a separate review of yours on that model, but I reckon that might be the way to go for me. Incidentally, I watched this video at work, and often had to turn away from my iPhone screen back to my desktop. Towards the end, it suddenly occurred to me that I could have been listening to David Cameron. I'm sorry if you're not a fan of the ex-PM, but you could perhaps do paid, part-time work as a voiceover man for him. He would take credit for any narration but would give you a percentage if he was on another project at the same time and couldn't do the job in person. Cheers.

Hey helpful review. Thanks so much. Are you still happy with the camera?

Horrid camera, all around. I returned mine 5 minutes after unboxing it. Joystick was defective (would stick in the up-position and scroll uncontrollably. It would also stick if you used it to point to the right). Software was wrong too, it would allow 60i, 60p, 50i, 50p, 30p and 25p... no 24p!!!!! ALL the buttons are flimsy, cheaply made, giving the impression they would fall-off if you are not careful, specially the little rocker under the lens (meant for iris control). No way this camera can be used at night or in low light situations, NO WAY. Setting a custom white balance is still a mystery for me with this cam, you can select easily from the presets, but try to set the custom one... what the hell. As I said, very disappointed on JVC. Thank God I ordered from a very good supplier who allowed me to return it. And thank you UKA for posting your opinion and sharing your experience with camera. I hope my comments help inform others as well. This cam may work for some (can't imagine who) but not for me.

What lanc controller are you using with this model?

Hello from south of France. Thank you for all your reviews : always so complete and useful !

Thanks. You are one of the few who cover the not so good points as well as the good ones in adequate detail and that is very much appreciated. Bob.

Thank you ..... VERY informative!

Thanks for the great and detailed review! Very helpful!

Hi - really enjoyed this review. Thank you :-) I am starting to make some work-related vlogs (both indoor and outdoor), as well as some family stuff, with the intention of doing some documentary/interview work in time as I get better. I am keen to invest in a 4K camera which has enough pro features to ensure that I don't outgrow it any time soon. I really like the look of the JVC GY-HM170 but am a bit concerned about the camera performance in low light and the occasional 'softness' of the images that you describe. In as far as you can, for the use I describe, would you recommend the JVC ahead of, say, the Sony FDR-AX700 (fewer features but similar price and a very good Zeiss lens) or (pushing the boat a bit further out) the Sony PXW-X70?

can you record while charging this camera, great review?!

Very Good Job, and good video You Rock Man

You mentioned buttons, buttons, buttons--but to what? Does the camera have histogram? zebra?--you did mention peaking(good)---but are you just guessing at exposure by eye?? You neglected to mention any of that unless I missed something.

i have a question, Its probably a simple fix but for some reason every time I try to pull off the video I can only do it in segments. it wont give me the file as one piece. It shows as one segment on the camera but when I connect via computer or pull sd card there are multiple segments of the one file. am I doing something wrong?

lens hood*

Thanks for the in-depth review. It's the only place I've seen confirmed my suspicions about focusing. I bought the 200 in September, I knew it was a bit of a gamble given the low price point and lack of info out about it. But generally you presume a camera is easy to focus, it's quite important after all. I used it daily for 6 weeks, I can say I was never sure if I had truly sharp focus or not. As you say sometimes you would review the footage on computer and it would look very crisp. But this can only really be said when shooting in bright sunlight. Shooting indoors even without having to add gain it becomes near impossible, even with the focus assist/expanded focus. As you say the viewfinder image is tiny. I had to resort to autofocus at times just to put my my mind at ease, but this is not particularly reliable. Has anyone else had this problem, and found some kind of work around? It seems like a major issue and I don't believe it is just me (and you) as I have been shooting for a long time, and never found it so hard to pull focus.

Yes, this did help me to decide. Thanks.

Thanks for info. Helpful.

Thanks for the info, brother...

Thank you for a helpful review.

LanC is pronounces "lan - see"

Эта камера намного лучше, чем Panasonic HC-V970 ?

An excellent review thanks

Great review. I bought the newest model last week with the handle and shotgun mic for only $1295 US. Compare that to the HM200 for $1995 and it's the same camera... almost. Note that for the oddest reason, batteries are NOT the same for the 170 and 200. The 200 uses a larger battery and WILL NOT work on the 170. I don't know if the 170 battery will work in the 200. Other issue is the AUX input. If you insert a 3.5mm MIC into the slot, the mic MUST have power. JVC does not supply the requisite 1.5v that other consumer camcorders with mic in use. I verified this by using a Rode SmartLav+ with the TRRS to TRS adapter. When I plugged the Rode into the XLR input on the handle and turned on Phantom power, it worked like a charm. So be advised, any mic plugged into the AUX jack requires it to have power.