Two New High-Definition HDD Camcorders from JVC Are Ultra-Compact

Two new camcorders from JVC-the GZ-HD320 and the GZ-HD300-are two of the smallest HDD camcorders on the planet - Oh, and did I mention that they shoot in full high-definition? Traditionally, HDD (hard disk drive) camcorders have been the bulkiest in size when compared to other types of camcorders, including miniDV and Flash models. The difference in size amongst these camcorders is definitely shrinking - at least that's the conclusion we can draw from these new JVC models.

The GZ-HD320 and GZ-HD300 measure approximately 2 x 2.7 x 4.5 inches and weigh less than 12 ounces! There's no doubt these pint-sized camcorders are compact, but do they have any good features packed into their little bodies? They sure do:

JVC GZ-HD320:

Capable of shooting high-definition video at 1920 x 1080 resolution

Built-in 120 GB hard drive - enough storage for about 50 hours of HD-footage

20x optical zoom

Stores footage in the AVCHD format

JVC GZ-HD300:

Capable of shooting high-definition video at 1920 x 1080 resolution

Built-in 60 GB hard drive - enough storage for about 25 hours of HD-footage

20x optical zoom

Stores footage in the AVCHD format

Also to be included with each of these new JVC models is a useful one-touch YouTube upload feature that makes it a breeze to upload HD videos to YouTube.

Interestingly enough, these new camcorders from JVC are aimed at getting women interested in the camcorder market. JVC says that female engineers were very active in the design of these new models in order to get a better sense of what women would want in a camcorder. One of these female engineers said, "The selling point is the combination of the compact body that comfortably fits in a female's palm and the high functionality, such as its HD compatibility and the optical 20x zoom" (Mariko Fukushima, engineer in the JVC camcorder division). The color combinations available for these camcorders were also chosen in an effort to appeal to women: Precious Silver, Rouge Red and Royal Blue.

These are just the preliminary facts and figures regarding the GZ-HD320 and GZ-HD300. We'll find out more about these two innovative camcorders when they hit store shelves in early 2009 with price tags expected to be about $700 for the JVC GZ-HD300 and about $800 for the GZ-HD320. Based on the initial report though, these two little shooters are definitely worth getting excited about!