Engadget HD goes hands-on with JVC's Everio HD40 camcorder

Engadget HD managed to acquire one of JVC's Everio HD40 camcorders -- you know, that HD shooter with 120GB of onboard storage. If you're interested in seeing it get unboxed and manhandled (along with comparison shots with Samsung's delightful SC-HMX20C), click on over and enjoy. For those wanting some serious impressions, keep a check on this space -- we'll be forming some opinions and penning a review here shortly.

[Travis Pulley @ Jul 4th 2008 9:12PM]

I like how it says 16:9 widescreen under the screen. I may mistake it for some other kind of rectangle every time I use the thing. Nice camera though.

[chris @ Jul 4th 2008 9:33PM]

i'm interested in this for school as long as it doesn't save footage in some bizarre format like m2ts like hd sony handycams do.

[GatgetMan @ Jul 5th 2008 1:46AM]

Get the Samsung, MP4 all the way

[wlp @ Jul 4th 2008 9:59PM]

sold a few of these at work (in australia). has always surprised me that this is JVC's flagship, misses features like a viewfinder that their older models have and costs quite a bit more. The only upside is obviously the 120gb HDD and 1080p output, but when is one going to need all that space? I have learned to live with 60min recording due to good old MiniDV.

[imissstacy @ Jul 4th 2008 11:19PM]

I tried one of these JVC camcorders once and took it back almost immetiatly. Unless something has changed with these models, they are incompatible with Final Cut Pro on the mac. It is rediculous that you would have to run the footage through a converstion program just to make it work with a video editor. I ended up using a really cheap camera from Aiptek that is awesome. The Aiptek cameras don't have as many features as the fancy cameras, but they have HD resolution (either 720p or 1080p depending on the model) and cost so little they are practically disposable. (roughly $130 to $200). The camera recharges using a USB cable and when you plug it into your computer, it shows up as an external drive. No proprietary software to install. All the files are encoded in H.264.

[Joe @ Jul 7th 2008 1:53PM]

I've heard complaints about the sound of Aipteks. What's your experience?

[ronzo @ Jul 4th 2008 11:59PM]

JVC needs to work on their lower light capability... I'm not talking darkness. I'm talking less than sunlight capability. As long as you're in the sun, their Everio camcorders do fine. Go indoors and they stink.

I'll never buy one again...

[Xee @ Jul 5th 2008 3:16PM]

Meh. When someone comes out with a camcorder that can match the 25Mbps of HDV, maybe I'll be interested; I'll stick to tape for now.