Saw on the "www.camcorderinfo.com" website that the pricing of the 2 camcorders as follows
Canon HV20 Camcorder , $949.99
JVC GZ-HD7 Camcorder , $1,499.99
Presuming it is in USD.
Saw on local website the pricing in Singapore is as follows
HV20 (PAL) SGD $2299 (US Price × 2.4 )
JVC GZ-HD7 SGD$2,400.00 (US Price × 1.6 )
Anyone knows how come the Canon is much more expensive in Singapore then the pricing in US after factoring in the exchange rate?
JVC GZ-HD7AG just came into Singapore's shores recently. The retail price is SGD$2999. For SGD$3000, you have a CONSUMER class video camera with professional camcorder features. There is a manual focus ring, Fujinon HD Video lens, a mini lens hood typically seen on professional camcorders, 3CCD 1/5 inch sensors, Optical Image Stabilization, mic input, cold accessory shoe, and an extensive set of manual options.
However, there are reports from users that the Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) with JVC-HD7AG does NOT work. One user even commented that the OIS with the JVC is even worse than his USD$200 Pentax Optio W10. If the OIS worked, it is a very good buy.
Until recently, majority of the consumer camcorders do not have Optical Stabilization (OIS, lens shift system) but rather Digital/Electronic Stabilization (EIS). As all of us know, videos taken with small consumer class video cams are very SHAKY. And EIS does not help in stabilizing the SHAKINESS. To mitigate shaky effects, we often have to resort to additional support like using a 2nd arm, leaning against the wall, using a monopod, tripod, etc. Very few people can produce steady videos with consumer class camcorders, unless they have super steady hands.
Even Sony HDR-HC3, Sony's first generation HDV camcorder, does not have OIS. It's only recently that camcorder manufacturers start packing OIS into their consumer class camcorders, and well as many other manual settings, usually seen on professional camcorders.
Starting with 2nd generation HDV consumer class camcorders, that is, year 2007 camcorders, OIS is now a common feature among manufacturers. You can recognize OIS by the words OIS or Mega OIS.
For consumer class camcorders, OIS is a MUST. Otherwise we will all be shooting shaky videos. Videos shot by professional camcorders are very steady because (1) it is compulsory for them to have OIS, and (2) because of their sheer size and weight. Because professional video cams are large and heavy, and some of them can be shoulder mounted (SGD$80,000), videos taken are very steady. It is very hard to shoot steady videos with consumer class video cams unless you use some form of support, like a monopod or tripod.