The Lens was a terrible too. Smeary color, breathed like a moefoe when racking focus. The HVX 200 has much better glass.
Really? I haven't used the 300, but have felt that the HVX's focus wheel was way too light. Exhale next to the camera & your focus is off. I want a smooth lens, but I also want some drag.
The JVC 700s have CCDs, but I feel that they're very plastic-y, and if you know how to shoot with CMOS, viewers will probably have no idea that you're using CMOS. I used a couple on a month long gig, the LCD felt like it was already out of alignment (hard to open), I could see some bad pixels & the camera light was able to blow the power if you bumped the wrong switch.
The JVC 700 has a lot of great things on paper & design. I just think their recent line of cameras have been the Kia's of "pro" cameras.
I have a Sony Z7U w/ 1/3" CMOS & I think it does awesome in low light. But then I try to always shoot 30p or 24p, so I'm gaining a full stop of light over shooting 60i & a 1/60 shutter. And most of my experience before getting the Z7 was with old Betacams & a first gen Panasonic 2/3" DVCPro HD camera that sucked down light like a monster.