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JVC GRD30 MiniDV Camcorder with 2.5" LCD and 16x Optical Zoom
By: JVC       Average Rating: 2.5     Total Reviews: 42
More Information

Condensation lock     On: 2008-02-17

Had the same problem after approximately four years with the camcorder locking up in a pause mode with "condensation, operation paused" flashing on the screen. It eventually came out of it but then it happened again and again. I tried to clean the sensor in the tape bay but this did not correct the problem. I think Il just dump the damn thing and never buy from JVC again. It looks from all I read on the net that they dont even suggest a solution.

Too bad for a brand like this
Condensation Solution Works!     On: 2006-11-06

Ive had this camera for 3 years, its been pretty lightly used. No problems whatsoever until today, when I got the dreaded "condensation error" message. After reading the doom and gloom in other reviews of this product, I was ready to throw it (and the $300 I paid for it) in the trash, until I saw the "fix" below for the condensation problem. IT WORKS! I had to do it a couple of times, but everything is working A-OK. If you get the error message, dont despair - just get out a couple of Q-Tips and youll be back in business in 5 minutes! THANKS!!!!
Don't buy this camcorder!!!!! Sensor problems!!!!     On: 2006-10-31

Theres nothing worse that getting a seemingly random computer message--on a desktop, a laptop, a digital camcorder or a tv--and quickly realizing that your Fathers Day gift or Christmas present has instantly become a paper weight. Well, I take that back, there is something worse: doing a quick Google search on the words "condensation operation paused" and realizing that there are scores and scores of people out there who are cursing under their breath just like you.

I have the JVC camcorder--it was a gift from my wife on the birth of my daughter. It worked fine for a year. Then one day I got the dreaded condensation message and thats all she wrote. And believe me, I live in a house so dry and devoid of condensation that I know the message is bogus. (We have forced air heat and anyone will tell you that some nights you wake up gasping for air and moisture!)


Seeing how many people have posted messages regarding this is depressing. Whats more depressing though is the universal response from JVC: this is not a known problem and theres no recall or warranty. perhaps the folks at JVC might want to Google their own products once in a while.

DO NOT BUY THIS CAMERA!!!

Matt
Another "Condensation" Loser     On: 2006-10-27

My Model GR-D30U also has the "Condensation, Operation Paused" problem with less than about 50-75 hours of use. What a Lemon!

I should have checked more closely before buying. Consumer Reports shows that JVC camcorders have a poor reliability rating.
JVC Does Not Stand Behind Their Products - JVC Lemoncorder     On: 2006-05-13

I agree with the many other users who have experienced the "Condensation, Operation Paused" defect on their JVC GR-90DU. Despite numerous others reporting this problem, JVC says its not a recognized problem. I would disagree - it is a recognized problem, but its your problem, not theirs.

If you are like me and didnt know to research JVC customer support before you bought, and now are stuck with a JVC Lemoncorder model GR-D90U that has this problem, I would encourage you to call the JVC customer support (non-support) phone number 1-800-858-6442 and report your glee at being one of the lucky. I would also encourage you to post your satisfaction on-line.

Its especially nice that the local camera repair shop charged 90 dollars to take a shot at fixing it, only to have it go away after the repair shops warranty period.

Do Not Buy JVC camcorders!
Condensation Error Again     On: 2006-04-24

We purchased the GRD50 2 years ago and with less than 50 hours use in that time we have had the dreaded Condensation Error twice now. Once during the warranty and now just last week. JVC are waiting to hear from the repairer before they commit to covering the cost of the repairs. The camera has worked perfectly other then the condensation error.
JVC GR-D30U Has Problems     On: 2006-04-16

Our family bought the JVC GR-D30U a couple of years ago and have used it infrequently, but lately its been unreliable. It worked fine for awhile and the main problem was that its wide-angle capability is poor.

About four months ago, we had to send it in because it kept saying "Lens Cap" even when the cap was off and it did not allow the camcorder to function. Apparently, JVC already had a number of complaints and had set up a free fix.

Now, though weve just encountered a new error message about "CONDENSATION. OPERATION PAUSED" and the net result is that I cannot operate any function of the camcorder.

Unfortunately, for myself, other JVC customers, and JVC itself, I can see that this problem is somewhat widespread. While I waited on the phone for the JVC customer service representative, I typed in "JVC digital camcorder condensation" into Google and found numerous listing for this problem with various JVC digital camcorders.

To my mind then, I am not the unfortunate owner of a lone, glitchy camcorder, buy the owner of a JVC camcorder that many people are having the same problem with. Therefore, it is a problem that JVC should fix free of charge to owners of these camcorders, as it did with its "Lens Cap"/"CCD Program". In fact, my lemon(?) of a camcorder had that problem and JVC did a prompt job of righting that. I got it back a couple of months ago, and now this.

However, when I spoke to JVC a few minutes ago, they told me it wasnt a "recognized problem" and I would simply have to send them the camcorder and a $50 money order for an "evaluation". Outrageous!

I hope to hear from JVC with a free and quick solution. My sons graduation is coming up in 6 weeks and this is exactly the kind of event my family bought the camcorder for.

In the meantime, I will add my my review to Amazon.com and a few other websites to vent my frustration at JVCs non-recognition of this latest manufacturing problem in the only way a lowly consumer can.
CALL this number to have camera repaired!!!!     On: 2006-04-05

Found this on JVCs website under CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION...this model is one of the reported ones, hope this helps everyone with this problem...

JVC has received reports that in certain circumstances, a small quantity of units of the models listed below, may, while in the camera mode, show no picture, a distorted picture and/or display "LENS CAP" even though the lens cap is removed. We have identified the cause as a failure of the CCD image sensor. Until October 1, 2007, repairs of units exhibiting these problems will be made free of charge at JVC Factory Service Centers. Click thisFactory Service Center link to find your nearest location. Please call (800) 858-6442 if you need any assistance in obtaining a free repair. We apologize for any inconvenience and are appreciative of your understanding and support.


DO NOT BUY THIS ITEM...I BEG YOU     On: 2006-03-31

I have heard of a few people who actual got this product to work and liked it. I cant comment on whether it works well. I can only tell you that most of them dont work at all. Some times on Amazon I read a bad review and think...it wont happen to me. Trust me...give the money to charity...throw it out a window...anything but purchase this item. And when it doesnt work, dont even bother calling jvc.

I have never written a review on Amazon, but now I can sleep better at night knowing that anyone who buys one of these cameras gets what they deserve.

Hope this helps.


It's a Piece of Garbage     On: 2006-03-24

I wish we had read all the reviews before we purchased our JVC piece of junk. After a few short hours we too got an error message about condensation. There is no condensation problem. The problem is that JVC made a defective product and could care less.
Very Disappointed, should've just burnt money spent     On: 2005-08-27

We have had the JVC GR-D30 Mini DV Camcorder for a little over a year. It could never be used during humid days outside and not very good for recording a baseball game, and basketball games inside a gym. Not only that, after a little over a year its broke and will cost $180 to fix and had to pay $30 to find out what is wrong and estimate to fix. The CCD IC Lens Assembly is screwed up. We now are just going to buy a new Camcorder.

Definitely steer clear of this brand and model.


Fine Camcorder, Until it Died     On: 2005-08-19

Loved the camera for the year and 4 moths that it worked. It is small, light, easy to use, and makes good quality video. But the image sensor broke this month and I am told it would cost at least 150 to repair. Not at all happy with dead camcorder less than 6 months after warranty expired.
Good for a while and now it is useless to me....     On: 2005-08-09

I bought this camera 18 months ago, after my SONY took a crap after 3 1/2 years (guess I am not meant to record my childrens childhood memories!). Being the cost of camcorders came down so much we decided to buy something smaller, instead of paying $$ to get the old one fixed. The salemsan told me that you cant go wrong with a JVC! Yeah Right!!! We went to video my youngest sons first birthday party and we are getting a low light flashing icons, but there is no picture available on my LCD or through the viewfinder. I now have to go through the hassle of having this thing repaired, but after reading everyones comments, I am not sure it is worth having fixed to have something else go wrong with it. I am cursed by the camcorder demon! So my obvious recommendation would be to go with something else!
not so great     On: 2005-06-21

this camera is ok. it picks up virtually no sound, its impossible to hear people talking when the tape is played back. most of time youll have to turn the t.v. volume all the way up just to hear someone talking on tape. you can also hear the motor turning the tape inside the machine in the background. keep looking around.
Solution for JVC Condensation Issue!     On: 2005-05-31

Please take the time to look at the reviews on this page. Tim Riker "Linux Technologist" writes a review (a little further down) that anyone with a JVC MiniDV camcorder should read. I too was getting the dreaded "CONDENSATION" warning that was preventing me from using my model GR-D70, a very close relative to the GR-D30. Took me a little time to identify the area where the sensor resides. Once I cleaned it off a dried it out, my camcorder worked as good as new. Thanks Tim!

Just to help others orient themselves for the cleanin process, hold the camcorder on its side, with the tape door open, lens facing right. Everything is where Tim says it should be. The silver component in question is in the rear left corner, with some orangish plasticky tape above and below. You almost cant see the small black sensor square on the right side of the component. May help to have a second pair of hands hold a flashlight in place.

Beyond the sensor issue, I have been very happy with the quality of the camera. Has held up well in the two years that Ive had it.
CONDENSATION, OPERATION PAUSED     On: 2005-05-18

This model is prone to display this error message for long periods of time. The manual says to just wait it out (1 hour recommended).

Solution: Take a slightly damp cotton swap and clean the moisture sensor.

Remove power from the camera. I remove the battery as well. In the back of where the tapes go, on the left side is a silver component. Its just behind a metal roller that hangs down from a plastic piece over the head. If you look behind the roller diagonally across where the tape goes, you can see a black square on the right side of the silver component. Clean this (gently!) with a moist cotton swab. The swap should get a bit of black gunk off. Id recommend cleaning it with a dry swab next to remove any moisture. Wait a minute or so to be sure its dry. Then re-apply power. You should not see a false consensation message for a long time. ;-)
High Hopes But Disappointed     On: 2005-03-23

I bought this camcorder for my teen daughter for Christmas in 2003. Per the product description, it is loaded with features and appeared to be a great value. However, after about six months of light usage, the circuit board went bad (according to an authorized repair center) and the camera will no longer charge the battery. We took it for repairs after the warranty period and the cost to fix it is about the same price as buying a new one. We can still use the camera, but I had to buy a charger and extra batts. Considering the problems with this model noted on this and other websites, it would be nice if JVC would offer an exchange program for a less problematic model.
Piece of Garbage     On: 2005-03-12

This camera has had many faults do not buy it...

Condensation operation ALL THE TIME!!

Crapped out when we went to Hawaii due to moisture I am assuming
Condensation problem     On: 2005-02-15

I too have the condensation error that prevents me from using the camcorder. There is no condensation. Its been stored in totally dry environments its entire life yet the condensation error prevents me from using the camcorder most of the time. Dont buy any JVC GR series camcorders as this problems seems systemic in the GRD series.
Worst Camcorder Ever     On: 2004-12-15

After two tapes and only a year and a half later the camcorder went into a lock up mode "Operation Paused Condensation," and it will only allow a tape to be inserted after approximately 50 tries. To my surprise, I got absolutely no support from JVCs tech support. What a shame I WAS a very loyal JVC customer. I wished I never had replaced my 7-year-old Sony 8mm camcorder.
JVC IS HORRIBLE and the customer support is a JOKE     On: 2004-12-11

I ONLY GAVE THIS 1 STAR BECAUSE IT DOESNT GO LOWER THAN THAT. We had this camera and used it approximately 15 hours and it had a error and said the lens cap is on and will not work. Jvcs customer support is the worst I have ever used in my life. We emailed and they said they will get back to you in 5 days... We emailed a few times and got no reply in MONTHS....... You call and push the button for support and it transfers you and hangs up....Call back and get transfered and hung up on again.... Call again and push to get the location of a store and get a message that this is down also... I called again and pushed another option and finaly get to talk to someone,,, I tell the woman that i have seen the same problem listed online on numerous sites and ask if theres a recall or anything. I get told that jvc does not do recalls but she knows what is wrong from so many other customers having this problem, and then she says it definataly needs sent in and fixed. She asks if we had the camera longer than 3 months and says they will not cover anything, or recall anything, no matter how many customers have the problem. I ended up telling her that if the product they sell is worth a crap it would last longer than 3 months. DONT BUY FROM JVC......or if you do, in a few short months ill just say...I HATE TO SAY I TOLD YA SO.
good value, if it doesn't break     On: 2004-05-12

I bought this model JVC mini DV camcorder one year ago when it was first released. The price then was $375 after a $25 rebate, great price I add. At around November of that year the camera locked up into "Condensation, Operation Paused" mode. I didnt know what to do, and the Authorized JVC location wanted a lot of money to just look at the camera, not fix it. I read online that putting a blow dryer on it and leaving it plugged in and on for one hour will allow the camera to clear up the condensation. It worked, but the camera started to go into that mode over and over, until it was in a perpetual locked mode. After leaving it plugged in a week, it suddenly became fine, and here I am a day later it appears to be fine now. This camera shoots great video except in low-light situations which is fine but I find it unreliable. I went on a trip and it never worked, but it works now, weird.
Nice camcorder but unreliable
by: Anonymous    On: 2004-05-11

Ive owned this camcorder for just over a year but have only used it for about 10 hours recording time. Now I keep getting a message :Operation paused, condensation, please wait. It doesnt go away, no longer how long I wait and I cant use the camcorder as a result. I now have to send it to a repair centre at my own cost to have it fixed, if it can be at all. I like the camcorder itself, its easy to use etc, but its unreliable and Im sorry I didnt pay more money for a more reliable model. Its put me off buying any more JVC products and I think Ill stick to the Sonys or Canons etc, in future.
Look before you leap.     On: 2004-04-16

I purchased this camera 4 months ago. Only used it 3 times. The last time I tried to use the camera, I got an e04 error code. The camera told me to eject and reinstall the tape. The camera wont eject the tape. I did some looking around the internet and found a lot of customers unhappy with JVC camcorders in general. Labor part of warrenty is up. It will cost me $75.00 just to have the camera looked at.
Defective?
by: Anonymous    On: 2004-03-08

Ive had two of this product in a six month time span. Both stopped working with the SAME error message. The part is under warranty, but labor is not included! Its over 200.00 to fix. I advise EXTREME caution if you decide to buy a JVC camcorder.
LOVE IT, worth the money, best in class for price/features     On: 2004-03-07

I am a music teacher so I use this camera a lot to shoot indoor concerts- some well lit, some not- from some distance away. The zoom is powerful, shots are steady with tripod, and the picture quality is great. I havent had a serious problem with low light yet. Although, there is usually some kind of spotlight on the performers so the camera goes to that to focus which is fine. In low light situations like lights off at a party or wedding reception, you might have some difficulties, but from what I understand this is to be expected from digital video cameras.

Our old Panasonic VHS-C does well in low light so when we know that we will be somewhere with low light, we take that camera instead and settle for less picture quality and we just dump the video into the computer via our Dazzle connection.

Overall, this unit is EXTREMELY lightweight and easy to use. It really does charge in less than two hours. We received a video bag with it that is way, way, way too big. We could probably put this unit and one or two blank tapes in a digital camera bag and be on our way.

I love the portability and the ease of use to hook it up to the computer and burn DVDs. For me, its been great because I am a picture person. Tons of photos get kind of expensive. Having more home movies to add to our collection of photos and memories has been great. Plus its so portable and it charges fast. Weve even charged it using the power inverter in our mini-van.

The only down side that I can think of is that because it is so lightweight, your handheld shots can really show camera shake if youre not careful. I actually found it easier to balance and keep our shots steady with our older and much heavier Panasonic VHS-C. If JVC could get a better image stabilization system going, they would really have a hit with these camcorders.


I love it!!     On: 2004-03-04

I did extensive researches before bought it, and I finally chose JVC GRD30. Im very pleased with my choice. I had a chance to use Canon ZR65 and this one. I really prefer the JVC better. The indoor picture quality could be better, but it is better than I expected since all the camcorders in this price range are not that good under soft light condition. I love how small and light this thing is! I find the camcorder is easy to operate, and charges the battery in less than two hours~~ Video quality is great when using outdoor; acceptable indoor. Zooming on this thing is powerful. The only two tiny imperfections were a bit noisy on the background when recording silently (you can hear the tape running or something like that)£»and you kind have to back up when u try to get more stuff into your videos.
Overall, money well spent!!
So far so good     On: 2004-02-29

I bought this camcorder some time ago, so far, its great, lot of options and bargain price. For connectivity to the PC, you need a firewire card and a cable which costs around 30 $. The only problem "I HAD" was that the date/time has to be set up each time i take out the battery. I guess the internal battery it comes with was dead, and I cant replace it since i live outside the US. Night shot is average, and dont expect other Camcorders to perform better... In daylight, it is PERFECT.
Good Camera... with some big problemas     On: 2004-01-22

I boight this camera a year ago, at the beginning I was really happy with the movies it can take, and also the capability to export them to any pc just with a standart firewire connection. BUt finlly I got problems with the nighshot (it didnt work at all) and the reason for finally sold it was it started to make heavy noises on the casette compartment, so loud that you could hear the noises in the tape you record. I went to JVC and the didnt gave me any naswer for the problem (I dont have guarantee since I live outside USA).
2 things to think about
by: Anonymous    On: 2004-01-01

Nice camera all around but two things to think about.

One is that the camera is not great at close in use. That is you need to stay back to get every one or every thing in the shot. This makes indoor use less usable. For a one person shot its great add two or three people you need to step back more and more to get the shot.

This going out more and more leads to ishue number 2. The further you have to get to get the total seen, the less sound you get. Note this camera does not have a mic jack.

So in total I love the camera and the price. I can live with the ishue of close in use and sound. I have an early 90s Sony 8m that was great and came with a wide angel switch. If this camera came with wide angle it would be 5 stars.


Do Not Buy It
by: Anonymous    On: 2003-12-24

I purchased this camcorder 2 weeks ago and returned it 2 days ago. I will never buy another jvc product. To start with the camcorder did not evan come with the cables to connect to my pc. Second and the reason for returning the camera was the jvc support, or lack their of it. I needed a firewire cable to connect it to my PC so I figured I would call jvc to find out specifically which one. I called because of vague instructions in the owners manual and it didnt get any better trying to talk to one of their supposed support specialists. The persons I talked to did not know any more than what was in the manaual. I believe one them didnt evan know what a camcorder is. So coming to the decision that this wasnt worth the headache I returned the camera and will never buy another jvc product.
Make a great movie and let it bang around a bit.     On: 2003-12-09

I purchased this camcorder strictly for two reasons. One, the price was exceptional. At first, I thought quality might suffer, but what the {heck}, buy it anyway. The second reason was to get a camera that I could carry around with me all day. And if it got banged up, or run over by an eighteen wheeler, no great loss. Upon receiving the camera, I opened the package, loaded a cassette and started shooting. This is one great little unit. The picture quality and sound were amazing. People complimented me on such colorful and crisp footage. I now view this camcorder right up there with the more expensive Panasonics. In the creation of this camcorder, JVC performed a really wise concept. They left all those features that you and I never use OFF this camera. Were talkin bare bones here, and thats just fine with me. Buy this one, make your movies, and let it bang around a bit. For this great price, you cannot lose.
GR-D30 it's a winner!     On: 2003-10-06

Ive not owned a camcorder for about 12yrs. Im glad I waited until now to buy a MiniDV. Im a Windows user and was not sure how XP Pro would like this JVC. Its was easier than I thought! No PC video software included unless you loaded the Demo software and buy it. I connected the FireWire to my PC. I already had an IEEE 1394 port on my SB Audigy2 sound card. Powered it on. XP Pro surprised me! It knew the device and the model. Then Windows Movie Maker app loaded with all the basic controls as the camcorder on screen for my enjoyment. Coolness + some basic tools to make .wmvs from clips I recorded of the video footage taken or insert .jpegs from our Digital Camera into the movie I was putting together.

JVC MiniDV GR-D30, got its first work out at the Indy 2003 USGP F1 race. Took some video & Digital Photos of the race. We set up the GR-D30 with the Sport mode & Clouds. Race was overcast and at times did rain. Video came out very nice and the long life battery (5hrs)was a good decision for this 2hr event. I put together a highlight movie 4:23 min. 320x240 16bit @ 705kbps total file size 20.5mb.

Ive always liked JVC its been my choice in TVs & Home Theater Audio. I like the JVC MiniDV and ease of use with PCs.


Camera is fragile     On: 2003-10-05

I was happy with the camera up until last week. Ive had the camera for two months now, and Ive been editing on my Mac the whole time with no problems. Then last week my Mac no longer detected my camera, thinking it was the computer, i reinstalled everything, and the comp still didnt detect the camera. I even used a different Firewire cable to see if it was a short int he cable, still no luck. I took it to a friend of mine with another computer and it didnt work there either. There seems to be a short in the camera itself that just wont let the computer read it anymore. Everything else works fine except for that now.
Too Fragile     On: 2003-09-22

I had my JVC for 4 months now, being a video editor at a kids camp all summer, this camera was set through the paces. Now the ejector is "finicky" and the head is pooched. I cant watch tapes in it anymore, and I dont know if its recording. So I am gonna try to get it replaced today. good thing i bought the extended warrenty. gonna try to upgrade it to a sony or something.
A very good buy for this price range     On: 2003-09-13

I have owned this JVC camcorder for 3 months. Its stylish and small enough for easy carrying. Its light in weight. Low light video capturing is not too bad. Easy to operate. For this price range, this is a very good buy. This is especially ture for the 1st time digital camcorder buyer. I have already recommended this camcorder to my friends.
bad luck     On: 2003-08-26

At first i was very happy with my new camcorder.I Took it everywhere and it was very easy to use. I even learned how to use the special effects. But soon i discovered that there was something wrong with it. There was a kind of a spot on the screen and on the picture.Maybe it was a defect which happens sometimes in one out of many new products.Maybe it was just my bad luck to recieve a defected camcorder. i had to return it.
Happy w/product
by: Anonymous    On: 2003-06-04

Best camera I found in the same price range,better picture than comparable Sony or Cannon
Can you call a camcorder sexy?
by: gadgester    On: 2003-04-16

This is a standard-issue MiniDV digital camcorder in a very stylish body. While not one of the small pocket-size types -- incidentally those are often awkward to operate and susceptible to hand shakes -- the GRD30 is still small enough to be highly portable. All the standard features of a digital camcorder, from digital tape to fold-out LCD screen to IEEE 1394 "Firewire" connections, are there, and JVC also claims superb video image quality. The 16x optical zoom is higher than many other camcorders. (When choosing a camcorder or digital camera, pay ZERO attention to digital zoom claims, since digital zoom is entirely useless. Only optical zoom power counts.)

An attractive price, especially here on Amazon.com, makes this a top buy.


from the viewpoint of a newbie cam owner     On: 2003-04-07

This is my first cam and I must say I am impressed. The size alone is excellent. Weighing in at just a few pounds, easily fits in your hand, this cam has easy to use features that even a novice like myself learned without having to read every inch of the manuel (although I recommend you read it anyways, to catch on to some of the more technical maneuvers). Having a cam that connects to my pc was an added feature I would have preferred but with this being my first time out in the world of camcorders, I cannot complain that this lacks that feature. Overall, I would definitely recommend this cam to anyone who is interested in recording basic video footage. I was, however, pretty amazed at the zoom capability. Who knew I could zoom in on leaves of a tree across our neighborhood street! Great cam, great price, highly recommended!
Overall Great Value     On: 2003-03-29

I just got my GRD30 yesterday and spent a good amount of time with it last night. Overall, I think it is a very good camera for the price.

It wasnt made overly clear to me (until I read through the manual) what the real differences were between this model and the GRD70/90 models. The only differences I saw were that this model has no remote control (not a big deal for me) and doesnt have on-board memory chip for storing still images (again, not a big deal). What I do think is important to know, though, is that the GRD70/90 models accept DV INPUT and can record the DV input onto the MiniDV tape. Had I known that, I might have stepped up, but Im not sure its worth a hundred dollars.

Overal Pros:
The picture quality is excellent.
The CCD resolution is outstanding at this price point -- 50% higher resolution than most other entry-level models (what sold me on this camera).
The price (and, therefore the value) is excellent.
Battery life is better than average (>1 hr) and it fully charges in less than 1.5 hrs.

...and So-Sos:
The zoom is adequate, but not spectacular.
There is some on-tape noise when zooming in and out, but its not overwhelming. We didnt even notice it until we taped our dog running in the yard (with no conversation).
The image stabilization is merely okay. But, it is a worthwhile feature.

...and Cons:
There is NO on-board light, and the low-light functionality is not spectacular. Im not sure how much that will come in to play down the road.
There is no auxiliary audio input, so the front-facing microphone is all you get.

If youre looking for an entry-level DV camcorder, you could do a lot worse.


Great quality, especially for the price.     On: 2003-02-22

..... I love it. The picture and sound quality are great, I dont think I could ask for more.

The battery it comes with is good for over an hour, which easily covers a 60 minute tape. Thats better than the default battery you get with a lot of other camcorders which are often in the 30-45 minute range. It lacks the remote control and USB/memory card you get with the 2 higher (and more expensive) models, but thats fine by me. It can still take stills, but its not a function I have any interest in. If I want good stills, I have a 2.2MP Kodak for that. Pretty much everyone knows by now that you dont get good stills off a camcorder, just as you dont get good video off a still cam. If its an included secondary feature, then fine, but dont expect the quality you get with a more dedicated device. I got this for the video, and its a wonderful thing.

It doesnt do too well in really low light, of course I wasnt really expecting otherwise. I have yet to ever see a digital camcorder that actually does great with inadequet light. It has a night mode, which does greatly increase the lighting, but it drops the frame rate terribly. It has another "backlight" function that can be handy for less than optimal lighting. But in reasonable-good lighting, you get wonderfull piture quality. It has a nice selection of transition effects built in, I still have yet to explore them all. The 16x optical zoom is cool. Its more than enough for me. The size of the unit is nice, not too big and not too small - similar in shape/size to the canon ZR series, only this thing is of higher quality than the canon counterparts, especially where audio is concerned.

Now, Im sure this isnt the ideal model for everyone in every situation, but for the price, youd be hard pressed to get this kind of quality elsewhere. There are $$$$ models that cant compare to this, so Im happy with the buy. Its pretty easy to use. Not too much of a learning curve. Not so many buttons that you get lost. Manual/automatic choices. Yeah, its a nice piece of work and I was surprised at how affordable it was. I would recommend this to most people.



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