JVC GRDVL120U MiniDV Digital CyberCam Video Camera with 2.5" LCD und B/W Viewfinder
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Manufacturer: JVC
Price at amazon.com:
Used from $260.00List price $599.99
- MiniDV camcorder
- 16x optical, 700x digital, zoom with image stabilization
- 2.5-inch color LCD; black and white EVF
- Snapshot mode records stills onto tape
- S-Video and IEEE1394 outputs
Product Description:
A perfect introduction into the world of digital video, the GR-DVL120U provides all the features you need to get rolling, including a 16x optical zoom, digital image stabilization, and IEEE 1394 compatible outputs. Lens Breaking the mold that most other digital camcorders fall in, the GR-DVL120U has a very bright f1.8 lens, which should help with a dilemma common to many digital camcorders: poor low-light performance. While not useful at the highest levels, the optical zoom is augmented by a... read more
Description from Manufacturer:Although larger than most MiniDV cameras, the JVC GR-DVL120U still feels lightweight and fits snugly into the palm of one hand. It also doesn't offer some of the high-end features of other MiniDV cameras, but for the inexpensive price of $400, it's still a great value.The GR-DVL120U includes a 16x optical zoom and 700x digital zoom, letting you get quite close to your subjects. The 2.5-inch flip-out LCD renders images in crisp colors, although the optical viewfinder displays in black and white.
Video quality proved to be bright and colorful, with some decent digital effects available, including wipes and fades. While the GR-DVL120U doesn't include a memory-card slot for storing still pictures like some other cameras in its class, it does take snapshots, housing them on the same DV tape as video.
JVC's NightAlive feature allows for filming in low-light situations, although we have seen better results with the low-light capabilities of other cameras and camcorders.
Recharging the camera requires plugging the AC cord directly into the camera itself--depending on your viewpoint, not having a separate battery charger might be either a positive or a negative. Regardless, the battery recharges quickly, and the charge lasts a little longer than an hour--sufficient for most users.
You'll want a FireWire-capable PC to transfer video to your computer, and you'll have to pick up a FireWire cable. You can also send video directly to your TV or VCR via RCA or S-video from the 120U.
While the GR-DVL120U may not have all the features of JVC's higher-end models, this MiniDV cam does deliver excellent video quality in a very affordable package. The GR-DVL120U would please almost any beginning digital video enthusiast. --J. Curtis
Pros:
- Great price
- Takes digital still photos
- 16x optical zoom/700x digital zoom
Cons:
- No storage card for stills
- Black-and-white viewfinder
Comment: Good camera for the money Rating:
I reluctantly bought a display model of the GR-DVL120U about a year ago. I choose this model because of price, shape/size and the fact it was digital. Price was the biggest concern because the soul purpose was for shooting underwater video (if my housing flooded, I would be out less money). The camera is still going strong despite use in some rough environments. The video quality is very good and if works great for connecting to a computer (something my girlfriends Sony doesn't do well). The manual setting on the camera is great because I can lock the focus and everything for shooting underwater. That way it doesn't search for focus in low light conditions. There's lots of different settings you can tweak in the manual mode to work in your environment (I can get good footage 119 ft underwater!) The negative would be the camera isn't very common so it isn't always easy to find batteries or other accessories (like a good fisheye lens)
Comment: GR-DVL120U camcorder has its ups and downs Rating:
Overall this camcorder is very good.
Pros-
1. Video Quality
2. Ease of use
3. Price
Cons-
1. No USB capability
2. Video takes up much memory on computer.
3. Quality in low light.
4. Battery Life.
If you plan on buying this camcorder, make sure you get a firewire card. Next, If you plan to to do a lot of shooting indoors or near a power supply the battery is fine. If you will be in the great outdoors, make sure you buy an extra or better batter. The battery that comes with the camera, lasts only for about an hour.
If you plan on doing editing, make sure you have a good program on your computer. The software that comes with the camera is very bad. Also, if you want to take digital pictures with your camcorder, you dont want this one.
Although there are many cons with this camcorder there are also many pros. I use windows movie maker 2 which I donwloaded for free from microsoft.com. It films great movies, but they take up a lot of memory. Also, the optical zoom is great. It is 16x, which is awesome. Overall I would recomend this camcorder to any amatuer filmaker or person who just want to record and edit home movies. If you are a very serious filmaker, you should buy a more expensive camcorder.
Comment: do not buy!!!! Rating:
it broke the third time we used it. no power, nothing. now the labor warranty is expired and the tape is stuck inside! do not nuy no matter how great the deal. you will buy buy a peice of excretory waste.
Posted at November 11, 2003 07:59 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
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