JVC GR-DVL9800U Digital Cybercam Camcorder

Rating:
Summary: Reason I chose this digicam over the milions on the market
Review: First off: this is a mini DV camcorder. This means it uses mini DV tapes. They are the size of an old answering machine tape. They come in three sizes: 30 min, 1 hour and 80 minute. The tapes cost slightly more than the normal 8mm tapes, but only by a few dollars. The problem is that you can't run into the local drug store and get these. You have to go to a local consumer electronics store or get them off the web. After buying those, you have to buy a new battery (1hr is simply not enough time for a major family outing). The prices are around $80 for an 1 hour battery, $100 for an 1 1/2 hour battery and $160.00 for the 2 1/2 hour battery. This unit comes with a ton of software, so most people won't have to buy any extra for editing your videos on the computer (or pictures).

The main thing about this digicam is the fact its basically for semi-pro video makers. It has super-high resolution (number of horizontal and vertical lines in the images). You can make work presentations. You can dub sound onto videos, splice and dice scenes, etc. What sold me was the fact that you can shoot in widescreen rather than just full screen to have the bars on a regular tv or to use on a widescreen tv (think of the future here). The weight is heavier than most of the digicams in its class. This one weighs in at a hefty 1.5 pounds, where others are 1 lb.

Some of the other kool features that I had to make sure it had: (1) you can take precious older video tapes and record them to a digital tape from your old VCR, for safekeeping. (2) you can take the digital movies you do and put them directly onto a VCR tape for other family members, or you can edit it on the computer (putting in songs if you want), and then transfer it onto a VCR tape.

(3)the LCD screen is BIG (the largest in this price range is 4 inch, the JVC is 3.8). Most of these high end pro jobs use the 2.5 thinking you will use the viewfinder mostly. I like the big screen and you might too. The screen is anti-glare, high res, and pivots and moves, including flipping.

(4) a function I wanted that you don't find on a lot of players that this has is the color viewfinder. Do you really want to see things in black and white?

(5) well, if you like B & W, you can choose that from the ton of recording options. It also has fading, swipes, and a lot of video effects I can't wait to play around with.

(6) Progressive scan: a lot of the best players have it, but the Sony's don't. What it does is stops jitter in images. The jvc adds to this a 2x recording feature. This allows for slow-mo playback of 10X. Here is an example of what this means: your kid is at t-ball or want to analyze your golf swing. With this, you can record it in the superfast mode (think EP vs. SP recording speeds on a VCR). Then you have some options, you can play it back, with a finer image produced or you can slow mo it. Progressive scan also allows you to extract a single image from your swing or son's swing. So if your desire a pic of you swinging, you can take a single image from the camcorder movie and download it to the computer and then save it to disc and have it developed at a local drugstore, email it, or save it as your desktop wallpaper. You are also supposed to be able to edit your pictures to add effects using the software (have not seen this yet).

(7)the zoom: this has the 200X digital zoom. The sony's are not as good in this price range. Although you can get a better zoom off some of the really highend Digital 8 camcorders.

(8) The camcorder also adds something called a high-band processor. What it is supposed to do is add the high-band part of the luminance (light) signal back in. Camcorders take away this when recording because it takes away from the crominance signal (color).

(9) another imporatant feature dealing with the snap shot ability of this digicam is the resolution you can get in pictures. On most camcorders with the picture capability, you can only get 600 X 480 images (lower res - VGA). The JVC can take pics up to 1024 X 768 (called XGA). This is nice for framable pics. You can fit about half as many of these nicer pics on the removable disc depending on the snapshot mode you are in. There are 3 modes: fine (less pics), standard, and economy. you can get 75 VGA pics on the 4mb card in economy mode (or 36 XGA). That goes to 25 (12 XGA) in fine mode). You get get the bigger card (8 mb) and swap them for more pictures if you go on a long vacation. I have not priced the bigger cards yet. Note though, you can take 5400 stills, if you put them onto the tape.

(10) speaking of the cards (which i have not explained), I chose this one because there are not many of these digicams that have the extra memory cards for picutures. In most camcorders with the picture taking option, you can only take the pictures onto the tape, whether its a digital 8 or mini DV. This one and the sony I liked (the TRV20 - sony's rival for about $150 more) have cards you can take out after putting pictures on it. The cards allow for easier and faster transfer of the pics to your computer. Getting pictures from a tape is supposed to be a major pain. Sony's memory stick (their memory card), though, can be put into a 3.5 converted floppy disc and slipped into any floppy drive for down load. Also this player has been knocked because pic downloading is slow even with the fire wire being used. (hooks the digicam to a card you put in your computer).

Rating:
Summary: Reason I chose this digicam over the milions on the market
Review: First off: this is a mini DV camcorder. This means it uses mini DV tapes. They are the size of an old answering machine tape. They come in three sizes: 30 min, 1 hour and 80 minute. The tapes cost slightly more than the normal 8mm tapes, but only by a few dollars. The problem is that you can't run into the local drug store and get these. You have to go to a local consumer electronics store or get them off the web. After buying those, you have to buy a new battery (1hr is simply not enough time for a major family outing). The prices are around $80 for an 1 hour battery, $100 for an 1 1/2 hour battery and $160.00 for the 2 1/2 hour battery. This unit comes with a ton of software, so most people won't have to buy any extra for editing your videos on the computer (or pictures).

The main thing about this digicam is the fact its basically for semi-pro video makers. It has super-high resolution (number of horizontal and vertical lines in the images). You can make work presentations. You can dub sound onto videos, splice and dice scenes, etc. What sold me was the fact that you can shoot in widescreen rather than just full screen to have the bars on a regular tv or to use on a widescreen tv (think of the future here). The weight is heavier than most of the digicams in its class. This one weighs in at a hefty 1.5 pounds, where others are 1 lb.

Some of the other kool features that I had to make sure it had: (1) you can take precious older video tapes and record them to a digital tape from your old VCR, for safekeeping. (2) you can take the digital movies you do and put them directly onto a VCR tape for other family members, or you can edit it on the computer (putting in songs if you want), and then transfer it onto a VCR tape.

(3)the LCD screen is BIG (the largest in this price range is 4 inch, the JVC is 3.8). Most of these high end pro jobs use the 2.5 thinking you will use the viewfinder mostly. I like the big screen and you might too. The screen is anti-glare, high res, and pivots and moves, including flipping.

(4) a function I wanted that you don't find on a lot of players that this has is the color viewfinder. Do you really want to see things in black and white?

(5) well, if you like B & W, you can choose that from the ton of recording options. It also has fading, swipes, and a lot of video effects I can't wait to play around with.

(6) Progressive scan: a lot of the best players have it, but the Sony's don't. What it does is stops jitter in images. The jvc adds to this a 2x recording feature. This allows for slow-mo playback of 10X. Here is an example of what this means: your kid is at t-ball or want to analyze your golf swing. With this, you can record it in the superfast mode (think EP vs. SP recording speeds on a VCR). Then you have some options, you can play it back, with a finer image produced or you can slow mo it. Progressive scan also allows you to extract a single image from your swing or son's swing. So if your desire a pic of you swinging, you can take a single image from the camcorder movie and download it to the computer and then save it to disc and have it developed at a local drugstore, email it, or save it as your desktop wallpaper. You are also supposed to be able to edit your pictures to add effects using the software (have not seen this yet).

(7)the zoom: this has the 200X digital zoom. The sony's are not as good in this price range. Although you can get a better zoom off some of the really highend Digital 8 camcorders.

(8) The camcorder also adds something called a high-band processor. What it is supposed to do is add the high-band part of the luminance (light) signal back in. Camcorders take away this when recording because it takes away from the crominance signal (color).

(9) another imporatant feature dealing with the snap shot ability of this digicam is the resolution you can get in pictures. On most camcorders with the picture capability, you can only get 600 X 480 images (lower res - VGA). The JVC can take pics up to 1024 X 768 (called XGA). This is nice for framable pics. You can fit about half as many of these nicer pics on the removable disc depending on the snapshot mode you are in. There are 3 modes: fine (less pics), standard, and economy. you can get 75 VGA pics on the 4mb card in economy mode (or 36 XGA). That goes to 25 (12 XGA) in fine mode). You get get the bigger card (8 mb) and swap them for more pictures if you go on a long vacation. I have not priced the bigger cards yet. Note though, you can take 5400 stills, if you put them onto the tape.

(10) speaking of the cards (which i have not explained), I chose this one because there are not many of these digicams that have the extra memory cards for picutures. In most camcorders with the picture taking option, you can only take the pictures onto the tape, whether its a digital 8 or mini DV. This one and the sony I liked (the TRV20 - sony's rival for about $150 more) have cards you can take out after putting pictures on it. The cards allow for easier and faster transfer of the pics to your computer. Getting pictures from a tape is supposed to be a major pain. Sony's memory stick (their memory card), though, can be put into a 3.5 converted floppy disc and slipped into any floppy drive for down load. Also this player has been knocked because pic downloading is slow even with the fire wire being used. (hooks the digicam to a card you put in your computer).

Rating:
Summary: JVC GR-DVL9800U
Review: JVC GR-DVL9800U is the top of the line camcorder from JVC. This is an upgrade from the GR-DVL9500U. Essentially the difference is in the function as a digital camera.

It incorporates the function of both a digital camera and a digital camcorder. One of the best features is the ability to take photos or videos separately or together. Photos are stored on a proprietary multimedia card. The camera comes with one 4 MB multimedia card (an 8 MB card is optional). Photos are stored as VGA (800x600) or XGA (1024x768). The resolution is second only the to Sony PC-100.

The GR-DVL9800U has a menu system that is easy to use. Its compact size easily allows one hand operation. The 3.5 inch LCD monitor is large and the picture is crisp. The color viewfinder with adjustable diopters makes for a truly compact package. The flip out flash makes it useful take pictures with flash when you choose to use flash (some places do not allow flash photography). The interface for viewing the digital photos is comparable to high end digital cameras.

The accessories include an AC power adapter, a credit card sized remote control, a battery pack, AV cable, S video cable, JLIP cable, lens protector, and a PC connection cable. However, it doesn't include a DV cable for IEEE1394 cards, nor does it include a Mini DV tape along with the camera.

Rating:
Summary: JVC GR-DVL9800U
Review: JVC GR-DVL9800U is the top of the line camcorder from JVC. This is an upgrade from the GR-DVL9500U. Essentially the difference is in the function as a digital camera.

It incorporates the function of both a digital camera and a digital camcorder. One of the best features is the ability to take photos or videos separately or together. Photos are stored on a proprietary multimedia card. The camera comes with one 4 MB multimedia card (an 8 MB card is optional). Photos are stored as VGA (800x600) or XGA (1024x768). The resolution is second only the to Sony PC-100.

The GR-DVL9800U has a menu system that is easy to use. Its compact size easily allows one hand operation. The 3.5 inch LCD monitor is large and the picture is crisp. The color viewfinder with adjustable diopters makes for a truly compact package. The flip out flash makes it useful take pictures with flash when you choose to use flash (some places do not allow flash photography). The interface for viewing the digital photos is comparable to high end digital cameras.

The accessories include an AC power adapter, a credit card sized remote control, a battery pack, AV cable, S video cable, JLIP cable, lens protector, and a PC connection cable. However, it doesn't include a DV cable for IEEE1394 cards, nor does it include a Mini DV tape along with the camera.

Rating:
Summary: New to digital video and love this camcorder.
Review: While not new to computers and electronics I was new to digital video and was looking for a top of the line product for hobby use. While not cheap, I believe this product lives up to the promises and is a great value. Some aspects are tricky (connecting to a vcr) but after you get the hang of it very easy to use. The microphone is very sensitive but in quiet areas picks up a lot of motor noise making a microphone necessary. Overall, a great product.