JVC GRD230 MiniDV Digital Camcorder

Rating:
Summary: Excellent value
Review: At $300 after rebate, no other camcorder in the market can compete with it. Read the reviews at www.camcorderinfo.com, and you will understand it. There are other $300 camcorders, but in my opinion this belongs to an upper tier compared with them. For example, its sensor is 1/4" while most of others have a 1/6".

After playing with it for several days, I verified that the image quality is quite good and it works well in low-light.
Though it has lots of manual control features, they are not really convenient to access. It is not a problem at all for me (and I guess for most of other casual customers), since I would not use them anyway. Its automatic mode is good enough.

It is not really built sturdy. A cover must be popped out to access the Firewire and USB ports, which I'm afraid would not last long. But at its price, I cannot complain.

My only serious complaint is that it records the motor noise. I know that it is common in almost any cheap camcorders, but obviously mine must be defective. The noise is too loud to be normal. (I asked for a replacement.) As of my writing, out of 14 reviews, 4 reviewers reported that that motor noise was recorded, while 1 reviewer said that he didn't have any problem. This ratio is much higher than in reviews of other camcorders (such as Sony HC40), so be careful.

One reviewer complained that he cannot capture MPEG using USB. To be precise, that is not true. The bundle software *does* capture MPEG video, but the quality is limited. To capture in DV format, you must use Firewire, which is the case with most camcorders.

In summary, I think it is an excellent camcorder for beginners like me. The value is unbeatable. But watch out for motor noise.

Rating:
Summary: How to make the Date & Time showed when transfer onto PC?
Review: Basically, It's a median quality product for a very reasonable price. Mine is working without any huge noise.

Just one thing though, does any one know how to make the Date & Time shown when transfer onto PC? I need help.

With analog A/V output to VCR, there's no problem. But when I use either USB or i-Link to transfer the Pictures or Mini DV Video onto the PC, the the Date & Time can never be displayed in my Video Edit Program or the DVD I made, and I don't really understand why. Please help, thanks.

Rating:
Summary: Great Quality, Great Price
Review: I bought this as a wedding gift for my sister, and have used it to shoot loads of footage at the wedding. Firstly, I havent heard ANY motor noise (and nobody else seeing the video has either). And I used it in both dimly lit rooms and normally lit rooms as well as outdoors. The picture quality is great, and the sound quality too. The ease of use of this camera in automatic mode meant that any relative of mine could step into my shoes when i wasn't around. Plus the digicam feature was a lifesaver because I ran out of battery on my digicam, and had to use the JVC as the substitute (and the photo quality is prety decent). Also the remote included with it is pretty handy and damn neat.

I would recommend that you buy the JVC starter kit along with this (thats the bag,1 cassette and the extra battery pack which lasts for 3 hrs) because the standard battery has a 1 hr life only. I also recommend that you buy an SD card separately as the included 8mb card is inadequate.

If this camera has faults, its only for the USB/Firewire port cover. I don't like it as I feel is fragile and can snap off pretty easily. Also the LCD has to be kept open due to the location of the cover.

All in all, a great camcorder, and at the price I bought it, excellent value.

Rating:
Summary: What an amazing camcorder!
Review: I did extensive research on camcorders as a gift for my father (b/w $250-$500) and this camera was by far the best value! I am so happy with the purchase. It is an amazing camcorder! It is tiny, so the video is nice and steady, the still shots are good (and go to a memory card - easy for emailing, etc.), it is quiet (and if you do think there is a motor noise, you can invest in an external mic for a few), the picture is great with any lighting (I was surprised!), the features are all very simple to use. I looked at other JVC models, Sony, Canon and Samsung. I'm sure higher-end camcorders will bring you more, but I can't imagine it getting better than this, I almost feel guilty for spending only $300 on it! I feel like it should have been way more! Out of those priced $500 and below - this one had the best reviews (except motor-noise, but it has the capability of attaching an external one), I've seen it on so many sites for a lot more (so reasonably priced), and the features and flexibility (ability of having an external mic and using a memory card) blew the others away. I hope I didn't jinx myself by saying such positive things!

Rating:
Summary: The best for anyone want used it for anything
Review: I just got my on 12/14/04 I order on 12/8/04 and it was fast when they ship my and when I open toe box it look way cool But I am kind new with it and I go have my parent help me out how do it b/c this is my very first MiniDV Digital Camcorder It the best then a Sony DVD one if you own a Sony DVD one that to bad b/c I glad I dont have to pay more on a Sony one so if own it will you wish you can have this cool JVC MiniDV Digital Camcorder it the best then any other brand right now. My was only $349.99 it saved me lot money on this cool MiniDV Digital Camcorder then any other MiniDV Digital Camcorder out their So if want something cool before holiday this best pick. I can zoom to 10x or 40x or to 500x you can change it on camcorder. I also will still test on other stuff how will it go on and soon I will make my first video on DVD and if want a copy of it or want see it I will post on my website soon.

Rating:
Summary: No motor noise here!
Review: I read the reviews and decided to take the plunge anyway. This was a mistake and I ended up returning the camera because of the loud motor mechanism that resulted in a constant train sound in the background of my video. This is my first review on Amazon but I felt compelled to express my disdain about the audio quality of this product.

I researched the product on various message boards and they seemed to indicate that this was the result of the microphone gain being adjusted in quiet environments. To my dismay, it seems that the noise is picked up in any environment because the motor mechanism is simply very very loud. The noise is captured on tape and is so loud it is hard to filter out without ruining the sound track.

I purchased a Panasonic GS14 and while the CCD isn't as good as the JVC's, there is no motor noise at all. The difference is night and day.

My advice is to pass on this model as the noise is very excessive and ruins an otherwise competent product.

Rating:
Summary: no noise problem here
Review: Really disgusted to spend as much as I did on this camcorder when I couldn't even use it when I opened it!! There's no tape!!! Unbelievable. Eventually I'll go out and buy a tape to put in and maybe then I can actually rate how it works.

Rating:
Summary: A nice miniDV
Review: Still wait for the shipment but $275.00 is not a bad deal for camcorder.