If style, quality, and convenience is what your searching for, the JVC GRD200 MiniDV camcorder is your answer to these needs and more. The GRD200 features a 1.33-megapixel CCD for superior video (540 Lines of resolution) and still photos (1600 x 1200), a bright 2.5-inch LCD, 200x digital zoom, a powerful software package, and much more.
Optics
The GRD200 features a high-performance 1/4-inch 1.3-megapixel CCD to capture high-quality video and digital photos. It's also fitted with a 10x optical zoom lens as well as a 200x digital hyper zoom with spline interpolation.
Digital zoom is a powerful tool, but it can lead to "jaggies"--zigzag contours that reduce picture quality. JVC has adopted spline interpolation to mathematically smooth such contours, making them look more natural. And since frame signals, not field signals, are processed, vertical resolution is increased, also improving quality.
Digital Stills and MPEG Video
In addition to high-quality video, the GRD200 also captures digital still photos in four resolution modes: 1600 x 1200 (UXGA), 1280 x 960 (SXGA), 1024 x 768 (XGA) or 640 x 480 (VGA). The images are stored on the included 8 MB MultiMedia card (MMC) or optional Secure Digital (SD) memory cards.
You can also record small video clips (160 x 120 pixels) for distribution to friends and family over e-mail or the Internet using the MPEG-4 format feature. Video clips can be recorded from the real-time camera image or recorded video footage and stored on a the memory card. With the included 8 MB MMC card, you can record up to 7 minutes of MPEG-4 video.
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| The JVC GRD200 features a large 2.5-inch LCD view screen and a color viewfinder. |
More Features - 2.5-inch 110k-pixel amorphous silicon LCD view screen and color viewfinder
- The Picture Stabilizer system corrects camera shake instantly, giving you smooth and stable pictures.
- A combination of built-in Digital Special Effects and Wipes/Fades will give your videos a polished and professional look.
- PCM Digital Stereo Sound: 16-bit offers one set of stereo tracks and achieves the same quality as CD, while the 12-bit mode creates two sets of stereo tracks.
- Analog Input: allows you to record into the camcorder all of your memories recorded in the analog format, by allowing you to archive them onto Mini DV tape
- Power Linked Operation: prepares the camera to record simply by opening the LCD or pulling out the viewfinder
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| USB connectivity allows you to create image or video discs compatible with a variety of players. |
Inputs and Outputs The GRD200 comes with the standard IEEE 1394 port (also referred to as FireWire), which provides a lossless connection to a PC or other DV machines. Additionally, the GRD200 includes a standard A/V cable to view video footage on your TV and a USB cable for transferring digital stills to your PC.
MiniDV Format
MiniDV is the preferred format for personal and broadcast-quality video, highly regarded for its high audio and image quality. With up to 540 lines of horizontal resolution and minimum color noise, MiniDV delivers a 20-percent clearer picture than analog camcorder formats. This is all delivered on a cassette that's 1/12th the size of a standard VHS tape. A MiniDV tape offers digital recording time of 2 full hours--20 times the capacity of a CD.
Power, Size, and Contents The GRD200 comes with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack. The camera itself measures 2.5 by 3.75 by 4.8 inches and weighs 17 ounces. This package includes the GRD200 camcorder, battery pack, AC adapter, remote control, shoulder strap, USB and A/V cables, 8 MB MMC memory card, and a CD-ROM with software.
1 Perfect for those looking for a budget digital camcorder!
After reading many reviews (good and bad), I decided to spend my hard earned money on this JVC camcorder because of the price and all the features. I bought this camcorder back in February when Amazon had it on sale for 66% off (main reason of purchase). So far, it has probably been the best purchase I have ever made.
The good things I like about this camcorder is that it is light weight compared to my older Panasonic VHS-C camcorder. Also, the high resolution recording's quality is absolutely gorgeous. There are manual options to set the color schemes (sephia, b&w, classic) as well as an option to record in widescreen mode and a wide lens mode. This camcorder also has great built in transition effects and a automatic mode for beginners that sets everything according to outside conditions. As for the digital camera features, they are pretty much average. If you wish to store high resolution pictures, it'd be a good idea to invest in a high capacity SD memory card. The camera mode even has a built in flash.
Now for the real stuff, the real reason why I purchased this was to output the video onto DVD. The USB cable included with this camera only made quality for "VHS" or VCD style. VCD is nothing like DVD quality. The USB cable's limitations in speed only allowed output to VCD. However, this camera also has a Firewire/IEEE1394 input which allows high speed data transfer with the PC. In order to output to DVD you'll need 5 things: firewire card, firewire cable, dvd authoring/encoding/capturing program, dvd burner, and blank dvd media. None of these listed comes with the camcorder so that's a minus. However, after purchasing the firewire cable as well as the firewire card I was able to capture, edit, and make menus for my home video onto DVD via Ulead VideoStudio 8 (a great program, btw). The quality was just amazing. Not only did I have a home video in digital format but I also had it in a format that will last me years to come.
Some things that I didn't like about this camcorder was the "night alive" feature. The "Night Alive" feature slows down the frames per second so much so that it is impossible to record without having the video lag. Battery life isn't that great either but I remedied that by buying a extra battery just in case. To store pictures you'd have to use a switch to switch it to memory mode to save the pics on the SD card otherwise it's picture on tape which is even worse quality, an annoyance but livable.
So for a camcorder/camera that allows output to DVD as well as take digital pictures for under $300, you really can't find a better camcorder with all these features for that low of a budget.
2 Great Buy!
I was looking for a camcorder to film my young child as she grows and anything else important. I find this one very easy to operate and very compact and neat. Picture is hi resolution so it looks really good on TV. It also takes great snap shots I have gotten compliments on how nice it is.
My only negatives are the DV tapes are kind of expensive (2 for $16) and I have not yet figured out the CD that came with it. It is easy to save on a video cassette tape but I havent figured out how to save to a DVD.
Great buy for the Price Amazon provided for me!
Amazon's great!
3 works for me
I AGREE WITH "THE KID" & J JONES. DISAGREE WITH "UJJWAL" & "RSAM" THIS CAMERA IS A LITTLE DAUNTING AT FIRST BUT WITH EACH FEATURE LEARNED COMES A GREATER SATISFACTION FOR HAVING PURCHASED IT. IT IS FUN, FUN, FUN. GREAT PICS, LOTS OF FEATURES, VERSATILE, INSIDE, OUTSIDE, ITS JUST A SUPER CAMERA.
THIS CAMCORDER WAS PURCHASED FROM AMAZON.COM FOR $284.99 IT HAS TAKEN A LITTLE JUMP IN PRICE. I'D STILL BUY IT.
4 Beware
Its a really cute camera with a good funtionality. But beware when you buy such things from amazon. They dont give warranties. I bought it around 2 months back and now its just not working. I am not even able to put a cassette inside it. Before this problem it was working great except for the battery life. So if you want to buy it, buy it with some warranty.
5 nice look, bad quality
this camcorder has a very nice look and compact- but has grany picture indoors and unbearable motor noise- received today- returning tomorrow
6 I can't believe the price!!
I bought this about a year ago and paid $499! This is a legit $200 savings. What I really like is the fact that you can do video and digital stills that both look really good from a single product. No more shlepping around two different cams.
The video is exceptional, particularly the color. The digital stills look really good in snapshot size, and if you occasionally want to enlarge one, you can usually get away with it.
It's also got a really nice remote, which comes in handy on family movie night.
Lastly, this cam is one of the most comfortable to hold models I have ever tried. It's small, with out being too small, if you know what I mean. Very easy to hold steady as well.
This is a real winner, particularly at the price. I don't think there is a new model Megapixel cam you can buy under $500, even today.
7 Beginner
This camera has a lot of features that completely overwhelmed me at first. I was thinking "what did I get myself into????" After only a few days I have experimented with and learned a few basics for what I needed it for, my son. After shopping around and comparing cameras, I definitely think it was worth what I paid.
8 Good overall for the price
I like:
The $500 price is right for the package: small palm handed camcorder size / movie quality / features / battery life. Pictures can be stored on memory card. Wide angle feature is cool. You can transfer old VHS tapes to DVD also.
I didn't like:
Very poor quality in low light (worse than my previous old VHS camcorder) and there's no light (just a flash for pictures) - pictures are 1.3MB but quality is poor and you need to use a switch before taking pictures to the memory card - otherwise it's a "picture-on-tape" - even lower quality.
9 Great Product! Small Size and Quality
Excellent performing,and ergonomically correct,and easy to use Camcorder. The 1.33 mg,1/4"ccd,performs better indoors than all others.For low light use,use Indoor AGC in menu.Colors are more vibrant on this camera.Has full manual control set,but auto controls work well.Prints very good 4x6 pictures in still mode.Best little cam out their in this size and price range. THE ONLY REAL PROBLEM WAS MOTOR NOISE. ON VERY QUIET PASSAGES OF FOOTAGE, THERE IS AN AUDIBLE HUM ON OUR RECORDED FOOTAGE. SHOULD YOU BE RECORDING LARGE PASSAGES OF FOOTAGE IN A HUSHED ENVIRONMENT, YOU MIGHT FIND THIS A LITTLE TOO MUCH TO BEAR. "I DID". I will email JVC to see if they will fix this problem. 1/31/2004.
10 Great Video & Stills, Really Comfortable Small Size
I expected good video from this JVC and it delivers, but what has really impressed me are the megapixel digital stills. I took my memory card to Walgreens and printed out several 4" X 6" prints and they looked great!
The cam is also very comfortable to hold. The strap adjusts to fit larger hands and the controls are all right where they should be. I also like the color viewfinder.
11 Great product!
Great product, great design, very good value in the class. Video and photo quality is very good as promised. It's very easy to use and hook up to PC or TV/VCR. So many features and so much fun! Love it.
Longer battery life is desired, it only lasts about one hour. JVC has optional long-lasting battery.
