* Product Description JVC GR D230US - camcorder - Mini DV * Product Type Camcorder * Dimensions (WxDxH) 2.4 in x 4.3 in x 3.8 in * Weight 16.2 oz * Webcam Capability Yes * Media Type Mini DV * Flash Memory 8 MB * Analog Video Format NTSC * Shooting Modes Digital photo mode frame movie mode * Lens Aperture F/1.8-2.4 * Focus Adjustment Automatic manual * Focal Length 3.8 mm - 38 mm * Optical Zoom 10 x * Digital Zoom 500 x * Image Stabilizer Electronic * Microphone Microphone - built-in - electret condenser - stereo * Viewfinder LCD - 0.3 - color * Display LCD display - TFT active matrix - 2.5 - color * Battery 1 x camcorder battery - rechargeable - lithium ion - 800 mAh
The features of the compact, versatile GRD230 are accessible right out of the box. The record button is right under your thumb, and the digital still shutter button is exactly where your index finger comes to rest on top of the unit. Playback and mode functions are likewise clearly marked and easy to reach under the flip-out LCD screen. The camcorder's well-thought-out design manifests itself in a dozen other thoughtful details as well. One of our favorites is that closing the LCD screen turns the power off, and opening it turns it on, which facilitates quick-draw shooting and means you'll be unlikely to run down the battery accidentally.
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| Turn the camcorder on and off simply by closing and opening the LCD screen. |
Which is all well and good, but how's the image fidelity? Decent to excellent. Daylight, of course, provides the most vibrant colors and the sharpest contours. But we found that even indoors, under the kind of fluorescent lighting you might find at, say, the offices of a Seattle-based online retailer, the video quality is surprisingly good. One thing the GRD230 does extremely well--and this is not a feature JVC calls out--is take sharp close-ups. We could see clear detail from as close as 5 centimeters away. Image stabilization is among the best we have ever seen: zoom in on a detail across the room, and the picture is as steady as if the camera had been mounted on a tripod.
One of the big draws of the GRD230 is the SD memory card slot that lets you take digital stills (the unit includes an 8 MB card, but you will almost certainly want to get a higher-capacity card as soon as possible). All the power of the 10x zoom lens is also available in still mode (forget about the advertised 500x "digital" zoom, whi ch is nothing but a cropping mechanism), and there is almost no shutter lag. Plus, the GRD230 does close-ups as well in still image mode as it does in video mode.
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Freakishly good close-ups.
(Actual still picture taken with the GRD230 --
See full-sized image.) |
The twin white LED auto-lights are a nice touch, even if their power is not overwhelming. The LEDs come on automatically whenever light is low (you can override this manually) but drain battery power at about a tenth the rate of conventional lights. Power management in general is something the GRD230 does very well indeed. An entire day of intermittent shooting on one charge proved to be no problem.
We do have a few complaints. Automatic mode is not as automatic as it might be; we had to manually adjust the brightness on a few occasions. Transmission to a PC via the USB cord required the installation of drivers from the included CD-ROM. (Isn't the U in "USB" supposed to stand for "universal"? Why do some cameras require a special driver and other s don't?) Also, the shape of the camera body, with its round hump, rather suspiciously makes the GRD230 look like a DVD camcorder. JVC isn't trying to fool anyone, are they? No matter: DVD or no DVD, you would be hard pressed to find anything at this price even approaching the quality and features of this tidy little unit. --David Stoesz
Pros
- Compact, intuitive design
- Decent image quality
- SD card slot for digital stills
- Excellent image stabilization
Cons - Shaped deceptively like a DVD camcorder
- LED lights have a very limited range
- USB connection requires installation of cumbersome software
1 Motor noise record in tape
The picture quality of this camcorder is good, nice body, The motor noise record in tape, I tried evry things, finally I give up, have to return it. The motor noise made me don't want to watch the play back.
2 Great Quality, Great Price
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.
3 How to make the Date & Time showed when transfer onto PC?
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.
4 no noise problem here
I see two people reported noise and 17 mentioned no problem, with one specifically saying they had not noticed this at all.
I just want to second that I have han NO noise at all. I have tested it with both normal volume recording at a christmas party as well as a situation with no noise at all, and I can here no noise from the motor on any recording.
I am also surprised that soemone mentioned no tape in the package. I have bought panasonic and sony models with no tape either.
I am very happy with this camera for the price
5 Useless!!!
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.
6 No motor noise here!
I note two reviewers said they heard motor noise on recordings and the other 16 reviewers didn't, with a few specifically noting they did not.
I have to say I have had this camcorder for two months, recorded about eight hours of video with a varietyof level of sound frm school plays, to ball games, to kids parties to quiete time, played and/or edited all that video, across a wide range of equipment from my computer to a ratehr high end hometheater and heard not one bit of background motor noise.
Overall this camera is a very good value. i got mine for three fourty after rebate and saw it for three last month.
are some really whining the memory card is only 8mb or that it doesnt come with a case? are you kidding? a case is about fifteen bucks and cameras in this range and higher typically come with NO memory card or case!
7 Motor noise is, in fact, excessive
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.
8 The best for anyone want used it for anything
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.
9 What an amazing camcorder!
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!
10 A nice miniDV
Still wait for the shipment but $275.00 is not a bad deal for camcorder.
11 Excellent value
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.
12 No motor noise at all on my unit!
Read some of the reviews concerning motor noise recording onto the tape. Put the camcorder on my table in record mode and was totally silent---played back tape at loud volume and could only hear my refrigerator running, no camera motor noise at all! Overall a fantastic camera for the price. To copy movie to your computer you must connect the audio cable portion of the supplied wire harness to the
13 DVD Camcorder Style
I've read some reviews stating that this unit looks like a DVD unit. Maybe these reviewers haven't seen a DVD unit. DVD units mostly are round on the side where you load the DVD media, not on the side where the LCD screen is. Anyway, I cannot think that any reasonable person would accuse a user of this unit of trying to be a DVD pretender, and anyone that would think this is a clown. This is a good looking unit with great spec, especially for the price.
14 Need DV Firewire to capture tape video to MPEG
Just thought some Camcorder novice like me might find this useful--
Even though I installed USB Video Streaming Driver and ImageMixer 1.7 I still could not capture the video from tape to a computer file (no sound). In their manual page 39 they said using USB cable can "Transfer still/moving images recorded on a tape to a PC" -- what good is a moving image without sound?
I called JVC and they told me I need to spend $40 to buy a DV firewire from Pinnacle. Also the technical support was not very good, one guy referred me to call ImageMixer, I got turned back and the second guy told me I need to buy a Firewire. Overall a disappointing experience.
15 Great Camcorder
I bought this camera from Amazon as it was on sale, after testing it for about a week, I really am amazed with this Camera, OK, here is why:
PROS
1. The price, for the price I paid ($300 - 400), I got a whole lot of features.
2. The Camera is so light and compact, there are many camcorders that are light, I've used a Sony, Cannon and now this is the second JVC that I use, its small enough to make it stable in your hand, some camcorders are small and light which make them shake in your hands, the design of this allows it to be very stable in your hand.
3. It has a high resolution (540 lines) which is really great, I'm comparing it with other Sony Cameras that only have 500 or 510 and cost twice as much.
4. The built in night light is Excellent, the colors I got after turning on the light (in low light conditions) are just amazing.
5. The ability of the Camcorder to convert between Analog and Digital (line in recording)
6. This might not be a big deal to some, but it is to me, the Camera is MADE IN JAPAN.
CONS
What I did not like about the camera is just a very minor issue which is: The A/V connection is not the standard type that you would buy from any store, it has its own A/V connection cable
I've read that people are complaining about a sound issue, this is the second JVC I've used, the sound is higher than what you'd see in other Camcorders. However I did not notice that until I read the reviews. The sound of the Camera is not a problem as far as I'm concerned, maybe I'm not picky
Overall, this is an Excellent deal. Some people go with Sony because of the name, but I like to compare specifications, this Camera equals most Sony camcorders in specifications, but the price is much less. Sony has a big name, but is it worth to pay double the amount to get a name???
I recommend this camera, In fact, I bought another one as a gift.
I hope this helps.
16 Motor noise recorded on tape.
Although the motor noise is insignificant during recording, whatever little that's produced propagates fairly well to the recording media. In quiet to moderate settings at home, you WILL hear the motor noise grinding in the background. This was a show stopper for me. The JVC technical support staff were not helpful at all. And therefore, this unit is going back.
17 Doesn't sound right, a defective one again?
It seems mine was previously returned. All bags are open. Little scratch on the body. The biggest problem is the grinding noice, like a train passing by.
JVC is getting really low now.
Continue with my review. Since the background noise is really bad, I tried out the external microphone. But the mic socket is defective. Using their micphone extension cable to connect to a computer microphone, there's no sound recorded. Finally I found out the mic plug has to stay half-way into the socket to get sound input. This is really annoying - how can a brand new camcorder have a defective microphone socket.
I have never seen a malfunctioning mic socket before!
18 Very loud motor
I liked the form factor and power supply that came with this camcorder. It would be very easy to bring on a trip. The fatal flaw in my opinion however is the motor noise. It's extremely loud and the built in microphone picks it all up and records it on tape. I've owned other mini dv camcorders in the past that did not have this problem. (Canon Optura Pi, Canon ZR40).
19 Best in it's class
This camcorder has all the bells and whistles that the beginner or the experieced should ever want, this gives and takes great movies and digital stills .My wife opened the box and in less than 24 hrs she made a 10 minute movie with music in the backround and for a woman who never held a camcorder in her life . so if you so desire, this is the cheapest price on the web or in retail stores,you even get $50.00 back.. So do what you want, but you should not pass up a deal like this.QVC sells this camcorder for $699.00 on there site.GO CHECK!!!!!!
20 Decent camera but not great
I was most impressed by the stabilization of the camera at 10x but the quality of the image wasn't that great. You really do need to use the manual mode instead of the automatic. Scenes are often under or over exposed. They are also very orange or blue so you'll need to white balance each scene. It's good that you can change both things but it would be better if it's more automatic. The markings on the side (play, record, automatic, manual) started to rub off after just 10 days. The size is great (fits in your palm). The manual is quite confusing.
21 Excess Sound? Is this right?
When I got the camera, I immediately noticed the small size. That along with the CCD were pluses, but as soon as I turned on the camera for recording, that's when the problems started. First of all, please, somebody tell me if this is correct or if I should return it for an exchange (mine may be faulty):
The winding noise from the DV tape is captured onto all films recorded. This means that there is a constant train like noise captured onto all of the videos I record from this camcorder. I'm thinking that the manufacturer's can't be that stupid to make such a faulty mistake, so I'm gonna try to exchange this for another one. Is there any hope in doing this, or does all JVC GR-D230's have this problem?
I also didn't like the need to install their proprietary software.
Please, people who have this camera, tell me if this is a common mistake that you have to live with, or is this just a faulty item they shipped. Thanks
22 Wonderful Camcorder
JVC's camcorder is good but comparing to other camcorder this has a lower resolution.
23 Camcorder that Does a Lot
I bought the camera through Amazon and it was delivered in three days. I experimented with it for about three weeks before this review.
The Goods: It is sleek yet sturdy and has all the functionalities one would expect. Autofocus function is very good & I am able to shoot close ups in video & stills amazingly well. The clarity of the picture is very good and I am impressed at how well it has captured the video, when I played back on the TV. The buttons are well located for easier operation and the whole thing was easy to learn and operate. The additional light is helpful, to filter any shadows when you are shooting in dim light. I was bale to use it for highlighting the closeup shots as well. The optical zoom is plenty and the digital zoom is as good as many cameras out there. I biught this camera, because of the megapixels that it was offering and I was happy with the clarity.
The price through Amazon is the lowest I found anywhere and I feel that this camera is well worth the money I paid(...).
The software provided does the job well, however, I would recommend to buy firewire for converting to VCDs. It took me nearly 2 hours to convert 40 min tape to VCD via USB cable. The Pixela software is easy to use and I did make a successful VCD.
The Bad: I was bit disaapointed with the night shooting, even with the night alive mode. The focus was blurry, when I engaged night alive. If there is low light, the picture although visible, can be very blurry. I guess all camera's are that way. In low light situations, the accesory light did not help me much either.(as I have started using this camera from last few weeks, I may have to learn more about shooting at night).
I also felt that JVC could have provided the firewire and increased the capacity of the SD card. I however, did some research & found that most camcorders, do not come with firewire or high capacity sd card.
Verdict: Great camera for the price, with a lot of features. It is sleek and does not weigh much at all. I would recommend a purchase, if you shooting outdoors(does really well & sharp) and in areas, where there is decent light.
24 The first feeling when I get this MiniDV
Just got the MiniDV from Amazon. Ordered it on Nov.6 at Amazon and received it on Nov.9 night. $329 (AR) is a reasonable price, but should not be a Hot deal. I bought this in hurry because the coming thanksgiving holiday. The first glance of this Mini Camcorder is not so exciting, because it looks not so smooth and fine like Sony's product. Attached Battery is BNV408 and can only last 1.3 hrs; 8M SD card and no cassette, that means you MUST and HAVE TO invest extra $100 on case, BNV428 battery, 64M SD card and some cassettes to let this tiny camcorder work in a reasonable good shape. The remote control is cute! Just my personal opinion for your reference. Not operate it since I am charging the Battery now..@_@ Anyway, not too bad if you want to have this camcorder for your vacation.
25 5 Reasons to Love this Camcorder!!!
CCD is big and the color is clear -I just bought the JVC GR-230 this month and I am wondering why I did not do it sooner. This camcorder is 1.33MP and has 10x optical zoom as well as a ?-inch CCD to bring the action close and record it with decent quality. I shopped around and this it the largest CCD for the price.
Does well in low-light even during a lunar eclipse - The camcorder does pretty well in low light. I took some night footage during the lunar eclipse and found that it did the job but it kind of faded the colors as the moon moved into full eclipse.
Automatic and manual modes - I really like the fact that I don't have to be a rocket scientist to set the automatic modes. I was able to adjust my shutter speed and the image stabilization to adjust the clarity and depth of my nighttime footage. I also tested out the sepia and twilight modes to alter the look an feel of some of my daytime shots.
Macro Pictures - I was expecting the worst from the still image features. I've never been too impressed with pictures taken with less than a 3 mega-pixel camera. I was pleasantly surprised that this camcorder actually takes good macro images. I was able to take some pretty nice macro plant shots and print them out on 4x6 paper. I tried to print them on 8x11 and they did not turn out as well so I am sticking to the 4x6 prints.
Form factor - At first glance I thought this was a DVD camcorder. I really like the small compact forms factor. It is lightweight and easy to use and the 2.5 LCD panel does the job. You can tilt it up to 45 degree angle although I am not sure why you'd want to.
