Camcorder Reviews

Overall not a bad camcorder. The image is sharp and defined with excellent color balance. The A/V analog input allows for transfering old VHS archived tapes to DV format. There is one glaring omission that is inexcusable on a camcorder in this higher price range: there is no input for an external microphone. As a result, you'll not be able to use this camcorder for much else than "home movie" sorts of things. Without the ability to use an external mic, using the GR-DVL915U to effectively do interviews, public access cable TV spots or any other similar application is not going to give good audio results. The current low end Canon camcorders are less expensive than this and they all have an external mic feature. JVC could of had a great camcorder with the GR-DVL915U, but they crippled it with this serious disadvantage.

To be honest, I had set my expectations a bit too high and was somewhat disappointed by the image quality. For instance, I had my eye on a digital camera (for stills) as well as a camcorder. So I thought I'd combine the two in a single purchase. Well, guess what! This little baby offers less than 1 megapixel (Mp), while the cheapest digital camera offers at least 1.3 Mp, with many models offering 3.3 and I've even seen ads offering 5 Mp.
Second (incorrect) expectation was video quality. I used to own a VHS-C and after all the hype I'd heard about about digital, I was expecting perfect video, the same quality you get on, say, the Discovery Channel. Wrong again. Although the quality is an order of magnitude better than my old VHS-C.
So, having said all that why did I rate this camera 4 stars? Because it is a great camera - for the money. Yes you can get camcorders with 1.5 Mp stills, the Sony DCR-TRV30 for example, but they cost... more. Not worth that extra money...
As for the video quality? Like I said - much, MUCH better than the older VHS-C quality I used to have. The colors are great, you can make infinite copies without loss of quality (that's digital for you) and I've been playing with video editing software on the PC and the resulting videos are awesome and fun.
Furthermore, JVC has done a great job on the user interface to set and control its enormous amount of features. They are menu-driven which leaves the camera refreshingly clean of "buttons". This can be a big issue if you have "fat fingers" or are someone who can get lost in too many buttons (check out some of the other camcorders and you'll know what I mean).
So in summary, if you set your expectations right, this is a great camera with solid image quality for its price, is very rich in features and comes at a good price. Four stars in my book.

THis camcorder is by far the best one that I have ever used in my life. It gets a butt load of recomendation from me so you should go out and get one yourself.

This Panasonic DV camcorder is a solid performer and a great value. I've been using it for several months, and it hasn't let me down at all. Battery life is good, picture quality is great, and audio quality is acceptable.

The basic features of this camera are intuitive and easy to use. You can have it out of the box and recording in no time (after you charge the battery). Video quality is high, and playback on the LCD screen is easy and watchable. It comes with nearly every imaginable cable, so you can hook it to whatever you want. However, I highly recommend a firewire (IEEE 1394) card for capturing video to a PC. I've used Pinnacle Studio software flawlessly with this camera, and produced very high quality results.

This camera is chock full of features. To be honest, I haven't used many of them, not yet having learned how. The instruction manual is 102 pages long, and you'll every last page if you're going to exploit all the features of this camera. However, it's not necessary to do so to get your money's worth. One note: still picture quality won't match that of a good regular digital camera, so I wouldn't recommend using it for that purpose, although it comes equipped with an SD card slot that enables the capture of stills.

This is a small, lightweight camera that will just barely fit in your hand. It'll go everywhere without being a burden. It's worked great for me, and I can highly recommend it. Enjoy.

I get this camerea, and it was almost perfect for filming. It doesn't get that high of resoultion for stills, but that's not why i bought it.. The sound quality was one of the setbacks, (you can adjust it to 12 or 14 kbps) , but on 14kbps it still wasn't as good as i expected. It's aslo very quiet.. i found myself talking louder than i normally would to make the voices a little more audible, however it picks up sound like in another room very well. The mic is useful, but you really don't want a mic poking out in a movie. The major setback is that you can only transfer stills and mpegs to your computer through the USB, so you HAVE to have a firewire card on your pc to edit your movies. I was really disappointed that i had to buy a firewire card, but i got one for $28 so it wasn't that big of a deal.
on the flip-side, it's is so small , and sneaking it places is easy, it fitws in my pocket, and i take it everywhere now. The battery charges rather quickly too.

I love the camera for the purpose of recording those unforgettable moments, but when using to take digital photos....it's not so good. The pictures have a very low resolution and when the photos are printed (from both photo center and my home printer) they look like a computer screen picture. Even with the light feature on, they aren't very nice printed.

Bought one from dell.com, after one day test with this "high" rated DV, decided to return it back. It's a horrible canon DV.
Pros:
None
Cons:
1. Very bad resolution of recording on SD card, even worse than my cheap webcam.
2. Unaccept noisy while recording tape.
3. Compare to USB stream or usb mode webcam, DV messager is a joke function, hard to use and bad compatibility.
4. Light shoot is another joke from canon DV.

Not sure what the reviewer below is talking about but based on his lack of details I imagine it's not a genuine review.

Anyway, I spent allot of time researching before buying a camcorder and decided on the Elura 65 -- check out the review of the Elura 70 (the 60, 65, and 70 are basically identical) on http://www.dvspot.com .

The Elura 60 didn't have a hot shoe which I knew I would need since most camcorders in this price range do not have a good light -- if any at all. Daytime recording is excellent.

Some argue that it's only a single CCD camcorder but it's a large CCD as apposed to the three small CCDs in the Panasonic PV-GS120. The Panasonic was my second choice but I read allot of negative reviews about the image stabilization. The Elura also fits more comfortably in the hand when compared to Panasonic. In addition, the Canon has virtually no tape noise when operating.

I highly suggest that you get the double capacity battery BP-2L14, the hot shoe light VL-3, and the portable battery charger CB-2LT. The double capacity battery will last about four hours and adds very little weight to the camera. The supplied batteries drain very quickly. Night shots are notoriously bad for all camcorders in this price range even though some are better than others. The VL-3 light will make a big difference in picture quality at night. Also, the portable charger is more convenient to travel with than the big and cumbersome charger supplied in the box.

I can't comment about the reliability yet since I've only had it for a couple of months. But based on my experience with other Canon products it should be good. Enjoy!

Well, choosing between the cameras, and after going for MVX250i (European twin for Elura 70, as I live in Europe), I'd like to point out some really strong sides of the cam: 16:9 is really WIDER than 4:3 (not just cutting upper & lower parts only) and is taking full advantage of 1.3 MPixel CCD, which btw, let's the stills be captured to SD card in 1280*960 res.. not bad at all for screen viewing. The optics are absolutely superior in its class, the angle for close-ups IS wide and the optical zoom is remarkable. It HAS mike input, unlike new ZR series (which I was considering at some point), and the motor is much quieter also, comparing to ZR. Its shape & size is excellent, it feels solid and is really comfortable to held - thanks to the low height. On table it may seem somehow thick, but to palm it fits perfectly.
If to mention one con, then in lower light conditions the cam tends to boost the sensitivity of the CCD too much, making picture quite grainy. Also, any faster movement in dark will result in blurry picture. The built in white LED sure does its job well, but the sand in the picture remains... So you'll get some of the advertised colours with the price of noise, the opposite of Sony's night-mode. Sure you can attach external lamp any time ..
As a conclusion, it seems there is no other cam offering this level of features & design at this price.. at the moment. If you are looking for something small & capable, this is it. Absolutely no regrets so far..

Why I bought a new tripod: I already own an old garage-sale tripod of some unspecified brand that I've used with my video camera for several years. In retrospect, I took its stability for granted, but it lacked a few of the conviences typically found on current tripods. It folds up nicely, but is heavier to carry than current models, and the camera must be unscrewed from the base plate to remove it from the tripod. Having bought my first high quality digital still camera, I wanted a lighter-to-carry tripod and one that allowed quick removal and replacement of the camera.

Why I chose this one: This unit offered good height, light weight, a "fluid head" for smooth pans with the video camera, a snap-in base plate, and a carry bag - all at a great price.

Why I'm returning this one:

Least reason: The base plate attaches to the camera using a built in plastic tab attached to the screw. While this is a convenient idea, the tab must be folded down flat to get the base to lock onto the tripod. Not so bad until you want to remove the plate - you may need a screwdriver to pry up the tab or risk losing a fingernail. The screw itself does not have slots for a screwdriver.

Most reason: The stability I took for granted in my old tripod is lacking in the new one. Specifically:

1.The legs flex. On a vinyl floor, it was difficult to get a stable stance because the extended legs woud, one-by-one, flex and "dance" across the floor. On less-slick surfaces the feet stayed in place, but there was still movement in the unit.

2.The top pole (that raises with the crank) is shaky when extended. The idea of the "fluid head" for smooth pans seems lost when touching the camera causes considerable wobble in the bar itself. The top pole is better left down. (Yes, I tightend the connections.)

3.The bars of the center brace are attached by loose-fitting rivets. The brace may prevent the unit from collapsing should you need to set the legs at a narrower stance, but it does little to "solidify" the tripod.

Summary: At full height, it was difficult to take even still pictures without movement in the tripod. The setup may look stable, but then you have to touch the camera (unless you have a remote). It's worse with the video camera - I was unable to get a smooth pan in spite of the "fluid head". Stability is better at half-height.

Like the other reviews have stated, this is a great tripod. It is functionally stable in spite of its low price. You get more than you pay for with this item. I recommend it!!

PS - The 70" height is really nice!

Haven't tried it in windy conditions yet but I like that it's lightweight, easy to transport and extends to 70 inches. The extra height extension prevents you from stooping over when shooting videos. Good value, and free shipping (delivered in 5 days to Hawaii - not bad!) from Amazon only makes it better! Highly recommended.

We bought this as an upgrade to our VHS camcorder we got 6 years ago. I wanted to be able to edit our videos in the computer. After my first filming, I quickly learned this camcorder has poor zoom quality (if you zoom in too close it gets fuzzy) and very poor audio as you can hear the motor running on playback. When I wanted to hook the camcorder up to the computer to try to do some editing, I discovered the cable you need to hook the two together is not included. This is an extra $30 purchase. Either put more money into a better quality camcorder or save your money until the better quality lower in price!!

Any comments about poor image quality when zooming in are because the user didn't know that ANY zooming beyond the 20X Optical zoom mark is then converted to a Digital zoom which is a conversion of the maximum Optical zoom (20X) by blowing up the image digitally. This results in a poorer image as ANY DIGITAL ZOOM would gives exactly the same effect. DIGITAL ZOOM IS JUST A GIMICK!!!!<br /> It is like taking a picture and then expanding it 990X in a program like Paint. There are a fixed number of dots in the image and expanding it makes it look worse because they get farther apart.<br /> This is a great little camera for the money. Easy to use. Cheap tapes. Built-in light!! (many have none)

Mommy and Daddy bought me this camera at Best Buy. I love the sounds it makes similar to the E.T. ride with the beeping sounds. I give it a 5 star rating by PG, R and Y.

My wife and I have really enjoyed using this superb digital camcorder. For the price - you can't find any other camcorder that can compare (I did a lot of research before buying).

Because there are a few drawbacks, I can't rate it 5 stars. As I anticipated, the digital still picture quality is only average. Also, the zoom button is not ergonomically placed, so it takes a little practice. Picture quality in low light is not great, but is much better when using the built in light (it just drains the battery faster).

However, having stated the only drawbacks that we have found, this is an excellent quality camcorder for the price. The sound and picture are clearly superb to VHS and Hi8. It is easy to use and we have still not uncovered all of its many features. Great product JVC!

I'm definitely a video amateur, but I dig this camera. It's small, lightweight and comfortable to hold. I haven't used it for extended periods of time, but the battery life seems acceptable compared to other models in this price range.

The digital effects are pretty cheesy, but there are some that are kind of neat. I'm a big sepia-tone fan. I plan to do editing on a computer, so these seem like useless gimmicks that I'll never use, as I'll do coloring and fading in a powerful environment.

It comes with a serial cable hookup for your computer, which is cool because every PC has a serial cable and not cool because serial is stupid slow. There is an optional USB cable (woo) and a DV (FireWire) cable (woo hoo!).

The stabilizer and the night shot are both pretty lame. In fact, I'd say useless. They make everything choppy. I just bought a tripod ($20 Ambico) so that should solve at least one of those problems. This also has a light which is sweet and two microphones set up in a nice little stereo pair.

Things I wish this had: microphone in (I have a pair of sweet mics for my MD recorder), color viewfinder (I've seen quit a few that skimp on this feature too), still camera mode (this has a cheap knockoff of still pictures, also pretty much worthless).

Basically, if you just want to make movies of your cats and maybe a dirty flick or two, this is a good buy.

I'm definitely a video amateur, but I dig this camera. It's small, lightweight and comfortable to hold. I haven't used it for extended periods of time, but the battery life seems acceptable compared to other models in this price range.

The digital effects are pretty cheesy, but there are some that are kind of neat. I'm a big sepia-tone fan. I plan to do editing on a computer, so these seem like useless gimmicks that I'll never use, as I'll do coloring and fading in a powerful environment.

It comes with a serial cable hookup for your computer, which is cool because every PC has a serial cable and not cool because serial is stupid slow. There is an optional USB cable (woo) and a DV (FireWire) cable (woo hoo!).

The stabilizer and the night shot are both pretty lame. In fact, I'd say useless. They make everything choppy. I just bought a tripod... so that should solve at least one of those problems. This also has a light which is sweet and two microphones set up in a nice little stereo pair.

Things I wish this had: microphone in (I have a pair of sweet mics for my MD recorder), color viewfinder (I've seen quit a few that skimp on this feature too), still camera mode (this has a cheap knockoff of still pictures, also pretty much worthless).

Basically, if you just want to make movies of your cats and maybe a dirty flick or two, this is a good buy.

This camera does a GREAT JOB for the price. It has all kinds of great features and effects. The only negative I can think of is that it makes a slight noise when zooming in and out.

This is the first video camera I've purchased, and I'm completely satisfied with it after several months of use. I've found it to be affordable (important initial consideration), lightweight(important if you're brave enough to let the kids record), simple to use(important if you let grandma borrow it to record the other grandkids), and the recordings to be top-notched. These basic features and an excellent brand-name should make any new purchaser feel confident with this camera as his/her initial choice. One caution, the camera's package includes everything you need but a blank VHS-C tape (something experience camera users are aware of, but novices are not, hence the 4 stars, not the 5).

We love this new camera because it is the same features we had in our old camera.. We wanted a new one that had the flip out screen and for the price it cant be beat... BUT we cant believe they took away the personal title generator where you could type your own title in instead of using the 7 or 8 presets they have... It was a must ~ now we will have to learn to do without.. Still a great buy for those not willing or ready to go to digital and still wanting the top features...

After carefully analyzing the two prior reviews, it appears there is conflicting history. My previous experience with Panasonic products is most positive. We have a decided problem with sounds in that I am deafened by damage to the acoustic nerve. This would be a factor since there is little or no sound discrmination. Do believe we will purchase one of these units for home and business (Insurance Claims) use. bk

I have owned this palmcorder for over a year and have never had any problems of ANY sort! I have used it to film 4th of July celebrations (excellent sound by the way....you could still hear and understand people talking even with the fireworks we were lighting!)....Christmas parties...Honeymoon in Hawaii on a catamaran (you could actually see the dolphins under the water with this camera!).
The only drawback is that it does NOT have a light. However, as long as there is light on in the room it works great! The only time I had a problem with lighting was trying to use it at midnight in a minivan w/o turning on any interior lights (well-DUH!). However, even in the van you could still clearly understand what people were saying...EVEN above the engine noise! I have also used it to film a stage play and again...I had none of the problems other people have mentioned with the light glarring and blurring.
Overall I must give this camera an A+++!! I've never gotten tired holding it while I filmed...the adapter has been a life-saver so we can watch the party immediately on the VCR...plus I love the option of A/C or D/C power!
I love this camera and think it's a SUPER deal for the price! Unbeatable!!!

hey i like it i like the tv thing im able to keep track of any thing in motion like a fressbee or my friend thrwing a stick in the trees and and if its too bright and sunny out side i found out by emermenting with the palmcoder to close the tv thing and look thru the black and white eye scop thing :) it does not have a buil in light so when i recorded our churches christmas cantanda when the churches lights are on no problem :) but when the very brigh stage spot lights we our curch borrwed and the main lights our out or dimmmed the people in the bright spot lights look like glowing light bulbs but as the spot lights go dimm you are able to see the people faces the back light i cant see how it works hardley but hey as long as it records perfect and good quilety sound that's fine :) (...) i do not see any thing wrong wih the sound it sound clear to me (...)

I bought this product because it was cheapes, but then I saw another MiniDV camera from Canon (ZR60) which was only slightly costlier than this camera but had far more features and made this camera look completely inadequate.

Following are the cons of this camera:
1. No viewfinder. If you want to waste your battery, this camera ensures it by having no options besides LCD.

2. No cover for LCD. Can be easily scratched etc.

3. Big big cons for me: Not ergonomic, no good way to hold this camera. No strap on handle

4. No AV-DV conversion. Bad if you want to record your TV or old VHS tapes onto MiniDV

5. This was the problem I faced but ejector mechanism of this camera does not work reliably. Gave me lots of problem.

Do yourself a favor, buy some Canon or Sony camcorder.

The DV camcorder market finally hit my price point at ~$$$(After rebate) in this product. . . Does it have all the bells and whistles? No. Does it perform as advertised? Pretty much -- if you take the time to read the manual and consider its' limitations. It does best in favorable lighting, but does have features that compensate for sub-optimal lighting conditions (generally found indoors). No night/low light mode, and the better the lighting, the better the colors. The lack of a viewfinder (unit has LCD panel only) has yet to be a hindrance -- although I haven't tried it outside in full sun/glare yet either. The resolution is good; the case design and user interface is different than all other camcorders I've owned, but easy to adapt to; the IEEE 1394 connection works flawlessly in Win XP (with appropriate video editing software -- not included, firewire cable -- not included) in both directions. It has the standard special video effects (sepia, B&W, etc), a still feature that records a frame onto the DV tape as long as the button is active (no semiconductor removable memory -- remember this is an entry level unit). Spare high capacity batteries can be found online for <$$ delivered. Bottom line, used correctly this is a very good value at around $$$ (after incentive pricing). . .

I bought this camcorder one month ago just for my holiday tour. This is a nice item considering its price. The image is sharp. The voice recorder is really nice. It can record even some remote voices. Easy to use.

The con is there is no cover for the LCD. I suggest you to buy a bag for this camcorder.

I had high expectations for this camera and was extremely disappointed. Sure it has a great zoom and is easy to use, but that doesn't amount to anything when the picture quality is poor. The camera performs decently when in sunlight, but if you're trying to take some video indoors, your picture will be extremely grainy. The low-light/night mode on this camera is worthless, so don't even bother. I would return it if it weren't a 4 hour drive to the store I bought it from and only 6 days left before they won't accept a return. There's also a 15% re-stocking fee if I do manage to make it there in time. If only I had bought a Sony Handycam. I probably would have been much happier than I am right now. If it was possible to give this camera a zero star rating, I would have.

We use Canon in general because of their amazing compatibility with a wide rage of formats. The ZR-Series is no exception. You are able to achieve high quality with ease. The VIC chip makes a big difference when you are importing a lot of video to edit on your PC/Mac. You'll need to pick up a Firewire for $10-15 because Canon doesn't include one in this box.

I recommend visiting http://www.canondv.com/zr90, there you can view videos of this camcorder. That will help you see if this camera is right for you. Sony, Sharp, Panasonic and most every respective brand have similar videos on their sites to help you compare. Of course Amazon.com has the best prices.

Also I find it very odd that nearly every negative reviewer ends up mentioning Sony as an alternative. As a professional I wonder why someone wouldn't mention Panasonic, JVC or Sharp now and then. You would have to spend at least $595.00 to find a Sony that compares indoors or out. Even then you won't find features like Canon's Digic technology.

If you are serious about sound you really need a boom/shotgun microphone no matter what brand of camera you use. An external mic will help you capture directional sound. For voices, wireless microphones will always give you superior results. You can then mix both boom and wireless feeds to create dynamic sound. Unless you are shooting pro video the Canon mic is adequate and features a handy wind filter if you decide to activate it.

I bought the ZR 90 for its easy use and multi-applications. It delivers!! Okay, I too have read that it needs an add-on microphone. Not for my uses! I use it for digital video and stills and for webcam communications. It delivers!!! I did go to a 64MB SD memory card....but that was an inexpensive,simple matter....one trip to Wal-Mart. I researched before buying and have not been disappointed. Do suggest Canon include firewire cable in the package--can't download video without it. The ZR 90 is everything I expected and delivers higher quality pictures than expected. I have no complaints about the sound.