HOME | What's NEW | CONTACT US | SITE MAP| PRIVACY

JVC Camcorders

JVC digital camcorders are considered by some as the poor relation of the other three big brand digital camcorder manufacturers: Sony, Canon and Panasonic...

Custom Search

JVC digital camcorders are considered by some as the poor relation of the other three big brand digital camcorder manufacturers: Sony, Canon and Panasonic.

Their miniDV camcorders have always been competent enough and compact, but hardly Earth shattering in their design or features.

The miniDV camcorders for the domestic market are being phased out now and JVC have been concentrating all their efforts with their full range of HDD (Hard Disk Drive) Everio models.

JVC entered the HD market in 2007 with their first high definition Everio, the JVC GZ-HD7, which was a nice looking camcorder, but a little too chunky for some people. I guess that's hard disk drives for you ;-)

Build quality was excellent with a strong, well made body and much better than the 2007 winner, the Canon HV20 (Whose handling and build quality leaves a lot to be desired), and it sported good manual controls, but the JVC contender just couldn't touch the HV20 in terms of video quality.

The JVC GZ-HD7 didn't quite make it into the top 10 digital camcorders of the year, but it wasn't a total loss for JVC.

If JVC can improve the video quality of the GZ-HD7, they might have a digital camcorder that would prove popular with amateur film makers and prosumers due to it's robust nature, excellent manual controls and all day shooting capability.

JVC announced a bunch of new JVC camcorders at CES 2008, but surprisingly left the best for when it was all over.

Two new high definition Everio camcorders, the GZ-HD5 (Pictured right - $1199) and GZ-HD6 ($1399) will be available to buy in March 2008.

Both have the ability to output full 1080/60p HD via a HDMI connection. That should look nice on the old LCD TV.

The compact design houses a 60GB (HD6) and 120GB (HD6) hard drive and record in full 1920 x 1080. Armed with three 1/5-inch CCDs, mic jack (HD6 has headphone jack as well), optical image stabilization, and HMDI which supports xvYCC.

JVC are all excited about the 60fps rate these camcorders can produce using their “Genessa” technology. This will certainly make the video image quality look better in certain situations without actually increasing the resolution.

The JVC GZ-HD6 can store up to 10 hours of MPEG-2 compressed video and 5 hours for the HD5. Highest quality achieved is 1920 x 1080 video at a max bit rate of 30Mbps.

But they did announce seven new JVC camcorders at CES 2008. Five standard definition HDD Everio models included the GZ-MG330 (Pictured left - $449.99), the GZ-MG355 ($499.99), the GZ-MG360 ($549.99), the GZ-MG365 ($599.99) and the GZ-MG730 ($799.99).

JVC GZ-MG330 With smaller bodies than last years models and a new LCD touch panel that is operated using a scroll feature on the LCD border and therefore avoids touching the actual screen and those smudgy prints we all hate.

You still have to press a button to activate your selection, so I'm not really sure what the advantage of it is.

JVC may have been the first to bring us hard disk drives and although they continue to offer mid range models that are well priced, Sony is hot on their heels and look set to overtake them in the is area with a a much stronger brand and marketing machine.

All four models house a 1/6-inch CCD, 35x optical zoom and (pointless?) video light are included. All can take a 640 x 480 snap, but get yourself a digital camera if you want decent photos.

The MG330 comes in several pretty colors and along with the MG335 (which has a docking station)have a 30GB hard drive that will give you 7 hours of highest quality video.

The JVC GZ-MG360 and GZ-MG365 have a 60GB HD whilst the top of the range GZ-MG730 boasts a bigger 1/2.5-inch CCD and a smaller 1.3" 30GB HDD. 10X optical zoom, Program AE modes, up to 3072 x 2304 still photos, a flash and a microSD slot for storing them.

JVC has managed to buck the trend and breathe a little life into their two miniDV new JVC camcorders, the GR-D870 ($249.95) and GR-D850 (Pictured right - $229.95) by adding some new features.

Now resembling their Everio siblings, these compact and very affordable camcorders offer a the ability to record video and shoot a still picture at the same time and record in slow motion.

Both are equipped with 1/6-inch imagers, 35x optical zoom, 2.7-inch LCD screen, on-screen display and a video light to see in the dark.No new touch screen technology here, but a couple of joysticks, but the camcorders do have a nice new power-save feature, when opening and closing the LCD panel.

The JVC GR-D870 takes photos up to 640 x 480 and has a SD card slot.

Custom Search