Editorial Review

Still images or video--capture either 60 minutes of DVD-quality MPEG-2 movies or thousands of super-high resolution UXGA-size JPEG pictures with the Everio--the first camera to use Microdrive technology. The included 4GB Microdrive card, though it is the same size as Compact Flash card, has such unprecedented capacity because it is has its own built-in HDD (hard disk drive). Read more

Features

• 3CCD sensor dedicates one chip to red, green, and blue for true-to-life color rendering
• Microdrive format lets you shoot up to 60 minutes of high-quality MPEG-2 video
• 10x optical zoom
• 1.8-inch LCD monitor
• Create and share DVDs easily with included software

Reviews (21)

Excellent, even if you have a Mac!
I make a living producing videos with Mac's. I own this camera and I love it but there is one truth: the camera is not supported by JVC for Mac's... but that does not matter since you can still have a great experience. It is actually simpler to use with a Mac than with a PC! No need to install drivers and softwares.
JVC Does Not Stand Behind Their Products - JVC Lemoncorder
I agree with the many other users who have experienced the "Condensation, Operation Paused" defect on their JVC GR-xxxx. Despite numerous others reporting this problem, JVC says its not a recognized problem. I would disagree - it is a recognized problem, but its your problem, not theirs.

Mac users are whining snobs without a clue
All one-star reviews on this camera come from Mac users. It's risible how they make a big stink out of nothing, for instance:
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Features

• Super VHS and "Super VHS ET", 2.5" LCD Color Monitor, Viewfinder
• 25x Optical Zoom/1000x Digital Hyper Zoom, 320,000-pixel CCD
• Digital Picture Improvement Technology:Super High-Band Processor, Picture Stabilizer, Digital TBC (Time Base Corrector), Digital CNR (Chroma Noise Reduction)
• 108 Combinations of Digital Special Effects (x11) and Scene Transitions (x10)
• Auto Illumi. Light (Auto Illumination Light), Multi-Language Instant Titles (4 Languages), Manual Focus, Flying Erase Head, Built-in Battery Charger, Easy VHS DECK Playback

Editorial Review

Get crisper picture results with JVC's GRDF550U 1.33-megapixel MiniDV digital video camcorder, which provides 540 lines of video resolution. It also features a unique new design that combines a compact camera body with a handgrip that is ideally sized to be comfortable and secure to hold. It also offers up a 15x zoom lens, 700x digital zoom, 2.5-inch LCD, digital image stabilization, Night Alive low-light video capture, and still photo capability (saved to a Secure Digital memory card). Read more

Features

• 1.33-megapixel ultra-compact MiniDV digital camcorder with 15x optical zoom/700x digital zoom
• Captures digital stills to tape at native 1152 x 864 (interpolated up to 1600 x 1200)
• NightAlive function for shooting in low-light conditions
• Data Battery function that displays battery power and calculates remaining recording time
• Included rechargeable battery provides up to 60 minutes of shooting time

Reviews (7)

Too bad it doesn't work & JVC service doesn't
I researched and compared over a dozen minidv camcorders, and based on function and picture and price, this item was the far winner. And if JVC ever fixes it, I'll give another review; I've had it for four months, and I haven't been able to use it yet. It was broken from day 1, and I had to send it to their service center. They changed some parts and sent it back but must not have tested it because it had the same problem. I sent it to the service center again with an even more detailed note about the problem, and I got it back again today and it still has the original problem. I'm convinced that JVC doesn't QA the repairs that they perform.

Design Flaw
This camera has a design flaw. The integrated microphone does NOT shut off when you use an auxilary microphone. It says in the manual that it is supposed to. I sent it back to JVC many times, and the service personal compensated me by disconnecting the internal microphone permanently.
Try actually owning the camera...
So you reviewed this camera based on the reviews that 3 other people gave to a different model?I'm giving 5 stars just offset your stupidity.
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Editorial Review

The revolutionary JVC Everio G series hard-disk camcorders offer unprecedented storage capacity, eliminating the need to carry tapes, discs, or any media at all--yet can record up to seven hours of DVD movie-quality video. They also record more than 10.5 hours at a quality level comparable to a DVD camcorder’s 30-minute mode. Recording-time capabilities for all four models in the Everio G series are impressive: The GZ-MG20 and GZ-MG40 offer 4 hours and 50 minutes of recording time at DVD quality and 25 hours at lower-resolution Internet quality; the GZ-MG30, GZ-MG50, and GZ-MG70 record for 7 hours and 10 minutes at DVD quality and 37 hours at Internet quality.Read more

Features

• 1/6-inch CCD imager with 680K resolution
• Microdrive format lets you shoot up to 4 hours and 50 minutes of high-quality MPEG-2 video
• 25x optical zoom
• 2.5-inch clear LCD monitor, power linked operation
• Three-dimensional noise reduction for clear picture in low light

Reviews (16)

JVC Does Not Stand Behind Their Products - JVC Lemoncorder
I agree with the many other users who have experienced the "Condensation, Operation Paused" defect on their JVC GR-XXX. Despite numerous others reporting this problem, JVC says its not a recognized problem. I would disagree - it is a recognized problem, but its your problem, not theirs.

Love love LOVE it!
The 5 main reasons I purchased this camcorder:
Pretty good camera for trips, you need a better battery though
The quality is awesome, the ergonomics is just super (the four way stick in the LCD for starters), the transfer capabilities are nice (just plug it in to ANY PC and it becomes an external hard drive with video files, although you have to rename the .MOD to .MPG), and the zoom/frame rate is great. (Upto 32X optical and .5-4000 fps - this is really good for shooting as you like).
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Features

• Features 3-CCD pixel shift technology for sharp, vivid images
• Megabrid engine assures optimum quality for both video and still images
• 30-percent less noise with 3D noise reduction technology
• DVD/Video CD Creation (via IEEE 1394)
• High-precision F1.8 lens with 10x powerful optical zoom

Reviews (2)

A disappointment. Don't be fooled by the 5MP claim. The lense is quite inferior.
this is a very compact camcorder. However, the 5MP 3-CCD is useless if the lense is inferior. That's what happens to this JVC miniDV. The lense is not from any lense specialist, it's made by JVC itself. You have to look at the camcorder lense carefully to see "JVC video lense". The vidoe quality therefore is limited. There are tiny dots when you play it back on TV. I compared this with Sony DCR-HC96 and Panasonic PV-GS500 and decided that PV-GS500 is the best for the money.

Do not be fooled by the size!
This camcorder has taken on the big boys of the video market. Once you get used to the design, you can make anything you can create in your mind, with almost as vivid color as real life! Okay, I could be blowing things out of proportion, but for the money, it is truely an amazing mechanism. The still picture is definitely impressive in comparison to other video cameras testing the hybridism of multi-use cameras. The only thing that was not amazing, like all other prosumer camcorders, was the sound quality from the built in mic. It is placed on top of the camera, picking up more of the gear sounds from the tape, than the subject in front of the lens. Definitely the best camera for a person breaking into videography on a budget. ... Read more

Features

• 16x optical zoom lens (700x digital zoom) and digital image stabilizer
• Crystal View rotating 2.5-inch High Resolution LCD, to reduce glare and reflections from the LCD screen
• Built-in auto light using twin LED lights for 1/10th the power consumption and SD/MMC card slot
• BN-V408U 800 mAh Lithium-ion, high-capacity, rechargeable battery pack; camera has built-in battery charger

Reviews (22)

"Lens Cap On" = CCD Replacement Program
A bit more info on the program. It does exist. It is free. You send in your camera or, if in a big city, take it in to a repair center for the free replacement. It does not matter if your camera is out of warranty. The replacement program exists in other countries as well (at least the UK and Canada). JVC is standing behind their product and you really have to respect them for that. (This problem of the bad CCD occurs in a dozen or more models manufacturred during 2002 and 2003.)
JVC Lens Cap error- special repair program
For those of you that have experienced (or will experience) the Lens Cap error often mentioned in user reviews of JVC camcorders. Here is a link to a JVC "special repair program" that I found while researching this issue online:
Good for the money
It's not a super expensive camcorder so you get what you pay for.In good light situations, the camcorder is great.In lower light it does go out of focus.The still shots are just OK, but I wasn't really expecting to have great quality.It would be nice if JVC supplied the needed memory card for still pictures.Overall, I'm satisfied with this product.
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Editorial Review

The revolutionary JVC Everio G series hard-disk camcorders offer unprecedented storage capacity, eliminating the need to carry tapes, discs, or any media at all--yet can record up to seven hours of DVD movie-quality video. They also record more than 10.5 hours at a quality level comparable to a DVD camcorder’s 30-minute mode. Recording-time capabilities for all four models in the Everio G series are impressive: The GZ-MG20 and GZ-MG40 offer 4 hours and 50 minutes of recording time at DVD quality and 25 hours at lower-resolution Internet quality; the GZ-MG30, GZ-MG50, and GZ-MG70 record for 7 hours and 10 minutes at DVD quality and 37 hours at Internet quality.Read more

Features

• 30 GB hard-drive camcorder; high-quality MPEG-2 recording
• F1.8 lens, 680K CCD, 25x optical zoom, 800x digital zoom
• 2.5-inch clear LCD monitor, power linked operation
• USB 2.0 high-speed interface
• Three-dimensional noise reduction for clear picture

Reviews (13)

A l'il sumpthin' to generally consider...
Frankly, I like my MG30. The only thing that gives me pause is its propensity to physically generate heat to the point of becoming uncomfortable to hold. This is a well known problem within the JVC line itself. (Much like Honda cars and bikes having BAD RINGS. They've known forever - but they just never correct it...)
What Were They Thinking
Other people have covered the good aspects of this camcorder - light weight, no tapes/discs to mess with, pretty good menu.However, these are easily outweighed by the lack of thought by JVC's engineers; and to add insult to injury, the downfall of this camcorder hinges on the very feature that is supposed to be it's selling point - storing video files on a hard drive (and not other media).
Greatest camcorder ever!
I read all the reviews and have to say I have no idea what they are talking about. Sure you need a computer thats not 3 years old and up to date software like anything thats new these days. But just imagine NEVER having to buy tapes or CD's again! And the picture is always prefect! I am in love with this camcorder. Its like my forth one and I had the best DVD camcorder, there is just no way to compair them. Inside, outside, in the sun, in the dark are all a great picture. My sister used it for her sons birthday , now she bought one of her own and loves it as much as I do. And all the people having issues transfering video files or pictures to anything, hmmm, I dont know but it takes me 5 to 10 minutes to sort and then i just burn them. You have to buy this camcorder, you'll love it! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Whether you're recording your vacation, your children, or any event, theultracompact JVC GR-DVL505U digital cybercam offers a wide range of features tohelp you take the best shots. Not only does it act as a regular camcorder, butit also can function as a digital still camera. The still images are stored onthe included memory card and can be downloaded onto your PC via the providedserial cable. The included software provides a short editing process to makeyour images Web ready or e-mail compliant.Read more

Features

• High-resolution MiniDV digital format
• 3-inch swivel color LCD monitor
• Also functions as digital still camera; 2 MB storage card included
• 10x optical, 250x digital zoom
• Includes special effects and scene transitions

Reviews (15)

Great if you get the extended warranty
We got this 3 yrs ago.For the price we paid, it was packed with features and performed well for the most part.We didn't bother with the included software since we had Pinnacle.A year ago (2 yrs after purchase) we had blotches and blackouts on tapes when viewing previously taped DVs.Went through and scratched up bunches of tapes before trying out the head cleaners.Things were ok until few months ago.The motor to eject and receive the cartridge started to get stuck.After jiggling few times, even brute force, it would be ok.Now this past weekend, after we tried to use it to tape our son's birthday party, it degenerated to the point where it's 'eating up' tapes and it takes several minutes of coaxing to get the tape to go in or out.Time for a decent burial me thinks.