JVC GR-DVL9800U Digital Camcorder
Written: Oct 13 '00 (Updated May 06 '02)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Excellent picture quality, rich set of features, compact
Cons: Expensive
The Bottom Line: GR-DVL9800U is not cheap, but provides excellent picture quality and rich set of features to compensate for its high price.
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| dkozin's Full Review: JVC GR-DVL9800 Mini DV Camcorder |
GR-DVL9800U digital camcorder currently costs about $1,500. Unlike its boxy siblings 50U and 70U, it has a conventional shape, which looks better (at least to me) and is more convenient.
9800U is quite compact and lightweight. In fact, remote control looks huge comparing to the size of camcorder itself. The price is not low, but you get a lot of features for it.
9800U can act as both camcorder and digital still camera. In latter case, the still images are stored on a removable 4 MB multimedia card. The card is provided because of the fact, that MiniDV tape is not designed to store XGA-resolution (1024x768) pictures which 9800U provides. There is a built-in pop-up flash with red-eye reduction for low-light conditions.
You can store up to 36 images in fine resolution or up to 75 images in standard resolution on this 4Mb card.
The camcorder comes with serial cable, which can be used to download your pictures to your computer. After downloading, you can use provided software (Windows) to edit the images. You can save them in JPEG format, so they will be easily “sendable” by email or “postable” on the Web.
There is also a DV In/out connectors (i.Link IEEE 1394) and analog in/out, so you can copy from analog sources and to them. Audio dubbing capability is also included.
The camcorder’s high-resolution 200,000-pixel LCD allows you to operate it from any angle. In addition, you get a color 0.55-inch CRT viewfinder.
The picture in both camcorder and still camera modes is excellent with good edge definition and realistic color reproduction. The camcorder uses a 680,000-pixel CCD, which allows you to use digital zoom with not much loss in visual picture quality. GR-DVL9800U has the 200x digital zoom (with spline interpolation) in addition to the x10 optical zoom that varies the zooming speed according to the finger pressure. The zoom also works in playback mode (but with loss of picture quality).
GR-DVL9800U has a large selection of digital effects, which include classic film, strobe, slow shutter, black and white, cinema scene transitions, white fader, black and white fader, slide wipe, scroll wide, random, mosaic fader, door wipe, dissolve. Also it has full, frame, pinup, white border, motor drive, multipicture snapshot modes.
The random assemble editing mode provides an eight-scene memory for favorite scenes and the ability to add special effects. The camcorder also has a digital image stabilizer and playback zoom, audio dubbing, high-speed recording, and slow playback.
9800U comes with a full-function multibrand remote control, which allow you control many brands of VCRs. The camcorder has large array of manual adjustments in addition to automatic ones: focus, white balance, exposure.
The included Li-ion battery, which, unlike “old” Ni-Cd batteries, you can recharge it before it is fully discharged, without fear of loosing capacity because of the “memory effect”.
GR-DVL9800U is not cheap, but provides excellent picture quality and rich set of features to compensate for its high price.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID: dkozin
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in Electronics |
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Location: California
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About Me: I love to push buttons on electronic (audio and video) equipment. It makes me happy.
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