Small with Big Features
Written: Nov 21 '02
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Pros: Size, video quality, progressive scan video
Cons: Need to be a semi-rocket scientist to use all the features. No video download software.
The Bottom Line: They don't make this camera anymore but I think JVC has the price-performance edge and would get another one if I had to.
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| tingting's Full Review: JVC Cybercam GR-DVM90 Mini DV Camcorder |
I was looking for the smallest digital camcorder under $700 and found this one. The main reason I bought this camera is for size and to download the video to pc and process, edit and make dvd, vcd. The power of digital video is the ability to download and edit the video on pc so you can send your friends and family either the mpg video or dvd, vcd format.
The best feature of this camera is the progressive scan video which scans the video image at twice the frequency making the image much sharper than non progressive scan ccd's. Because of the light weight and size I can carry it everywhere I go on my belt and pull it out at an instant. I have taken several trips to China and never had any problems. In fact my digital still camera broke on one trip and I used the built in digital still camera as a backup. The still images were sharper than my Casio digital camera. When I got home, I just plugged in the supplied cable directly into the camera and into my television and watched the video without using any adaptors. I bought the wide angle lens for $69 and works well for indoor pictures. The powerful zoom lens is another amazing feature. But you need a tripod of course as with every camera that you use zoom lens with. The size of the battery is small making the camera light weight. Batteries are cheap as long as you don't buy the JVC brand. Although I bought the higher capacity batteries I never use it because I carry couple extra flat batteries that last long enough until I get home to recharge them. The lithium ion batteries cost $25-30 on ebay brand new. Also, I can charge 2 at the same time with the charger. The video image is sharp and color very good. When I made a vcd, cd, my parents were surprised how sharp and clear the image was. In China the standard is PAL, and on a PAL t.v. the image is much sharper and clearer. The charger, adapter plugs directly into a 220 volt as used in most overseas countries but you need the plug adapter which cost about $3.00. With Windows 2000, 1394 firewire and appropriate software, the camera was identified immediately with the software and I was able to control the camera from my pc and record the video to my hard disk. It is a no brainer for sure. Then I edited the video converted it to svcd format which compressed 1.5gb of data to 600mb that could fit on a cd. One entire tape will fit on a CD.
Ok, the bad points folks. You need to study the manual well to use all the features especially how to record in low light which works fine when you use low light mode. You will also notice that there is no information on how to use the 1394 firewire except to communicate with another 1394 recorder.
The first thing I wanted to do is download the video to my PC. After a frantic search, I discovered that no software is included to download the video to PC! It has the cable and 1394 firewire connector. Only software to download the still images are included. I had a lot of learning to do as I was not an expert on digital video at the time. I wrote to JVC to ask them how to download the video to PC. They didn't know how to do it and they said that they didn't support downloading video with the 1394 even though they supply the output to do this! So I had to get smarter than them. I found a digital video recorder software by Honestech. With Windows 2000 and 1394 card, the software immediately found the camera and was communicating instantly, I couldn't believe it. The software cost me $40. Then I had to buy encoding software and editing software. I feel like I am a professional digital video editor now. The JVC camera interfaces perfectly and reliably with the software. Digital tapes are less than $5.00 but I can reuse them now because I have all the video on my PC. By the way, you do need a high capacity hard drive. I bought a 100gb drive for $100. So expect to spend some money if you want to be a real digital video guru. If you don't want to do the fancy things that digital video is meant for, then don't waste money and just get an analog camcorder for half the price.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): $650
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Epinions.com ID:
tingting
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Reviews written: 22
Trusted by: 0 members
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