JVC Cybercam GR-DVL920 Mini DV Camcorder

Pros: Price, performance and features, analog inputs, 1-Megapixel CCD, USB, digital stills
Cons: Standard battery life

The JVC GR-DVL920U MiniDV digital camcorder features a 1-Megapixel CCD, a large 3.5” LCD and the ability to shoot still pictures and store them on the supplied 16Mb MultiMediaCard. The USB interface simplifies the transfer of still images to...

Pros: Loaded with features. "Anamorphic" 16:9. Lightweight; ergonomic. Great picture for a 1 CCD camera. Effects.
Cons: No microphone input/hot shoe. Bleedy colors near light sources. Zoom/tape whirr too noisy.

I think there are two types of camcorder purchasers -- those who just want to capture the family pic ...

Pros: Comfortable, lots of features, built in light, MPEG-4
Cons: Some noise from zoom captured by camera's mic. No external mic or light access.

What I wanted

I did research for YEARS before deciding to plunk down a major wad of cash on my first camcorder. I wanted something with a large view screen, Firewire (IEEE 1394) editing capabilities, comfortable button access, top loading...

Pros: Color viewfinder, good value, intuitive operation, built-in light.
Cons: Only decent still pix despite megapixel resolution; can't charge battery while using camera

I literally spent weeks researching and pricing Mini-DV camcorders. The JVC GR-DVL920 turned out to be the best all-around choice for me.

I had seen that Panasonic was coming out with their 2002 models and had a comparable model to the JVC:...

Pros: Price, 1.02MP CCD, Easy of use, Solid and well planned design
Cons: Less than ideal low light performance, Poor stock battery life when using 3.5" LCD

The JVC GR-DVL920U takes the solid platform of the DVL820U a few steps further by adding the convenience of a color viewfinder and MPEG4 Email mode. While it isn't the flashiest of the mid-grade DV camera's, it comes pretty well loaded and is definitely...

Pros: Nice size, weight
Cons: Riddled with digital noise / pixel distortion problems, rendering camera unusable

The camera has only worked properly for a few (less than 15) hours of the time we've owned it. After just a bit of normal use, it started to insert significant "digital noise" into the recording, the viewfinder blanks out entirely, it won't focus .... ...

Pros: 3.5" screen, top loading tape (for tripod use), good quality images (when it works).
Cons: Product quality issues. Lousy warranty.

I bought this camera before my son was born and was quite pleased. Everything worked as advertised. By the time my son was 9 months old (notice it was just past the 3 month warranty period) I noticed a tiny purple dot appear in the middle of my videos ...

Pros: Built-In Light, large LCD
Cons: Poor construction, bad support

Since the day I got this dreadful camera it has been nothing but trouble. Video is splotchy, distorted, pixelated and it eats tapes. It has been sent to JVC Regional Repair center in Atlanta, GA twice for warranty repair and has come back in exactly...

Pros: Great Value For The Money
Cons: Wierd Buzzing

I'd been looking for a new Mini DV camcorder for a few weeks now and I happened to come across this beauty. It has all the features that I was looking for: analog in/out, digital in/out and a USB connection. Since I'm doing some editing on my laptop,...

Pros: 3.5 LCD, Size and options when they work.
Cons: Very common error (E04) that makes Camera inoperable. Should be recalled by JVC!!!!!

Right after the warranty expired, got the dreaded E04 error. Looking at the Camcorder Forums, it app ...

Pros: Price, pass through from analog to digital
Cons: Quality, cheap plastic housing, still images unusable, not reliable after normal use

I purchased this camcorder after "researching" as best I could various brands (Sony, JVC, Canon, etc) and formats (DVD, MiniDV, Hi8, Digital8, etc.). I settled on this because according to JVC's website the features/specs were pretty much equal to a ...

Pros: Great Zoom, Excellent picture quality, Great Options
Cons: You need a PHD. to download movies onto computer.

The JVC name is known for it's camcorders and this is one that they can be proud of. I use it for family use, mainly vacation movies and movies of the kids. I don't know how it compares to professional Digital recorders but for private use it can't be...

Pros: Light weight, easy tape loading and battery loading.
Cons: No external audio plugs, low battery life.

I looked for a camera I could shoot with manual settings, as I don't like too many automatic features. I really like the color viewer and the size of the LCD screen. After running analog for years, it takes a bit of patience to get used to menus to set...

Pros: it was nice for the few months i had it.
Cons: it was nice for the few months i had it.

I bought this camera on 8 mar. 2003. by 23 july 2003, I received the ubiquitous head cleaning required notice.

Unfortunately for me, I bought the camera in New York at some independent store and was in Atlanta, GA when the notice disappeared and the power to eject...and close the eject door disappeared as well. I called JVC who referred me to the (only) JVC Authorized repair person in Georgia...who referred me to a JVC repair person in Alabama.

Frustrated, i completely abandoned the camera and now, perhaps, after digging it up someone can revive it. ( I took it to a camera repair store, here, in Manhattan today--2 July 2007)

i bought the camera because, for the price, and the listed capabilities i thought i was getting a steal. I had planned on beginning a documentary but once the camera malfunctions began, I had to fall back on the only camera I had, a Hi 8 camera, which continues to work...though it's hard to make the footage usable.

But the experience has soured me to JVC to the point where I will never buy one of their products again.

Pros: USB & firewire connectivity, webcam, 16 mb memory card, and plenty filming options.
Cons: Have to open LCD display to get at important buttons. Noisy.

The camera has a lot of good features and worked great for the first year and a half. Now it will not play back the tapes, recording is very loud, and a "clean heads" error appears every time I use it. To make things worse, I can't even tell if the camera is recording properly because the playback will not work. Frustrating, everything bad happens right when warranty ends.