Product Description

The GR-DVL820 combines outstanding performance adding a 1/3.8" 1.02-megapixel CCD and a super high-band processor for 530 horizontal lines of resolution in a sleek, compact design. The GR-DVL820 also ensures maximum user friendliness utilizing Night Alive (for full-color shooting in extreme low light conditions), analog inputs, built-in auto light, high-resolution 3.5" Amorphous Silicon LCD color monitor, 700X super digital zoom with spline interpolation, HG digital stills (1280x960/1024 x 768/640x480), picture stabilizer and long-time recording capability. The versatile multimedia interfacing includes SD/ MultiMedia card-compatible, USB high-speed interface, DV input/output, S-video and A/V output terminals.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #142066 in Camera & Photo
• Brand: JVC
• Model: DVL820U
• Released on: 2002-01-29
• Platforms: Windows NT 5, PowerMac, Windows Me, Windows XP, Mac OS X, Mac OS 9 and below, Windows, Windows 2000 Server, Windows NT, Macintosh, Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows NT 3.5, Windows NT 4
• Dimensions: .0" h x .0" w x .0" l, .0 pounds
• Display size: 3.5

Features

• MiniDV camcorder
• 10x optical, 700x digital, zoom with image stabilization
• 3.5-inch color LCD; black and white EVF
• Digital still mode records megapixel images onto included 8 MB MultiMediaCard
• Analog inputs for digital archiving

Amazon.com Product Description
The JVC GR-DVL820U takes full advantage of its MiniDV system and provides a sharp 530 horizontal lines of resolution, ensuring outstanding, vibrant images. Other features of the camcorder include a huge 3.5-inch LCD screen, 10x optical zoom, built-in video light, digital wipes and fades, and remarkable still camera performance.

Lens
The 1/3.8-inch CCD sensor captures images with detailed accuracy so that they will be sharp and defined. The optical zoom magnifies up to 10 times, while the digital zoom, which works by electronically enhancing the optical image, reaches up to 700 times. The digital image stabilization system keeps the picture steady and solid throughout zooms and camera shakes. You can still shoot video at night with the video light, or use the night-shot function, which allows the camera to shoot full-spectrum video in little or no light. Manual controls such as focus, exposure, and white balance give the user greater flexibility in shooting.

Digital Stills
The CCD sensor has a 1.02-megapixel rating, which creates images with resolutions of up 1,280 by 960 pixels. There are two lower-quality settings (1,024 by 768 and 640 by 480) that you can use to save memory. The 820U includes an 8 MB MultiMediaCard and is also compatible SD memory cards.

Inputs and Outputs
The 820U comes with the standard DV IEEE-1394 port that provides a lossless connection to a PC or other DV machines, as well as a USB port for image transfer. The common RCA AV connections are used for direct viewing on a television or VHS dubbing.

Customer Reviews

Nice Camcorder, bad tape compatibility
This is a good little camera with great features. I was pleasantly surprised when it arrived as it's smaller than I expected. Quite a tidy, compact package with big features. I figured there was really no need for a color viewfinder in the DVL 920 model, so not worth the extra $'s.

Only one major reservation... it doesn't work with TDK or Panasonic brand tapes. After purchasing the camera and recording an hour of tape, I played the tape back on the unit and got a message on the screen that the camera needed cleaning and the image was broken up and basically garbage on the screen. After speaking to JVC tech support they informed me that with TDK tapes the camera will exhibit that behavior, but I was using Panasonic. I then bought a Sony tape and everything seems to be fine.

Superb Quality for such a tiny camera!
I tried out in the course of over three weeks four different camcorders before deciding on this one. It is wonderfully quiet not to mention light, compact and easy to use. The LCD screen is clear and big. The playback is clear with excellent sound. Many extra features such as the editing options during playback were an unexpected treat. I like to shoot somewhat professional footage up here in Alaska and edit it with music and this model by far met all my usual standards and more......

Worthwhile pick
Does everything it says does. Good size, Good video, not bad pictures. It won't replace your camera but it's decent enough to snap a quick shot should the opportunity present itself. It's easier than digging for your camera while trying to shoot video. Light serves it's purpose. Haven't had too much of chance to use the night alive yet. You have to get an extended battery, the one it comes with maybe lasts an hour using the big LCD. That seems to be the case with all camcorders.