Product Description

This newly styled JVC camcorder is designed for those who are searching for a fun and slimline camcorder while maintaining a full feature package within. The GR-DV30US boasts a 680, 000-Pixel CCD Super High Band Processor for 520 lines of horizontal resolution. The maximum user friendliness is achieved with Power-Linked Operation (always ready to record), Night Alive (for low-light recording), High Resolution 2.5" Amorphous Silicon LCD Color Monitor, 700X Super Digital Zoom with Spline Interpolation, Digital Picture Stabilizer and Long Time Recording Capability.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #27956 in Camera & Photo
• Brand: JVC
• Model: D30US
• Dimensions: 4.00 pounds
• Display size: 2.5

Features

• MiniDV camcorder with 16x optical zoom, 700x digital zoom, image stabilization
• 2.5-inch fold-out color LCD screen and color viewfinder
• Night and low-light shooting
• Special effects for recording and playback
• Connects to PCs and Macs via Firewire (IEEE1394)

Amazon.com Product Description
The compact JVC GR-D30 is a stylish, go-anywhere digital video camcorder that incorporates all of JVC's key camcorder technologies. This entry-level MiniDV camcorder is 50 percent smaller than models from 2002 (the GR-DVL120) and features a 16x optical zoom, picture stabilization, and JVC's Night Alive feature.

Optics & Audio
The GR-D30 offers a 680,000 CCD with 520 lines of horizontal resolution. Combined with JVC's super hi-band processor, you'll be assured of capturing crisp, clear video. Equipped with a 16x optical zoom, the GR-D30 also features a 700x digital zoom that allows you to zoom in for incredible close-ups.

The GR-D30 also features PCM digital stereo sound in either 12-bit or 16-bit options. The 16-bit mode offers one set of stereo tracks and achieves the same quality as CD, while the 12-bit mode creates two sets of stereo tracks. Audio dub is possible when recorded in 12-bit mode.

More Features

• JVC's Night Alive feature boosts light sensitivity for a bright picture, even in situations with minimal illumination.
• A 2.5-inch tilting LCD screen for high-angle overhead shooting, low-angle shots, or even self portraits.
• The Picture Stabilizer system corrects camera shake instantly, giving you smooth and stable pictures.
• Record still images onto the video cassette with a "shutter" sound effect in full frame or pin-up mode.
• The Power Linked Operation feature prepares the camera to record simply by opening the LCD or pulling out the viewfinder.
• The IEEE 1394 (FireWire) connections provides fast, loss-less digital transfer to a computer, or dubbing from or to another DV unit.

MiniDV Format
MiniDV is the preferred format for personal and broadcast-quality video, highly regarded for its high audio and image quality. With up to 520 lines of horizontal resolution and minimum color noise, MiniDV delivers a 20 percent clearer picture than analog camcorder formats. This is all delivered on a cassette that's 1/12th the size of a standard VHS tape. A MiniDV tape offers digital recording time of 2 full hours--20 times the capacity of a CD.

Contents
This package includes the GR-D30 camcorder, AC adapter (AP-V13U), battery pack (BN-V408U), shoulder strap, AV cable (mini-3 RCA), and lens cap.

From the Manufacturer
This newly styled JVC camcorder is designed for those who are searching for a fun and slimline camcorder while maintaining a full feature package within. The GR-DV30US boasts a 680,000-Pixel CCD Super High Band Processor for 520 lines of horizontal resolution. The maximum user friendliness is achieved with Power-Linked Operation (always ready to record), Night Alive ( for low-light recording), High Resolution 2.5" Amorphous Silicon LCD Color Monitor, 700X Super Digital Zoom with Spline Interpolation, Digital Picture Stabilizer and Long Time Recording Capability.

• F1.6 Bright lens
• 680,000 Pixel CCD
• Digital CyberCam Video Camera
• 2.5" High Resolution, 270-degree rotating LCD color monitor
• 700X Digital Hyper Zoom with Spline Interpolation
• 16X Optical Hyper Zoom
• Digital Image Stabilizer
• Power-Linked Operation
• Black/White Viewfinder
• 16x9 Squeeze Mode
• PCM Digital Stereo Audio
• Iris Lock
• Wide Mode
• Manual focus, Exposure, and White Balance modes
• Black Fader
• Digital Wipes and Fades
• Variable-speed Shutter (1/500,1/250, 1/100, 1/60 sec.)
• High Density Image Recording, Mini DV NTSC (SD specifications)
• BN-V408U 800 mAh Lithium-ion, High Capacity, rechargeable battery pack
• Built-in AC Power Adapter/battery charger
• i.Link Digital Input/Output (IEEE 1394 compliant) DV in/out
• S-Video Output
• Shoulder strap, AC Adapter and AV output cables
• Audio Dubbing
• 1 year parts, 90 days labor warranty
• 1.15 LBS. (.52KG)
• 3.7 inches (94MM)
• 2.7 inches (68.5MM)
• 5.63 inches (143MM)

Customer Reviews

Great quality, especially for the price.
..... I love it. The picture and sound quality are great, I dont think I could ask for more.

The battery it comes with is good for over an hour, which easily covers a 60 minute tape. Thats better than the default battery you get with a lot of other camcorders which are often in the 30-45 minute range. It lacks the remote control and USB/memory card you get with the 2 higher (and more expensive) models, but thats fine by me. It can still take stills, but its not a function I have any interest in. If I want good stills, I have a 2.2MP Kodak for that. Pretty much everyone knows by now that you dont get good stills off a camcorder, just as you dont get good video off a still cam. If its an included secondary feature, then fine, but dont expect the quality you get with a more dedicated device. I got this for the video, and its a wonderful thing.

It doesnt do too well in really low light, of course I wasnt really expecting otherwise. I have yet to ever see a digital camcorder that actually does great with inadequet light. It has a night mode, which does greatly increase the lighting, but it drops the frame rate terribly. It has another "backlight" function that can be handy for less than optimal lighting. But in reasonable-good lighting, you get wonderfull piture quality. It has a nice selection of transition effects built in, I still have yet to explore them all. The 16x optical zoom is cool. Its more than enough for me. The size of the unit is nice, not too big and not too small - similar in shape/size to the canon ZR series, only this thing is of higher quality than the canon counterparts, especially where audio is concerned.

Now, Im sure this isnt the ideal model for everyone in every situation, but for the price, you'd be hard pressed to get this kind of quality elsewhere. There are $$$$ models that cant compare to this, so Im happy with the buy. Its pretty easy to use. Not too much of a learning curve. Not so many buttons that you get lost. Manual/automatic choices. Yeah, its a nice piece of work and I was surprised at how affordable it was. I would recommend this to most people.

Overall Great Value
I just got my GRD30 yesterday and spent a good amount of time with it last night. Overall, I think it is a very good camera for the price.

It wasn't made overly clear to me (until I read through the manual) what the real differences were between this model and the GRD70/90 models. The only differences I saw were that this model has no remote control (not a big deal for me) and doesn't have on-board memory chip for storing still images (again, not a big deal). What I do think is important to know, though, is that the GRD70/90 models accept DV INPUT and can record the DV input onto the MiniDV tape. Had I known that, I might have stepped up, but I'm not sure it's worth a hundred dollars.

Overal Pros:
The picture quality is excellent.
The CCD resolution is outstanding at this price point -- 50% higher resolution than most other entry-level models (what sold me on this camera).
The price (and, therefore the value) is excellent.
Battery life is better than average (>1 hr) and it fully charges in less than 1.5 hrs.

...and So-So's:
The zoom is adequate, but not spectacular.
There is some on-tape noise when zooming in and out, but it's not overwhelming. We didn't even notice it until we taped our dog running in the yard (with no conversation).
The image stabilization is merely okay. But, it is a worthwhile feature.

...and Cons:
There is NO on-board light, and the low-light functionality is not spectacular. I'm not sure how much that will come in to play down the road.
There is no auxiliary audio input, so the front-facing microphone is all you get.

If you're looking for an entry-level DV camcorder, you could do a lot worse.

Can you call a camcorder sexy?
This is a standard-issue MiniDV digital camcorder in a very stylish body. While not one of the small pocket-size types -- incidentally those are often awkward to operate and susceptible to hand shakes -- the GRD30 is still small enough to be highly portable. All the standard features of a digital camcorder, from digital tape to fold-out LCD screen to IEEE 1394 "Firewire" connections, are there, and JVC also claims superb video image quality. The 16x optical zoom is higher than many other camcorders. (When choosing a camcorder or digital camera, pay ZERO attention to digital zoom claims, since digital zoom is entirely useless. Only optical zoom power counts.)

An attractive price, especially here on Amazon.com, makes this a top buy.