Panasonic PVGS15 MiniDV Compact Digital Camcorder w/24x Optical Zoom

Panasonic PVGS15 MiniDV Compact Digital Camcorder w/24x Optical Zoom

Panasonic's vision of the digital future is driven by the needs and aspirations of its business customers and millions of consumers around the world who use its products every day. The company shares their dream to live a fuller life by providing ways of working smarter and enjoying the rewards of technological advances.MultiCam camcorders feature digital camcorder and digital still camera capabilities, all in one easy-to-use camcorder.

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #43137 in Camera & Photo

Brand: Panasonic

Model: PV-GS15

Released on: 2004-02-15

Dimensions: 3.38" h x 2.75" w x 4.38" l, .90 pounds

Display size: 2.5

Features

MiniDV camcorder and still camera with 680,000-pixel CCD

24x optical zoom lens (digital zoom to 800x) and image stabilizer

2.5-inch LCD swings open 120 degrees and color viewfinder

Low-light recording settings and EfficiBright LED Light

Rechargeable Li-ion battery pack lasts for up to 3 hours

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Product Description
Blending innovative technologies with new, simple-to-operate controls, Panasonic's PV-GS15 camcorder is an affordable and powerful entry into digital video. Panasonic continues to innovate, adding more optical zoom capability while reducing the overall size. This MiniDV camcorder features a 24x optical zoom, ultra-fast 1.3-second start-up time, 8 MB SD memory card for digital stills, webcam capability, and color viewfinder. It also comes with a 3-hour battery, remote control, and editing software.

Optics
The PV-GS15 is equipped with a 1/6-inch, 680,000-pixel CCD and 22x optical zoom It also features a 800x digital zoom that allows you to zoom in on incredible close-ups.

Digital Stills
In addition to shooting video, the PV-GS15 can also capture digital still images up to 640 x 480 pixels--good for sending photos to friends and family over e-mail or posting to your Web site. They are stored to the Secure Digital (SD)/MultiMedia (MMC) memory card slot. The Direct Mode Dial can be used in digital still mode lets you quickly select the desired digital camera mode, such as Record, Playback, Card Record, or Card Playback.

More Features
The 2.5-inch LCD screen can be opened a full 120 degrees away from the camcorder's body, making it easier to view motion images as theyÕre being captured.

The Quick Start feature enables the PV-GS15 to begin taping 1.3 seconds after turning the power on so those unexpectedÊmoments wonÕt be missed.ÊAfter pressing the Quick Start button, the camcorder will bring up the previous settings that you were shooting with--even if they were manually entered.

The Soft Skin Detail function detects the different skin tones being recorded and softens the focus to create a realistic blend.

Other features include:

The image-enhancing MagicPix feature allows for rich videos under low-light conditions.

Digital Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) helps take the jitter out of hand-held video recording and compensate for unintentional hand and camcorder movement.

Web cam capability, which is ideal for video conferencing with friends or family, or use as a simple monitoring device when consumers are away from home.

The unsnapping hand strap doubles as wrist loops, enabling you to carry the camcorder like a small bag or purse.

Color viewfinder

Inputs and Outputs
The PV-GS15 comes with the standard DV IEEE 1394 port (also known as FireWire; Panasonic refers to this connection as iLink) for a super-fast, lossless connection to a PC or other DV machines.

MiniDV Format
MiniDV is the preferred format for personal and broadcast-quality video, and it is highly regarded for its high audio and image quality. With up to 540 lines of horizontal resolution and minimum color noise, MiniDV delivers a 2 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.

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Customer Reviews

Drawbacks overwhelm the positives
I bought this camcorder for my wife. After using it for a while, we just stopped. Indoor pictures, even with lights on, are very grainy. And unfortunately, we would shoot a lot indoors.

In order to move the video to a computer, you need a Firewire cable and Firewire on your computer, and additional software not supplied with the camcorder. I wouldn't mind this, execpt the camcorder also has USB connectivity. Everyone has USB, but you can't send the video over USB, only still pics.

The basic shooting controls are easy enough to figure out, but beyond that, the controls are very unintuitive. The control panel tucked in where the LCD screen comes out has myriad buttons, and it's not obvious what they all do.

I remember shortly after I bought this, Consumer Reports came out with their evaluations of Camcorders. This one was at the very bottom of the ones they rated, and in my opinion, for good reason.

This camera is a bucket of bolts
I have a Panasonic camcorder, PV-GS15, five months short of being two years old. Now it is broke and does not work. However before it died, the screen kept turning blue with a message to hit the reset button. Doing so provided no positive results. I telephoned Panasonic and questioned the reason for this reset button, and their technical support could not offer an explanation. I noticed all Panasonic camcorders have this annoying reset button, while other manufacturers do not have this defect of an option. I suggest buying your camcorder from anyone but Panasonic.

Fixed it once, then broke again
After buying camera, worked fine then i started having to reset it constantly. I sent it in, came back working fine. Same thing started up again, and now i cant play back. Also, terrible quality when filming indoors. Very grainy.

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Isonic Snapbox HD665 Multifunctional High Definition Camcorder (Black)

Isonic Snapbox HD665 Multifunctional High Definition Camcorder (Black)

720P HD Camcorder

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #1604 in Camera & Photo

Color: Black

Brand: iSonic

Model: Snapbox HD665

Dimensions: 4.25" h x 1.00" w x 2.50" l, 8.00 pounds

Display size: 3

Features

High Definition Video Camera, 5 Mega Pixels Digital Still camera, 8X Digital Zoom,

3" LCD

Digital Still Camera,MP3 player

TV Output HDMI A/V output; NTSC/PAL Optional

Voice Recorder,personal media player

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Customer Reviews

Great camcorder, but the compatibility with editing software leaves a lot to be desired.
Compared to other camcorders available at prices around $100-$150, this one takes the cake. In my opinion, it's the best camcorder you can buy for under $200. However, as one might expect, it still has its flaws.

VIDEO
Even when not filming in HD mode, the picture you get is incredible. Needless to say, HD mode is even more amazing. The picture loses a little bit of quality when played back on a computer, but it looks great if you hook it up to a TV.

AUDIO
The sound quality is top notch. Usually with a cheap camcorder you really lose out on the quality of the audio, but the sound this camcorder picks up is even clearer than the picture. My only complaint with the audio is that anyone speaking from over 15 feet away doesn't get picked up very well, but that is to be expected from camcorders of this size.

PICTURES
In short, if you take pictures with this camcorder they won't look quite as good as pictures taken with a digital camera, but they're still high enough in quality to satisfy most people. If you just need something to snap some pictures on vacation, or while you're out and about, this camcorder will get the job done.

FEATURES
There are 4 modes on this camcorder: video, picture/camera, voice recording, and it's an MP3 player. I've only used the video and picture modes, so I can't say much about the other two modes right now, though if the audio quality is anything to judge by then I imagine the voice recorder is high in quality.

The features on this camera include a 3" flip out LCD that can be turned to face in 3 directions (but not upwards, which sucks), a light on the front for night (it's not that strong, though), flash-mode for pictures, and various effects such as stabilization and black and white mode. As I've found with other cheap camcorders, utilizing the effects while filming takes away from the video quality and sometimes even ruins the picture altogether (sometimes the picture will lag). Fortunately, I haven't needed to use the effects often.

FLAWS
Aside from what I've already mentioned, there's only one major flaw with this camcorder, and that's its compatibility with your computer and/or video editing software.

Initially, the videos uploaded to my computer without trouble, but there were a few that it wouldn't play back for lack of a certain codec. My computer is about 5 years old, so the good news is that buyers with newer computers likely won't have the same problem as me.

The real bummer about this camcorder, and the reason I only rated it 4 stars overall, is that Windows Movie Maker (the default video editing software just about everyone has on their computer) can't handle the video clips if you edit them in any way. Windows Movie Maker 2.1 is the recommended version for this camcorder, but it simply does not work. Any video that is imported to WMM and edited will turn into a black or green screen and just play the audio. The only way around the problem is to convert your video files first, which isn't only a pain but unfortunately causes your videos to lose a lot of picture quality as well. I'm still working on a simpler solution to this problem, but as far as I know this is the only way around the problem.

Nice light weight camera
Haven't really had a chance to use the camcorder but what we were able to do went well. I would not recommend this for someone looking for professional videos but for home videos it works GREAT!

A Disappointment.
I'm a loyal Amazon customer, and I have to say this is the first thing I've bought from here that's disappointed me.

I didn't expect it to be an amazing video camera for only $150, but the quality I got with mine isn't anywhere near good enough to spend money on. It's webcam quality at best.

Maybe it was just the particular camera I received, I'm not sure, but the video came out blurry and so did the pictures.

I will say one good thing about it was the sound. The sound it picked up was great, if the video and picture modes worked as well as the sound does, it'd be a perfect little camera.

I'm returning mine and looking for something else.

Price: Too low to display & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
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DXG DXG-569VK 5.0 Megapixel Ultra-Slim High-Definition Digital Video Camera In Box (Black)

DXG DXG-569VK 5.0 Megapixel Ultra-Slim High-Definition Digital Video Camera In Box (Black)

DXG DXG-569VK 5.0 MEGAPIXEL ULTRA-SLIM HIGH-DEFINITION DIGITAL VIDEO CAMERA (BLACK; IN BOX)5.0 MEGAPIXELS;RESOLUTION: 1280 X 720 @ 30 FPS; 3" TFT SCREEN ; PRODUCES VIBRANT, CRISP and COLORFUL VIDEO;WIDESCREEN FORMAT AVAILABLE; 16:9 RATIO; SHARE IN HIGH-DEFINITION ;CONNECT TO PC VIA USB 2.0 INTERFACE;UPLOAD VIDEO TO THE INTERNET; IN BOX;BLACK

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #8326 in Camera & Photo

Brand: DXG

Model: DXG-569VK

Dimensions: 3.80" h x 5.60" w x 7.20" l, 3.90 pounds

Display size: 3

Features

5.0 Megapixels

Resolution: 1280 X 720 @ 30 Fps

3-Inch Tft Screen

Produces Vibrant, Crisp and Colorful Video

Widescreen Format Available

Price: $152.88 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
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Hitachi DZ-BD7HA BluRay 5.3MP DVD Hybrid High Definition Camcorder with 30GB Hard Drive & 10x Optical Zoom

Hitachi DZ-BD7HA BluRay 5.3MP DVD Hybrid High Definition Camcorder with 30GB Hard Drive & 10x Optical Zoom

The flagship DZ-BD7HA camcorder is a Hybrid model. This means it provides the Blu-ray disc recording capability along with a 30 gigabyte built-in hard disk drive (HDD) which can record approximately four hours of 1920 x 1080 high definition video (HX mode) or up to eight hours of 1440 x 1080 high definition video (HS mode). Also, with the simple push of a button, it can copy the contents from HDD to BD within the camcorder itself. Easy editing functions such as split, delete and connect can also be made right in the camcorder before using the 1-touch dubbing function to burn Blu-ray disc copies.

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #4217 in Camera & Photo

Brand: Hitachi

Model: DZBD7HA

Dimensions: 3.43" h x 3.15" w x 6.50" l, 3.00 pounds

Display size: 2.7

Features

Capture HD video to Blu-ray disc or hard disk drive

Built-in 30 GB HDD; record up to four hours of 1920x1080 video or eight hours of 1440x1080 video

2.7-inch widescreen LCD; 10x optical zoom

Transfer HD video from hard drive to Blu-ray DVD with one-touch dubbing

Built-in Interactive Guide

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Editorial Reviews

Manufacturer Description

The flagship DZ-BD7HA camcorder is a Hybrid model. This means it provides the Blu-ray disc recording capability along with a 30 gigabyte (GB) built-in Hard Disk Drive (HDD) which can record approximately four hours of 1920 x 1080 high-definition video (HX mode) or up to eight hours of 1440 x 1080 high definition video (HS mode). Also, with the simple push of a button, it can copy the contents from HDD to BD within the camcorder itself. Easy editing functions such as split, delete and connect can also be made right in the camcorder before using the 1-touch dubbing function to burn Blu-ray disc copies.

DZ-BD7HA Blu-ray HD Camcorder Highlights

5.3-megapixel, 1/2.8-inch CMOS image sensor Captures high definition video through a newly developed CMOS image sensor that can record video at 1920 x 1080/60Hz and still images at 2400 x 1800 pixels.

8cm BD-RE/-R/DVD drive Hitachi has developed a compact, low power consuming, quiet and highly reliable 8cm BD/DVD drive which is compatible with five types of industry standard discs: BD-RE/-R, DVD-RAM/-RW/-R.

30GB HDD Enables the hybrid camcorder to record up to four hours of 1920x1080 video or eight hours of 1440x1080 video.

Hitachi high-resolution image processing LSI Efficiently analyzes large volumes of data captured by the 5.3-megapixel CMOS image sensor, and improves picture quality by reducing noise and delivering vibrant colors.

Easy dubbing With the 1-touch dubbing feature users can burn entire movies saved on the HDD to BD. Alternatively, you can create your own highlight reel by selecting on the highlight scenes.

Transcoding Allows for users to select high-definition video stored on the HDD to be transferred to standard-definition DVD copies using the 1-touch dubbing feature.

Photo Capture Select any frame from your movies on the camcorder and turn them into a 2.07-megapixel digital still photograph. Simply save the photo to an SD card and then print or share.

1-second Quick Start Simply have the camcorder in standby mode and in less than one second the camcorder is up and recording. Not only is the camcorder ready to record instantly but it’s also consuming less power.

Built-in Interactive Guide An instructional utility program built into the camcorder that guides users through setup and input/output connections with peripherals.

Disc Navigation Instant access to selected scenes and in-camera editing features.

Widescreen 2.7-inch LCD viewfinder

16:9 widescreen recording

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Customer Reviews

Not a high definition camera
1. The quality of the recording in anything other than bright daylight is abysmal and cannot be called high definition. It seems to have lines throughout the image, as if there was some kind of interference/static.
2. The camera takes an eternity to focus on the desired object; a blurry image appears instead. That is especially true when the camera is turned on and when using the zoom.
3. The manual says that by pressing the button "BLC" when filming someone indoors against bright light will fix the darkness problem, but it doesn't work (the person filmed is still completely dark, and the person's face can't even be seen).

Overall, the camera does NOT seem to be functioning as a high definition - full HD - quality camera. My 1080i Sony Camcorder that was bought over one year ago has much better image quality.

Poor image quality indoors
I was extremely excited to buy this camera as it held a lot of promise. I waited months for it to become available. My disappointment with its performance was immediate. Very poor image quality indoors, and almost impossible to operate in low light. I quickly returned the camera and will try others.

Terrible purchase
As a first in any product, you might expect flaws, but this one is fatally flawed.

Video quality is poor. Very poor. I recommend looking elsewhere for much cheaper. This product is not worth your money.

Look at Sony or Panasonic.

Price: $749.00
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Panasonic PVGS70 MiniDV Ultra Compact Camcorder with 2.5" LCD, 3CCD, and 8MB SD

Panasonic PVGS70 MiniDV Ultra Compact Camcorder with 2.5" LCD, 3CCD, and 8MB SD

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #68299 in Camera & Photo

Brand: Panasonic

Model: PV-GS70

Released on: 2003-06-10

Dimensions: 3.00" h x 2.75" w x 5.25" l, 1.06 pounds

Display size: 2.5

Features

3CCD MiniDV camcorder with 10x optical and 700x digital zoom with electronic image stabilization

480K pixel resolution on each CCD for 1.3 MP total resolution; Leica Dicomar lens

2.5-inch color, swivel LCD, cinema mode, MPEG4 video

Saves digital stills to SD memory card; 8 MB card included

Connects to PCs and Macs via Firewire (IEEE1394); USB transfer for stills

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Product Description
The stylish, ultracompact Panasonic PVGS70 digital video camcorder boasts a 3CCD camera system that's the same used in Panasonic's professional broadcasting equipment. It also offers such advanced features as 1-megapixel still image resolution, MPEG4 video capability, and a Leica Dicomar lens.

Optics
The PVGS70 utilizes a 7-element, multi-coated Leica Dicomar lens that preserves your videos and still images with a high level of detail and subtlety. The 3CCD system uses a separate CCD for the reds, greens, and blues that compose an image and delivers high-fidelity color reproduction--up to 540 lines of resolution.

The PVGS70 also utilizes quad-density pixel distribution technology, which was originally developed for broadcast-quality cameras to help maximize picture quality. It utilizes vertical and horizontal pixel shifting to yield improved clarity and performance.

The camcorder is equipped with a 10x optical zoom, and also features a 700x digital zoom that allows you to zoom in on incredible close-ups.

Digital Stills and MPEG4 Video
Each CCD delivers 460K pixels that, when combined with the quad-density pixel distribution, captures up to a 1-megapixel still image (1280 x 960 pixels). You can also record MPEG4 video, which uses a higher compression setting and is great for posting to a Web site or e-mailing to friends and family.

Still images and MPEG4 video are stored on the included 8 MB Secure Digital (SD) memory card, and can be transferred to your PC via USB connectivity (compatible with both USB 1.1 and 2.0).

More Features
The camcorder also doubles as a Web cam when connected via USB to your PC. The picture-in-picture feature allows you to insert a previously taken digital still image into the video that is being recorded, to enhance the aesthetics of the final cut of the video.

The cinema mode enables you to record video in wide screen mode, giving you a 16:9 aspect ratio that's the same as a movie screen. When played back on a television the result is dramatic looking cinema-like movies at home.

Other features include:

2.5-inch tiltable LCD screen.

External microphone jacks allow for professional sound recording.

Remote control features include playback with special effects, zoom, and slow motion.

S-Video in/out; analog in.

Inputs and Outputs
The PVGS70 comes with the standard DV IEEE 1394 port (also known as FireWire; Panasonic refers to this connection as iLink) for a super-fast, lossless connection to a PC or other DV machines.

MiniDV Format
MiniDV is the preferred format for personal and broadcast-quality video, highly regarded for its high audio and image quality. With 540 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 PVGS70 camcorder, 8 MB SD memory card, AC adapter, battery pack, shoulder strap, A/V cable, USB cable, wireless remote control, wired remote control, lens cap, and software.

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Customer Reviews

Better color?... Don't believe the hype.
There are a lot of features about this camera that I like (alluded to in other reviews), but the vivid colours due to 3ccd technology is not one of them. I did a side by side comparison with my buddy's 3 year old Canon single-ccd and guess what? When played back thru his tv, my tv, my video projector, etc. his looked better. First of all, the resolution of the image seemed much better, and the colours were more accurate than my PVGVS70. For instance, we both shot a yellow sign -- it came out orange with the Panasonic.
Mind you, it all looks good on its tiny lcd screen (providing you're looking at it absolutely directly head-on.)
Also, as mentioned in the other reviews, the image stablizer is next to useless. Try full optical zoom and see if you can hand hold it -- hah! Makes the tele-macro function a waste of time, unless you're on a tripod. And furthermore, I see no point in the digital zoom function on any camera, let alone the PVGVS70 digital zoom which goes up to a whopping 700 X!! Even on a tripod, you can't get a decent picture at full zoom. It's all video pixel mush. Completely, utterly useless.
I am so disappointed, as I was hoping to buy quality at $1000 (Can.), and the 3ccd held out a lot of promise. Also the good reviews I've read here and elsewhere... but I think the positive reviewers haven't done a true comparison. Believe me, it doesn't hold up and I intend to return my Panasonic today.

Good color reproduction and cheap for a 3ccd camcorder
I would recommend this product over the pv-gs120 as they took this camera and stripped it down to be able to market it at the $700 price point, you will not lose anything by getting this camera. As for the image stabilization, the newer models are not any better. The trick is that most of the time it will not work unless the following circumstances are met, the camcorder must have a direct light source (indoor rarely works for me) and the unit must be able to focus on an object. When the light is present, it engages and does a good job; otherwise, the display will just blink at you. Most reviews say "use a tripod," yea right! I did not buy this to put on a tripod or it would be a larger unit. I found outdoor use to be great (manual white balance as much as possible or you may get a Tele-Tubby world effect.) Pictures are average at best, but I did not buy this for the pictures (the flash is awesome, however.)

I bought this for less than half MSRP because it was last years model.

Great Color / Features / Useability
I'm new to the world of video but have a lot of experience putting complicated technology into people's hands. The GS70 is very nice to use out of the box. However, as you grow into it over time, it also has quite a bit of manual control for optimization. I agree in principle with most of the previous reviewers except that I havn't had any breakage or problems. This camcorder has great spectacular color. It may also have slightly lower resolution than some of the single chip Sony's I've compared it with. I prefer the overall quality of the Panasonic because of the beautiful color. It also held its own when I taped a stage performace at our church in low-light mode. If you read forums, you can do even better with manual settings. The GS70 also has both microphone and a headphone stereo jacks -- features absent from comparable Sonys (new 04 models) and very important to me since I use remote mics. Tape-Toploading is also very nice. I have uploaded the video and edited in Premier without difficulty. Sound is good to my ears. I think this is a great option for a hobbiest in the 500$ range. This camera is also small and light so you can take it with you anywhere. Batteries are small and last several hours. The manual is a bit on the arcane side until you catch on to Panasonic's format. The macro mode is very impressive. Bottom line -- Great color and useability with possibly slightly less detail in the images.

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Canon XL2 3-CCD MiniDV Camcorder (Body Only)

Canon XL2 3-CCD MiniDV Camcorder (Body Only)

The Canon XL2 allows you to capture images closer to the finished product than ever before. Work that previously was limited to post-production can be simply and effectively accomplished in the field, in the camcorder.An Open Architecture philosophy, performance found only in much more expensive video cameras, Total Image Control and the solid foundation of Genuine Canon Optics, interchangeable lens capability and superb Canon image processing quality are united in the XL2.The XL2 brings a host of performance and convenience features to this class of video camcorder- benefits that can't be found in this combination on other high-end video cameras. They include: Canon Super Range Optical Image Stabilization in the standard lens; dual aspect ratios; various frame rate capabilities; image gamma and detail controls; skin detail control and convertible LCD display and among others.Unprecedented image control coordination between two XL2 cameras, remote computer camera control and direct video recording to computer are just a part of the capabilities of the XL2. Never before has so much creative power been put in the hands of the film maker, video artist, and corporate and event videographer.

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #12167 in Camera & Photo

Brand: Canon

Model: 9819A001

Dimensions: 11.40" h x 16.70" w x 20.80" l, 30.00 pounds

Display size: 2

Features

Professional 3-CCD DV camcorder with open architecture design for cinema attachments

Open architecture design with XL interchangeable lens system

Color viewfinder, interchangeable with optional professional monochrome viewfinder

16:9 widescreen and 4:3 ratio, 3 selectable frame rates: 60i, 30p, and cinema 24p

Powered by rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack

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Customer Reviews

Great for Film students!!
This camcorder is a must for film students. I'm a student at USC, and this camcorder really made my short films look great!!! We don't get to use the schools' really awesome gear until our Junior or Senior year. If you have the money, its an amazing buy!

Having a blast learning
I was a bit nervous buying a camera at this level. But I have learned so much from it. I'm still learning. It's an impressive piece of equipment. Very versatile. You have to take it out and experiment, but that's the fun of it. I would recommend that you read, read, read all the reviews. Boy, it gets attention when you are out in public (what fun!)
People ask for my business card often because they assume I'm a pro just by using it. Or they ask, what TV station I work for. There are lots of add-ons to consider owning. Its not High Definition but who needs it? I take it everywhere. Just remember you will eventually need a good travel case,a wind screen, extra batteries, a heavy-duty professional tripod and additional lenses to complete your experience. The camera is a bit heavy(as I expected) and takes some getting used to.......but wow, its worth it ! The sound you get is great. I just bought some wireless microphones for my XL2. I'm glad I own it.

I really like this camera
I have used this for a year at my college. I do not know why some people dislike it. I love it! and on my opinion, It is the closest to HD your gonna get while not getting HD. You guys gotta realize that this camera has shot some big movies like Cold Mountian. I must say though the panasonic dvx100b is quite comparable, because I have used that too. But I like this camera I do not care what people say about it. It is so customizable that you will be surprised when you mess around with it's advance functions. nice camera, a little pricey, but all in all it's more professional than some other people say.

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JVC GRDV500 MiniDV 1.33 MP Camcorder with 2.5" LCD, 10x Optical Zoom, and 8MB MMC Card

JVC GRDV500 MiniDV 1.33 MP Camcorder with 2.5" LCD, 10x Optical Zoom, and 8MB MMC Card

Sometimes you have to test the limits. See just how far you can go. Feel what it is like to go a step beyond. And experience a moment of a lifetime. The GR-DV500 makes it easy to get a grip on Quality and Creativity. The 1.33-Megapixel CCD for Superior Video (540 Lines of resolution) and Still Pictures (1600 x 1200), 123k-pixel 2.5" LCD, 300x digital zoom with Spline Interpolation, Power-Linked operation so your ready to shoot, a powerful software package and much more. The GR-DV500 will allow you to explore the imagination.

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #53397 in Camera & Photo

Brand: JVC

Model: DV500US

Display size: 2.5

Features

MiniDV camcorder with 10x optical zoom, 300x digital zoom, image stabilization

2.5-inch fold-out color LCD screen and color viewfinder

Comes with Presto! ImageFolio video editing software

Takes digital stills and stores them on the included MMC card

Connects to PCs and Macs via Firewire (IEEE1394)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Product Description
The compact JVC GR-DV500 is a stylish digital video camcorder that offers advanced features, such as digital still-photo capability and the ability to create high-quality MPEG-4 video clips. The GR-DV500 features a 1.33-megapixel CCD, 10x optical zoom, and 2.5-inch color LCD. It comes with Presto! ImageFolio and Presto! Mr. Photo 3 digital video editing software and an 8 MB MMC memory card.

Optics & Audio
The GR-DV500 offers a 1.33-megapixel CCD with 540 lines of horizontal resolution. Combined with JVC's super-hi-band processor, you'll be assured of capturing crisp, clear video. Equipped with a 10x optical zoom, the GR-DV500 also features a 300x digital zoom that allows you to zoom in for incredible close-ups.

The GR-DV500 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 a CD, while the 12-bit mode creates two sets of stereo tracks. Audio dub is possible when recorded in 12-bit mode.

Digital Stills
The still mode is capable of capturing crystal-clear still images of up to 1,600 x 1,200 pixels. The images are stored onto the included 8 MB MMC memory card; the GR-DV500 is also compatible with Secure Digital memory cards. You can also record still images onto the video cassette with a "shutter" sound effect in full frame or pin-up mode.

More Features
The GR-DV500 offers the capability to create high-quality MPEG-4 video clips from recorded video footage, or in real-time using the camcorder as a Webcam. This allows for computer-based editing, e-mailing video clips, or uploading to Web sites. The camcorder will also double as a Webcam when connected via USB to your PC.

Other features include:

2.5-inch tiltable LCD screen

JVC's Night Alive feature boosts light sensitivity for a bright picture, even in situations with minimal illumination

The picture-stabilizer system corrects camera shake instantly, giving you smooth and stable pictures

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

Built-in analog-to-digital converter that converts analog audio-video signal to a digital signal, and can be recorded to a DV tape

Remote control features include playback with special effects, zoom, slow motion, and audio dubbing/insert editing

MiniDV Format
MiniDV is the preferred format for personal and broadcast-quality video, highly regarded for its high audio and image quality. With 540 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-DV500 camcorder, 8 MB MMC memory card, AC adapter, battery pack, shoulder strap, AV cable (mini-3 RCA), USB cable, wireless remote control, lens cap, and CD-ROM with Presto! ImageFolio and Presto! Mr. Photo 3 software.

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Customer Reviews

Great quality for the price
I haven't had the camera for very long, but my experiences with it thus far have shown it to be an excellent lower-to-middle range Mini DV cam for the money. It captures image and sound excellently, is lightweight and very easy to use.

Happy owner for over a year
This is the first DV camera I've owned and I'm glad that I made the right choice. I've had this camera for over a year now (bought in Feb 2004) and have no major complaints with it. This camera has a very clear video quality that often amazes me! Digital stabilizer functions well. Stereo sound is good.
The only reason this camera didn't fetch 5 star is the relatively poor video quality in low light. Though this can be adjusted using shutter speed, still I can't seem to get what I want. Bear in mind though that almost all camcorders have this issue, unless you spend much more money and buy the high-end ones.
Good luck with your purchase. Fot this price, you won't regret it!

A very cost effective camcorder
If you're lookin for a crisp clear image, a powerfull ccd, a lightweight camera with photo capacity for a low price, from a trustble company, this is your choice. Despite some reviews that report bad quality images on low light, I've got nice movies under that circustances. Of corse you should know that you'd better use a tripod and as with any cam a bright light is prefereable. But once you watch your footage on TV it's better than you thoght. For this price you cannot get any better. Now I moved for a GR-DV4000, much expensive, including britgher lens and some other upgrades on the same body. If you're looking for daylly use camera, stop searching. You found it.

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