Great - just what I wanted (JVC GR-DVX70)

Member Name: plodder

Product:	JVC GR-DVX70
Date:	19/10/02 (1194 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Excellent picture, Simple to use and advanced features, Coat pocket size

Disadvantages: pitures not bright enough, 45 minute batttery

Retaillers have the habit of selling seemingly identical cameras with no discernable difference, but for the record mine was a JVCV GR-DVX707EK from Dixons (http://www.dixons.co.uk/store/martprd.dll/store/d ix_page.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@099 6752867.1034973252@@@@&BV_EngineID=cccfadcghmihgeh cefecfgmdffgdflh.0&page=Product &sku=550003 ).

It is a handy size, and fits easliy into one hand, though to operate switches two hands are really needed. Once shooting you can just point. There is an optical zoom which runs to x10 and a digital that takes it upto x400 though reolution drops off beyond the optical limit of x10. Zoom operated electroncially. Picures are very sharp though can be not quite as colourful as expected. The chip is 1M and it can take upto 11 maximum resolition (1M) still pictures. More pictures at lower resolution. On the stills the picures the colours are not as bright as can be though that can be rectified through the MGI software provided. Whilst it does take OK stills it is not a substitute for a propoer digital stills camera.

You get a software package for downloading and manipulating both stills and video. Stills can be touched up easily and special effects added. the video editing software is easy to use and intuitive. Video can be transferred back onto DV tapes or onto video-CDs and pklayed back through most DVD players nowadays (if they play VCD).
The 2.5 inch screen is OK to see what you have recorded thought he colour is not good enough to judge how it will reallylook, though I think that is asking a bit much.

You easlily record at x10 without picture shake, focus comes in fast and the auto settings do most jobs. there is an extensive manual setting if you want to adjust exposure etc. There are other effects but it is easier to add these on with the editing software later. The intructions are excellent, though it is not obvious that to transfer to your PC and back again (DV in/out) you need a Firewire port. Stills can


be transferred thought he USB cable provided. Connection to a TV is via scart, S-video and AV all provided.

Sound is good quality and can pick up sound form a suprisingly long way. Picture in and out of dorrs are good. For stills there is an inbuilt automatic flash.
Battery last about 45 mins, and if you do not use it discharges fairly quickly so make sure you charge it up again (90mins for a full recharge) before you go out. 45 mins enough on a shoot unless you really want to bore everyone later. It is small enough to fit into a coat pocket. No bag was provided (as is usual with new camcorders) but a Dixons camera bag cost only £7.99. There is lens cap provided.

I am very pleased and amazed at the picture quality. There are advanced features to set exposure but the automatic setting is fine. The other day it was my daughters birthday and at the last moment I rememebred the camcorder. I got it out, switched it on and took a video straight away with no messing about. Pictures brilliant, and it is for those memories I bought it. This is like a DVD. It is now £799.99, but I got mine a few months ago in a special offer of £649.99. Keep your eyes open.

Summary: