Mini DV Camcorder Review: JVC GR-DVP3 (page 2)
The Big and Small of It
As stated in the introduction to this review, the GR-DVP3, which can easily slip into a shirt pocket, is best suited to those who value compactness and digital still-image functions over the capabilities of a full-featured DV camcorder. It's a little expensive for what you get, yet the quality of the stills it captured was sufficient to keep high school graduates, and their parents, happy and proud for years to come. Meanwhile, let the Mini DV battle to be the smallest camcorder carry on.
TECH SPECS
Format: Mini DV
Lens: 10:1 optical, 200:1 digital zoom, f/1.8
Image Sensor: 1/4-inch CCD (680,000 pixels)
Viewfinder: 2-inch color LCD monitor,.44-inch color LCD viewfinder
Focus: auto, manual
Maximum Shutter Speed: 1/4,000 sec
Exposure: auto, manual, backlight and spotlight compensation
White Balance: auto, manual
Digital Effects: 16 fades, wipes and dissolves, high and low speed shutter, video echo, strobe, classic film, black and white, sepia, twilight
Audio: 12- or 16-bit stereo
Inputs: IEEE 1394, S-video, AV, JLIP
Outputs: IEEE 1394, S-video, AV, headphone, JLIP, USB
Edit Interface: JLIP, IEEE 1394
Other Features: 8MB multimedia card, docking station, slow-motion playback, digital stills, built-in sound effects, audio dubbing, insert editing
Dimensions: 1 3/4 (w) x 4 9/16 (h) x 3 3/16 (d) inches
Weight (sans tape and battery): 0.75 pounds
STRENGTHS
- Good picture quality
- Excellent digital still features, including flash
- Headphone jack
- Very compact
WEAKNESSES
- Focus and exposure controls could be better
- No mike jack
- Menu system is clunky, hard to use
Performance Times
- Pause to Record: 1 second
- Power-up to Record: 4 seconds
- Fast-forward/Rewind (60 min. tape)
- 2 minutes 25 seconds
SUMMARY
- A good choice if small size and digital stills are crucial; otherwise, you can do better for the same price.
$1,700
JVC America
1700 Valley Road
Wayne, NJ 07470
(800) 252-5722
www.jvc.com
