Test Bench: JVC GR-DVL815 Mini DV Camcorder (page 2)

The 36mm f/1.8 lens has a 10x optical zoom, two user settings for 40x and 400x digital zoom and an excellent electronic image stabilization system. The manual features on the GR-DVL815 are worthy and give point and shooters upward mobility as operator skills advance. Manual white balance, exposure and focus and the notable ability to boost video gain for shooting in low light situations, all make this Mini a good purchase. However, the unit lacks headphone and external mike jacks. The lack of these jacks is not a surprise however, since this camera was not built for advanced users who require them.

The GR-DVL815's low-light functions are well looked after with an under-the-lens video light nestled between the on-camera mikes and the JVC proprietary Night-Alive full-color, low-light mode. The on-camera light, which uses quite a bit of battery power, works very well, and is just the thing for shooting situations, such as blowing out birthday candles. The Night-Alive mode, however, is worthless in all but motionless low-light situations. Instead of using a monochrome, military-like night vision, Night-Alive is an extremely slow shutter speed, full-color rendition (which looks very good). However, the slow shutter causes any camera or subject movement to result in smeared, blurry video. Therefore, its usefulness is limited to videotaping motionless subjects with the camcorder locked-down on a tripod.

It is nice to see that JVC still thinks about the users who want to shoot some video of their kids and send a watchable tape for the relatives to enjoy on a VCR. The GR-DVL815 also has offers Random Assemble Editing. With this feature, the GR-DVL815's remote can log eight scenes from the DV tape and then assemble them with transitions to a compatible VHS VCR. This feature allows users to carry out some extremely basic editing functions without acquiring or booting up any editing software. Folks with the patience to master this setup may have all their video-editing needs filled without ever spooling up a hard drive.

Format: Mini DV
Lens: f/1.8 Bright Lens, 10:1 optical zoom, 400:1 digital zoom
Image sensor: 680,000 Pixel, 1/4-inch
interlaced CCD
Viewfinder: 110,000-pixel, 3-inch, 270-degree rotating LCD color monitor
Focus: auto, manual
Variable shutter speeds: 1/500, 1/250, 1/100, 1/60 sec.
White balance: auto, manual
Digital effects: 12
Audio: 12- or 16-bit stereo
Inputs: FireWire, S-video, Composite
Outputs: FireWire, S-video, Composite, USB (for digital stills), RCA unbalanced audio
Edit interface: FireWire, JLIP
Other features: 16MB still image memory card, Random Assemble Editing
Dimensions: 3.82 (h) x 3.27 (w) x 7.14 (d) inches
Weight: 1.33 lbs. (sans tape and battery)

Performance Times
Pause to Record: Approx. 1.5 sec.
Power-up to Record: Approx. 5 sec.
Fast-forward/Rewind (60 min. tape):
Approx. 5 min. 45 sec.

STRENGTHS

• Good image
• Manual controls
• Video light
• Random Assemble Editing

WEAKNESSES

• Controls are a bit awkward
• Tape door on the bottom

SUMMARY

• A good choice for the novice videographer that wants an affordable Mini DV with some manual controls.

$1,099
JVC of America
1700 Valley Road
Wayne, NJ 07470
(800) 252-5722
www.jvc.com

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