JVC GRDVL320U MiniDV Digital Camcorder with 2.5" LCD

by JVC

Product Details

Product Manual [3.00mb PDF]

• Item Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00005YWDS
• Item model number: grdvl320
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #55,360 in Camera & Photo (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: February 27, 2002

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

A perfect introduction into the world of digital video, the GR-DVL320U provides all the features you need to get rolling, including a 16x optical zoom, digital image stabilization, and IEEE 1394 compatible outputs.

Lens
Breaking the mold that most other digital camcorders fall in, the GR-DVL320U has a very bright f1.8 lens, which should help with a dilemma common to many digital camcorders: poor low-light performance. While not useful at the highest levels, the optical zoom is augmented by a 700x digital zoom, which can supply that little bit extra you might need in some circumstances. Paired with the zoom is a digital image stabilizer, which will help eliminate much of the shakiness associated with high zoom levels.

Shooting Functions
The GR-DVL320U provides some camera functions, which can be quite useful if you spend the time to learn to use them. The camera gives you manual control over focus, exposure, and white balance, all of which affect the way your image is recorded. The manual focus and white balance modes are perhaps the most exciting, as you can use them to create depth-of-field effects, and the white balance will allow you to light a room without investing in expensive lighting gear. In addition, JVC added in a number of digital wipes and fades, as well as a black fader.

Output Options
If you want to play your footage on television, the 320U provides two connection methods: S-video and standard RCA-style AV connectors. S-video provides the better video resolution, but you'll still need to use the AV cable for audio, as S-video doesn't carry an audio signal. If your object is to edit your movies on a computer, the camera also comes equipped with an IEEE 1394 compliant port for shuttling video back and forth. It's a four-pin connector, and most computers with IEEE 1394 ports have six-pin connectors, so make sure you pick up the correct cable (JVC doesn't provide one).

Digital Still Mode
Like many digital camcorders, the GR-DVL320U provides a digital still mode, and stores the resulting images onto the MiniDV tape. While not the optimal solution, it works quite well. The images aren't very high resolution and are generally fit only for posting on the Web, or e-mailing to friends. To get the photos to your computer, the 320U has both a serial port and necessary cable, as well as PC-compatible software.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good midline camera, May 12, 2004

By 

CARSON E WHITLOW II (Midwest USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: JVC GRDVL320U MiniDV Digital Camcorder with 2.5" LCD (Electronics)

This camera is a good midline camera with a pretty good level of control in the manual mode and well automated in the auto mode. The DV port is the small 4 pin connector that ships with a lot of after market IEEE-1394(Firewire) cards. If you intend to capture the video off this camera onto your computer you need a FAST PC, I'd say 1.5GHz or better, and over 512MB of RAM with a fast hard drive with LOTS of space, it goes QUICK. Price/Value is good, and I'd buy again knowing what I know about it. The onboard light is very taxing on the battery and should probably not be used unless you are plugged in. Enjoy it. Its a good camera.