JVC GRDVL805U MiniDV Digital Camcorder with Built-in Digital Still Mode

by JVC

Product Details

• Item Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 5 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00004TG58
• Item model number: GRDVL805U
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #22,856 in Camera & Photo (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 4, 1999

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Whether you're recording your vacation, your children, or any event, the ultracompact JVC GR-DVL805U digital cybercam offers a wide range of features to help you take the best shots. Not only does it act as a regular camcorder, but it also can function as a digital still camera. The still images are stored on the included memory card and can be downloaded onto your PC via the provided serial cable. The included software provides a short editing process to make your images Web ready or e-mail compliant.

This JVC digital cybercam offers a high level of picture and sound quality. A 680,000-pixel CCD delivers outstanding resolution, and with the large swiveling color LCD monitor, the camcorder can be operated from any angle. For important close-up shots, the 250x digital zoom provides fast zooming at variable speeds by finger pressure.

This camcorder offers a large selection of digital effects and scene transitions. Exercise your creativity with effects like classic film, strobe, slow shutter, black and white, and many more. A random assemble editing feature provides an eight-scene memory for favorite scenes as well as the ability to add special effects. The JVC GR-DVL805U digital cybercam also includes playback zoom for enhanced viewing.

The JVC GR-DVL805U is fully compatible with your PC computer. It includes a serial cable and digital output link. Other accessories include a handgrip strap, audio-video output cable, editing cable, DC adapter, AC adapter/battery charger, and remote control.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

127 of 132 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Buy the Sony TRV11 Instead, November 20, 2000

By 

"dave_crutchfield" (NJ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: JVC GRDVL805U MiniDV Digital Camcorder with Built-in Digital Still Mode (Electronics)

I first bought the JVC 805U because I was enticed by the cheaper price tag, which I convinced myself was the only difference. It isn't. Don't be fooled by price -- pay the extra money and get what you pay for.

I returned this model and bought the Sony TRV11. The video quality on the JVC is noticeably worse. This could be because of the lack of the Carl Zeiss lens or the lack of low lux recording (both found on the Sony).

The battery that came with the JVC only lasted about 30 minutes (compared to about 1 hour with Sony) and the image stabilization was shoddy at best. Also, the LCD screen quality on the JVC is just so-so.

While the JVC does have a built in light, it is really useless for night shooting.

Overall, the JVC has average quality and features. If you are willing to settle for average and want to buy a camera in the "average" price range, consider this one or close competitor Panasonic. If you want a much better camera for a few hundred bucks more, buy the Sony TRV11.

112 of 117 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A pretty good deal..., June 1, 2000

By 

Kristine D. Baranski "sbaranski" (Monument, CO) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: JVC GRDVL805U MiniDV Digital Camcorder with Built-in Digital Still Mode (Electronics)

Wy wife and I had been considering a Hi8 replacement since our daughter was born. Several factors guided our decision: digital format, ease of use, portability, and ease of image capture. I wanted to comment on some of the stronger features of this model.

First of all, the video works pretty well. I'm not super-impressed with the image stabilization, but the auto focus and lighting are pretty "smart". The color LCD is good inside, but I enjoyed the color viewfinder when filming outside.

The unit also serves as a digital still camera. The built-in 2MB memory allows for ~30 images to be stored at a time. I'm not sure how to capture at a size other than 320x240 just yet, but they look sharp at that resolution.

Unlike other models, the JVC also includes video capture software straight out of the box. I was discouraged, however, that the capture process relied on composite video and not IEEE 1394. Why offer the port & software if you can't use them together? I ended up purchasing MGI VideoWave to use IEEE 1394.

I'm somewhat of a Sony devotee, but I didn't find many models that had Memory Stick storage AND MiniDV format. If you're looking for a good alternative to that brand, consider this JVC.

51 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very nice cybercam., August 17, 2000

By 

Alexander T Fader (San Fransico, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: JVC GRDVL805U MiniDV Digital Camcorder with Built-in Digital Still Mode (Electronics)

Preface: I am a quality engineer in a printing company

I own a JVC GR-DVL805u. I think it is a very nice digital video camera.

I like the built in 640x480 digital still camera. You can save and load the stills off of your miniDV tape - so you don't need a memory stick. The advanced features on the camera are very nice. Combined with the highest density CCD in the price range you can expect to get some nice results.

Out of the box, I was not completely thrilled with the default white balace of the camera. The image was a little too red. You can re-calibrate the white balance in a few simple steps detailed in the manual. Perhaps the auto light mode doesn't work well under mixed lighting conditions (halogen & sun.)

The camera does not support Hi8. It is a miniDV format. The camera resolution is 640x480 for still photos (in the fine mode.)

I'm kind of glad JVC didn't include a package for firewire [aka i.Link or IEEE 1394]. The camera would cost at least $100 more and I'm not sure I would want the interface board they would give me. I'm not if the software with the system support Macintosh.

The interface that you get with the camera is just what you need if you have a vcr and you want to edit your tape into a movie. Or if you don't have a bleeding edge computer with firewire. Firewire is next on my list, with that I can make movies of the baby to mail to my family.

Nit-picky points: The logo plates pick up finger prints, and look hard to clean. The glowing logo on the side of my 805u doesn't read the same as the demo units I've looked at. The unit is packaged with the lense cap hidden deep in the box--not on the lense. (The lense was clean -- but it took a while to find the cap.) The ac power cable goes into the same area as the battery & the cable does not have an ideal fit. That is, JVC documents to have the coiled end of the cable near the camera, and the only direction the power cord fits without kinking is up - so over the long term the wire is more likely to break. ... please remember I'm a quality engineer.

I think this camera is an excellent buy. If the price is a bit high - look at the 505u, which as far as I can tell differs only by .5" on the LCD and has a b&w viewfinder.