JVC GRDVM90U MiniDV Digital Camcorder with Built-in Digital Still Mode

by JVC

Product Details

• Item Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 5 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000051TN9
• Item model number: GRDVM90U
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #43,398 in Camera & Photo (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 4, 1973

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Built around JVC's exclusive Progressive 1000 technology, the GR-DVM90 is a versatile digital still and motion video camera that records stunning, high-quality digital video. This dual cam incorporates an array of picture-improvement technologies including a 680,000-pixel progressive scan CCD, progressive color filter, and high-band processor. These technologies assure ultrahigh resolution with up to 520 lines of horizontal and 480 lines of vertical resolution in progressive mode. This technology also offers digital still picture quality with two different image sizes, VGA (640 x 480 pixels) and XGA (1,024 x 768 pixels).

Dual shooting mode lets you shoot motion video and still pictures simultaneously. The supplied removable 8 MB MMC card is used to store not only still images, but also a variety of digital sound effects (MP3). These effects can be inserted into a DV recording at any time to create more exciting and unique videos.

The 112,000-pixel 2.5-inch amorphous color LCD allows the camera to be operated from any angle, for maximum comfort. The 200x zoom makes sure you do not miss any of the action. A built-in auto flash with red-eye reduction provides extra convenience for taking still shots in low light or at night. A digital still picture output is provided, as well as both the serial cable and CD-ROM software for Windows and Macintosh. The DV in/out provides for easy computer connection for more advanced applications.

Playback zoom (10x digital pinpoint zoom) lets you move in for a closer look after you have made the recording. A multibrand remote control allows you to control the cybercam as well as many brands of video recorders. Random assemble editing provides eight-scene memory for favorite scenes as well as the ability to add special effects while editing them to a video recorder.

Additional features include electronic viewfinder with color 0.44-inch CRT, removable flash memory, 8 MB MMC card, auto standby for easy operation, 10x optical/200x digital zoom with spline interpolation, digital image stabilizer, slow-motion playback, 16 by 9 squeeze mode, PCM digital stereo, audio snapshot modes (pin-up mode, four-image, nine-image, and frame and full are available), program automatic exposure with 12 digital effects and 17 scene transitions, self-timer, and iris lock.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

57 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Compact, powerful and easy to learn, March 14, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: JVC GRDVM90U MiniDV Digital Camcorder with Built-in Digital Still Mode (Electronics)

This camcorder is everything I expected. I wanted a Digital camera that would take stills (4 different quality settings), take top qaulity video (IT DOES), and can be interfaced in all aspects to my computer for transfer to in-laws via email. This product does everything I wanted and more. Many different special effects, fades, 12 sounds to add to video, frames to add to stills. Firewire connection worked very well (Card and software for video capture not included, only software for Stills and other video dubbing included). Another neat feature is the email clip feature which lets you pick out a 20 second portion of your recording and transfers it to the included 8MB memory chip for easy transfer to your PC for inclusion in emails! 8MB card hold lots of photos (at least 40-125 depending on quality setting), hold video clips, sounds and frames! Screen is great, battery included lasts about 50 minutes with screen and 60-65 minutes with eyepiece. Very small and inconspicuous. Light (1.2 lbs). Many cables included for dubbing. Great Zoom (200x digital). Good pictures in low lights conditions. Sound picks up very well. Included base screws into camera for more expansion for video out to TV and dubbing connections. Remote control works great, so you can hook it into your TV and sit on the couch and play it as if it were a VCR. All in all, this is exactly the camera I wanted. I have read some reviews that people are having a hard time with all the computer interfacing, but they must be novices because I had to do very little out of the ordinary to get it working. I purchased Movie DV Suite, which included a firewire card and the captures work unbelieveably well. I highly advise purchasing this camera.

64 of 70 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Sleek!, December 14, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: JVC GRDVM90U MiniDV Digital Camcorder with Built-in Digital Still Mode (Electronics)

My husband and i have been looking for a camcorder since the birth of our first child, who was born last year. obviously, camcorders are not cheap and you do shop around a bit before buying one.. (it has already taken about a year for us...) no but this JVC DVM 90U has everything one usually looks for in a camcorder. it can easily be rated as one of the best ones around. it has all the features one would find on sony camcorders. it is very compact, lightweight and has loads of features. it has an 8mb memory card (compared to sony's 4mb.You get the software for downloading pictures along with it i.e. you don't have to buy the software and cable separately. All in all, when you compare it with its competitors it stands apart in looks as well as goods.....

will surely recommend it.. still not satisfied, then go ahead and do your own research.....

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Nice, but Beware!, May 23, 2001

By 

"kshabowski" (Geneva, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: JVC GRDVM90U MiniDV Digital Camcorder with Built-in Digital Still Mode (Electronics)

I just purchased this camera and love all but one of the features that I was most interested in. JVC advertises that you can capture a short video clips to email friends and relatives. Well, this is true, but what they do not tell you is that the format is in JMM format, which is some kind of JVC proprietary format! I have yet to find anyone who supports or has a converter for this format. JVC has partnered with a web service that allows you to store these images for people to come view. This is a free service until you what more space. I just think this is another gimmick to make money at the expense of the consumer.

You will also find out when you play back these clips with the supplied viewer that the quality is very poor!

Another issue I had was that the menus and buttons associated with the memory card were not very intuitive or easy to follow.

Overall, I would recommend this camera with the exception of ... the Email Clip feature.