JVC GRDX307 MiniDV Digital Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom

by JVC

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 1 x 1 x 1 inches ; 1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0001B86HC
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #38,729 in Camera & Photo (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: March 1, 2004

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

The GR-DX307 with its smart design allows you to hold the camcorder in the palm of your hand or vertically thanks to a second zoom control. But it’s not just the comfortable feel that makes the GR-DX307 a powerful performer. Thanks to its 1.33M CCD imager you'll enjoy 540 lines of high resolution video. Three Dimensional Noise Reduction (3D NR) eliminates picture noise up to 30% in low light situations. Keep your subject in view outdoors with a 3.0 inch Clear LCD that reduces glare and reflections, and a built-in auto "Illumi-Light" for 1/10th the power consumption. There’s also a color viewfinder, Power-Linked Operation, Night Alive, and 500X Super Digital Zoom with Spline Interpolation. Take HG digital stills at 1600x1200, 1280x960, 1026x768, 640x480 and for convenience store them on the supplied 8MB SD card. Be your own celebrity with the power and performance of the GR-DX307.

Features include

• 1/4-inch 1.33 Megapixel CCD for superb image quality
• F1.8 Aspherical Super Bright lens
• 10x Optical Zoom
• Clear LCD 3.0" High Resolution Monitor, to reduce glare and reflections from the LCD screen.
• 3-D Noise Reduction (3-D NR) to eliminate up to 30% of noise in low light situations.
• Illumi-Light: Built-in Auto light using LED's for 1/10 the power consumption.

MiniDV Format
The MiniDV format offers more precise image detail and color accuracy than previously possible with analog camcorders. The superior quality of digital video results from:

• Higher Resolution -- up to 530 lines of horizontal resolution, on select models for sharper picture detail
• Component Color Sampling -- preserves three times more color information than analog VHS and S-VHS video, for brighter and truer colors
• Time Base Correction -- stabilizes the picture, eliminating video jitters
• Error Correction -- fills in missing video data, providing seamless, professional-looking video

What's in the box:
GRDX307, Rechargeable battery pack, Shoulder strap, AC Adapter, Image Mixer for Windows/Mac Software and AV output cables.

Product Description

Product Type CamcorderDimensions (WxDxH) 2 in x 3.7 in x 3.7 inWeight 15.3 ozWebcam Capability YesMedia Type Mini DVFlash Memory 8 MBAnalog Video Format NTSCShooting Modes Digital photo mode frame movie modeLens Aperture F/1.8Focus Adjustment Automatic manualFocal Length 3.2 mm - 32 mmOptical Zoom 10 xDigital Zoom 500 xImage Stabilizer ElectronicMicrophone Microphone - built-in - electret condenser - stereoViewfinder LCD - 0.3 - colorDisplay LCD display - TFT active matrix - 3 - colorBattery 1 x camcorder battery - rechargeable - lithium ion

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great camcorder!, March 20, 2005

By 

Mark Soprano "fuggedaboudid" (CA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: JVC GRDX307 MiniDV Digital Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

After months of surfing the net for the latest and the best camcorders, I finally settled on this one. Runners-up to my final choice included Sony HC42 and the new PC55. Both good choices, the first one for the affordability and the second one for the compact and stylish package. Both advantages I felt I achieved with the JVC GRDX307. The price for the PC55 was ridiculous, at over $600 at the cheapest I could find, $900 at Sony store. The HC42 was ok, but still the resolution and other features lost to the JVC. Same with the PC55.

Another factor that tipped the scales in favor of the JVC was the memory card storage. I already use SD cards extensively, for my Palm, my wife's Palm and the new Casio Exilim digicam that we plan to buy. It is a better, cheaper and more practical alternative to Memory Cards, which aside from being more costly, are always tougher to find. I felt that for practicality's sake, I should use the same media for all my tech toys. Now I can view pictures taken on my JVC camcorder, my future Casio camera on my Palm. And if I run out of memory suddenly, I have the option of interchanging SD cards.

The JVC 307 is light at 1.2 lbs (with battery and MiniDV tape put in), it is very compact and ergonomic, and it is very easy to use. All characteristics that are important because the reason I bought this new toy is to take videos of my baby girl who will be born in two weeks time. I need a small camera that will not get in the way in the Birthing Room (I will have my hands full with comforting my wife) and for events after that, wherein I can carry the diaper bag, while pushing the baby stroller, with the JVC comfortably strapped to my belt.

At first I was concerned with the Zoom, it was only 10x. The digital Zoom of 500x is negligible, since all images beyond 40x is no longer recognizable. But after trying it out, the 10x seems to suffice, provided you're not a peeping tom. I imagined recording my little girl's first stage play or recital (yes I intend to use it for that many years) with it and I'm sure it will do the job nicely. Although when you zoom in at 10x, the image becomes incredibly shaky as the camcorder stability control (?) can no longer compensate. But I hear it's a weakness of most camcorders in the market.

I have to admit the coolness factor is also a guilty pleasure with this JVC camcorder. With its vertical orientation, you will certainly stand out in a crowd of weekend warrior video photographers.

The JVC 307, with its 1.3 Mega Pixel feature, delivers very clear images at reasonable room lighting, though darker situations can be illuminated by the 3 LED lights on the front, a very unique and ingeniously simple feature that other camcorders lack. It's like headlights on a car! Still, as with most camcorders of this caliber and the subject of endless complaints from many reviews I've read, the details become grainy and alien-looking in dark environments like the inside of your home after sunset. Perhaps future models will improve on this. But there is an ingenious solution to this available already in most homes including your own. Turn on the lights!

For its current low price, I can't imagine having another camcorder that would have satisfied me as much as the JVC GRDX307.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gotta Love It, January 21, 2005

By 

T. Hart "Desert Eagle" (Kuwait) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: JVC GRDX307 MiniDV Digital Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

I just got this camera about a week ago and I am absolutely impressed. It takes digital stills and video without having to do anything special or without any annoying pauses or interruptions. The video is clear and stable and the picture quality is really good. And it was easy to use right out of the box; a stong plus for a non-techie such as myself.
In short, this is a great buy with numerous features, great quality, and a price thats unbelievable for what I got.
Its a high end performer at a mid range price. If you find a BETTER camera at this price (which I don't think you will) you should buy it.

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazingly Prime Camera, March 30, 2006

By 

Paul F. Jefferies - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: JVC GRDX307 MiniDV Digital Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

I was one of the very first to purchase this camera off of Amazon and only now have i remembered to write a revew, expecialy after some of the complaints were written. I purchased this camera three days after it was on amazon and it arived in box on my doorstep in just a few days. Right out of the box, the camera looked nice, and as soon as i plugged it in, it turned on. In only about 20 minutes of playing with it i had fugured out almost all of the functions and was stunned but the still picture quality and with the video quality even in low light situations.
Thre have been many complaints about the zoom, and it is true that images become slightly distorted past aobut 40x but even at 500x you can make out shapes and and 100x you can make out faces. Some have also mentioned focus as an issue, or the image getting blury i low light. This is an issue if you dont turn on the focus feature. It enables the camera to stay and one focus point for tapeing low light performances such as plays. I have been extremly impressed with its dark performance for video. and for a camera without a flash, the pictures in low light are nice too.
The size quality and functionality of this camera all altogether stunning for non professional users, or professinals who need a camera side arm. I would highly recoment this camera to anybody needing one.