JVC Reviews

I bought this camcorder and I took it home and tested it before I wrapped it. ... ..
Why I was unhappy:

1st.. The night alive feature is a total scam.. There is such a strobe effect due to the slow shutter speed.. Your targets have to be totally still or it is so distored.. And it does not work in total darkness.. (like said)

2nd.. the video interface S-Video had pixel distortion when veiwed throw TV..

3rd.. Don't be fooled by the still picture.. The resolution is down right crummy.. And will not capture movement well..

finally.. Digital zoom is nothing more than a sales pitch..
Optical zoom is were it is at for quality..
With Digital.. All it is doing is blowing up the pixels..
Very much like viewing a pdf file (Adobe) What happens when you magnify a picture?? It looks [bad].. So, stick to a quality optical zoom and don't be fooled by a hugh digital zoom..

I forgot the digital EIS is [bad] too.. Optical EIS is much more stable..

On the good side.. very nice design.. And great optical close ups.. ...

I bought this model after I have done quite sometime researching for this range of camcorders. This one was picked because it provides the most of the features for the money. Also, because I don't care much for the still picture quality since digital camera is what you should get if you are in for still pictures. In term of video quality, this one offers the same par with a much higher cost models. I have used it for over 9 months now, and over all, I'm very happy with it. Here some not quite good features that I observed:
1) Like other reviewers, still pictures are not that good. In good light condition, they are ok but it seems to be a little too white and not have very good details. In lower light condition, it is just too dull. However, again, if you are for still pictures, go for the digital camera. Otherwise, it's ok for the web but it could be better.
2) It does not automatically position itself to where you were left off the last time you video so you have to manually do that yourself everytime. Sometimes it takes the spontanuity out of you.
3) The light is not enough if you video someone 6-7 feet out. But then don't all the built in lights are like that!

Again, overall, I'm a satisfied customer...

My husband and I bought this camcorder to make short films for competition and we were very happy with it. The picture quality is excellent both indoors and out. The sound is good but it tends to pick up a lot of echo in large indoor spaces. It doesn't eat up battery power (which was a concern) and is very easy to use. The night-alive feature was a disappointment though... as the others have said it makes your subjects blurry and appear in slow motion. Overall, we love this camera and are very pleased with its performance.

Looking for my first ever video camera, I stumbled upon this 520A JVC, looks sleek, light weight, fair functionability, 800 000 pixels for digital stills (which is not bad for it's price).

Compared to the sony at a similar price range, it lacked a few added extras which some may find useful :
1. Mpeg (not particularly that useful I suppose if you have firewire)
2. Night scope (the JVC does NOT COmpare to sony's night vision! - it just decreases shutter speed)
3. Battery life - I think that the sony stamina battery lasts a lot longer than the jvc pack.
4. Quality of video - this is debatable - I couldn't tell the diffirence though I was told that sony has a better colour.
5. USB streaming
6. B&W viewer - it's quite annoying if you're used to a colour viewer. The LCD screen however is very clear. The sony has a TFT active matrix which may be slightly better. I was told that the LCD screen has a shorter life-span.

Compared to the Canon ZX5series - some also have an SD Card, the JVC is cheaper, looks sleeker (I think) but similar otherwise.

The SD card is very useful - I wouldn't buy one without a card. The battery life could be better. I think it's closer to 1 hour recording time. Even the so called "stamina" battery (which was not original) only lasted <1hr recording time.

Apart from the above, I feel satisfied with my purchase. I bought it in singapore and it was the cheapest of the digital cameras with similar functionality.

The JVC DVL520U digital video camera is the central camera in the JVC 320U, 520U, and 720U line. Each of these cameras offers the same basic technology with varying features. The 520U shares the same remote as the 320U. The 720U remote contains more functionality. The 520U remote contains all the usual basic capabilities, including rewind, fast forward, playback, record, etc. The 520U also shares the same memory card as the 720U, which is 8Mb in size. The raw technology of all these units is essentially the same. What differentiate them are the features JVC activates and implements in each model.

The 520U specifications are as follows:

- 680,000 pixel CCD (1/4")
- 110,000 pixel, 2.5" LCD monitor (270 degree rotation)
- F1.8 lens
- B/W viewfinder
- Night Alive full color low light recording
- 10x optical zoom
- 700x digital zoom
- PCM stereo audio
- 16x9 squeeze mode
- 1024 x 768 digital stills
- Picture stabilization
- SD/multimedia card
- USB interface
- DV input/output
- S-video and A/V output terminals
- Audio dubbing
- Numerous fades, wipes, and effects

The 520U provides very good features and functionality for a miniDV camera in its price range. Not all features work as well as other manufacturers. Picture stabilization, for instance, is much better on the Sony models than this camera. Night Vision is also not that useful for moving images in very low light conditions. I tried shooting a fireworks display using the Night Vision feature. An image was accumulated and stored by the CCD about every 1/2 second, making the outcome choppy and unusable.

The software bundle provided with the camera is excellent and a USB driver is provided. It's very easy to transfer pictures from the camera to the computer. With the proper editing cable (not supplied), video can be edited on a computer with excellent results. An audio/video cable is provided, which enables viewing and transferring video. A USB cable is provided to transfer images from the video card to a computer.

The 520U is capable of storing pictures to either a memory card or video. A snapshot button enables the shutter to operate. If you're new to this capability, be aware that at this time pictures obtained using current video technology do not match the quality you will get from a digital camera. Likewise, digital cameras cannot match the quality of video recorded on a miniDV camera. You buy a video camera for quality video, not snapshots. You buy a digital camera for quality snapshots, not video.

Regardless, the 520U delivers adequately usable snapshots. I like being able to add a picture collage in the middle of my videos. For example, I took a walk on the beach and recorded it. In the middle of the video suddenly you hear the sound of a shutter click and there's a picture of a seagull wading in the water; another shutter click and a picture of a dog bounding out of the water; another shutter click and a picture of a child building a sand castle, etc. Each shot stays on for about 5 seconds or so and whatever sound occurs in those five seconds is also recorded. Later, you can dub audio of your favorite song over the collage before going back to the video action of your family enjoying a boat tour the following day. The creative possibilities are endless!

Pictures directed to the video will be stored in the middle of whatever you're taping. You can also select to have pictures saved on the memory card, which provides the best quality. From the memory card, they can be transferred to your computer. This is a very nice feature. If you don't mind the limited image quality, it's quite handy to have video and picture capability in one small camera.

Where this camera really shines is in video quality; it's exceptional! The miniDV format provides 520 lines of resolution. Color balance is very nice and the internal settings enable you to take manual control of the white balance or set it to automatic.

Another nice feature I haven't seen on all cameras is the ability to correct for backlighting. Let's say you're in a room with many windows on a sunny day. Many cameras will meter the windows and you end-up with the room appearing too dark. The JVC has a backlight button that corrects for these conditions and it works quite impressively.

The BN-V408U 800mAh Lithium-ion battery supplied is the smallest battery available for this camera. Using the LCD display, you will get only about 30 to 45 minutes of record/playback time. I'd strongly suggest purchasing the BN-V428U 2500mAh battery, which can be purchased on eBay for about $30 with shipping (search for "JVC BN-V428U battery"). I get about three to four hours of use with this battery.

In short, if you are on a limited budget and would like a decent beginning miniDV camera, the JVC is a very nice unit. If you have more of a budget, I'd suggest the Sony models, which offer all these features with equivalent or superior quality (depending on the feature compared).

If you decide to purchase this camera, always purchase from an authorized dealer, like Amazon.com. There are many dealers who sell this camera for a lower price, but what they don't tell you is if anything fails and the unit requires service, JVC will not honor the warranty. You must show proof of purchase from an authorized JVC dealer to receive service.

Hi,
We have been using this for 18 months now, and it's travelled continents and has give us no problems at all!

At least 3 MiniDV tapes, an extra battery, and a carrying bag are essentials.

This camcorder is excellent value. The only con is low light recording is not good, but that's the case with most camcorders.

My husband gave me this camera for Christmas because he knew I really wanted a digital camera and I had expressed some interest in a camcorder as well...He figured this would do double-duty very well. I played with it all day Christmas day taking video and stills and was loving it. The video was awesome...very easy to use and of decent quality. Battery drained very quickly, but most do, so that wasn't a big deal. Close-up shots looked really good. The HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT came when I downloaded the still shots to my computer. They were of poor quality at best...colors not true and blurry even though all were taken at the highest resolution possible. I am returning the camera and exchanging it. I'm NOW told that most just don't have enough pixels to produce a good photo...Live and Learn! Good Luck...

This is a great "video camera" and a not so good digital still camera. If you are purchasing this "video camera" to use to shoot video then I will recommend this camera, but if you want a great digital still camera then purchas a separate digital still camera. The vast majority of "video cameras" are best used for video and not digital still photography. So once again buy this "video camera" for video and buy a digital still camera for digital photography.

I did a lot of research before buying. It is the best value in this class. Don't expect great snap shot quality from this camera and others in the same class. You need progressive scan and at least 1 mega pixel CCD for a good quality picture. That would put you into a totally different price range. Manufacturers advertise mega pixel camcorders pretty loudly and they are currently above $1200. The video quality is great (almost DVD) and low light sensitivity is good. I don't use special effect while filming so I can't comment. It does not record analog video. Manual says it records the DV but I have not tried it. Overall it is great for indoor/outdoor everyday filming even with my picky taste.

We bought our camera new and thought it was GREAT! We took pictures with it mostly and did take some videos of holidays and our kids' programs, ect. Now 2 years and only 6 mini-dv tapes down the line we get an error message stating "head cleaning needed". Well we went out and bought the "needed" head cleaning cassette and ran it through. The next time, and every time since you get into taping about 5 minutes and that same message pops up. JVC's customer support is terrible. All they can say is, "take it to an authorized service center apparently your heads are bad. Well for us the closest one is 120 miles away. Add that to the cost of $50-$100/hour labor plus parts to get it fixed, are you nuts? You can probably buy a new camera by the time your done. As others have stated in their reviews, the software compatibility is also another issue they won't help you with. Just keep searching on the net and you'll eventually find someone that can help you with that problem. I am very disappointed with JVC and I wish people would wait a while before they write these reviews. People writing them a month or two after having their product is good to explain all the nice features, but how is it working now a few years down the road?

We got this 3 yrs ago. For the price we paid, it was packed with features and performed well for the most part. We didn't bother with the included software since we had Pinnacle. A year ago (2 yrs after purchase) we had blotches and blackouts on tapes when viewing previously taped DVs. Went through and scratched up bunches of tapes before trying out the head cleaners. Things were ok until few months ago. The motor to eject and receive the cartridge started to get stuck. After jiggling few times, even brute force, it would be ok. Now this past weekend, after we tried to use it to tape our son's birthday party, it degenerated to the point where it's 'eating up' tapes and it takes several minutes of coaxing to get the tape to go in or out. Time for a decent burial me thinks.

I just bought this camera and think it is a great video camera, especially for the price. The camera is lightweight and very easy to handle. The menus are simple and straighforward for all the setting and effects. The still picture quality is pretty good. The included pc software is very easy to use and DOES in fact work with Windows 98 SE. Video quality is superb. I would recommend this camera to anyone who wants to purchase a Mini-DV camera.

I just bought this camera's successor, the JVC GR-DVL505U. It arrived yesterday, and it seems like a great product! I really only tried taking some basic shots and importing them into the PC, but I have high hopes for some great online home video in the future!

P.S. I found the camera online for($) -- With accessories it came out to about the same price most major stores list it as.

This is a great product! It's lightweight, durable and very easy to use. You can add neat effects to what you are filming and can edit them using the software included. One very small yet a flaw none the less is that I can't find any more batteries for the camcorder and I'm stuck with one that doesn't last very long if you're constantly using it. All in all this is a great product that I'd highly recommend.

I bought this camcorder 2 months ago. I have barely used it, but when I do I get great images and superb sound. This would be great with a computer (in which I do not have). I have plugged it in to my television for editing and playback. A good product for family use. Birthday parties, Holidays, and special occasions can all be recorded. This is the top of the line in technology with MINI DV.

I bought this camera and loved almost everything about it. The biggest problem is the fact that there is no external mic input jack and no headphone jack. The quality of sound you get from the onboard mic on almost any camcorder is not very good at best. And you should never underestimate the effect good sound has on the quality of your video projects. If you plan to do anything needing good on location sound you will want to find a model with the ext. mic jack and use either a shotgun mic or some lavalier mics. I would say buy a camera that gives you this option because down the road you may need/want it. It would stink to [buy] a camera and then find out that it didn't do everything you needed it to do. I took the camera back an bought a better one that had all of the connections I wanted. (the panasonic pv-dv400, it's a little more expensive but very much worth it to have the sound quality, not to metion the 18x optical zoom.)

Picture quality is good but the image stabilization is very bad. I purchased this camera a week ago and decided to return it and get Canon Optura Pi, since Optura Pi has the optical stabilizer.

This is my first camcorder, and I'm having a ball with it! It's so easy to use, and I love the snapshot feature that allows me to take a snapshot image in the midst of recording, and it even throws in a little shutter click sound for effect! Maybe I'm easy to please, as I have no prior camcorder experience, and therefore no preconceived notions as to performance. But the picture looks great, and the sound is decent. I'm basically just using this for family purposes, and it serves me well!

Considering the low price, this camera has tons of features and the output is awesome. All you need is a Firewire cable and you can start editing movies right on your computer. This camera is actually less expensive than many VHS-C analog/Hi-8 analog cams. Good deal if you can find it.

WOW! What a great camcorder, and what a great price. A lot of value in this product. Does everything I wanted in a camcorder. Pictures are crystal clear and it is so easy to use. You do not need a PHD in cameras to use this one. The Camera takes stills as well as movies. This camera has most of the features that are seen in very expensive cameras. Thanks for the value.

I must say when I bought the $400 camera that it wouldn't compare to, say, Canon or other big name digital cameras. I've already edited several videos on my computer that I imported from this JVC. Color me impressed! It is very full featured for such a low cost camera. I've used it several times already and am VERY happy with the results. It's a good camera with suprisingly good quality. Go for it!

Mr.
I bought a Camera two years ago JVC DVF31 that I have used so far without problem. One month ago it began to have a problem that doesn't already allow me neither to reproduce a tape. When putting a tape in the videocamera it leaves me a legend: "different formated type! ". At the beginning this problem began to make it intermittently and it was solved taking out and putting again the same tape into the camera.
Now already it makes it permanently and it doesn't allow me to use it.
In the JVC official service of Argentina they answered me almost without to revise it that the problem is the motherboard and an the cost of repair [was a lot of money]!!!!!
This legend that appears in the finder "different formated type! " it cannot be for another cause? Help me.
I don't want to leave this camera like old museum piece and to think that it was a very bad purchase.
Excuse my not well written English.

This is my first and only camcorder. I wanted to get good quality still shots, which is one reason I went with the JVC. From what I read it had the best suite of software. I had no problem installing the software and getting the camera connected to the computer with the provided serial cable.

Capturing pictures is easy and fairly quick. (If you would like to see some sample pictures, go to www.pipeline.com/~vtfcu/car.htm). The tape does not start in the same spot after a frame capture, I find this annoying.

The playback controls on the camera do not allow slow motion play. The remote does, but it is at their preset speed. If you have your computer connected, you can also advance one frame at a time. This is necessary to get the exact frame you want to capture on the PC. The camcorder will only play back in slow mode for 2 minutes (I assume to protect the tape).

The camcorder has to be turned off when going from play to record. I find this makes it difficult to queue the tape to the exact spot for recording.

It seems the tape does not disengage when in one of the record modes. In other words, the tape is engaged when monitoring or leaving the camera on and ready to record. I don't know why this would be if you can only watch in slow mode for a short period of time. But it also seems to stay in pause mode for a long time, so maybe the head is not wearing away the tape when in pause during playback or record.

The snapshot mode is not what I expected. When the snapshot button is pressed, the tape continues to run and record the same picture for about 5 seconds then taping continues as normal. I was very impressed with the ability to focus up close. It even focused on the lint on the UV filter attached to the camera.

I'm not too sure about the sound volume yet. The quality seems quite good.

JVC is relay helping to foster competition in the digital camcorder market by giving Sony, Panasonic, and Canon a run for their money with this great model. JVC gives you more extras than any other manufacturer for the price; including the genuine DV format with terrific picture quality and sound, effects and scene transitions like dissolves and wipes, still capture, and computer software. What prevented me from giving it 5 stars, was the fact the battery lasts for only 35 minutes (and that's even without zooming) but this isn't so bad considering it charges up in about 25 minutes. Also, the tape door mechanism is so clunky and awkward, that I find myself having to be overly careful of damaging it. In addition, the 400X zoom is overrated and totally useless, for images at that magnification are unwatchable. And last (although arguably trivial) is JVC's habit of using an early 1980's silver color scheme. They should stick with black like the rest of the industry (but who knows, maybe different is good)? All in all though, for the price, the benefits far out-way my measly little cosmetic qualms, and this camera has made me the happiest little digital videographer around.