JVC GR-D20 Digital Camcorder [Mini-DV 16xOptical DV-out] Camcorder Best Buys

a camcorder to remember! (to buy) - 17 Jul 2005

7 out of 7 found this review helpful.

i got this little gem about two years ago, and it is still working absolutely fine! I can catch all the memories on the miniDV tapes and put in a little sceene transition. Using the fire-wire link, i can easily hook it up to my MAC and make the most amazing quality video, the GR-D20 never gives me dodgey static, never gives me error messages, and never fails to impress.

There is one thing that some of you potential buyers out there might like to know though, that is that the "night vision" function that this offers is not what it sounds like, it is not that super-cool green sight that they use in all these films, all it does is slow down the exposure to allow more light into the lense, this gives off a very blurry set of images and i would think, from what it looks like, that in this mode, it has about 4 frames per second, which looks really bad, and all you get is dim, blurred images, however the sound is not affected at all, and still remains super high quality.

The look of this is nice, it fits perfectly moulded to the hand, and is very sturdy and feels solid and tough, however, as with every surface, i doubt that dropping it on a concrete surface would do it any good!

The zoom is impressive, the 16x optical zoom can really go somewhere and the 700x digital is mind blowing.

The buttons are very easy to use and and quite easy to figgure out, but if you do get stuck, then you can always refer to the handy manual!

Battery life as always is good, i can get about an hour of recording on a full battery, with the LCD screen opened up, but if i close it, and use the view-finder, i guess i would be able to get about 1 and a half hours of recording.

Overall, i would definately recommend this camcorder, it was my first camcorder, and i think i will be sticking with it for a while.

fantastic - 24 Oct 2004

3 out of 4 found this review helpful.

u cannot get a camcorder that has so many listed features,very good picture quality and the sound is so accurate and clear.I bought an exact one from a catalogue but paid much more than the prices on amazon it's a bargain.An ideal present for a guy now also that xmas is comin up.So get buyin it's all alot of fun!!!!!!!

As usual again! comes high quality from the Amazon gates. - 20 Feb 2004

4 out of 8 found this review helpful.

This manufacturer is world renown for providing the engines for high class brand names and there is very little to say other than; spend your money on this little gem and when you have got it home, you will realise the value of the diamond you have just bought.
P.S; Amazons' QC Team ensure you never see junk products within these pages anyway, and if I may impart an awesome tip:- Amazon is the "Maybachs" of on-line shopping, including after-care.

Family Camcorder - 17 Aug 2003

25 out of 27 found this review helpful.

A v.good entry lever camcorder for use @ home/family etc. Excellent price for a well known brand name. Easy to use and edit with. Would have given five stars if special effects were more sophisticated for editing/recording. The picture quality on this digital camcorder sends VHS camcorders very much to the history books

Simplicity in the palm of your hand - JVC GR-D20 Camcorder - 17 Aug 2003

31 out of 31 found this review helpful.

Having toyed with the idea of buying a camcorder for months, and with holidays coming up, I decided to take the plunge. My requirements were, in no particular order, compact, easy to use (technophobic wife), LCD display, a decent zoom, mini-DV and price. What I got was all the above and more! Setting up the features on the camcorder was a breeze with the on board menu and within an hour and a half I was up and running. Picture the scene, family on holiday, at the beach, ice skating, bowling, adventure playground etc, two thumb presses and this camcorder is recording the lot and as for the technophob wife, there was no stopping her. All the required controls are within easy reach and the zoom in/out is smooth. The quality of the play back via the LCD display is excellent as is playing direct to your TV. Did I mention the price...how can you sell it so cheap? All in all for a first camcorder this one has really done the job, well impressed.