Camera-and-Photography Info - JVC GR-D850 MiniDV Camcorder with 35x Optical Zoom

Features:

Extended field of vision with a 2.7-inch, 16:9 widescreen LCD monitor
Check exact time left for recording with this 115-minute data battery
Images can be enlarged up to 800X with this powerful Konica Minolta 35x optical zoom
More accurate noise reduction with the 3-Dimension Noise Reduction (3D NR) feature
Includes Night Alive for improved low-light recording

Accessories:

Pinnacle Studio Ultimate Version 12
Sony Vegas Movie Studio Platinum 9
Sony Vegas Movie Studio 9 Platinum Pro Pack
Roxio Creator 2009
Adobe Premiere Elements 7

Related Items:

• Panasonic MiniDV Tapes (Pack of 5)
• Belkin F3N401-06-ICE IEEE 1394 4-Pin/6-Pin 400 Mbps FireWire Cable (6 Feet)
• Sony DVC-60 PR/5 Premium Minidv Videocassette (5-Pack)
• Jvc Mdv60Du10 Mini Digital Video Cassette (10-Pk)
• Samsonite 708BK Microfiber Compact Video Bag

Spotlight customer reviews:

Customer Rating:

Summary: Good low res camcorder for family use.

Comment: The JVC GR-D850 MiniDV Camcorder is our 3rd JVC camcorder. It was purchased primarily for quick capture of family events and we didn't expect the final video to be as high a quality as our previous JVC GR-DV800U which cost almost 3 times as much. So, when we powered up the camcorder and took our first video we weren't too disappointed. That being said, this camcorder is small enough to tote around just about anywhere and comes in handy when hiking in the woods or around family gatherings. The final video produced isn't too bad although the color balance is just OK.

For the price this is a good buy.

Customer Rating:

Summary: So far, so good...

Comment: I bought this one for my mom and dad. It seems just as easy to use as the one I purchased a few years back. It's lightweight and mom seems to understand how to use it after about ten minutes of showing her how to do things.

The only thing I would not like is that it lacks a viewfinder (like on a film camera) -- all it has is the large LCD display. If you prefer a viewfinder, you may want to look at other camcorders.

Customer Rating:

Summary: JVC GR-D850

Comment: The sound and video quality is amazing! I am very impressed by the quality of the image and sound even at night. There is no blurring when panning around either, but at night its performance slightly suffers. Sometimes it takes a few seconds to focus correctly at night from switching from close to distant objects, but it is crystal clear. The sound is GREAT. Its easy to use, easy to hold.

In order to place taped videos to the PC, you need a Fire Wire port on your computer, a 6pin to 4pin fire wire cable, and a lot of hard drive space. One hour is about 14 gigs when transfered 100% uncompressed. After editing and compression though the file size is very manageable.

**For every minute you record it takes one minute to transfer to the PC**

If I had payed 350 dollars for this, I would still be amazed. Its the steal of the year, so cheap yet so good...! I bought the camera, firewire cable, three Fuji Film MiniDV's with tax didnt break 300 dollars!

This is the first camera I've ever owned.

Editorial reviews:

The GR-D850 comes with a 2.7" 16:9 Widescreen clear LCD monitor that gives you a more realistic visual due to the extended field of vision, that is common in today's flat panel displays. The Clear LCD feature reduces reflections and glare to maintain a clear, visible and bright viewing during outside recording. Zoom right into the action with this powerful 35x optical zoom. The image is magnified optically to eliminate jagged edges. Images can be further enlarged up to 800x when combined with the digital zoom. Or boost light sensitivity for a bright picture even in environments with minimal illumination, always giving you full color, without any distance limitations with the NightAlive feature that also works in both still and video modes. Finally this camcorder has 3-Dimension Noise Reduction (3D NR) that automatically provides a more accurate noise reduction. The video noise is reduced by 30% in low light for a 2dB improvement in the signal-to-noise ratio. End result, you get a brighter picture with less noise, even in low light. Lens - F 2.0-4.1, f=2.3-69mm Uses Mini DV tapes 2.7 Wide Clear LCD monitor 16 - 9 Wide Screen Mode 680 x 340 Digital Still Size Stick Control Dual Recording Capabilities - Allows you to record stills and videos both at the same time Data Button - By simply touching this button, remaining battery and recording time can be easily viewed, even when the power is turned off Auto Button - Allows you to conveniently and quickly switch between Auto and manual mode with a simple push NightAlive Web-Camera Function via IEEE 1394 Auto illumination light 7 languages for menu settings (Eng./Spa./Fre./Kor./Jap./Por./Chi.) Interfaces on Camera - DV Input/Output, DC in Approximate Unit Dimensions - 2.79(W) x 3.03(H) x 4.60(L) Approximate Unit Weight - 0.85lbs (without battery)