5 comments about JVC GRDVL120U MiniDV Digital CyberCam Video Camera with 2.5" LCD & B/W Viewfinder.

1. Please send- my battery for my DIGITAL CAMARA MINI DV
   JVC BATTERY CODE BN-V408U OR BN-V416U



2. I've had one of these for about 18 months...after a year of ownership it started eating DV tapes. I've had three destroyed when rewinding...you get an error message and the next thing you know your tape is in ribbons. Fortunately, I found a place that will repair them but it is expensive ($30 per tape).

   I contacted JVC about the problem...they were aware that their camcorders have this kind of issue but because mine was outside the warranty period they declined to do anything for me.

   If you do buy this camcorder (or already have it) try getting a separate miniDV rewinder for around $20. I've only had the tapes get eaten while rewinding.

   If you're still in the market for a camcorder...don't buy this one!




3. I had the camcorder for about a year and then BANG, this whinding noise starts to happen... I can't record with it anymore... It seems with the slightest touch, it makes a whinding noise and tottally destroys the image... This product was a great deal... Too bad it doesn't work! ...



4. it broke the third time we used it. no power, nothing. now the labor warranty is expired and the tape is stuck inside! do not nuy no matter how great the deal. you will buy buy a peice of excretory waste.



5. I reluctantly bought a display model of the GR-DVL120U about a year ago. I choose this model because of price, shape/size and the fact it was digital. Price was the biggest concern because the soul purpose was for shooting underwater video (if my housing flooded, I would be out less money). The camera is still going strong despite use in some rough environments. The video quality is very good and if works great for connecting to a computer (something my girlfriends Sony doesn't do well). The manual setting on the camera is great because I can lock the focus and everything for shooting underwater. That way it doesn't search for focus in low light conditions. There's lots of different settings you can tweak in the manual mode to work in your environment (I can get good footage 119 ft underwater!) The negative would be the camera isn't very common so it isn't always easy to find batteries or other accessories (like a good fisheye lens)

1 comments about Q-See Black and White Video Camera with Audio - QSICB.

1. The lens is adjustable instead of fixed... for sharper nearby images. It comes with a power supply, & 60' of cable to plug it into anything...vcr, burner, monitor, or video card. And you can't beat the price. Don't be fooled by the pic which makes one think that this is your typical wired & enclosed mini camera. This one's a lot smaller.
   
   The power supply, a small AC adapter, can either be plugged into an outlet near the camera or way at the other end of the 60' cable near your VCR or monitor.
   
   I give it 5 stars because although the camera's image isn't as good as some much more expensive much bigger cameras, it's a little better than typical cameras even 3 times this size & price. It's weather proof but not water proof. Which means it can take being splashed but will not take being drenched or submerged in water. Intall it on your covered porch or under the eaves of your roof.
   
   The outer casing is thick metal although it looks plastic. It's a solidly built & can take abuse. Pop in any cheap T-160 tape in a VCR set at the slow speed, & you have a continuous 8 hours of security recording time. I use an $18 5" Coby B&W TV from Amazon as a monitor, but at these prices I got 2 cameras & 2 TVs! These are the cheapest TVs around that actually have RCA video inputs in the back. For a basic B&W TV monitor & AM-FM radio, it ain't bad.
   
   Crime's on the rise, cops can't be everywhere, & taxpayers are going broke. A few of these in your area will clean up the hood. You'll know who's been around when you're at work, & with the low-light feature, you'll know who's around when you're sleeping... and get 'em on tape with any cheap vcr or 2.

5 comments about Sony DCRTRV33 MiniDV 1megapixel Camcorder with 2.5" LCD, Color Viewfinder & Memory Stick capabilities.

1. 8 months after I bought this camera it lost the ability record video. In fact the screen is black. I can still use the menus and watch old videos but somehow I am looking for a camera than can take pictures. Most camera should be expected to break the 8 month mark with out breaking especially with out outside help.



2. My TRV33 lasted 18 months. While it worked the camera was absolutely excellent.
   
   However, I went to use it this morning and the record screen was totally blank.
   
   I haven't contact Sony myself, but by the sounds of this forum, I think I would be wasting my time if I did. If the reports in this forum are correct, Sony don't seem to care that this is happening.
   
   I won't buy a Sony again.



3. I have had the same problem with my DCR TRV33. I've called Sony previously and they said send it to the repair center but I had to pay for S&H and repair. I thought I was SOL. I keep on checking though, hoping that Sony would see the error in their ways. And maybe from all the unhappy consumers or class action lawsuit, they responded FINALLY! I'm sending it in tomorrow. Wish me luck.
   
   [...]



4. I got EXACTLY the same problem as many of other victims had experienced. All of sudden, after very scarce and gentle use, the camera only showed verticle lines and went completely blind.
   
   What is the good of a camcord if it can't even last more than 1.5 years with less than 10 hours of recording?
   
   I would say that SONY is KNOWINGLY selling defective products to consumers and all of us who had problems should file class-action law suit against SONY for damages.
   
   Any lawyers who are reading this should seriously consider this. You may reap big dollars while helping us to vent some anger.



5. I like the Sony DCR-TRV33 Camcorder Very much. One thing that I like about this camcorder is that I can put video clips on my computer files two different ways. I can input video files to my computer with the AV cable any files that I put on my memory stick. I also can input video files to the computer using my Firewire cable. Some Camcorders do not have the firewire connecter and some do not have a memory stick that allows you to do a video file over one minute in length. The Sony DCR-TRV33 can do both and does a very fine job doing it. I highly recommend this Camcorder and feel it is quality plus.

No comments about SONY DCR-HC30E MiniDV Handycam(R) PAL Digital Camcorder.

No comments about Sony Spk-pc Underwater Camcorder Housing.

No comments about SONY DCR-HC20 MiniDV Handycam(R) PAL Digital Camcorder.

No comments about Sony Handycam DCR-DVD101E - Camcorder - 800 Kpix - optical zoom: 10 x - DVD-R (8cm), DVD-RW (8 cm).

5 comments about JVC GR-DVF31 Digital Camcorder with 3" TFT LCD Display.

1. Before I bought this camera I did a lot of research and found this one to have the most features for the price. The camera itself works really well and met my expectations. The once big drawback is the software that comes with it. JVC calls this camera a "cybercam" which implies compatibility with your computer. In its promotional material, JVC indicates that the camera comes with "sophisticated software." One of the reasons I bought the camera was to download and edit video clips on my computer. When I received the camera, I found that you can only download still pictures with the software JVC provides and cannot download streaming video.

   The JVC website recommends a $99 software package from Pinnacle systems to download video clips. I ordered this software, but discovered that in order for it to work, you need to add a different PCI chip to your computer. This was dismaying since I was forced to take the back off of my computer to add the chip and because the chip was a downgrade from the new PCI chip that came with my computer. After much work, I still have not been able to capture and edit videos on my computer - Kind of a bummer for a product taht calls itself a "cybercam."




2. I read a couple of reviews where the JVC camera was not mac compatible, but i have had no trouble using it . I purchased a Evergreen tech. pci firewire (works for mac, apple 2.5 firewire drivers installed,system9.0.4) card for my powertowerpro 200 w/g3 and am using imovie2. the camera works great so far.



3. This was our first video camera, and it does a great job. Light, easy to use and to handle, good pictures, good zoom. The only flaw is that, to put it on AC power (e.g., if you want to watch movies on it), you have to remove the battery to get access to the outlet. Aside from that, a darned good camera, and I'd recommend it to friends.



4. I love this camera and am thrilled that I bought it. There may be newer and sweeter gadgets out there nowadays since I bought mine back in 7/2000, but this still more than gets it done. Based on the ... ticket price on this site (as of 7/2002), it leads me to believe that this is still a very respected camera (can be found less expensive elsewhere, by the way).

   If there is one knock against it, it's the fact that the software package doesn't allow you to make mpeg movies straight from camera to PC. I believe there are 3rd party software titles that you can buy ... and get this accomplished.

   All in all: great video and great sound. I tape my school's basketball games on this camera, and I have wowed the coaching staff on more than one occasion with the clarity of the pictures. And, trust me - when you are trying to stat a game, clarity is priority one. You will love it!




5. 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.

5 comments about Fisher FVDC1 3.2MP Digital Camercorder with 5.8x Optical Zoom (includes 512 MB SD Memory Card).

1. I was very tempted to buy the Fisher CameraCorder, but the price was alittle high for what I wanted-- a digital camcorder to post videos on the web. After doing some research, I found the Sanyo Xacti [...]. Remember, the Fisher was released Nov 13, 2003 and is just getting over here now. The Xacti was released Aug 23, 2004, and fixes some of the bugs in the Fisher, with a larger LCD screen, updated CCD sensor, and image stabilizing technology. [...] I posted more info here if you are interested.



2. I, in fact, have the Xacti C5 (the next generation Japanese model up from the one here), which, apart from the size and still image quality (5 Mega pixel vs. 4 Mega Pixel on the one here) is identical to the Fisher FVDC1.
   
   Though there is some quite noticeable grain on the still images if you zoom in on the pictures you have taken, it does all that is promised, HOWEVER, it has extremely poor low light video performance. Daytime filming has reasonable quality, but filming under low light conditions is the worst I have ever seen in any video camera. Indoors will be a disappointment, people usually appear as silhouettes and the background is hard to make out. Filming at night or in a darkened pub or bar will render your expensive acquisition a glorified audio recorder.
   [...]
   Another issue was that, compared to Canon still image digital cameras, the ability to take pictures quickly was lacking, there was an approximate lag time of three to four seconds between shots. (Though that might be the SD card I'm using - though I doubt it.)
   
   Having said that, I was very happy when filming out doors or under bright light. My old Sony DCR-HC30E would take great video, but then transferring it to iMovie on my computer and exporting it to a reasonably sized video file on my computer would be a time consuming exercise and a great deal of the quality would be lost in the process.
   
   This ease of use of this product cannot be beat easily, truly plug and play, furthermore the sized is exceptionally convenient, though it is slightly awkward having to remove and replace the lens cap each time (unfortunately no built in lens cap/cover exists). Another desirable feature would be for it to be able to stand up on its own. Trying to stand it on a table in order for you to be part of the shot would require the use of something to keep it propped up. Not an easy task considering the shape of the base.
   
   All up, it's a reasonable gadget that does as promised, excepting the other minor shortcomings, that I wish I could recommend. The only thing stopping me is its inability to film under low lighting conditions. Since it can't (no matter how much you adjust the ISO settings), I would strongly recommend that you hold off a few months (maximum a year) for the next generation.



3. This Fisher FVDC1 CameraCorder is one more gadget in a long line that I've aquired over the last 25 years and it's just as cool as that Tandy PC-6 two-language programmable pocket computer from the mid-1980's!
   
   If you take care of your electronics they'll last forever and you will need to care for this gem too. The battery & memory card covers are rather fragile but just use patients working them and you'll avoid any use of duct tape.
   
   It took a bit of reading and some trial usage to find the right settings and now I am getting crystal clear photos .. the first photos were quite blurred from camera movment. ISO 400 seemed to do the trick for clarity -- faster shutter speed.
   
   The video, on the other hand, well same hand but .. you know what i mean .. the video was clear with the default settings and creates quite an image in ample lighting. Otherwise the picture is a bit grainy but still looks good.
   
   I would definitely recomend this product for those who can accept it for what it is .. a $450+ (at this date) palm sized video (1st) and digital camera (2nd) device that's really Cool most of all. I would not recommend it as a 1st experience in digital recording devices to folks.
   
   You can't cry at the 512 MB card that comes with the camera and additional cards are quite afforable. The usual cradle worked fine right off on my system (Win2k Server) and the adapter for USB & power to use without the cradle works well also!
   
   So .. gadget people - buy a FVDC1 today!



4. If you want a movie camera with all the different features such as fading and a big zoom range then this probably isn't your option. But if you want a compact option that you can carry in your pocket and that does a pretty good job for family videos then this is a fine choice.
   
   We have found that occassionally the autofocus takes some time to refocus when you switch to viewing something else, and if the battery fully discharges it can be ttricky to get the camera to start up again the next time it is charged. There is also some grainyness to the images in low light settings, but for normal usage this has not been too frequent. These problems aside we are more than happy with our purchase.
   
   The camera also takes digital stills (note that if you take a photo while videoing the video image will freeze for about half a second.) While not up to the same standards as many dedicated digital cameras, we have found the image quality satisfactory and use this camera for most of our still photography as well.
   
   You can edit video clips (merging clips or splitting them) on the camera itself, but this is timeconsuming (it takes about the length of a clip to re-encode it - so joining two 60 second clips will take 120 seconds.) For this reason we edit clips on the desktop (various 3rd party software programs are available to simplify this.)
   
   All in all, an adequate solution for general family videos.



5. I've been using this camera for the last few months, and I absolutely love it. But part of the reason that I love it is because i'm such a huge electronics nut, and i've never seen anything like this before. It's really tiny and a blast to shoot video with! (I didn't buy it for the digital camera aspect of it, and I rarely take snapshots with it)
   
   There are, of course, a few things that you should be aware of before you buy it:
   
   - This is not going to replace your higher-end digital camcorder. This thing would never replace my Canon DV camera. That's just not what it's for. But what it does do well is makes it so that I don't have to take my expensive Canon around with me everywhere.
   
   -The quality really is pretty good. For it's size, I think it's really good. I was actually really suprised by the quality of audio that it picks up also. But be aware that you WILL hear the zoom in and out on the recording when you use it. (I think if you read a review of something saying the quality is poor, I think that person bought it to be their one and only DV camera)
   
   -I use this thing for everyday, fun shooting. This would never be the only camera that I took on a trip to Hawaii. It would never be the only camera that I took to film my childrens first steps. But it is an absolutely great camera for fun shooting. When you want video of something that you just don't want to use a nice expensive digital camcorder for. For example: driving around with your friends, shooting silly video at work, taking to a party, etc. It couldn't be better for that.
   
   I use mine with an iMac running Mac OS X, and it works perfectly. I plug it in, iPhoto opens, I import the video, then drag them into iMovie for editing. It's that simple on a Mac.
   
   The Bottom Line: It's every single thing that I wanted it to be. It works so well for fun, everyday shooting that I find myself filming totally useless things, like walking into my friends' office to talk to him during the day. Stuff like that. LIke I said, it won't replace your high-end camcorder, but it is miles and miles ahead of any video recording mode on a digital camera. Just know what you want to use it for.
   
   I really couldn't be any happier with it. I completely love it.

1 comments about DV171 Compact Digital Video Camcorder.

1. I needed a new camcorder so I ended up buying this one at Walmart. I'm not that impressed. It's functions are somewhat complicated to use - not user friendly. I will probably end up returning it today. I inserted and formatted the memory stick but it still tells me "memory full" even after just 10 minutes of recording! I also paid $150 (more than on Amazon) for it!