JVC GR-DVL9800U

I have used the 9800 for two years now, it is my first DV camera, and I have both good and bad notes: - The image is fabulous compared regular S-VHS camera images (bar none). - Also excellent is the small size of the camera while also delivering a very large LCD screen (3.5 in), making it very easy to handhold. - Buying and using larger 1700mv batteries means one battery lasts longer than the longest tape. - Lots of available adjustments and functions on the camera. - The image stabilization system is very poor, almost worthless. - Low-light sensitivity is not good. - Shots with bright individual in overall very dark background result in washed out people. There's a compensation button but the auto exposure controls don't allow it to work well enough. - Sound is about average for a DV camera. - Performed !!perfectly!! with Adobe Premiere in download and recording modes to my PC using only a generic 1394 Firewire card, with complete deck-control from Premiere!!!! - Needs better manual zoom controls: auto zoom can be fooled by close foreground objects when you are not zoomed on the objects. Since I have begun doing theater filming and editing and I will probably invest $3-4k in a 3-CCD camera and a serious step up in functionality for my next camera.

- sharp image - small size (compared to best S-VHS) - large LCD screen - Easy to understand button controls - Not a battery hog - Direct Premiere deck-control of camera via Firewire connect

- Not great in low-light - Sound only average at best - Image Stabilization does not work - Needs better manual zoom control - Theater-like congtrasty lighting needs to be monitored to prevent wash-out

Only S-VHS from Panasonic and JVC, the 9800 is better than all of those.

Not yet needed.

I bought this camera primarily for capturing skiing and golfing outings and for the digital picture capabilities. I have found it very useful for both. The high speed video requires very bright light, but can be an effective way to analyze your golf swing. Use a tripod. I primarily use the camera for skiing. There are plenty of features on the camera and the picture quality is very good compared to VHS and hi-8. Getting stable images when zooming is sometimes dificult. Comared to the Sony DCR10, the colors aren''t as good but the JVC is smaller and easier to use with more features and a better still image capturing system. Sony uses a different technology and a carl Zeiss lens that helps with the color. I spent a considerable amount of time researching cameras and I found that this one seemed to rank the best and offer the most overall for my needs. I also can''t seem to figure out how to get the stills off the memory card....but this is probably a function of my technical savy and older computer

Great for taking stills from video footage small size with lots of neat features good basic software package good quality video compared to VHS and Hi-8 High speed video is good slow motion analysis

color isn''t as true as I would like image stablizer doesn''t help much in zooms how do I get the stills off the memory card

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The camera is easy to use, takes wonderful videos and very good stills.Either use a tripod or balance your arm for lengthy shooting. The JVC menus take a little effort to learn but become easy with a little practise. Use the still mode for higher quality stills. i love it.

video & stills Progressive scan

A little heavy for on ehanded long shooting

JVC - GR-DVM50U JVC GR-DVM 70U Sony TRV hi 8 MM

Tech support is very good

After keeping my 9800U for 10 days I sent it back for a refund. The camcorder is over priced for its less than average performance. This camcorder was terrible in low light conditions, shooting indoor footage with normal home lighting is out of the question. The slow shutter speed limited the usefulness of the progressive scan feature and photo mode. I tried PS out on my golf swing and could not see the club during the swing when played it back in slow motion, not to mention blurry of the video. Taking non blurred stills without a tripod were very difficult, leaving me wondering why make the 9800U's still mode capable of XGA resolution when the camera can't produce a decent VGA still without the aid of a tripod.

Controls nicely located Many features the camcorder looks great XGA stills

poor indoor video quality blurry stills only 10x optical zoom

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