| I bought my JVC GR-DVL815U two months ago and it is definitely one of the smartest investments I have ever made. Its video quality and versatility really makes digital camcorders stand out from the Hi8 or VHS versions. The 520 line resolution is dvd quality and it can be achieved during the day without using the additional features. Given enough light the images will be crystal clear. In darker situations the probe light is usually sufficient - I have used it in a bar and the video still comes out great. However, the "night alive" feature makes capturing images slower and hence fuzzier. Antishock is excellent in the 815 - especially for people like me who tend to shake a lot when filming. 16-bit sound is as good as it gets for non-professional camcorders. Such quality is better than CD audio and very clear. Unfortunately it does not have surround sound effects. I love the wide range of options that comes with this camcorder. The video-camera combination is a boon as there are times when taking picutres are better than filming. Although the still picture quality is merely 0.5M and takes 2 seconds to gather enough light, it can still produce very decent images (not printable) The DV, USB, Firewire, and AV ports provide endless possibilities - whether to transfer files to the computer, copy onto a regular video tape, or editing. I have not tried out the software to edit my movie yet but will come back when I do. In sum, the GR-DVL815U might not be the top-of-the line video gadget on the market, it still packs a pretty hefty punch and will satisfy any amateur or semi-professional needs for resolution and versatility. |
]
