MiniDV Camcorder Review

After researching the market, I purchased a JVC DVM50 MiniDV camcorder (Fall 1999). I recently exchanged it to purchase the newly released Sony PC100. This report outlines very detailed pros and cons about four camcorders in the JVC and Sony lineup. Hopefully, these observations might help you make a more informed purchase!

What I was looking for in a camcorder

• An extremely lightweight, convenient camcorder: could be carried on a hip-pack or bum-belt.
• Primarily intended for family recreational taping; studio production quality not required.
• A unit that would double as a camcorder and digital camera.
• A unit that would allow me to download good quality images to my computer.

For these reasons, I gravitated toward MiniDVs quickly, and avoided other bulkier systems (VHS, digital 8, etc.).

The final result

After using the JVC DVM50 for a month, I decided it was the wrong miniDV camcorder for me for two main reasons:

1. Constant motor hum was noticeable on all recordings. Zooming in and out was particularly loud and annoying.
2. Very poor quality digital images when downloaded to my computer. Everything looked like a VCR image on pause, or worse.

After deciding to dump the JVC DVM50, I was leaning toward the Sony PC3, then learned about the newly released Sony PC100. I waited for it to be available in my area, exchanged up for it, and now have explored it thoroughly. Although it also has some weaknesses, I'm very impressed with it and will be keeping it.

Why didn't I consider the Canon or Panasonic line of MiniDV camcorders? The Canon line is not readily available in my area, has less market presence/share, and seemed less feature-rich from web user reports. Panasonic doesn't have any MiniDVs that match my size/weight constraints.

Here are the summarized critical pros and cons for the Sony and JVC camcorders:

Feature Comparison:

I've included subtle, less discussed differences in these camcorders that were relevant to my purchase. Note that I did not personally own a DVM70 or PC3; information is based on other users, corporate literature, and their respective support representatives.

1) The value of the JVC line of MiniDV camcorders is very high; feature per dollar cost is great. But a poorly built feature is not useful; i.e. poor recording and still image quality.

2) The JVC line of camcorders come with a simple 8 scene editor for rearranging your video and adding special effects. I found this very useful; after recording a day of tape, I would use scene editing to transfer to VHS tape. This meant I could easily delete sections of tape I didn't like, and add transition effects AFTER taping. Control of the target unit was through JLIP, or by programming in your VCR's remote code (the scene editor would send native IR codes to the VCR to tell it when to start and stop). I have an uncommon GO-Video VCR, and was able to find a VCR code that the scene editor could use. The supplied computer software has a better scene editor than the camcorder's, although functionally identical. If your computer and VCR are near each other, you can connect the camcorder to the serial port on your computer and the VCR to the camcorder, and use the supplied Video Producer software to do scene editing. What's impressive with all this is that your VCR does NOT have to be JLIP enabled; the camcorder emulates the VCR's remote codes to control it!

3) The Sony cameras do NOT have any scene editing ability. Although many special effects are possible, you have to do them when recording. Scene editing could be accomplished through the LANC port, if you had a LANC-enabled VCR and computer editing software to control it all. In other words, forget scene editing!

4) Sony removed touch screen menu editing from the PC100. This is a good thing! The LCD panel on two demo units I saw were dirty and hard to use because of all the fingerprints. Long term reliability also concerned me with the touch screen. Like many similar devices (including the JVC and most cell phones), the Sony line uses a push-in jog wheel.

5) Most JVC DVM50 users I talked to complained about the still photo image quality (images are stored on the tape only). Although the resolution is also low (640x480), it seems to be an optical issue; the image looks like a VCR in pause mode. Comment from a user: "I also have the DVM50 and have the same problem... when I use the Snap Shot button the image is generally blurred or out of focus."

6) The DVM70 includes a memory stick for recording still photos. Two JVC DVM70 users I talked to reported that the image quality from the memory stick is better than from tape, although still not as comparable to a digital camera. Comment from a user: "The photos are definitely clearer from the photo smart card then they are from capturing them off of the tape. Maybe not as clear as I would like, but a definite improvement."

7) Reported to be very good, but still only 640x480 (which, until the PC100, was the best available in a MiniDV camcorder).

8) The PC100 has the best pixel resolution of any MiniDV camcorder to date (Fall 1999). Sony advertises the PC100 as the first MiniDV with over 1,000,000 pixels of resolution, with the PC3 at 800,000 being the next best. Photos can be captured at 1152x864 or 640x480. In either mode, the pictures are sharp with almost no alias effects (probably due to the progressive scan system new in the PC100). This is especially true of photos captured on the memory stick, but even photos taken on tape are passable (see example photos). Only 640x480 photos can be taken on tape (1152x864 is only possible when going directly to the memory stick). I've ordered a 64 meg. memory stick card so that I can take a good number of photos! The PC100 is the first MiniDV camcorder that is both a good compact-size camcorder and a reasonable digital camera. I expect this to change over the next couple of years; we should see MiniDVs in the 2 to 3 mega-pixel range of current digital cameras.

9) The flash is built in to the camcorder. There is no external accessory mount or flash shoe. Users report that the flash is not great, and results in extreme red-eye. But this can be controlled reasonably well with a red-eye reduction feature, apparently.

10) The JVC camcorders only allows signal out, not in. You cannot record images or video onto the camcorder (it may be possible through the DV-link port, but this requires additional hardware). You can dub an extra sound track through the microphone input on the base shoe, but you cannot dub the original soundtrack or use an external microphone when recording.

11) It seems that any possible combination of image, video or sound transfer is possible on the PC3 and PC100, without DV-Link. For example, I was able to transfer images from my computer to the memory stick then to the MiniDV tape. I was able to copy images from a VHS video playing on my VCR to the camcorder then down to my computer. I was able to record a television program onto MiniDV tape.

12) The DVM 50 and 70 have a fundamental flaw that even their own technical support people have confirmed exists; motor noise from the tape system and zoom lens gets recorded. The motor noise is constant, and is noticeable on just about any recording (inside or out). Using the zoom lens causes a very distinct medium pitched sound to be recorded. Most DVM50/70 users have noticed this problem. The Sony PC1 was reported to have this problem, but was fixed in the PC3 line. The PC100 does not have this problem.

13) Even slight wind outdoors causes an overriding noise recording problem on the DVM50/70. They added a 'wind cut' option that is supposed to reduce the problem; I noticed no difference in tests. This problem is not helped any by the fact there is no microphone input! The Sony line doesn't seem to have this problem, plus they have an external microphone input.

14) None of the included software works under Windows NT! It only works on Windows 95/98.

15) A small cap automatically covers the lens when not recording; one less manual action to simplify recording. The Sony camcorders have a manual lens cap.

16) The Sony line comes with a serial driver memory stick reader; simply take out the memory stick from the camcorder and put it in the card reader. There is no need to connect your camcorder to the computer to download images.

17) JVC advertises the DVM50/70 as the world's smallest camcorder; I believe it. Nothing I used was lighter or more compact. 1 15/16"W x 4 11/16"H x 3 9/16"D. 0.97 lbs.

18) A little bit more than the JVC DVM50/70: 2.2"W x 4.7"H x 3.7"D. 1.1 lbs.

19) With quality, comes extra size: 2.5"W x 5"H x 4.7"D. 1.7 lbs. The lens and viewfinder stick out from the main body as well, making it a bit less compact than the pure square shape of the DVM50/70 and PC3.

20) You can move pictures from the memory stick to video and back in many ways (see point 11 as well). Includes special effects for blue-screen photo overlays (also available on the DVM70).

21) The battery is charged by plugging the included AC adapter directly into the camera. This is inconvenient, and prevents you from using the camcorder while charging. An external charger is available, but is incredibly expensive.

22) The included external charger can charge two batteries at once; nice if you want to do continuous shooting with two or three batteries.

23) The PC100 has an Intelligent Accessory shoe that can take a flash and many other devices (the PC3 has a basic shoe for a flash). Available accessories include boom microphones, video lights, and flashes.

24) Extremely high resolution viewfinder and LCD display. Noticeably better than the other MiniDVs.

25) Stacked with little extra features (personally, I would trade all these functions for a smaller unit and a scene editor). Examples: remote IR video transfer to VCR/TV with available unit (cheap, too!), "NightShot" for infrared taping in completely dark situations, can utilize new CM (continuous memory) MiniDV tapes, true wide 16:9 video recording mode, etc.

26) On the camcorder, and works for input (!!) as well as output. The DVM50/70 have S-Video on the base station only, which is a bit less convenient (the Sony line does not have or require a base station).

27) Not as good as the JVC steady-cam feature. The Sony steady-cam is still fairly shaky at greater than 7x zoom.

28) The Sony does not focus as well (or as fast) as the JVC, especially in lower light situations. The Sony cannot do macro zoom at all (less than 1 foot distance), even with manual focus. Macro photography/video is possible with the DVM50/70. In dim lighting the auto-focus tends to jump between two settings. I do find the manual focus to be useful at times.

29) The controls on the DVM50/70 are very well placed and easy to use; not so with the PC100. The zoom button on the PC100 is located on the front left, which inevitably causes camera movement to press the lever. On the DVM50/70, the zoom button is located along the back and is pressed with the thumb (a much more natural location). The photo button has the same problem (pressing it jars the lens). The most used buttons (mode, record, photo and zoom) should be located in the easiest spot; along the back for minimal camera motion when pressed with the thumb. This is an annoyance, but you get used to it.

30) The DVM50/70 and PC3 require 4-5 LUX for good video recording. The PC100 documents 7 LUX as the requirement. I did notice that the recordings are a bit darker, but not excessively. The greater recording resolution and progressive scan system make this slight difference less noticeable. Photos taken with only indoor lighting are noticeably dim; a flash is a useful accessory for the PC100 (possibly why the DVM70 has a flash built in). See the photos section for flash pictures I took.

31) Time quoted is real usage with the included NP50 battery. There are two other models (NP70, NP90) which scale linearly: cost, size, running time. I handled the NP70 and NP90 and decided against them; they would stick out from the camcorder and it's already heavy enough! Two batteries works for me.

What did you think of this review?
E-mail me and let me know: dan@deepnettech.com