JVC GR-D350 Camcorder Review

Still Features (1.5)
A still button located on the right rear back corner captures stills and an additional 5-6 seconds of audio. The JVC GR-D350 (Review, Specs, $214.95) records stills to MiniDV tape only, at the same 640 x 480 resolution as the video. It does not record stills when in 16:9 mode. Any manual controls you had engaged in video mode, such as exposure settings, also apply to your stills.

Still Resolution (1.7)
We test still resolution by shooting a standard ISO 12233 resolution chart and running those stills through Imatest imaging software. Because the GR-D350 records stills to the MiniDV tape, the still resolution is the same as the video resolution: 116730.6. For a 640 x 480 image, this is about average for resolution. The Sony HC26 (Review, Specs, $299.99) did much worse, with a score of 0.1. Neither camcorder is recommended for taking stills.

Still Performance (2.5)
The JVC GR-D350 can only capture stills to MiniDV tape at the same resolution as the video: 640 x 480. The still picture is, therefore, exactly the same as the one seen in video performance, as are our comments.

At 3000 lux, the D350 had a bright, well-balanced, not overly saturated image. Certain colors, like the magenta and blue, were definitely stronger than others.

The Sony DCR-HC26 (Review, Specs, $299.99) also records stills to MiniDV tape. Like its video, the stills are neither as sharp nor as vivid as the JVC. The Panasonic PV-GS39 (Review, Specs, $212.8) records stills in the same size to a removable SD card. While easier to obtain after capture, the stills are much noisier and less vivid, and the greens and yellows appear to run together in a pea soup-like tone. The Canon ZR500 (Review, Specs, $224.8) does not have the ability to capture stills at all, not even to tape. Finally, the ZR700 (Review, Specs, $277) (MSRP $399) can take stills onto an SD card. Its 640 x 480 images were distinctly less saturated than the JVC, but contained more noise.