JVC GR-D350 Camcorder Review

The Front (6.0)
The 32x optical zoom lens is positioned at the top of the JVC GR-D350U’s front face, forming the top edge of the camcorder. This lens has a diameter of 27 mm and a barrel length of 2.3 mm to 73.6 mm. Beneath the lens, along the right edge, are the camera sensor and built-in stereo microphone.

The Right Side (6.0)
A hand strap, attached to the front and back edges of the JVC GR-D350U, runs at a downward sland along the camcorder's right side. This adjustable Velcro hand strap is undersized and uncomfortable, and will hardly make shooting with one hand feel like a safe operation. Above the connecting point for the hand-strap is a power switch that allows the user to transition between record, off, and playback modes by pressing and rotating the lock tab on its outermost edge. The major feature on the right side of the camcorder body is actually a MiniDV tape compartment that is, unfortunately, bottom loading. With bottom loading tape compartments, it is necessary to fully remove the camcorder from the tripod head to access the tape hatch;  this will inevitably ruin shot compositions and be generally irksome. The tape compartment open/eject switch is located on the bottom of the camcorder, along the edge between the base and right side.

The Back (5.5)
The back of the D350 is a simple affair. At the top is an electronic color viewfinder measuring 0.33”. It extends out about 1 1/2”. Underneath it is the battery, which is rather large and juts out enough to mash one of your nostrils if you use the viewfinder. The viewfinder extension is not quite enough to make this a highly functional tool, as might have been the case if it had tilted up.. 

A very slender record start/stop button hugs the edge to the right of the battery. It’s a little too small for comfort, but it does the job.

The Left Side (6.0)
An LCD screen takes up most of the D350's left side, which measures a disappointing 2.5 inches and is non-widescreen, a major flaw by 2006 standards.  Opening the LCD panel reveals the main navigation tool, a four-way touchpad with a diameter of about 1” and a Set/Data button in the center which functions as the "enter" button. The touchpad was not an effective control last year, and it’s no  better now: we like a joystick, and a lot of manufacturers have made a move in that direction. JVC is sticking to its guns, however. We’ll have more on the touchpad in the Manual Control and Handling sections.

To the right of the touchpad, handy for instant access, is a 16:9/4:3 mode button, with the Menu button beneath it.  At the bottom right corner of the LCD panel is the DV port. The Auto button, which switches between auto and manual mode, is above the LCD cavity, along the edge of the lens barrel.

The Top (7.5)
Only two features of note are on top of the JVC GR-D350U, and both are controlled during shooting with the index finger of the right hand. The power zoom lever, which doubles as a playback volume control for reviewing footage in VCR mode, is located in front of the still image Snapshot button. Both controls are in awkward positions for users with larger hands.