JVC GR-X5 Camcorder Review

Robin Liss contributed to this article.

Old adages hold true for a reason. Take, for example, the axiom of “don’t judge a book by its cover.” We’ve come to expect that camcorders making a sharp turn away from convention tend to be all show and no substance. This could not have been less true for JVC’s GR-X5U. Test after test proved it to hold up to the stiffest competition, with an exceptional showing in video performance, still performance and low light. Prepare to be impressed; the GR-DX5 is going to be one of the best camcorders of the year.

Video Performance (7.85)
The JVC GR-X5 features three CCDs, each measuring a very large 1/4.5”. It is the second 3 CCD camcorder to come from JVC this year, the other one being the GZ-MC500. The two camcorders mark the first 3 CCD consumer camcorders out of JVC in a long time.

The 3 CCDs and their large chip size didn't disappoint. These specs resulted in fantastic performance in bright light conditions. All the colors jumped out with excellent clarity and crispness. Reds and blues were particularly rich, with vividness not found even in the Panasonic PV-GS250, one of the 3 CCD standard bearers this year. The yellows and light greens tended to wash slightly due to overexposure, which seems to be the tradeoff for the other parts of the spectrum. The grayscale told a different version of the same story, with whites so saturated that they got mixed up with the light grays. The blacks, by contrast (no pun intended), were the richest we’ve seen on any camcorder this year.

This camcorder can definitely hang with the big boys. We ranked it against the best: The PV-GS250, one of our top-ranking 3 CCD MiniDV camcorders, gave a more even performance across the spectrum, but could not beat the richness of color. This is an important distinction that you would have to make for yourself as a potential buyer. However, the PV-GS250 isn't the best camcorder to be compared to the X5; the more comparable model in price is Panasonic's PV-GS400. Even a casual visitor to this site will know that the PV-GS400 and its predecessor, the PV-DV953, have be hugely impressive camcorders. While the GR-DX5 didn't beat the PV-GS400, it certainly came close and can hold its own. In fact, the differences are incredibly minor.

The GR-X5 definitely beat out the Everio GZ-MC500, which could not compete for colors or definition. The Sony DCR-PC1000, also a three chip model, was not quite as crisp in its color definition and lacked some of the richness, but the colors were more accurate overall. For a camcorder of innovative design, the category most often populated by cheap gimmicky over-performance, this is an outstanding showing. You are going to get great looking video out of the GR-X5.

Video Resolution (17.2)
In order to calibrate the true video resolution of the JVC GR-X5, video footage was taken of a standard resolution chart in both 4:3 and Squeezed mode (JVC’s 16:9) and its stills exported to Imatest Imaging software. In 4:3 mode the camcorder produced approximately 428.2 lines of horizontal resolution at its best and approximately 401.5 lines of vertical resolution, yielding a true resolution of 172042.75 (0.17 MP). In Squeezed mode, this model exhibited approximately 171.8 lines of horizontal resolution at its best, with approximately 289 lines of vertical resolution, generating a true resolution of 51351.02 (0.05 MP).

17.2 is an an outstanding score; in fact, since we began measuring resolution this year, it's the highest score we've gotten from a camcorder that isn't High Definition. The next highest score comes from the PV-GS250 at 13.9. Sadly, we didn't test the PV-GS400 for resolution when we first had it, so we don't know what the comparable score is. Sony's DCR-PC1000 scores an 11.5. The 17.5 video resolution score is outstanding, and it puts into numbers the fact that the video from the JVC GR-X5 is incredibly sharp. When you combine an incredibly sharp picture with a vivid one produced by 3 CCDs you get beautiful video, and that's exactly what the GR-DX5 makes.

The Front (7.0)
Strange but functional. Then again, this is phrase applies just about everywhere on this camcorder. It certainly applies to the front, which capitalizes on the limited real estate by making it an unusually busy place. The lens is placed in the upper left-hand corner, and has a 37mm filter diameter with a false focus ring surrounding it. This design choice, offered on several camcorders, really burns me. There’s no need to taunt us with the appearance of a focus ring. Where I come from, we call that rude. If it only was a focus ring, then this camcorder could have manual control to match its performance prowess. Underneath the lens is a genuine flash, not deceitful in the least.

The lower left-hand corner hosts the jog dial, with a Set button in the center. The jog dial is limited to scrolling through the AE menu and shifting focus and exposure. Bisecting the front of the body is a shiny strip of plastic. Look underneath and you’ll find DC in, composite S-Video / A/V, headphones, and microphone jacks. The bottom right side opens out to reveal the MiniDV loading dock. In the upper right-hand corner, you’ll find the zoom toggle. It may seem like a bizarre place, but the zoom ends up sitting right under your index finger, and it works well.

The Right Side (9.0)
The right side is the intended gripping spot on the GR-X5. The adjustable hand strap runs horizontally from the rear top to the front bottom. My right hand fit the body with surprising comfort. JVC clearly put thought into the ergonomics. However, my hand (and I can’t be alone in this) is large, and I had to curl up my fingers to reach certain buttons. I’ll discuss this more thoroughly in the “Handling” section. Also on the right side are the playback speaker and SD card slot.

The Back (7.0)
The rear of the GR-X5 is covered almost entirely by the 2.5”, non-widescreen LCD monitor. There’s plenty to be found underneath, but first let me tell you that below the LCD, you’ll find a USB port and the LCD backlight / data button.

Lift up the LCD and you’ll find the primary navigation system, a four-way navigation pad with a Set button in the middle. Each directional button on the navigation pad also doubles as buttons for Flash, Night, Quick Review, and Backlight. Underneath the four-way pad, there is a Menu button, a White Balance / Info button, and a Fade / Wipe / Index button.

The LCD itself flips and spins in almost every direction except the useful ones. If you are the type of user who has no qualms about holding the camcorder up at eye level for extended periods of time (sure it weighs 1.2 pounds, but who’s counting), this might be fine for you. That’s at eye level with arms extended, mind you. There’s no viewfinder here. But if you want to drop the camcorder down a bit and tilt the LCD up, there’s no comfortable way for it to accommodate you. You can spin it 180 degree and lower it back towards the body, but my palm ended up pushing hard against the screen. And the last place you want to put pressure on any machine is the place where it has to withstand the most movement. It will surely be the first part to break.

The Left Side (9.0)
The left side of the GR-X5 is composed of the lens barrel on top, the battery to the lower rear, and some manual control to the lower front. The buttons include Exposure, Program AE, and Focus. Each of these adjustments is made via the jog dial nearby on the front. The battery fits into a large hollowed out space in the body, and could be expanded if necessary. The problem with this battery placement is weighting. If you put a large extended battery on the GR-X5, the camcorder is going to have a tendency to roll right, making it hard to keep your shots level. The design placement of the battery and the LCD falls into the DVD7 (the Frisbee camcorder) category: cute but stupid.

The Top (6.5)
The top of the GR-X5 is an assemblage of intriguing yet not wholly functional designs. In an effort to integrate still and video operations, JVC has placed the recording start / stop button at the right rear (by the thumb) and the still shutter button at the right front (by the index finger). Because neither of these was labeled, my courtship with the GR-X5 was awkward in the beginning. I could not immediately tell the buttons apart. I expect many people will suffer the same confusion, and even experienced users will probably slip up from time to time.

The mode switch is possibly the biggest design flaw. In keeping with the less-is-more approach, JVC chose to flatten and shrink the most important button of the camcorder – the one that turns it on. The switch is so small that there is almost nothing to grip. Also, the order of operation (Play, Off, Automatic, Manual) makes getting it to stop in the middle two modes (Off and Automatic) quite a challenge. Below the mode switch is the Video / Memory switch.

On the left, a cold shoe sits atop the lens barrel. At the front of the lens barrel is the stereo microphone.

Picture & Manual Control
Automatic Control (6.5)
The automatic controls on the JVC GR-X5 are a mixed bag. The focus is not terribly good, and has a very difficult time finding the picture when zoomed in on a subject. White balance is also of a middling quality; you’re far better off using the manual settings. The automatic exposure, however, was rather good. While the lag time for adjustment was more than noticeable, it had no trouble achieving a crisp, detailed image of someone standing against a strong backlight.

When shooting in Automatic mode, not a single button on the camcorder seems to operate – not even the menu system can be accessed. Switching to Manual mode is the only way to make adjustments, even automatic adjustments like the AE settings. Once you are in Manual mode, the AE settings are accessed by pushing a dedicated button on the left side and navigating with the jog dial. They include: Twilight, Portrait, Sports, and Snow. Aperture Priority and Shutter Priority are listed here, but because they allow minute adjustments within their modes, they will be discussed in their respective manual control sections.

There are three automatic gain settings: Off, Automatic Gain Control (AGC), and Auto A, which is AGC with a slow shutter speed. Gain is a digital enhancement that boosts the overall signal. While signal boosting has the benefit of increasing the brightness in a low light environment, the noise within that signal increases accordingly. That is why you want to keep gain to a minimum. On the GR-X5, the automatic gain is remarkably helpful with the low light performance, and should definitely be considered as a useful tool.

Administrative Menu

While the automatic controls on the GR-X5 aren't as good as a Sony, they will suit most users' needs. Let's be honest: a camcorder in this day and age with 3 CCDs costing $1,000 isn't exactly the type of thing a point-and-shooter is going to lust after anyway, and if they are, they have too much money to spend. The GR-X5's auto controls are decent, and will work for consumers of this camcorder for sure.

Overall Manual Control (6.0)
Manual controls on the GR-X5 are standing on the corner with Decent, but they’re still waiting for Great to show up. Controls have the benefit of being accessed mainly by dedicated buttons, and adjusted via the jog dial. Compare this with the endless menu scrolling of camcorders from Sony and Canon, and JVC comes out slightly ahead in this category.

The problem is the schizophrenic split between menus. The four-way navigation control in the LCD cavity is for administrative controls and manual control options you wouldn’t necessarily need to change on the fly: wipe options, digital effects, image stabilization, etc. Gain control is also here. This menu cannot be accessed while recording. The second set of controls is located on the left side: Exposure, Program AE, and Focus. These are accessed by pushing the buttons, then scrolling through them with the jog dial on the front of the body. The Exposure, Program AE, and Focus features can’t be scrolled through with the four-way navigational control, and the administrative menu can’t be scrolled with the jog dial. It’s an arbitrary and segregated control system, and requires a bit of a hike up the learning curve.

In designing the manual control on the GR-X5, it's almost as if the engineers at JVC said to themselves, "We know those manual control crazies at CamcorderInfo.com love dedicated buttons, so let's give it to them."  They took it slow, though. Dedicated buttons are  new territory for them (read any review of the first HD consumer camcorder, the GR-HD1, and you'll understand).  Month by month they toiled away.  "Oh! Let's take this feature and give it it's own button. What about this one? How 'bout a button?" Finally, they stepped back. "Viola!" Lots of buttons. Dedicated buttons for all the important manual controls. But the result is somewhat of a Frankenstein. Some of the buttons are oddly placed, some don't work together, and some just don't make sense sometimes.

Mind you, we shouldn't be complaining. In a world of touch screens, any manual control, any button-operated manual control is great. That said, we wish they could have taken a step back and considered a more cohesive, logical structure.

Zoom (8.0)
The zoom on the GR-X5 is… great. Surprise! Who would have thought it, by looking at the unusual design? The comfortable, raised toggle (miniaturized and lost on so many compact camcorders) fits perfectly under the index finger, set at such an angle that there is plenty of wiggle room. The zoom motor, extending to 10x optical, is quite sensitive to finger pressure and crawls as slowly or as quickly as you need. Digital zoom can be capped at 40x and 300x.

For variable speed zooms, the GR-X5 works surprisingly great. You can get a very slow zoom. Due to the comfortable positioning of the toggle, you can hold it for a while. Fast zoom are just as easy, without that extended acceleration time found on some camcorders.

Focus (5.0)
Manual focus is activated by a button on the left side of the body. A small icon appears onscreen, with a person on one side and a mountain on the other. If you are moving the focus closer to the camera, an arrow icon points to the person; adjusting focus away from the camera shows an arrow pointing to the mountain.

I really wish they wouldn't tease us with a fake focus ring. It's so evil. This camcorder is such a superstar in so many ways. It's really disappointing that the most important manual control is adjusted by a dial and that they couldn't just give us a real ring. What's worse is that the dial isn't even that great, and with the lack of a viewfinder it's quite tough to adjust.

Adjustments for focus are made via the jog dial on the front. The feel of the focus dial is actually decent, providing a good amount of resistance, but focusing on the LCD is tough. There is no numerical indication of where you are adjusting the focus. The icons should be sufficient for most consumers. Anyone with camcorder experience can tell you that making adjustments based on the LCD picture is a dangerous business, as results might vary widely with what a good monitor will display later. Sadly, you have no other option, as the GR-X5 has no viewfinder. Use with caution.

Exposure (Aperture) (6.0)
Exposure adjustments are similar to focus. There is a dedicated button on the left; adjustments are made with the jog dial. The numerical settings range from -6 to +6, thirteen in all. F-stop settings can be selected only in Aperture Priority mode, and it appears as though the exposure control is really a combination of aperture and shutter speed.

If you are in Aperture Priority mode, however, you can adjust the aperture of the camcorder based on F-Stops and the camcorder will give you readings. I really like that aperture is controlled by the dial. Of course a combo ring would be better, but the dial works well. It's also much better than the menu control offered on the GR-X5's Everio sister, the GZ-MC500. 

Shutter Speed (6.5)
The only way to adjust the shutter speed on the GR-X5 is through the Shutter Priority mode. Shutter speed control is surely a bonus, but it’s too bad that you can’t adjust it in conjunction with the aperture in full manual mode. Shutter speed can be set at 1/60, 1/100, 1/250, 1/1000, 1/2000, and 1/4000 of a second. The shutter priority mode is accessed through the Program AE button and using the jog dial to scroll down to the Shutter Priority menu option.

White Balance (7.0)
White balance control on the GR-X5 is excellent. A dedicated white balance is found on the back of the camcorder in the LCD cavity. The white balance has five presets: Auto, Manual, sunny day, cloudy day, and indoor lighting. To set the white balance manually, hold down the manual control button until it blinks, then stops. A dedicated button shouldn’t be a remarkable feature, but because so many manufacturers bury the white balance deep in the menu, we freely heap accolades upon the GR-X5 for this choice. 

Gain (2.0)
The GR-X5 gives a modest amount of manual control over gain, but nothing close to what is offered on Panasonic 3 CCD camcorders like the PV-GS400 or the PV-GS250. Of course, it's better than what's offered on Sony, who doesn't seem to think gain control should exist, even when you spend $2,000 on a camcorder. There are three gain settings: Off, Automatic Gain Control (AGC), and Automatic Gain Control with slow shutter (Auto A). In this last mode, the shutter speed is automatically adjusted to for low light situations. As with any slow shutter function, this mode creates bad blurring for any moving subject. That fact that automatic gain can be turned on and off is a big plus. Unfortunately, the GR-X5 does not offer an option to set the level of the gain control.

The odd thing about the gain control on the GR-X5 is that it defaults to the AGC off, even when the camcorder is in full auto mode. Most manufacturers and models default to having automatic gain control on, without ever including the option of turning it off. Even those camcorders that allow you to adjust gain control usually don’t allow you to turn off AGC. Rather, they allow you to set the level, down to zero, if need be.

Gain has a strong effect on low light performance. The low light behavior of the GR-X5 (and the GZ-MC500, GR-DF450, GR-DF430 and GR-DF550, JVC’s other mid- and high-range camcorders) is flat-out terrible without AGC. In our low light tests, we set each camcorder to its fully automatic mode. On Canon, Sony, Panasonic, and Samsung camcorders this means the AGC is on. In this light, we’ve decided to start testing JVC camcorders with AGC on, so that they aren’t so cripplingly handicapped, and because we highly recommend that you turn the AGC on with any JVC camcorder.

Other Manual Control (0.0)
No other manual control is offered on the GR-X5.

Ease of Use (5.0)
The consequences of making a camcorder compact can leave a lot to be desired. Like JVC’s GZ-MC500 and GR-DF450, engineers have scrambled to shrink the body yet find a place to cram in all the features than consumers demand. Many buttons have dual functions, and confusing onscreen icons mean that the function of the button you just pushed is not readily apparent. Referencing the print manual is strongly recommended for the first few days. Why JVC decided to split scrolling functions between two different sets of controls is vexing, and this will take some time to get used to for new users.

I'm happy this camcorder got a low ease of use score. To score really well in ease of use, a camcorder needs a touch screen and features like Spot Metering, Spot Focus, and one button that throws the camcorder into full auto. While it would be a shame if the GR-X5 didn't have that last feature, I am ok with touching bumpy, textured buttons instead of a flat, lifeless touch screen.

Still Features (9.5)
JVC has provided its users with several still features for optimum control over the quality of the image. With the GR-X5, the user can capture stills to an SD card at an array of resolutions: 2560 x 1920, 2048 x 1536, 1600 x 1200, 1280 x 960, and 640 x 480; five settings, in all. In still mode, the user has jurisdiction over most of the same manual control features as in video mode. However, images can only be captured in 4:3 aspect ratio. The camcorder does offer the remarkable option of ISO settings: Auto, ISO 100, ISO 200, and ISO 400. ISO settings for stills are equivalent to the gain functions in video. When we saw ISO, our camcorder hearts went a-tremblin'.  Thankfully, our buddies at DigitalCameraInfo.com came to our rescue and unveiled the mysteries of ISO. (Thank goodness for the younger web site). If further brightness is needed, this model has a flash to assist in low light conditions.

Numerous continuous shooting modes are available on the GR-X5. The camcorder has an interval shooting option which allows the camcorder to automatically capture stills at 15 sec, 30 sec, 1 min, 2 min, 5 min, 10 min, 30 min, and 60 min. This is a feature meant to provide the user with time lapse photography capabilities. This GR-X5 also provides users with a continuous shooting mode, which allows several stills to be taken with a single press of the snapshot button. Finally, the Bracketing feature captures three stills in succession: one normal, one overexposed, and one underexposed. This is a useful feature when the user is not sure exactly how to set the exposure in certain conditions.

We gave the still features on the GZ-MC5 a 9.5 because, frankly, they rocked, and beat the Sony DCR-PC1000 (our previous record holder) hands down. Sony's DCR-PC1000 doesn't give you ISO, and let's be honest: it uses MemoryStick media. MemorySticks, while a calming shade of blue, suck. Despite Sony's unwaivering commitment to putting them in anything and everything with a battery, it's still an expensive and proprietary format. SD on the other hand, is a de facto standard, and getting cheaper by the day.  

Still Resolution (12.3)
The GR-X5 can capture stills on an SD card at numerous resolutions; 640 x 480, 1280 x 960, 1600 x 1200, 2048 x 1536, 2560 x 1920. That's right, kids, 2560 x 1920. The only other camcorder that can hang with the 5 megapixel crowd is the Samsung DuoCam (the Liger of the camcorder industry, part camera, part camcorder, and all ugly.)

Stills of a standard resolution chart were captured and exported to Imatest Imaging Software to calibrate the camcorder's best possible still resolution. At its best the camcorder generated an image with 1232643 (1.2 MP) lines of resolution. This is a great score. Here's a chart of the still resolution scores of some other 3 CCD mega-megapixel camcorders:

Still Performance (9.0)
For most camcorders, digital still capabilities are usually an afterthought, a supplement to video. As long as it can have a high megapixel count which can be displayed as a big marketing number on the box, the manufacturers don't care. This approach is understandable and expected, because it’s a camcorder and its purpose isn’t photography. Right? Not exactly. JVC, along with most manufacturers, has learned that video / still hybridism has become an important feature for consumers. The GR-X5 provides the user with tools to create beautiful and high quality photographs. Our testing revealed that the GR-X5’s numerous resolutions displayed bright and incredibly sharp images with little noise. The images had vibrant colors, especially the blues, purples, and reds. The potency of the colors put this camcorder in with much-esteemed company, some of this year’s top-rated models. In comparison, the JVC Everio GZ-MC500 has sharper images but slightly less vibrant colors. The GR-X5 also displayed brighter still images with less noise and better color representation than the PV-GS250 and the Sony DCR-PC1000. The potency in the colors is evident in the blues and reds on the charts.  The PV-GS250 has sharper images than the camcorders mentioned above. This camcorder’s stills even beat that of the great HD camcorder, the Sony HDR-HC1, with more resolution and better color. 

The GR-X5 comes equipped with manual ISO settings, a feature not commonly found on consumer camcorders (they do come with the GZ-MC500). The GR-X5 provides four ISO settings; Auto, 100, 200, and 400. ISO settings in still photography are roughly equivalent to gain settings with video. The higher the ISO, the more the signal is boosted to brighten the image. With this boost, unfortunately, comes a corresponding boost in the amount of noise. Below are two images from the GR-X5 at its highest resolution setting (2560 x 1920) at the lowest and highest ISO setting (100 and 400, respectively).

Close up of color tiles at 100 ISO

Close up of colors tiles at 400 ISO

The last two images are magnifications of the previous stills, which clearly demonstrate the increase of noise that comes with the higher ISO. Clearly, as the ISO was increased to 400, the image was plagued with a considerable amount of grain. These photos are meant to illustrate the effects of what might seem like a useful, consequence-free tool.

Low Light Performance (6.25)
The GR-X5, like many of the mid- and upper-end JVC camcorders, comes equipped with gain control. On this model, there are three settings: Off, Automatic Gain Control (AGC), and Automatic Gain Control with slow shutter (Auto A). As the pictures below will demonstrate, AGC makes an enormous difference in the low light performance. Though the factory default leaves the gain in the Off mode, we recommend that you turn it on. Because AGC is an automatic feature, however, and because most manufacturers automatically engage AGC on their camcorders without even giving you the option of turning it off, we scored the GR-X5 on its results with AGC on. We have included captures from a number of different settings so that you can see the difference for yourself.

At 60 lux, the GR-X5 performs terribly without the AGC. Many camcorders can perform better at 15 lux. Note, however, that there is virtually no noise in the picture, except for some in the grayscale. The 60 lux with AGC engaged, on the other hand, is remarkably bright. Colors are there with not too much grain. But it is far more usable than the ACG-off results. The 60 lux capture with Auto A (rather than regular AGC) shows a fairly identical image.

We also tested at 60 lux with the different shutter speeds, leaving the ACG engaged. At 1/60, the colors were slightly more washed than in the AGC with auto shutter. At 1/100, the noise became more noticeable without improving sharpness or color.

We also tested the ACG at 50 lux, 40 lux, and 30 lux. Results were predicable, with a decrease in color information at each step. Scientists agree - AGC rocks!

15 lux auto (AGC off)

15 lux is the point at which most camcorders fail to produce a usable image. With the AGC off, the picture was completely black. No problems there; with a quick stroll through the menu, the AGC can be turned on and the results are remarkable. This picture is better than what some camcorders can do at 60 lux. In Auto A, results were even better, though if this was a moving image, the picture would be terribly blurry, so we aren't really using Auto A in our score. Results are also posted for 15 lux with the shutter speed at 1/60.

In competition with similar camcorders the GR-X5 was often brighter, and won out because it had slightly less noise with a finer grain. The comparisons to the other camcorders in this price range are all close. The GR-X5's score of 6.25 beats out the GS400 and the Sony HC1000 just slightly because the grain is finer. The low light on this camcorder is great; obviously the large 1/4.5-in. CCDs, combined with JVC's noise reduction technology, has huge effects on the picture quality. Now, it's nowhere close to Canon's GL2 or Sony's DCR-VX2100, but those are a different class of camcorders. Here's a table of the low light scores of some of the camcorders in the GR-X5's price range:

Zoom Power/Ratio (10.0)
The GR-X5 comes equipped with a 10x optical zoom and 300x digital zoom. The digital zoom can be abridged to 40x times.  The zoom is too small on this camcorder. I wish that it had at least another 2x optical so it could compete with the PV-GS400.

Wide Angle (10.0)
Wide angle measurements were taken in all three of the GR-X5’s modes. (4:3, Cinema, and Squeezed). Cinema mode simply takes the 4:3 image and places black bars along the top and bottom. Squeezed mode stretches the image vertically, but it will naturally expand when viewed on a widescreen TV. The camcorder had identical wide angle measurement of 41 degrees for both its cinema and 4:3 mode, while the squeezed settings measured 50 degrees.

4:3 Standard Aspect LCD View

Cinema Mode LCD View

Squeeze Mode LCD View

VCR Mode (6.5)
The GR-X5 can play back video and stills quite easily with a number of different options. Composite A/V / S-Video ports and DV make it easy to connect to a TV or VCR. In video mode, the Blank Search feature allows you to find blank spots in the tape and begin recording from there to avoid time code gaps. You can even view the last bit of footage while in recording mode by hitting the Quick Review button on the rear of the camcorder (doubles as the rewind button in VCR mode).

For stills, the GR-X5 automatically creates an index of thumbnails for easy viewing. Pressing the Info button will draw up recording information about the still. When a still is selected from the index, it fills the screen. A histogram appears at the bottom, which measures the brightness of the image. If your printer is compatible with PictBridge, still images can be printed easily using the USB cable.

Still images can also be dubbed from the MiniDV tape to the SD card. This feature is located in the administrative menu. Then, while playing back video footage, you can hit the Snapshot button to send the stills to the SD card.  

LCD/Viewfinder (3.0)
The 2.5-inch LCD is unremarkable in its size. The key feature JVC tries to sell is the maneuverability. The LCD screen can flip up vertically about 100 degrees and swivel horizontally 180 degrees. Sure, it sounds like a lot, but the movement actually leaves a lot to be desired. Most often, traditional horizontal-style camcorders are carried low, with the LCD tilted up towards the eyes. If you try this with the GR-X5, your first problem will be that the menu controls are blocked. Secondly, the screen has an annoying tendency to vertically flip the picture when it reaches certain points--usually the points at which you’ve finally gotten the shot set up and you’re ready to record. Really,  the screen ought to tilt flat against the top of the body. Then we might have something.

There is no viewfinder on the GR-X5. It's a big drawback of this camcorder. It makes focus adjustments tough and doing top-notch shooting work is difficult. It's too bad we had to score the GR-X5 so low in this section because it's missing such a major component.

Audio (7.5)
Audio options on the GR-X5 are limited, but not terrible. Firstly, a microphone input is included (a key feature with our staff). Additional mics could be attached to the cold shoe above the lens barrel. When (and only when) an additional mic is plugged in can you get audio level information to appear on the LCD. The onboard mic is located just above the lens. Sound can be recorded at 16 bit and 12 bit. Narration recording can be found in the playback menu. A Wind Cut mode is available for cutting high end noise. The camcorder also has a headphone out jack. JVC's inclusion of these jacks is great, and that there is an audio monitor is another huge plus. Audio dubbing is available whrn you record in 12bit mode. Unfortunately, there is no manual audio level control.

Handling (5.0)
Any time manufacturers take a aesthetic leap, handling becomes a major factor in the success or downfall of the camcorder. The GR-X5 is, to put it mildly, one of those leaps. The cube-like body succeeds admirably in certain areas. I was surprised to find that the zoom control was excellent. Other design choices, like the thumb-on-the-video-record / index-finger-on-the-still-record was a little disorienting. Button placement is decent, but the buttons themselves are small. The four-way navigational controls on the rear are particularly miniaturized, which is perplexing given the amount of blank space they have to work with back there.

Motor noise is not as loud as the GR-DF450 or the Optura 50, but the heat problem is the same. The big problem is the LCD. It bends and twists every which way except the way you want to. Also, when the LCD was flat against the rear of the body, my palm ended up covering the right side of the screen.

Overall, the design is interesting and not entirely dysfunctional, but the compact market is turning towards non-tape based media, as the Everios are, which will further reduce motor noise and size.

Portability (4.0)
The GR-X5 is a relatively portable camcorder, though not quite as much as JVC’s other compact models like the GZ-MC500 and GR-DF450. The cubical shape doesn't make the body any taller than most, but the truncated width should help with packing. It’s certainly won’t fit in a pocket or purse, but a small bag should do the trick.

Battery Life (4.8)
With only the LCD open and without utilizing any of the camcorder's control functions, the GR-X5’s battery lasted only 48 minutes and 15 seconds during continuous recording.

Compression (8.0)
The JVC GR-X5 uses standard DV compression to MiniDV tape.

Media (8.0)
The GR-X5 records in both SP and LP modes to MiniDV tapes. Digital stills can also be captured to SD / MMC cards.

Editing (8.0)
The GR-X5 ships with the rudimentary editing software PowerDirector 3 and PowerProducer 2 Gold DVD. These programs may not offer the options that professional programs such as Adobe Premiere, Final Cut Pro, and Avid do, but they can get you started. Exporting footage to a computer or TV is easy with DV and composite A/V / S-Video ports.

Widescreen/16:9 Mode (6.5)
JVC offers three shooting aspects whose processes demand some explanation. The first is the standard 4:3 aspect. This matches the 4:3 aspect ratio of the LCD. The second option is Cinema, which simply adds black letterbox bars to the top and bottom of the image. This process adds nothing to the width of the shot; it merely creates a mock-16:9 feel.

The third mode, called Squeeze mode, is the most confusing, because it creates the most smoke and mirrors without actually producing a true widescreen image. Squeeze mode, as described in the manual, is intended for playback on a widescreen TV, as it “naturally expands the image to fit the screen without distortion.” That is true, in a sense, but it’s still not true widescreen. True widescreen actually captures additional information on the sides that is lost in 4:3. Squeeze mode operates by capturing even less top and bottom information that Cinema mode does (around 30-40%), then stretches it. The image above indicates how the stretched image appears on the 4:3 LCD. Displaying this image on a 16:9 TV will then pull out the sides, flattening the vertical. The image appears to look good, but you’ve actually lost more information than you have gained. On the GR-DF450, with the same three modes, the wide angle was equal across the board. On the GR-X5, we saw an increase from 41 degrees to 50 degrees when switched from 4:3 to Squeezed, but this was still not a true 16:9 image.  

4:3 Standard Aspect Ratio

Cinema Mode

Squeeze Mode

Scan Rates/24P (0.0)
The GR-X5 offers no scan rates outside of its native 60 interlaced frames per second.

Ports (7.0)
The number of ports is not the problem with the GR-X5; it’s their placement. In total, you have six ports: microphone in, headphones, composite A/V / S-Video, DC power, USB, and DV. This is a great collection, and in theory increases usability immensely. However, a headphone cord and microphone cord sticking out the front of your camcorder could really hinder movement and potentially limit your shots. A long mic cord could easily dangle in front of the lens and ruin your interview with Sasquatch. What the GR-X5 is missing though is a Control-L or LANC jack so you can control it with a zoom controller. I really wish they had included this because personally, I use my zoom controller all the time when I'm shooting with a tripod and I highly recommend them. We like where JVC is headed, but we want to see some follow-through.

Other Features (5.0)
Digital Effects-- Classic Film, Monotone, Sepia, and Strobe are all included as digital effects on the GR-X5.

TeleMacro-- The TeleMacro feature allows you shoots subjects at particularly close range.

NightAlive-- This feature slows down the shutter speed to provide up to 30 times sensitivity in low light sensitivity.

5S-- Pressing the record button in this mode records 5 seconds of footage. The Animation setting records approx. 1 frame each time the button is pressed. Make stop motion! Wow friends and neighbors! A surprisingly useful feature for the right person.

DIS-- The GR-X5 uses digital image stabilization, an inferior system to optical stabilization.

Comparisons
Panasonic PV-GS250
We didn't think Panasonic's 3 CCD models could be knocked from their pedestal. While the GR-X5 gives a good show, and hits the PV-GS250 out of the park when it comes to performance, its unconventional shape, manual control problems, and layout flaws temper or even nullify its victory. Panasonic still offers superior manual control, and the PV-GS250 had a better video performance showing. It was a close race, though. The PV-GS250 also has a traditional body shape going for it, which improves handling and the all-important (though never rated) familiarity factor. We don’t expect too many serious hobbyists to switch over to the cube, at least not right away.

Panasonic PV-GS400
The best of last year’s consumer cams, and a highly sought-after model, the PV-GS400 has become our standard bearer of quality and value. Video performance from the GR-X5 did not quite match up, and the sheer number of features included on the PV-GS400 makes it nearly impossible to beat on the bang-for-the-buck rating.

This is a very important comparison. Both camcorders performed very well. The PV-GS400, however, clearly offers options that are more suited for the videographer type: better manual control, a conventional body, and great layout. The GR-X5 offers better options for the more gadget-inclined: a funky design, better still performance, and that special, "oh-wow" factor when you look at it. Feature for feature, the PV-GS400 still offers its external zoom control, and a focus / zoom / iris / shutter speed ring, which the GR-X5 does not have.

Sony DCR-PC1000
With its CMOS sensors, Sony’s PC1000 offered an outstanding video and still performance, but lagged in low light where the GR-X5 picks up. While Sony leads the pack in automatic controls, the GR-X5 is far superior in manual control features. The JVC's larger body offers more room for dedicated buttons, while the PC1000 goes the touch-and-scroll menu route. The GR-X5 also offers more still options, including a larger range of resolutions and ISO settings.

JVC GZ-MC500
The GZ-MC500 has three things going for it: super-compact size, a Microdrive recording medium, and incredible still performance. While the GR-X5 certainly can’t compare in size (it’s about 1 1/2 times larger), and the recording format is still Plain Jane MiniDV, the still performance was nearly even, while the GR-X5 clearly wins with its better video. This of course makes sense because the GR-X5 video isn't compressed the way the GZ-MC500 video is. From a control perspective the only thing the GZ-MC500 has on the GR-X5 is its focus ring. Because neither model would qualify as a traditional camcorder, both of these JVC models seem to be competing for the same market. Who will come out on top? At about $600 more, the GZ-MC500 is a much steeper investment gamble.

Who It’s For
Point-and-Shooters (3.0)
The GR-X5, at nearly a grand, is far too expensive for the average point-and-shooter. For something simpler in the JVC line, the GR-D270 is about less than half the price.

Budget Consumers (3.0)
If you’re shopping strictly in the “superior performer” category, the GR-X5 may apply as a budget cam, but at $1000, this is an unlikely buy for the budget consumer.

Still Photo / Video Camera Hybrid (8.0)
The stills from this camcorder were top-notch, and it outperformed some of out top-ranking models this year. The GR-X5 features a wealth of options, including five resolutions, manual ISO settings, other manual controls. This is a tough package to beat.

Gadget Freaks (8.0)
This is a bold, new design for camcorders. And when aesthetic innovation actually meets performance, a camcorder can make that mighty leap from “gadget” to “gadget I’d like to own.” Now that’s a rarity.

Manual Control Freaks (7.0)
There are certainly a lot of manual controls to fiddle around with on the GR-X5, though not all of them will be as easy to access as you might like. The gain settings are fantastic for low light, and the ISO control on the stills is a rare item indeed.

Pros / Serious Hobbyists (5.0)
The design will turn a lot of pros off, and I don't blame them. The GR-X5 does not have the handling and ease of use befitting a camcorder of such excellent performance. Also, pros and serious hobbyists may be afraid of garnering a few snickers from their peers when they pull out a camcorder that looks like a tissue box with a lens on the front. Give it a try, though, and you might be impressed.

Conclusion
We are impressed. The GR-X5 outperformed or matched nearly all the best camcorders from this year and years past in its 3 CCD price category. We were expecting another "it looks cool on the outside, but the performance is horrible" camcorder, but the GR-X5 shoot beautiful video that is sharp and vivid. On top of this, the GR-X5 has the best still performance of any camcorder we've tested. The stills are colorful, very sharp, and the camcorder has all kinds of great still controls that allow you to really push the quality to the max. I can't stress enough how amazing this camcorder's quality is.

For our audience of knowledgeable camcorder users, the GR-X5 does have its drawbacks. It's not as well engineered as the PV-GS400 or the PV-GS250. While JVC is making a very good attempt at manual control, you can tell they don't quite have it yet. While the body is undoubtedly innovative, some oddly placed features can make handling difficult. We really don't like the lack of a viewfinder, and the side-mounted battery means uneven weighting and lopsided video. Mind you, the manual control on the GR-X5 is good. Add to this the right inputs and outputs, and I'd give it a B+, while most camcorders end up in the D+ to C- range. An A+ goes to Panasonic, the pack leader by a long shot. To sum up, the JVC GR-X5 has all the right ideas and components to make a good prosumer camcorder with manual control and performance, though it's not as luxurious in its implementation as the PV-GS400.

However, the GR-X5 clearly has an audience. To be honest, it's probably larger than we manual control freaks here at CamcorderInfo.com. This camcorder is unquestionably the best hybrid on the market. When you combine awesome video performance with jaw-dropping still performance, good manual control, and all the right ports, this camcorder makes a killer package. If this is what JVC can do with their first generation of 3 CCD camcorders, I'd be afraid of next year's models if I were Panasonic and Sony. I can almost guarantee that unless we have any more end of the year surprises, the GR-X5 will certainly take one or two CamInfo selects this holiday season for best camcorder. We love where JVC is headed.