JVC Updates Low End Camcorder Line with GR-D250, GR-D270 and GR-D295 by Robin Liss Published on Jan 3, 2005 3:15 PM

JVC today announced three new low end MiniDV camcorders for their 2005 consumer camcorder line which they will be showing at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas later this week. The GR-D250, GR-D270 and GR-D295 replace last years GR-D33, GR-D72 and GR-D93. The new camcorders all feature a huge 25x optical zoom, a new 30% smaller body and other minor upgrades over the 2004 models. The theme with the new JVC camcorders is their price reductions in the increasingly competitive budget camcorder market. JVC's new models are designed with the features that market well placed first, and aimed at being available for as large and audience as possible.

"When you put this camcorder in your hand, it's much more comfortable," said Alan Holland, JVC's National Product Supervisor for Camcorders "If you compare 2004 to 2005 this one feels a lot more comfortable, looks more high tech, it feels high tech."

The pricing of the new models is designed to make the more affordable for more people. When asked what the potential market was for the models, Holland responded with one word - "everybody." The GR-D250 is being introduced at $429.95, $20 less than the camcorder it replaces, the GR-D33, was introduced at last year. The GR-D250 is being introduced at $449.95, $100 less than the camcorder it replaces, the GR-D72 was introduced at last year. The GR-D295 is being introduced at $499.95, $100 less than the $599 that the GR-D93 which it replaces was introduced at last year.

JVC Camcorder Spec Sheets

GR-D250

GR-D270

GR-D295

Each of the three models features a 1/6 in. 680K pixel CCD with 340K effective pixels for video, the same CCD that was used on the 2004 models. JVC continues to concentrate on video performance with the new camcorders by including their Super High-Band processor which the company claims maximizes the available resolution of the MiniDV tape:

"That's something based on our focus groups that they [consumers] still wanted. They wanted the better video quality, that was still number one," said Holland.

While JVC has maintained the Super High-Band Processor on the new models, they removed the popular 3D noise reduction which was responsible for producing low noise levels in low light with the 2004 models. JVC currently has no comment on why they took the 3D noise feature off.

Following the lead of Sony and Panasonic in 2004, JVC is shrinking the new line of Compact camcorders by 30%. All three camcorders use the same body style, weighing .9 lbs and measuring 4.4 in. long, 2.2 in. wide and 3.7 in. tall.

The JVC GR-D250 features a 25x optical zoom, 2.5 in. LCD screen, JVC's NightAlive low light shooting mode, a color viewfinder and web camera functionality. The GR-D270 adds an on camera light, JVC's new Live Slow feature, an SD slot and the capability to capture 1,024 x 768 resolution stills, and multiple languages. The GR-D295 adds a full function remote and a second external battery. Each battery gives approximately 85 minutes of recording time, however the batteries for the new camcorders are completely new, meaning older batteries for past JVC camcorders will not work on the new models.

The increased zoom is a large jump between this years entry level JVC camcorders and last years. The GR-D250 and GR-D70 replace the 2004 GR-D33 and GR-D72, both of which had a 16x optical zooms. The GR-D295 makes an even larger jump from a 10x optical zoom on the GR-D93 to a 25x optical zoom. According to JVC the company had to completely redesign the camcorder to accommodate the larger zoom. The increased zooms follow a trend in budget camcorders for incredibly large zooms, a feature which seems to be attractive to many consumers. Panasonic pushed the trend forward last year with their all of their 2004 CES sub $600 camcorders featuring zooms from 20x optical to 24x optical.

A new feature which JVC is adding to the GR-D270 and the GR-D295 a new slow-motion effect called "Live Slow." When a user presses the "Live Slow" button the camcorder slows down the next one second of video to 1/4th speed so it takes 4 seconds to play the next 1 second of video at a slower speed. The camcorder only slows down the video and not the audio. The Live Slow feature is targeted at users who are shooting sports events and want to watch action like a golf swing in slow motion.

JVC has also adopted the long available feature which Sony camcorders have had of being able to give information on the remaining battery life of the battery attached to the camcorder. Their new Data Battery feature uses a new style of battery to communicate the remaining life to the camcorder, which will display the amount of time available both if the LCD is open and if it's closed with the press of one button on the camcorder battery.

JVC has made no changes to the still options between the 2004 and 2005 models. The JVC GR-D250 can only capture stills to tape. The GR-D270's can capture stills at a resolution of 1,024 x 768 pixels to an SD card through it's SD slot, though the camcorder does not include any SD card. The GR-D295 features the same still capability as the GR-D270. The GR-D250 is one of the lowest priced camcorders to offer still functionality at 1,024 x 768 pixel resolution.

With regards to manual control, the JVC compact camcorder maintain the 2004 line's options. Each camcorder includes manual control of white balance, shutter speed, aperture focus, and some gain control. Responding to consumer feedback, JVC has moved the camcorder's VCR control buttons, which also control the menu functions, out of the area hidden by the LCD to an area right above the LCD. The move makes the buttons much more accessible. Little has been changed with regards to the camcorders ports and jacks. Each model features an S-Video and RCA/Composite video out jack, and a Firewire jack. Only the GR-D270 and GR-D295 feature a USB jack. The new models also do not have a microphone in jack or a headphone out jack. However, JVC kept off the accessory shoe on the new models. The move might be evidence of a decreasing importance that accessories such as lights and external microphones are playing for camcorder consumers.

The JVC GR-D250, GR-D270, and GR-D295 will all be available in January. The GR-D250 will be available for $429.95, the GR-D270 for $449.95 and the GR-D295 for $499.95.