JVC GR-DX77 First Impressions Camcorder Review

by Mark Bassett
Published on Mar 6, 2004 12:00 AM



Introduced at the 2004 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, was JVC's totally new line of matchbook, otherwise known as vertical style camcorders. Named the Celebrity Series because of use by both paparazzi and stars, and the commercial tie-in, the model names are GR-DX97US and GR-DX77. A third Celebrity model with a larger CCD wasn't on display, and the two models that were had been shipped from Europe. The US models might have some minor differences, namely NTSC not PAL. The third camcorder is the GR-DX307US. The JVC GR-DX77 is 15 percent smaller than the model it replaced in the Ultra Compact Series. The camcorder is designed to be toted in a purse or kept in a pocket, and when the opportunity arise, to shoot on the spot in full automation. The GR-DX77 has a 12x optical zoom on the 1/6th inch 680k CCD, which translates still resolutions of up to 1,024x768. The GR-DX77 has a built in LED, and unlike the GR-DX97US, a smaller 2.5 inch LCD.

The GR-DX77 has a Manufactures Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $599, and a February release date. The GR-DX77 is an option for both Stars and Production Assistants who want a matchbook camcorder with SD Card digital still capabilities, and a four-bulb LED.

Video Performance
The JVC GR-DX77 is built with a 1/6 inch 680k CCD, an average size among the majority of one CCD camcorders on display at CES. Because the lighting conditions that the GR-DX77 we're not 'lab quality' we couoldn't make any conclusions about the video performance of the GR-DX77 at the show.

The Front
The front of the JVC GR-DX77 is a slim, shiny black and silver oval with a 30mm lens situated at the top. The GR-DX77 has a 12x optical zoom. Below the lens is the two channel MIC that records in 12 and 16bit sound. Under the MIC is a large JVC logo and a four-bulb LED light. Below the light is the infrared sensor.

The Right Side
The credit card shaped lithium ion battery is stored on the right hand side of the GR-DX77. The pleather strap that affixes a user's hand to the GR-DX77 doesn't adequately secure the camcorder. At the front of the right side of the camcorder is a tiny speaker.

The Back
The back of the GR-DX77 is where the controls of camcorder functionality are housed. From top to bottom on the back of the GR-DX77 is the static view finder, which sits recessed in the camcorder housing, and is activated by pulling the small thin rubber eye cup toward the user. The viewfinder will likely not receive much use, and the designers took that into consideration when constructing what some would call pure design eye candy. Below the viewfinder, positioned adjacent to each other are the electronic shutter and the record button. On is brushed steel and the other has a shinny-stainless style. Under the action buttons, are one of two zoom controls and the menu button. The first zoom control, the other is situated atop the GR-DX, is comprised of two small buttons one for telephoto and the other for widescreen. Next to the zoom, is a small menu button. Rounding off the bottom is a multi-functional, four-directional, circular button. The device receives quite a bit of use, as with it users control everything from manual focus to VCR controls. There is a perpendicular switch along the left side that sets the camcorders mode from SD Card to MiniDV. At the very bottom of the back of the camcorder is the SD Card storage.

The Left Side
The left side of GR-DX77 houses a 2.5 inch LCD, which is a step down from the large 3 inch LCD on the GR-DX97US. Underneath the LCD are a few digital features and memory card functions. Next to the LCD, near the front of the camcorder is a Firewire port, above that is the mode selector. GR-DX77 can be operated in manual, automatic, and playback. In automatic mode, certain menu functions are disabled. In manual mode the camcorder operates in automatic, but users can make picture adjustments. .

The Top
The top of the GR-DX77 has a rounded design that blends the polished black plastic a brushed steel tone beautifully. The only functional aspect of the top of the camcorder is a nicely designed flat zoom control, located at the back of the top, near the eyepiece. This is the second of two zooms, and the one users will reach for if their hand's in the strap. If holding the matchbook/vertical from the bottom, the zoom on the back of the camcorder will be the mechanism of choice. .

Picture & Manual Control
Automatic Control
The GR-DX77 is designed for use primarily in automatic, although there are several manual control options.

Overall Manual Control
The JVC GR-DX77 has manual control over picture in the LCD menu, which is controlled by a four-directional circular button at the back camcorder. The device and the menu options change focus, exposure, shutter speed, backlight, and white balance. Shutter speeds step from 1/50th to 1/4000th. The dial is large and within easy reach of a users thumb. Navigating the menu is frustrating, because you have to scroll though an entire submenu list before moving to another submenu. If you choose the wrong submenu then it takes a few frustrating seconds to escape that menu and find the one you wanted.

Zoom
The JVC GR-DX77 has 12x of optical zoom power. There is a zoom control on the top of the camcorder and on the back of the camcorder. On the back of the camcorder the zoom is activated with two small buttons, and on the top there's a flat toggle. The top toggle controlling mechanism is well designed and accurately enables three variable speed zooms, while the buttons are better for zooming either fast or slow. The JVC GR-DX77 has 700x of digital zoom, but at that level of zoom the picture is grainy.

Focus
Focus on the GR-DX77 is adjusted with the four-directional circular button. A manual focus ring wouldn't work on such a small matchbook/vertical camcorder, so JVC did a good job of making manual focus easily adjustable.

Exposure (Aperture)
GR-DX77 has manual exposure controlled through the LCD menu and four-directional depressible circular button, and a backlight adjustment on the exterior of the circular button.

Shutter Speed
Set through the LCD menu on GR-DX77, the steps of shutter speed start at 1/50 and go to1/4000th of a second.

White Balance
The GR-DX77 is a consumer point and shoot camcorder with standard white balance settings, including halogen.

Gain
The JVC GR-DX77 offers no gain control.

Still Performance
The GR-DX77 shoots XGA high resolution stills at 1,024x768. The pictures are stored to SD Card, and resolution can be decreased to save space. The SD Card is not included.

VCR Mode
The rewind, fast forward, play, and stop button is the four-directions circular dial on the GR-DX77. When the Celebrity Camcorder is set in playback mode the multi-use circular button becomes the VCR control

Low Light Performance
We can not make any conclusions about the low light performance of the GR-DX77 because we looked at it on the show floor.

LCD/ Viewfinder
The GR-DX77 has a 2.5 in color LCD screen. The screen is reflective and transmissive, so in direct sunlight the LCD uses ambient light to illuminating the screen, which saves battery and produces glare-free image. The menu fonts are too large and take up the entire LCD screen. The viewfinder is more crowded in menu mode. The color viewfinder has no angulation abilities.

Audio
With competing noise from the Hi-Definition display, sound evaluation was next to impossible. Unfortunately, the GR-DX77 doesn't have a MIC accessory-shoe or input for and external microphone and built-in MICs are unlikely to capture quality audio.

Handling
JVC's GR-DX77 is borderline cumbersome, because the strap crosses the bottom of the hand near the wrist leaving the camcorder leaning left without a firm grip on the top by four fingers. The 15 percent reduction in size apparently necessitates a hand-strap deign improvement. While holding the camcorder from the bottom is easily achieve because of its small profile and light weight, chancing a $600 accident is not something most will do, warranties don't cover physical damage. Another candidate for redesign consideration is the LCD menu. There is so much information, and users are forced to follow an up and down scroll. So if you're in a submenu and you need to find another option, then you must scroll down to the end of the menu before returning to the root menu. In other words, you can't scroll out horizontally. What is designed really well, is the four-directional circular button that navigates the menu, controls manual functions, and serves as playback controls. This circular button is in perfect proximity to the users thumb, and is sensitive and accurate. The record button and the electronic shutter are also located well within reach of the users thumb and are solid.

Ports
The GR-DX77 has a Mini AV in / out jack (headphone), SD card, an SVideo In/Out, a USB connector, and a Firewire port.

Other Features

Celebrities and their stalkers alike will fawn over the GR-DX77. The camcorder is small enough to fit in a fanny pack, and packs a 12x optical zoom and a four-bulb LED.
16:9 widescreen mode
The GR-DX77 has digitally stretched wide screen.
Webcam
Set the GR-DX77 next to your laptop, connect the Firewire cable or USB, and you'll be ready for a video conference with the main office.
MPEG
The GR-DX77 has MPEG4 capabilities.
Analog to Digital Pass Through
The GR-DX77 can transfer an analog signal from a VCR or television to DVD, or directly to the SD Card as a motion MPEG4.


Comparisons
The low end in the Celebrity or GR-DX camcorders is the GR-DX77. In terms of celeb appeal this camcorder ranks somewhere around Dominique Swain or Leiv Schreiber. Priced at $600 the GR-DX77 has 1/6th inch 680k CCD, and a four-bulb LED. Canon's low end model, the ZR80MC, has the same 1/6 inch 680K CCD size and an 18x optical zoom. The GR-DX77 has a 12x optical zoom. Canon's camcorder is bigger, but has a more secure feel. The Sharp VL-Z300U is the low end of the Sharp line. The Sharp also has a 1/6th 680k CCD, but neither of those camcorders has a four-bulb LED-in fact the Canon doesn't even have an LED.

In the vertical/matchbook market there are two main Celebrity competitors, the Canon Elura 50 and the Sony PC109. The Elura 50 has a 1/6th inch 680k CCD with a 10x optical zoom, a 2.5 inch LCD, and no LED. Priced at $900, the Sony has a 1/5th inch 1070k Advance HAD CCD, a 10x optical zoom, a 2.5 inch LCD, and no LED. At $600, JVC delivers more matchbook for the money.


Who's it For
Point and Shooter's
The GR-DX77 is a good choice for the point and shoot set, that needs a run and gun camcorder. If the price for pictures of Jen and Ben are any indication, the GR-DX77 will provide a good return on investment.
Budget Consumers
If you're looking for a $600 vertical/matchbook camcorder there's a powerfully zoom, digital stills, and a bright four-bulb LED.
Still Photo / Video Camera Hybrid
The GR-DX77 has an SD Card and takes digital, but the SD Card is not included.
Gadget Freaks
The GR-DX77 is gadget that makes sure you catch every shot. If you've got a fanny pack, you'll never miss a moment.
Manual Control Freaks
If the LCD menu was reprogrammed, manual control would be better, the four-directional circular button is a nicely designed feature.
Pro's/ Serious Hobbyists
The GR-DX77 might be useful for the behind the scenes footage at Britney Spears latest club outing.

Conclusion
The low end of GR-DX line, the GR-DX77 is a good point and shoot camcorder with a moderate sized CCD. The camcorder shoots digital stills, has a big 12x optical zoom, and a four-bulb built in LED. Unfortunately there are no external microphone capabilities, and the hand-strap could be resituated to cross higher on the hand, keeping the camcorder secure. The big question with the GR-DX77 is did JVC's attempts to improve the low light performance actually work? We'll have to wait until we have a model for hands-on testing to make any conclusions in that area.