JVC GRD230 MiniDV Digital Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom

JVC GRD230 MiniDV Digital Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom
Manufacturer: JVC
Product Type: Photography

Editorial Review:
Product Description
JVC's Ultra-Compact Series Mini DV camcorders feature a fun, stylish design unique to JVC. The initial model in this series features JVC's DV Navigation, which displays thumbnails for each recorded scene to make it quick and easy to find specific material. Also featured is a 2.5-inch LCD monitor, 10X optical/500X digital zoom, USB connectivity, Video CD creation, e-mail video clips capability, NightAlive and includes an SD card.
Amazon.com Review
The features of the compact, versatile GRD230 are accessible right out of the box. The record button is right under your thumb, and the digital still shutter button is exactly where your index finger comes to rest on top of the unit. Playback and mode functions are likewise clearly marked and easy to reach under the flip-out LCD screen. The camcorder's well-thought-out design manifests itself in a dozen other thoughtful details as well. One of our favorites is that closing the LCD screen turns the power off, and opening it turns it on, which facilitates quick-draw shooting and means you'll be unlikely to run down the battery accidentally.

Turn the camcorder on and off simply by closing and opening the LCD screen.

Which is all well and good, but how's the image fidelity? Decent to excellent. Daylight, of course, provides the most vibrant colors and the sharpest contours. But we found that even indoors, under the kind of fluorescent lighting you might find at, say, the offices of a Seattle-based online retailer, the video quality is surprisingly good. One thing the GRD230 does extremely well--and this is not a feature JVC calls out--is take sharp close-ups. We could see clear detail from as close as 5 centimeters away. Image stabilization is among the best we have ever seen: zoom in on a detail across the room, and the picture is as steady as if the camera had been mounted on a tripod.

One of the big draws of the GRD230 is the SD memory card slot that lets you take digital stills (the unit includes an 8 MB card, but you will almost certainly want to get a higher-capacity card as soon as possible). All the power of the 10x zoom lens is also available in still mode (forget about the advertised 500x "digital" zoom, whi ch is nothing but a cropping mechanism), and there is almost no shutter lag. Plus, the GRD230 does close-ups as well in still image mode as it does in video mode.

Freakishly good close-ups.
(Actual still picture taken with the GRD230 --
See full-sized image.)

The twin white LED auto-lights are a nice touch, even if their power is not overwhelming. The LEDs come on automatically whenever light is low (you can override this manually) but drain battery power at about a tenth the rate of conventional lights. Power management in general is something the GRD230 does very well indeed. An entire day of intermittent shooting on one charge proved to be no problem.

We do have a few complaints. Automatic mode is not as automatic as it might be; we had to manually adjust the brightness on a few occasions. Transmission to a PC via the USB cord required the installation of drivers from the included CD-ROM. (Isn't the U in "USB" supposed to stand for "universal"? Why do some cameras require a special driver and other s don't?) Also, the shape of the camera body, with its round hump, rather suspiciously makes the GRD230 look like a DVD camcorder. JVC isn't trying to fool anyone, are they? No matter: DVD or no DVD, you would be hard pressed to find anything at this price even approaching the quality and features of this tidy little unit. --David Stoesz

Pros

Compact, intuitive design
Decent image quality
SD card slot for digital stills
Excellent image stabilization

Cons

Shaped deceptively like a DVD camcorder
LED lights have a very limited range
USB connection requires installation of cumbersome software

Average customer rating:

Proxima DP6150 Conference Room LCD Projector

Manufacturer: Proxima
Product Group: CE
Binding: Electronics
ASIN: B00005B449

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LCD Projectors

Product Description

Need uncompromising desktop features in a portable package? Light weight, high brightness and low operating noise make the DP6150 the most flexible solution available. The DP6150 is the first fully-digital, portable LCD projector, setting a new standard for data connectivity with a Digital Visual Interface (DVI). XGA resolution, Digital Keystone Correction and high contrast ratio allow you to set the DP6150 anywhere in the room and adjust the image to the size that's perfect for you. Plus, its 2, 000-hour lamp life makes the DP6150 the reliable choice for frequent use in classrooms, training rooms, or any mid- to large size environment.

Amazon.com Product Description

You need plenty of power for professional presentations in large meetingrooms, and the Proxima DP6150 conference room projector has plentyavailable. With 1,400 ANSI lumens of brightness, it's even possible to leavethe lights on. The 450:1 contrast ratio brings details vividly to lifewhile allowing your audience enough overhead light for clear note-taking.The projector is fully compatible with all PCs, and Mac's can be usedthrough the video outputs. Built-in 1-watt speakers provide acceptablesound quality, and it's compatible with the Kensington lock system foradded security.

Included in the box are all the tools you'll need for smooth presentationsworldwide--a serial mouse, remote control with batteries and laserpointer, 2,000-hour lamp, a soft carrying bag, and all the necessary cables.Proxima includes a full two-year warranty on parts and labor, and a90-day/500-hour warranty on the lamp.

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