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JVC GR DV-2000

With impeccable timing, as we had dismissed JVC's MiniDV devices as unusable for DV editors, the company launched its new range of camcorders for 2001. Leading the pack out of the factory is a well-featured 'enthusiast's' model - the DV2000 - sporting DV and analogue inputs, as well as MultiMedia Card support. Bearing in mind JVC's past record of 'gotcha' loaded products, this potentially very exciting machine left us thinking about Monty Python's 'Whizzo Quality Assortment' of chocolates. We were unsure whether the next bite would prove to be a Crunchy Frog, a Ram's Bladder Cup or a Spring Surprise.
As usual with JVC, picture quality from the DV2000 was excellent, considering it is a single-CCD camcorder. Sound quality from the on-board mic wasn't great, but on-board mics seldom are. At least this machine has a microphone socket - which is more than can be said for JVC's budget cams. Again, unlike the company's budget machines, the DV2000 allows a direct DV to analogue feed, allowing video monitors to be used while editing - or VHS copies of work in progress to be made without the need to make a DV copy first.
We feel that many potential customers will be put off by the JVC's electronic image stabiliser - understandably when the DV2000 may actually cost more when it hits the streets than the far superior Sony TRV900, which sports three CCDs, an optical image stabiliser and a top-loading tape carriage.
Compatibility with DV editing systems has been greatly improved since the last generation of JVC products but, sadly, if this machine is anything to go by, the new generation can't handle DV tapes that have been recorded on some other machines.
The biggest annoyance of JVC's DV2000 is its bottom-feeding tape carriage. We're left flabbergasted at how many companies are adopting this arrangement for their machines. Panasonic and Sony seem very keen on their bottom-feeders. Even Canon released one - the MV300i, but quickly saw the light and changed back to more sensible methods of loading cassettes for its later models. The common excuse for bottom-feeding camcorders tends to be the ongoing quest for miniaturisation. If that is the real reason, we would point out that Canon's MV3i is possibly the smallest camcorder out there - and it loads quite neatly from the back. There is no valid reason for such a pointless and infuriating feature, and we strongly recommend that all such camcorders be left on the retailer's shelf to gather dust.

More in the April 2001 issue of Computer Video Magazine

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Reviewed in April's issue:
External FireWire drives
Dazzle Hollywood DV-Bridge
JVC GR DV-2000

In April's news:
Adobe After Effects 5
Panasonic Pro Mini DV
EZDV Grows Up