Performance

The JVC GR-D350 uses the standard 1/6" CCD found on nearly all entry-level camcorders, with 680K gross pixels, and 340K effective pixels. At 3000 lux, the camcorder showed a well-balanced color spectrum. The image was, perhaps, a little oversaturated, but not nearly as much as something like the Sony DVD403.

As the resolution trumpets shrink and the camcorder has to work to make sense of the dense information, Moiré patterns start to appear. This simply means that information has exceeded the imager's resolution, not surprising for its small size. Sharpness was generally good for its quality bracket, with only  faint halation around some of the panel borders. Noise suppression was also very good. Even the colors that received a heavier dose of saturation – magenta through blue – hardly showed any noise.

Last's year's JVC GR-DF450 had similar specs to the D350. At this light level, the DF450 showed the same color balance across the spectrum, with slightly less saturation all around. Sharpness was about the same, and the Moire patterns once again reared their ugly heads. The Panasonic PV-GS39 (one level up from the GS29 intro model), had a less vivid image with noticeably more noise and a fuzzy look that the JVC, whether by more sharpening or simply a better imager, managed to avoid. Sony's DCR-HC26 had the same issues; the noise was a little more noticeable and JVC managed a little more resolution, but the Sony did not produce the Moiré patterns.

The GR-D350 most directly compared to the Canon ZR500. They run the same price and produced nearly identical colors. The JVC was visibly sharper than the Canon, particularly along line edges, due to less in-camera sharpening by the ZR500, but the Canon did not produce Moiré patterns, which are distracting picture elements. Overall, this is an excellent performance for the entry-level camcorder.

**Video Resolution ***(11.7)*

We tested the GR-D350’s for resolution by shooting a standard ISO 12233 resolution chart in both 4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratios and running stills from that footage into Imatest imaging software.

In 4:3, the D350 produced 392.9 lines of horizontal resolution (with an average clipping of 1.36%) and 297.1 lines of vertical resolution, yielding an approximate resolution of 116730.6. The camcorder produced 400.5 lines of horizontal resolution (with an average clipping of 1.64%) and 216.8 lines of vertical resolution in 16:9,  yielding an approximate resolution of 86828.4.

Clipping occurs when Imatest cannot read a portion of the image, as it has either blown or bottomed out.  At this percentage, clipping should not affect the resolution score.

Low Light Performance*(3.5)*

The JVC GR-D350, like most JVC camcorders, is not a strong low light performer. While some manufacturers know how to make the most of the 1/6" CCD, and can find a balance between decent bright light and decent low light performance, JVC tips heavily in favor of the former. In order to compensate for less than ideal sensitivity, they include a particularly potent automatic gain control (AGC), that can be turned on and off. Because the AGC is defaulted on, and would be strongly recommended in low light, we compare and score this section with the AGC on.

At 60 lux, with the AGC off, the GR-D350 produced a very dark image. It was so dark, in fact, that it is difficult to determine if noise was even an issue. There is precious little color to be seen. All in all, this is hardly what we could call a useable image.

At 60 lux with the AGC on, the image is much brighter, to the point where the colors are beginning to wash out. Blue noise appeared across much of the image, from yellow to red to violet. Also, the same Moiré patterns that were found at 3000 lux appeared here.

By comparison, the Sony DCR-HC26 is noisier – copious amounts of fine grain black noise. The picture is sharper, however, and the colors do not look blown out. While the Panasonic PV-GS39 had an equally bright image, the colors were not blown out there either, as gain control was more effective. Noise was also better than both the JVC (fine grain rather than blue noise) and the Sony (less noise overall). The Canon ZR500 was as good as the Panasonic, with slightly higher saturation levels.

The JVC GR-D350’s 15 lux image with the AGC off is essentially a black screen. With the AGC on, the image has lost most of its color information. Noise control is good, though. The Sony HC26 was not quite as good at this light level, with even less color and higher noise levels, whereas the  Panasonic GS39 still has higher saturation levels, which managed to show through the dark and noise, and produced a generally brighter image. The Canon ZR500 is brighter than all of them, though the noise was more noticeable than the JVC. However, the color performance was overall much better in the Canon.

In all, the D350 performed as expected: not very well. This is a camcorder for bright light, not low light.

Wide Angle* (9.2)*

In order to ascertain whether the JVC GR-350 was recording video in true 16:9 widescreen format or its wide angle mode was, in fact, a digitally produced effect, we performed wide angle field of view tests. The GR-D350 recorded a 4:3 field of view with a horizontal measurement of 46 degrees. When switched into the 16:9 format setting, the camcorder produced an identical field of view. To produce a different image between the 16:9 and 4:3 formats, JVC has cropped the top and bottom of the image in order to visually fill the screen. This is the reverse effect of a true widescreen format, which will actually provide more visual information: vertical cropping means that the JVC GR-350 actually has less information in its 16:9 format. 

 

 

Format

Compression* (8.0)*

The D350 uses standard DV compression and a data rate of 25 Mbps for its video.

Media* (8.0)*

Although the JVC GR-D350 does have the ability to record still images, it does not include a separate memory device for this process. Users will find that, when shooting with the GR-D350, both still and video images are recorded in a 640 x 480 format onto 6.35 mm MiniDV cassette tape. While this format is far superior to DVD or HDD camcorders for video, higher end camcorders offer users multiple recording formats: memory card and DVD, MiniDV, or Hard Disk Drive.

Editing* (8.0)*

The JVC GR-D350 does not come with included software. MiniDV footage, however, is the easiest video format to import and edit on a computer. All major editing programs can work with MiniDV video, and there are no issues with file type conversions and incompatibility like those which can occur with DVD footage.

 

Tour

 

**The Front ***(6.0)*

The 32x optical zoom lens is positioned at the top of the JVC GR-D350U’s front face, forming the top edge of the camcorder. This lens has a diameter of 27 mm and a barrel length of 2.3 mm to 73.6 mm. Beneath the lens, along the right edge, are the camera sensor and built-in stereo microphone.

**The Right Side ***(6.0)*

A hand strap, attached to the front and back edges of the JVC GR-D350U, runs at a downward sland along the camcorder's right side. This adjustable Velcro hand strap is undersized and uncomfortable, and will hardly make shooting with one hand feel like a safe operation. Above the connecting point for the hand-strap is a power switch that allows the user to transition between record, off, and playback modes by pressing and rotating the lock tab on its outermost edge. The major feature on the right side of the camcorder body is actually a MiniDV tape compartment that is, unfortunately, bottom loading. With bottom loading tape compartments, it is necessary to fully remove the camcorder from the tripod head to access the tape hatch;  this will inevitably ruin shot compositions and be generally irksome. The tape compartment open/eject switch is located on the bottom of the camcorder, along the edge between the base and right side.

**The Back ***(5.5)*

The back of the D350 is a simple affair. At the top is an electronic color viewfinder measuring 0.33". It extends out about 1 1/2". Underneath it is the battery, which is rather large and juts out enough to mash one of your nostrils if you use the viewfinder. The viewfinder extension is not quite enough to make this a highly functional tool, as might have been the case if it had tilted up.. 

A very slender record start/stop button hugs the edge to the right of the battery. It’s a little too small for comfort, but it does the job.

**The Left Side ***(6.0)*

An LCD screen takes up most of the D350's left side, which measures a disappointing 2.5 inches and is non-widescreen, a major flaw by 2006 standards.  Opening the LCD panel reveals the main navigation tool, a four-way touchpad with a diameter of about 1" and a Set/Data button in the center which functions as the 'enter' button. The touchpad was not an effective control last year, and it’s no  better now: we like a joystick, and a lot of manufacturers have made a move in that direction. JVC is sticking to its guns, however. We’ll have more on the touchpad in the Manual Control and Handling sections.

To the right of the touchpad, handy for instant access, is a 16:9/4:3 mode button, with the Menu button beneath it.  At the bottom right corner of the LCD panel is the DV port. The Auto button, which switches between auto and manual mode, is above the LCD cavity, along the edge of the lens barrel.

 

 

The Top* (7.5)*

Only two features of note are on top of the JVC GR-D350U, and both are controlled during shooting with the index finger of the right hand. The power zoom lever, which doubles as a playback volume control for reviewing footage in VCR mode, is located in front of the still image Snapshot button. Both controls are in awkward positions for users with larger hands.

---

 

Auto/Manual Controls

Picture & Manual Control
Automatic Control (7.0)

Letting the camcorder work in automatic mode is simple. On the upper left side, along the lens barrel, is a button labeled Auto, which toggles between auto and manual modes.

The automatic controls on the GR-D350 are available for all exposure and focus functions. All the functions seem to work with reasonable accuracy. However, the adjustments take 2-3 seconds of lag time to find the correct settings. The exposure adjusts gradually over that lag, whereas the focus waits, then snaps into place. 

A few automatic exposure features are available on the camcorder. Backlight compensation, which boosts the exposure to compensate for subjects too strongly backlit, is activated by pushing down on the four-way touchpad when not in the menu. Pushing down a second time will initiate Spot Exposure control. This creates a target mark in the center of the screen; whatever is in the target becomes the point of metering. The target can be moved to the center left or center right with the touchpad. Pushing Set locks the target in place.

Program AE modes, sometimes called auto exposure modes, are found in the Function Menu (for a detailed explanation of the menu, see the next section). They include preset exposure settings for Sports, Snow, Spotlight, and Twilight.

Comparatively, the auto modes on most Panasonics and Sonys are just as easy to find. Panasonics tend to have an auto/manual toggle button, and Sony generally smacks a large 'Easy' button on the side of their camcorders. Sony has the best auto control response: this JVC shows about the same level of performance as the Panasonic.

Overall Manual Control (6.0)

The manual control starts with the menu. To access it, first put the camcorder in manual mode by pushing the Auto button on the upper right side, then push the Menu button located in the LCD cavity. The manual control menu is split into 4 categories: Function, Setting, System, and Display. The Function menu has video effects, Program AE modes, manual shutter speed, manual exposure, white balance, and tele macro settings.

The Setting Menu has controls that you probably won’t need on the fly. They include recording speed, image stabilization on/off, and gain on/off. The System and Display menus are more administrative controls, like the menu language and clock adjustments.

Making your way through these menus is not an easy task, given the touchpad's size and orientation. When your main tool for making changes is not even visible from the back of the camcorder, that’s a problem. Also, many of the manual controls, like shutter speed and exposure compensation, are impossible to access while recording, even if you can see the touchpad.

When controls are available, they are not particularly extensive (only a handful of shutter speeds and exposure compensation rather than an independent F-stop control), but at least they exist. Sony does not have any of these features.

Zoom (6.0)
The zoom on the JVC GR-D350 is positioned on the top of the camcorder and functions as a sliding control that will navigate the breadth of the 32x optical zoom range. Zoom control was able to produce both a sloth-inspired slow zoom as well as an almost-too-fast speed. Transitioning between these two polar rates of zoom was a bit hard to pull off with: it takes some patience and a steady hand to move smoothly without a huge jarring jump. The zoom control is well placed and was definitely comfortable, even when used with larger hands, which will help to offset some of the functionality problems.

Zoom Power/Ratio (32.0)

A somewhat preposterous optical zoom level of 32x makes the JVC GR-D350 great if you’ve got the steadiest hands in the world and you need to spy on the neighbors or a cheating spouse. Those of you without steady hands will need to place the camcorder on a tripod when using higher zoom levels. Otherwise, expect shaking and discomforting video to result. In addition to the 32x optical zoom, the GR-D350 also comes with an 800x digital zoom range that can be engaged by entering the Setting Menu and selecting the zoom sub-menu. The digital zoom has a total range of 800x, as previously mentioned, but thankfully has a cap of 64x, since image quality decreases as zoom level goes up.

 A 32x optical zoom is the largest of any camcorder we've reviewed. It fails to elicit much excitement, however. Large zooms are an easy upgrade for a company to make and don't add much to a camcorder's value.

Focus (4.0)

Manual control over focus is available when shooting with the JVC GR-D350. Unlike manual controls like exposure, white balance, and shutter speed, which are buried deeply within menus, it is easy to access. To turn on manual control, a user presses the up arrow on the four-way controller in the LCD cavity. Once open, the control displays minscule symbols of a bust and a mountain. Pressing the right and left arrows will adjust the focus and cause pointing arrows to appear in the direction of the appropriate symbol.

The positioning of these controls couldn’t be worse for users, since the left hand, which will be making adjustments to the four-way control, will inevitably block most of the LCD during alteration. While some maneuvering can avoid this problem  it would be better if focal control was positioned elsewhere on the camcorder, perhaps externally on the back, so that users could make control adjustments with either the LCD or the viewfinder.

Exposure (Aperture) (4.5)

The JVC GR-D3560 does include the ability to control exposure levels manually through the Function Menu, which is accessed by pressing the menu button in the LCD cavity on the left side of the camcorder. Exposure control appears as an opaque horizontal bar overlaid on the bottom of the LCD screen. The up and down arrows of the four-way controller adjust the exposure from +/-6 in increments of 1.0. Making these adjustments involves shifting and scanning through several menu structures; the JVC controls here are the same as on last year's model, and do not provide the immediacy offered by 2006 Panasonic camcorders in the same price range. Sony, on the other hand, offers no exposure controls at all.

*Shutter Speed (6.0) *

When shooting with the JVC GR-D350, it is possible manual control over shutter speed via the shutter sub-menu in the Function  The shutter settings for manual control are off, 1/60, 1/100, 1/500, and 1/4000 of a second, which should provide a fairly wide range of shooting options for both bright and low light shooting. Panasonic camcorders have a much wider array of shutter options - 14 speeds in total -- while Sony, again, offers no control in this area.

White Balance (7.0)

As is the case with shutter speed and exposure, it's possible to manually control the JVC GR-D350's white balance via the function menu.  White balance options beyond full auto mode are Fine, Cloud, and full Manual settings. These controls include a live view screen underlay that provides the user with a visual monitoring device for  flipping through this somewhat truncated menu of options. This is right on par for most camcorders.

Gain (1.0)

Gain control on JVC camcorders is limited to turning the Auto Gain Control (AGC) on and off. The AGC is stronger than most auto gains, and can blow out a picture, so we give the D350 a point for including the option to turn it off. This is not  the nuanced and expansive range of manual options found on Panasonic camcorders this year, which measure gain in dB values.

Other Manual Control (0.0)

There are no other manual controls when shooting with the JVC GR-D350, which isn’t surprising considering its MSRP of $300. The number of manual controls on this camcorder should provide the budget manual control enthusiast with a wide range of options, though not the best interface.

Still Features

Still Features* (1.5)*

A still button located on the right rear back corner captures stills and an additional 5-6 seconds of audio. The JVC GR-D350 records stills to MiniDV tape only, at the same 640 x 480 resolution as the video. It does not record stills when in 16:9 mode. Any manual controls you had engaged in video mode, such as exposure settings, also apply to your stills.

Still Resolution* (1.7)*

We test still resolution by shooting a standard ISO 12233 resolution chart and running those stills through Imatest imaging software. Because the GR-D350 records stills to the MiniDV tape, the still resolution is the same as the video resolution: 116730.6. For a 640 x 480 image, this is about average for resolution. The Sony HC26 did much worse, with a score of 0.1. Neither camcorder is recommended for taking stills.

Still Performance* (2.5)*

The JVC GR-D350 can only capture stills to MiniDV tape at the same resolution as the video: 640 x 480. The still picture is, therefore, exactly the same as the one seen in video performance, as are our comments.

At 3000 lux, the D350 had a bright, well-balanced, not overly saturated image. Certain colors, like the magenta and blue, were definitely stronger than others.

The Sony DCR-HC26 also records stills to MiniDV tape. Like its video, the stills are neither as sharp nor as vivid as the JVC. The Panasonic PV-GS39 records stills in the same size to a removable SD card. While easier to obtain after capture, the stills are much noisier and less vivid, and the greens and yellows appear to run together in a pea soup-like tone. The Canon ZR500 does not have the ability to capture stills at all, not even to tape. Finally, the ZR700 (MSRP $399) can take stills onto an SD card. Its 640 x 480 images were distinctly less saturated than the JVC, but contained more noise.

Handling and Use

 

Ease of Use* (5.0)*

The GR-D350 is an easy to use camcorder thanks to a prominently displayed Auto mode button located on its upper left side. Pushing this button puts the entire camcorder in auto mode, relieving the user of all tasks but pointing, zooming, and hitting record. Those interested in a more interactive experience will encounter some handling problems (see the Handling section), most centering around the four-way touchpad in the LCD cavity. This awkward control can get to be a frustrating process.

Within the budget line of camcorders, Sony still takes the cake for ease of use. Almost all of the major manufacturers can make idiot-proof auto modes, if pointing and shooting are all you're interested in. Beginners also tend to find Sony's touch screen more user-friendly, but the flaws quickly start to reveal themselves (fingerprints on the display, lengthy menu layouts, etc.). JVC has a simple menu with which to interface; we just wish it had a better navigation device. 

 

Handling* (6.5)*

While the GR-D350’s handling is on par with other low-end camcorders, there are some small differences. This year, Canon attempted to improve handling by slimming down the width of their camcorders and increasing the height. It was a gambit which went against the grain of what most traditional "compact" camcorder attempt : decreasing height and increasing width. For some reason, people seem to associate a small body with a short, fat one, but Canon’s design works very well and JVC generally takes a similar approach. The D350, however, is tall and wide, or at least wider than the ZR models.

As a result, the camcorder feels a little bulkier than it needs to be. The zoom toggle may prove to be a stretch for short fingers, and the record on/off button, squeezed between the battery and the mode dial, is too slender for comfort.

The worst aspect of handling is the four-way touch pad located on the left side of the body in the LCD cavity. First of all, placing controls in the LCD cavity means that users need to keep the LCD open to make changes, thus increasing the drain on the battery. Secondly, when the main navigation tool is hidden in the cavity engaging the manual controls is supremely frustrating. If a four-directional touch pad is not facing you, it's hard to determine where the directions are pointing: it's easy to confuse the left arrow with 'forward' and the right with 'back.'  Finally, the touchpad itself is too small: the "enter" button can only be pressed effectively with a thumbnail. Everyone else seems to have moved onto a joystick. We believe it’s time JVC did the same.

Portability* (7.0)*

Measuring 5.9 x 9.4 x 11.4 (W x H x L in cm), the JVC GR-D359 is not among the most portable compact MiniDV camcorders. It’s certainly not an ultra-compact, and would have a hard time fitting into a medium-sized purse or the largest pocket. However, the D350 is entirely self-sufficient, unlike some of the ultra-compacts which have cradles that must also be carried.

LCD/Viewfinder* (7.5)*

The 2.5 inch LCD for the JVC GR-D350 is on the left side of the camcorder and is opened by pulling along the back edge of the screen adjacent to a scalloped section of the camera body. Since this camcorder uses crop and zoom instead of shooting in true 16:9 format, it's unsurprising that the LCD is not a widescreen display. The Display sub-menu does have an LCD brightness adjustment feature, with a scale of  +/-5, but it should be used with care. Settings like shutter speed and exposure will appear differently if the LCD has been customized to user preference. Since LCD brightness is not an effect on the recorded video, it is easily possible to record video with entirely different exposure and lighting levels from those pictured on LCD.

An electronic color viewfinder does give the GR-D350 a secondary monitoring option. This 0.33 inch viewfinder can be extended from the camcorder body. However, it extends over a prominent battery back and is surrounded by a  hard plastic frame that is anything but comfortable when pressed to an eye. The major problem, beyond comfort, is that turning on the viewfinder requires the LCD to be closed, thus blocking access to the menu and manual controls in the LCD cavity. While this unfortunate design is common in consumer camcorders, it greatly compromises the functionality of this feature. Those who don't mind shooting in auto mode, or making all manual adjustments before closing the LCD, will find that using the viewfinder increases battery life. Finally,  a large dioptric adjustment control is located on the top of the extended viewfinder.

Battery Life* (11.2)*

The D350 ships with the BN-VF707U battery. We tested the battery for endurance during shooting by putting the camcorder in auto mode, leaving the LCD open, and shooting at SP mode with the image stabilization on. When the tape needed to be changed, we removed the battery, inserted the DC power, changed tapes, and reinserted the battery. In total, the battery lasted for 112 minutes and 27 seconds (1 hour, 52 minutes, and 27 seconds) of continuous shooting.

 

 

 

Audio/Playback/Connectivity

Audio* (4.0)*
The JVC GR-D350 features a stripped down audio layout that will force users to rely solely upon the in-camcorder stereo microphones located directly beneath the lens. There is no audio input. An AV out port on the back of the camcorder restricts users and won’t provide an opportunity to engage in analog-to-digital pass-through.

 

Within the Setting menu are two sub-menu options for audio settings. The Sound Mode sub-menu allows the user to select between 12 and 16 bit sampling rates. In addition, a wind cut filter can be engaged when recording in windy conditions, in order to block the low tones which occur when the wind strikes the surface of the microphone. This feature shouldn’t be used if recording in non-windy conditions, since the audio range will be unnaturally reproduced without lower frequencies.  

 

VCR Mode* (6.5)*

When the JVC GR-D350 is in VCR mode, the four-way control doubles as the standard VCR control. The up arrow functions as play/pause, the right arrow as fast forward, the down arrow as stop, and the left arrow as rewind. In the lower left corner of the LCD screen, the menu for VCR mode displays as an opaque gray overlay, featuring options  for Rec Mode, Sound Mode, Narration, Bright, Date/Time, On Screen, and Time Code. The narration feature is a bit misleading, since this camcorder is not able to record audio dubbing. Instead, with this control, the user is able to set the camcorder to "off," which will play back the original un-dubbed audio, "on," which will play back the dubbed sound on the left and right speakers, or "mix," which plays back both original and dubbed sounds simultaneously. The Sound Mode feature allows the user to select between playing back audio in the standard stereo setup or isolating it to the left or right channel.

 

Ports* (4.5)*

Ports for the JVC GR-D350 are located on the back and left side of the camcorder body. The ports on the back of the camcorder are both covered and uncovered. In the lower right corner, beneath the battery pack, is the uncovered AV out port. Also beneath the battery pack, but located in the lower left corner, is the DC In port. The cover for this port is over-sized, oddly thick, and impossible to close or open cleanly and quickly. On the left side of the camcorder, in the LCD cavity, is the third and final port for the JVC GR-D350: a FireWire port which facilitates image transference in both directions. 

 

 

 

Other Features

Widescreen/16:9 Mode* (6.5)*

Pressing twice on the format button, located in the LCD cavity on the JVC GR-D350's left side, switches the 1/6 inch, 680K gross CCD between 16:9 and 4:3 formats. The 2.5 inch LCD is not widescreen format, which isn’t a huge surprise considering that the 16:9 and 4:3 formats have identical horizontal fields of view.

 

Scan Rates/24p* (0.0)*

The JVC GR-D350 only records at a rate of 29.97 frames per second, the universal standard for fixed rate video cameras. Consumers who want variable frame rates of 24 or 30 fps should purchase a camcorder meant more for the professional or serious hobbyist.

Other Features* (7.5)*
AGC (Auto Gain Control) - This feature is one of 3 gain controls available within the Gain sub-menu of the Setting Menu. The AGC setting will increase the overall image brightness, though it will also increase noise levels. AGC, however, made it possible to shoot video at low light levels with this camcorder, an option which was distinctly not available when shooting in regular mode with gain off.

Auto A - The Auto A setting is another option within the Gain sub-menu. It will automatically adjust the shutter speed while also engaging the gain increase found with the AGC setting. Subject movements will be jerky with this setting,  and the image will also have high levels of noise. Once again, however,  Auto A gives users the ability to shoot in low light.

Digital Image Stabilization - Digital Image Stabilization does come with the JVC GR-D350: a wise inclusion, since the 32x optical zoom lens is bound to begin showing handshake at 10x. However, an optical image stabilization would have been far better able to handle this mega-zoom camcorder. Although not always feasible, the use of a tripod is really the only way to compensate for high zoom levels.

Wipe and Fader Effects - The JVC GR-D350 comes with 4 in-camcorder fader effects that can be applied to the beginning and end of video clips. These fader/wipe options are listed in the function menu and allow the user to move easily between off, white, black, slide right to left, and scroll bottom to top. While rudimentary in nature, these options can be amusing at times, and will come in handy if users don’t have an editing program for their post production application.

Video Effects - Users can also apply a handful of in-camcorder digital video effects during recording. The video effects for the JVC GR-D350 are listed within the function menu when the camcorder is in manual mode, and offer settings of Sepia, Monotone B/W, Classic, and Strobe. While certainly not anything new or unique, they are standards that work well for a bit of change and fun.

 

Comparisons/Conclusion

Comparison
Sony DCR-HC26
When shooting in normal lighting, the JVC GR-D350 outperformed the Sony DCR-HC26, producing more accurate colors as well as sharper video quality. The JVC GR-D350 was not able to stand up to the Sony's performance in low light, however: it required audio gain just to get a visible image at 60 lux. Although the DCR has an identically sized CCD, an Easy mode and the ability to record still images to MiniDV, its zoom range is only 20x and its field of view is just 44 degrees. It also has fewer manual controls and a poorly-designed touch screen interface. One major benefit over the JVC GR-D350 is a top loading tape cartridge that allows the user to switch tapes when on tripod . This camcorder has an initial retail price of $349, putting it in a slightly higher price range. Winner: the JVC GR-D350.

Canon ZR500
The JVC GR-D350 managed to produce better color accuracy and video quality than the ZR500. However, it once again failed to produce the same caliber results in low light. The ZR500 has a 2.7 inch widescreen display, an identically sized imager, more audio options, including a mic in port, and a more functional joystick control. However, the electronic color viewfinder on the ZR500 is terribly designed and shouldn't be considered a feasible secondary viewing device, and the D350 has more gain features. The ZR500 also doesn't have any sort of still feature option, and users will have to move up in price to the ZR700 in order to attain any sort of minimal hybrid functionality. These problems aside, the ZR500 does have a true widescreen setting: an increase of eleven degrees when switching between 4:3 and 16:9 formats. This camcorder has an initial retail price of $299. We loved the ZR500, and rank it top in the entry level market, besting the GR-D350.
**

*Panasonic PV-GS29
*

Panasonic's entry level model, the PV-GS29, is priced the same as the GR-D350. Many of its features are also the same as those of the JVC camcorder: a 1/6" CCD with 680K gross pixels,  a small 2.5" LCD, and the ability to record stills to MiniDV tape. The GS29 does have better manual controls, including a full range of gain, more shutter speed options, and precise f-stop control.

While we have not yet had a chance to review the GS29, we have looked at the PV-GS3, the second model up from the entry-level. In performance, the GS39 had a less rich, noisier image in bright light than the JVC, but the Panasonic dominated in low light. Overall, the Panasonic was the more well-rounded camcorder.

JVC GR-D250

The GR-D350 replaces last year’s entry level GR-D250. In our review, we found the that the new GR-D350 had much better sharpness. Color balance was about the same, with similar amounts of saturation which were a little heavy in the blue portion of the spectrum. Low light performance on the D250 was a little dimmer, and had some focus issues that the D350 did not. The D250 did not have a touchpad at all for navigating the menu. Instead, it used  - and + buttons. While we're not fans of the touchpad, per se, we like it better than no four-way control at all. Overall, a price drop from $430 to $300 and better performance make the GR-D350 a much better buy.

Who It’s For
Point-and-Shooters *(7.0)*

The JVC GR-D350 has an Auto mode that will free the point-and-shoot user from ever needing to adjust a control setting or enter the menu structure. When switched into the auto mode, the camcorder will only give the user control over zoom levels, providing an extremely simple and wholly uncomplicated control setup.

Budget Consumers* (6.0)*

Priced at $300 MSRP, with manual control features which include focus, shutter speed, auto gain control, white balance, and exposure, the JVC GR-D350 is definitely an option for budget-minded consumers, especially given the fact that the video quality was better than that of the competition in this price range.

Still Photo / Video Camera Hybrid* (1.0)*

The hybrid user would best look elsewhere:  while the JVC GR-D350 does have a snapshot button that records still images, it saves them, in a 640 x 480 format, to MiniDV tape. There are no other still feature options available when shooting with this camcorder.

Gadget Freaks* (1.5)*

This is a standard, straight forward MiniDV camcorder with a budget price. No features distinguish this camcorder from the plethora of options in its price range with identical features and image parameters.

Manual Control Freaks* (4.0)*

The manual control freak on a budget could certainly find this camcorder a tempting option, considering its reasonable price and access to controls such as manual focus, white balance, exposure, shutter speed, and auto gain up. In addition, the GR-D350 also has superior video performance than the competition at this price.

Pros/ Serious Hobbyists* (2.0)*

Priced at MSRP $300, the JVC-GRD350 is not a camcorder intended for the serious hobbyist or professional.

Conclusion

Entry-level camcorders play an important role in any manufacturer’s line-up. This is where many consumers begin their search, and, if fancy features are not a necessity, this is where that search ends. All the major players have a model at or under $350; Canon and JVC have two.

At an MSRP of $300, the GR-D350 certainly delivers good video quality at bright light. In fact, we liked it slightly better than the competing models from Sony, Panasonic, and Canon. This was the only category where the D350 really shone, though. Handling took a dive with the inclusion of a four-way touchpad, which we don't like any better now than we did last year.  Low light performance also dragged down the overall score, with the D350 performing worse than any of the competing models.

In all, the D350 is not the well-rounded device that made the ZR500 such a favorite of ours, nor did it have the manual controls of the Panasonic models. True, the video performance was better, but a lot of other factors go into a great camcorder. We place the D350 smack in the middle of the entry-level spectrum, stronger than the Sony HC26 but weaker than several others.  

 

Specs/Ratings

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