Performance

The JVC GR-D395 uses a 1/6" CCD with 680K gross pixels (340K effective pixels), the standard specs for an entry-level camcorder. While the D395 is not the entry level JVC camcorder, it’s only a few steps up.

At 3000 lux, the D395 produced a relatively pale image. This seemed to be a result of strong greens and very low reds. The reds are particularly bad, and give colors that are supposed to be "pure red" a pinkish hue. On the plus side, the picture does not have much noise. This is particularly evident in the grey scale. It also looks sharp, which is more than what can be said for a lot of camcorders with these specs. The in-camera sharpening is noticeable, creating little halos along borders.

The JVC GR-D350 should have the same imager as the D395, and, therefore, a nearly identical image. While this held true for the apparent sharpness, fine detail, and noise, the colors were quite different. The D350 had a much more balanced color spectrum. A close reading of the RGB levels showed, as mentioned above, that the D395 had lower levels in the red channel across the board – too low. Both camcorders were shot under identical conditions, and the difference in performance must be one of manufacturing, or it indicates that they do not use the same imager. Users who might shed some light on the cause should please make use of the comments section below.

The Sony DCR-HC26, the company’s entry-level model, had a good deal more noise (as did most of the camcorders in this class). There was a general graininess across the entire image. Colors, however, were much stronger. The JVC could better make out fine detail.

The Canon ZR600 is the closest Canon in the price range to the GR-D395. We have not reviewed the ZR600, but we have looked at the ZR700, which has the same imager. The ZR700 did not look quite as sharp, though the comparison was close. The ZR700 was also noisier, but it had a healthier color balance.

The Panasonic PV-GS39 produced a much noisier image, a problem for low-end Panasonics this year. The  PV-GS3 was also not as sharp looking as the JVC. However, again, the color balance was better, and it was even heavy on the reds.

**Video Resolution ***(11.1)*

We tested the JVC GR-D395’s video resolution by shooting a standard ISO 12233 resolution chart and running stills from that footage through Imatest imaging software. In 4:3, the camcorder produced 381.6 lines of horizontal resolution (with an average clipping of 1.1%) and 290.7 lines of vertical resolution (with an average clipping of 0.76%), yielding an approximate resolution of 110931.12. In 16:9, the D395 produced 468.0 lines of horizontal resolution (with an average clipping of 1.25%) and 246.4 lines of vertical resolution (with an average clipping of 1.48%), yielding an approximate resolution of 115315.2.

Clipping occurs when Imatest cannot read a portion of the information, in this case because some of the black pixels along the edge of the black/white border bottomed out (R, G, and B channels all read zero), which was likely a result of in-camera sharpening. Clipping can sometimes cause problems with getting an accurate score.

The chart below shows that the GR-D295 fared favorably against the competition.

**Low Light Performance ***(3.4)*

JVC camcorders all feature an auto gain control, which they call AGC. Gain is a digital function that boosts the overall incoming signal. Doing so can improve performance in low light, but it also increases the noise within that signal. Nearly all camcorders have some sort of auto gain control, but JVC’s version is particularly potent and they allow you to turn it off. Because they ship camcorders with the AGC defaulted "on," we score them that way. Just for fun, we also show you the results with the AGC off.

At 60 lux, the GR-D395’s image with the AGC on is not great. The colors are dull and the noise levels are very high. The noise ran amok over a lot of the fine detail. There were also instances of blue noise, a particular problem that seems to plague some Sony camcorders. It seems that, despite the AGC, the small imager could not capture much light.

The 60 lux image with the AGC off is very dark. Black on white text is easy to recognize, but this is largely an unusable image.

The JVC GR-D350 was almost identical. Like in bright light (read the Video Performance section above), the D350 has a better color balance. In this lower light, the differences became less pronounced.

The Sony DCR-HC26 was much noisier, with dense clouds of black noise. The colors were still clearly recognizable, but the color differentiation began to wane. The Canon ZR700 produced stronger colors, though the noise was much more apparent: It was not as bad as the Sony, but apparent. The Panasonic PV-GS39 was also noisy, but it also had better color.

At 15 lux, the JVC GR-D395 lost most of its color information. Noise increased, but its color was the biggest loss. In 15 lux, with the AGC off, the image was essentially black. There was virtually no information in the image.

The JVC GR-D350 was nearly identical. The color levels that were noticeable at brighter light levels were completely overshadowed here at 15 lux. The Sony DCR-HC26 managed to produce bright whites, likely a result of its auto gain function. Nearly all the color was lost, however. The noise is terrible, but you can still make out a decent amount of detail in the image.

The Panasonic PV-GS39 produced very slightly better colors. Noise levels are higher, and there is less fine detail. The Canon ZR700 had stronger colors and slightly more detail. Noise levels were higher.

Overall, the GR-D395 performed as one would expect from a camcorder with entry-level specs. It’s not great, but it’s not the worst performer of the bunch, either. In any event, this is not a camcorder you want to rely on for proving that Bigfoot has been digging through your trash at night. For that (or anything else at night) you'll have to get a camcorder with a bigger imager. The GR-D395 will not perform.

Wide Angle* (9.2)*

We tested the D395 for its wide angle in both 4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratios. In 4:3, the camcorder showed a wide angle of 46 degrees. In 16:9, it had a wide angle of 54 degrees. This large increase in the width of the shooting field shows that the camcorder produces true wide angle, a real benefit for those with widescreen displays to watch footage on. However, the 2.5" LCD requires that the 16:9 image be squeezed into a 4:3 screen, and some of the information on the left and right gets cropped off. You’re recording it, but you’re not seeing it on the LCD.

Format

 

Compression* (8.0)*

The GR-D395 compresses video in standard DV compression, which has a bit rate of 25Mbps. This is still the best quality standard definition compression in the consumer realm. DVD camcorders only have a bit rate of 9Mbps.

Media* (8.0)*

The D395 records video to 8.35mm MiniDV cassettes, which are widely available in almost any store that sells blank media. MiniDV cassettes are great for archival, and they’re sturdy; unlike DVDs, you can drop them and not damage the data within. The main downside is that you must capture footage to a hard drive in realtime in order to edit.

Editing* (8.0)*

The D395 ships with a disc containing Digital Photo Navigator. You can use this software to copy your still photos and view them. None of the JVC MiniDV camcorders ships with any video editing software, except for the GR-X5, which was released last year. Fortunately, MiniDV footage is the easiest and most universally accepted video format for editing software to import. There are dozens of free and cheap rudimentary editing programs, and several more, like Avid Xpress or Adobe Premiere, that are advanced and costly.

Tour

The Front* (6.0)*

The JVC GR-D395 is not a bad looking camcorder, with a well-integrated body and a generally solid feel. At its front is a JVC Video Lens with a 32x optical zoom – the most powerful optical zoom on the consumer market until Samsung upped the ante with a 33x optical zoom on its entry level camcorders this year. The lens filter diameter is 27mm, and it has a 2.3mm to 73.6mm focal length. Ridges on the front rim of the lens hood suggest it’s a focus ring, but the ridges are purely cosmetic: the GR-D395 has no manual focus other the touchpad control.

The front portion of the camcorder, including the lens hood, is made of a reflective, silvery plastic that sets it off from the grey-metallic color of the body – and that some people might find to be gaudy. Below the lens and to the right is a small but powerful LED light that assists with illumination in very dark settings, and the camera sensor (used during auto adjustments) is just below the light. At the base of the camcorder’s front is the on-board stereo microphone.

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

The right side of the GR-D395 is relatively plain, and the only control is the Mode switch, located at the camcorder’s back end about a third of the way down the body. It extends out slightly from the main body, and is oriented towards the user. Just above the switch is a small Power/Charge indicator light that glows red when the camcorder is on but does not indicate whether it is in Record or Play mode. In the upper center of the right side is an oblong plastic cover that serves no purpose on this model. Below this grey plastic cover is the tape compartment door, occupying about half of this side’s surface area but opening from the camcorder’s base.

A hand strap extends from back to front along the lower third of the right side, and it is relatively poorly padded in comparison to Sony and Samsung’s hand straps. Skimping on the strap seems a poor choice because its deficiencies are immediately evident as soon as you slip your hand into a shooting grip. A few extra manufacturing dollars would be well spent here – especially when you consider that the right side of the GR-D395 doesn’t rest well in the palm. As a final blow, the tape compartment door feels and looks flimsy and underengineered, and does not help with the tactile aesthetics of this model. In terms of design, this side of the camcorder is certainly its weak point.

**The Back ***(5.5)*

By far the most prominent feature of the GR-D395’s back is the battery, which is twice as large as most consumer camcorder batteries. It’s a whopper, and extends back from the camcorder over an inch, adding a good deal of heft and ungainliness to an otherwise fairly standard-looking device. Aesthetics aside, the battery also makes using the viewfinder, located directly above, just about useless. While the viewfinder can be extended, it does not come close to clearing the battery. This has the unfortunate consequence of forcing you to press your cheekbone flat against the battery if you do decide to use the viewfinder.

The viewfinder itself feels flimsy when extended – as though a bump could break it off. Like those found on most consumer camcorders, it is uncomfortable to use for long periods of time, due to the hard plastic eyepiece. This is a shame, as the .33" screen’s quality is quite good. When extended, the viewfinder has a diopter adjustment on top which is easier to use than most. The battery release is just to the right of the viewfinder’s lower right corner.

Also on the camcorder’s right, about a third of the way down, are the Record button and Mode switch. The Record button is silver, and not well-labeled, so, despite its placement under the thumb, it’s easy for a new user to overlook. The Mode switch just to the right of it is also thumb operated and has three settings: Rec, Play, and Off. A tiny blue button at its back releases the switch so that it can be toggled between modes. The switch is easy to use, but very small: people with large hands may have a tough time operating it without accidentally hitting the Record button. The mode dials on many Sony camcorders, in contrast, do not require such fine finger control. Also, the switch has a tendency to fall back to the "off" position if jarred.

At the base of the GR-D395’s back is a port cover for the DC jack, on the left, and an AV port on the right. The large port cover protecting the DC jack is attached by a slender piece of plastic that would easily snap, but it is at least long enough to move the cover well clear of the port.

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

When it comes to controls, most of the action on the GR-D395 is located on the left side, which also houses the 2.5" LCD screen. There is one button above the screen, just forward of the viewfinder – a large Auto button. The rest of the controls and ports reside in the LCD cavity, beginning with a circular touch pad at its top center. This multicontrol functions as a VCR interface and menu navigator, and provides quick access to manual focus, Night mode, Backlight (BLC), and quick tape review. For a controller that plays so many roles, it is surprisingly easy to use, partly because it’s large and has a raised surface with some tactile information. In the center of the touch pad is the Set/Data button, used for menu selection and data transfer when the camcorder is connected to a PC.

The other buttons in the LCD cavity are disconcertingly small and arranged vertically to the right of the touch pad. From top down, they are 16:9/Blank search, Menu, and Light/Index. The all-important menu button, in particular, is poorly labeled (the label is embossed on the button rather than in black text) and undersized. To the right of these buttons is the SD card slot. Its large port fit poorly on our test camcorder and perpetually bulged out, which raised questions about the D395’s manufacturing quality as a whole. To the left of the touch pad is a blue toggle switch for recording media, allowing users to select either Video or Memory. In the bottom left of the LCD cavity are USB and DV ports.

The LCD screen is bright and undersized – since a 2.7" LCD is becoming standard – and it does not support 16:9. This means that, when the camcorder is in 16:9 mode, the image on the LCD is squeezed to fit the 4:3 frame. This is a serious drawback when it comes to framing shots in 16:9 mode, as the LCD also crops a few degrees all around from what the CCD is actually capturing. You’re shooting more than you think. The LCD extends to 90 degrees from the camcorder body, rotates through 270 degrees, and folds into its cavity for monitoring from the left. The LCD hinge, like other mechanical parts on the GR-D395, seems underengineered, and may be prone to breakage.

The Top* (7.5)*

The top of the GR-D395 features only two controls: a zoom toggle slider and a Snapshot/Slow button, both located near the camcorder’s back and operated with the index finger. The zoom toggle is exceptionally poorly designed. It is a slider rather than a raised toggle, which offers less fine control, but its orientation is an even greater liability. The slider is oriented straight along the top of the camcorder, whereas a user’s index finger naturally meets the toggle at an angle. Operating this slider effectively requires bending the index finger uncomfortably. Competing camcorders from Samsung, Panasonic and Sony all feature toggles that allow operation without strain. The Snapshot/Slow button is just below the zoom toggle, and functional, and poorly labeled.

 

Auto/Manual Controls

Picture & Manual Control
Automatic Control (7.0)

At first glance, the JVC GR-D395 is a camcorder designed for the Auto-oriented user, and one of the most prominent external features is the large silver Auto button located above the LCD cavity. Pressing this button switches the camcorder into full auto mode, and its location means it’s always easily accessible rather than buried in a menu. But, for a camcorder seemingly geared towards people who want their camera to take care of image quality, the GR-D395 is a sub-par performer.

The first place the GR-D395 falls short is in its auto focus (AF) abilities. Designing a camcorder that snaps quickly into focus as the framing and distance from the subject changes is vital, and it is not an easy engineering feat. Camera operators know what the most important information in the frame is, but a camcorder’s processor can only make an educated guess. In bright light, this is less likely to be a problem, but in low light, even much more expensive camcorders have trouble and tend to search for focus or "breathe" in and out of focus. This JVC had a hard time finding a focal point even in moderate light that other camcorders can handle. For someone who intends to shoot indoors in Auto mode, poor AF performance like this could be a big problem.

The other major Auto mode shortcoming was the Aperture adjustment, which responded slowly. While Auto aperture adjustments are always noticeable as a camcorder responds to changing light levels, manufacturers strive to make these shifts less distracting. The most successful auto aperture adjustments react in-sync with lighting changes and are visually fairly seamless. The JVC GR-D395 reacts slowly to changes in light level, resulting in an aperture adjustment lag that can be jarring. When we panned the camcorder quickly from an indoor shot to a brightly lit exterior view, the image appeared completely blown out requiring several seconds to close down the shutter. From a camera with a large button to facilitate Auto mode use, we would expect better.

Another drawback of Auto mode on this camcorder is that is curtails access to the menu, including Program AE (Auto Exposure) presets like sports and digital effects like Sepia – something that is common to many consumer camcorders, including Sonys. While you can certainly make use of all these menu features in Manual mode, enabling users to pick and choose from the camcorder’s preset options in Auto would make them less intimidating.

The GR-D395 does offer an extensive selection of digital effects, including Sepia, Monotone, Classic, and, interestingly, Strobe. There are also many exposure settings that are useful in difficult lighting situations, including Sports, which increases shutter speed to reduce fast motion blurring, Snow, which compensates for very bright surroundings, Spotlight, which compensates for darker surroundings, and Twilight, for dark environments. This camcorder also features Auto Gain Control (AGC) which brightens the video image automatically in dark environments.

*The touch pad, located in the LCD cavity (left). On the right, the mode dial. *

Overall Manual Control (6.0)

The JVC GR-D395 has numerous manual control features, offering much more than Sony’s HC line. Canon’s Elura 100 offers a host of presets and more manual controls, but it still falls short of this JVC. Of the camcorders mentioned in this article, only the Panasonic PV-GS59 sports superior manual features. One of the positive aspects of this JVC’s manual control set is its accessibility. Manual focus, which will be the most commonly utilized manual control on a typical shoot, is accessible via an external button. The Function Menu which provides access to the balance of the manual control feature set is reached via the Function Menu, and the large touchpad serves as an efficient means of menu navigation. After selecting a given manual control in the Function Menu, users can adjust it using the same touchpad. This method of manual control access is faster and less convoluted than Sony’s touch screen system, and it is more user-friendly than the Elura’s poorly executed joystick. For users who appreciate good manual controls and like the GR-D395’s other good features, like the 32x optical zoom, this camcorder may make a solid choice.

The Main Menu is divided into five categories

The Function sub-menu

The Setting sub-menu

Zoom (6.0)

With a powerful 32x optical zoom, the JVC GR-D395 is bound to appeal to users who want to get close to the action: bird watchers shooting nesting eagles from a distance, parents recording a child’s performances from the back of the auditorium, or private investigators (and others…) videotaping subjects from a distance. In addition, the LCD screen is sharp and bright, enabling the user to achieve decent focus without squinting. Unfortunately, a poorly designed zoom toggle detracts from one of this camcorder’s standout features.

The toggle has a slider design, which is inherently inferior to the more common rocker design found on competing camcorders. While the slider on the GR-D395 does not protrude much out from the camcorder body, it seems to offer less fine control over zoom speed than rocker-type toggles. Making matters worse is the fact that gripping the camcorder’s right side orients the slider at a 90 degree angle to the user’s hand. The index finger naturally rests at an angle to the toggle slider, so operating it requires cocking the index finger in a cramped position. Simply rotating the slider slightly down the camcorder’s right side would have done wonders in terms of alleviating this problem. In its current iteration, the GR-D395’s 32x optical zoom is not nearly as impressive when its ergonomically-challenged zoom toggle is part of the equation.

Zoom Power/Ratio (32.0)

The GR-D395 has an impressive optical zoom: 32x. This zoom is powerful, and it is surpassed in the consumer camcorder category only by a few Samsungs, such as the SC-DC365 which has a 33x optical zoom but poorer video performance. For people who consider an optical zoom to be of primary importance in their camcorder purchase, this JVC is a good choice. However, they must view the zoom power in the context of a poorly designed zoom toggle that makes achieving finely tuned zoom movements more difficult than on other camcorders, including the Samsung. If you’re willing to work with this shortcoming, JVC’s GR camcorders are the best option on the market for 30x-plus optical zoom consumer camcorders. The GR-D395 also includes a digital zoom that maxes out at 800x, and can be set to off, capped at 64x, or left at the full 800x.

Focus (4.0)

The Focus control on the top of the touch pad, which also serves as the Play/Pause button in playback mode, accesses Manual focus. Rewind and Fast Forward - left and right on the touchpad respectively - make manual focus adjustments. While there is no visual aid to assist in metering the focal point, there are icons that flash to indicate when you have reached the camcorder’s focal limit. In addition, the LCD flashes the manual focus icons [a man, two arrows, and a mountain (naturally)] when information in the image is low in contrast. As the user’s manual helpfully explains, the GR-D395 (and other camcorders) will struggle to focus in low contrast situations when manual focus will achieve better results. The indicator serves as a guide for people who are not confident in their own ability to judge when manual focus is appropriate – or shorthand for users who want to use manual focus only when auto can’t do the job.

Exposure (Aperture) (4.5)

Auto exposure and the remaining manual controls are located in the Function menu. The touchpad can be used to adjust a seven point Exposure Value (EV) scale, ranging from +0EV to +2.0EV. EV is a measure of any combination of aperture and shutter speed that results in the same exposure. Like other camcorders that use an EV scale for image adjustment, the GR-D395 automatically combines aperture and shutter speed adjustments to achieve a given EV, and exposure thus qualifies as a partially automatic control. As such, this camcorder’s EV-based adjustment does not provide as much control as separate adjustments for aperture and shutter speed, features which are found only on the Panasonic PV-GS59 in this price range. Nonetheless, the EV scale is easy to use and will serve most shooting situations well.

The GR-D395 does provide an Iris Lock feature, which takes an Auto Exposure reading based on the whole frame and locks the iris at that aperture. Similarly, there is a Spot Metering function that creates a small frame that you can move center, center-left, and center-right, but not up or down. By default, the camcorder will auto-adjust exposure for the selected region of the frame, but Spot Metering can also be locked. When Iris Lock is used in conjunction with the shutter speed adjustments below, the result is a short-hand version of separate aperture and shutter speed controls.

*Shutter Speed (6.0) *

There are several manual shutter speed adjustments available on the GR-D395: 1/60, 1/100, 1/500, and 1/4000. Although there is no way to manually slow the shutter speed below the standard 1/30, the camcorder will automatically slow the shutter speed based on available light in NightAlive mode.

White Balance (7.0)

In addition to manual white balance, there are two presets – one for overcast days and one for sunlight. Having presets for both outdoor lighting situations is a good thing, but, curiously, the GR-D395 has no indoor white balance presets. It’s common to see more indoor presets--for incandescent and fluorescent lighting--in a consumer camcorder.

Choosing the MWB option in the menu and pressing the Set button in the center of the touch pad sets the manual white balance. When the new white balance has been set successfully, the onscreen icon stops flashing. Manual white balance worked well, was easy to access, and produced good color balance in a variety of lighting situations.

Gain (1.0)

All JVC’s offer AGC, or automatic gain control, which boosts the signal to produce a brighter image in low light. AGC also produces a grainier image, which is a typical byproduct when gain is boosted. But overall it’s a surprisingly effective (read more in Low Light Performance below). The chief drawback is, of course, that this is not a manual control. You cannot set gain levels. You can only turn the auto gain on and off. Hence, we gave it a 1.0 score. There is a second AGC mode, Auto A, which combines AGC with an auto slow shutter speed. This, too, can only be turned on or off. You cannot set gain levels or the shutter speed.

Other Manual Control (0.0)

The GR-D395 does not feature any other manual controls.

Still Features

Still Features* (5.0)*

The GR-D395 is a camcorder with the ability to take still photos, but those stills are going to be small, with a maximum resolution of 640x480 pixels. It can capture photos to an SD Memory Card or MMC, in either Fine or Standard quality. JVC refers to this camcorder’s stills as snapshots rather than photos, and, though the distinction is semantic, they deserve credit for not overselling unimpressive still photo capabilities. The GR-D395 cannot capture snapshots to MiniDV tape.

A slot in the LCD cavity protects memory cards; a port protects it but, on our test unit, fit poorly. Taking snapshots requires setting the Video/Memory toggle in the LCD cavity to Memory, which automatically activates still mode. Still photos can be played back consecutively using the Reverse/Fast Forward buttons, as a slideshow, or browsed in thumbnail mode. The GR-D395 supports DPOF printing, and playback zoom is possible using the remote control. Finally, the DSC (Digital Still Capture) menu formats or erases memory cards.

Precious few camcorders in this class offer much in the way of still features. A 640 x 480 still is generally the limit in terms of resolution. Occasionally, that number may rise. The Elura 100 offers still capture up to 1152 x 864.But even if these camcorders did offer more features, you wouldn't want to take advantage of them. Camcorders are simply not designed to take still images. One look at a camcorder's still next to a dedicated still camera's photo will tell you all you need to know.

Still Resolution* (1.2)*

We tested the JVC GR-D395’s still resolution by shooting a standard ISO 12233 chart and running those stills through Imatest imaging software. At its best, the GR-D395 produced a resolution of 124297.81. The chart below shows that the camcorder is right in line with other camcorders in its class.

Still Performance* (2.5)*

The JVC GR-D395’s stills, thankfully, did not suffer from the same poor color performance as the video did. This is not unusual, as the still performance and video performance can be miles apart on many camcorders. The stills from the D395, however, are no great accomplishment. The picture is quite noisy, noisier than the video. There is also a good deal of blue noise, which does not bode well for stills in less than ideal light. If blue noise is present at 3000 lux, you can bet that it will get worse in low light. At a maximum resolution of only 640 x 480, the stills did not look much sharper than the video.

Comparatively, the JVC GR-D350 is very similar. There is a slight shift towards the reds, while the D395 has more blues. The Sony DCR-HC26 has much more vivid color, but it did not do as well capturing fine detail. Color balance was better, and it had much brighter whites and a wider dynamic range in the grey scale.

The Canon ZR700 produced an image with colors just as bad as the D395. The grey scale looks good, but the colors are pale and just look terrible. Noise levels are high. Because the ZR700 captures at a higher resolution of 1024 x 768 (so does the ZR600), it can capture more detail--but a larger image with bad colors and heavy noise is hardly an improvement. The Panasonic PV-GS39’s stills are just terrible – bad colors, very high noise, and a generally fuzzy look.

Handling and Use

Ease of Use* (5.0)*

For a camcorder with a decent number of manual features, the GR-D395 succeeds in keeping those features both close at hand and easy to understand and adjust. For a camcorder that is geared towards point-and-shooters, this is an important characteristic. Manual controls that are accessible and easy to use are less intimidating than they might otherwise be, making it more likely that novices using this camcorder will try out manual control features like focus and exposure control – and become better shooters.

Sony’s engineers seem almost hostile to the idea that an average user would want to control their camcorder manually, and bury controls like focus in an encyclopedic list-style menu. To make matters worse, many manual controls in the Sony HC series are set in-menu, so achieving a good image can feel like programming a computer. To its credit, Sony excels at producing camcorders that perform very well in Auto mode and are exceptionally easy to use.

There are, of course, other approaches to designing a manual control interface: Panasonic’s joystick-based controls are comparable in terms of approachability to the JVC, and Samsung provides a Quick Menu button on its SC-D365, which brings up a host of manual controls with one push. As a good camera on which to learn manual controls, the GR-D395 is near the top of the pack.

The camcorder also ships with an extremely long life battery that means fewer battery changes, and it has a battery level checker that is second-to-none.

In other respects, the GR-D395 falls short. Its zoom toggle is poorly designed and ergonomically challenged, so performing accurate zoom movements is not as easy as on the other camcorders mentioned in this article. Its tape compartment is bottom-loading, so changing tapes is impossible when it’s tripod mounted. And, although it features a prominent Auto button that puts the camcorder in full-auto mode, performance in auto is relatively poor, as it makes aperture and focus adjustments slowly. In other words, in a low-contrast situation where the Sony HC26 could still capture a good image, the JVC GR-D395 will likely struggle. Thus, the range of environments in which this camcorder can perform well in Auto mode is narrow, necessitating more reliance on manual controls. It’s a good thing this JVC has a user-friendly manual control interface – users of this camera will need to resort to it more often than they might hope.

Handling* (6.5)*

The GR-D395 looks and handles like most other consumer camcorders, but, as they say, the devil is in the details. Compared to the other camcorders mentioned in this review, the JVC is not comfortable to grip or operate due to an underpadded hand strap and a zoom toggle positioned just out of comfortable index-finger reach. The viewfinder, like others on the market, is difficult to use with a small, uninviting, hard plastic eyepiece. Yet, because the GR-D395’s viewfinder does not extend beyond the battery, it’s even more difficult to use than most.

Control access is generally good and the touchpad makes for efficient menu navigation. Unfortunately, many important buttons are located inside the LCD cavity and therefore, are inaccessible when using the viewfinder. Then again, few users would find any reason to use the GR-D395’s viewfinder, given its incompatibility with the bulky long-life battery.

This is not a camcorder to choose for its excellent handling. Relative to the feel-good Sony HC26, the elegant Canon Elura 100, or the manual-friendly Panasonic PV-GS39. The GR-D395 is an ergonomic ugly duckling, albeit one with an optical zoom that leaves the others in the dust.

Portability* (8.5)*

The D395 measures 59 x 94 x 114mm (2 5/16" x 3 11/16" x 4 1/2") and 480g (1.06 lbs.) with the battery and tape. Compared to camcorders of the same price and class, this runs on the small side. You could almost fit it in your pocket if not for the enormous battery, which juts out more than an inch beyond the viewfinder.

The mode dial on the rear right side has the unfortunate tendency to shift between modes with only a light touch, and it could potentially turn on and off inside a purse or bag without your knowledge. Beyond those issues, it’s a very portable little machine.

LCD/Viewfinder* (7.5)*

The LCD screen on the GR-D395 measures 2.5" and produces a relatively bright and sharp image. As with most consumer camcorders with a similar shape, the screen opens to 90 degrees from the camcorder body, swivels through 270 degrees, and folds LCD-out into its cavity to permit monitoring from the left side. Pulling at the screen’s back edge, at a scalloped indentation in the camcorder body, opens it. Framing for 16:9 mode is especially difficult because this is a 4:3 aspect ratio display. In 16:9 mode, the image is squeezed horizontally and, due to poor design, it is also slightly cropped horizontally and vertically on the LCD screen. This means that framing properly while shooting in widescreen entails learning the limitations of the LCD’s 16:9 display through trial and error. This camcorder’s widescreen capability suffers considerably from the fact that JVC hasn’t equipped it with a widescreen capable LCD.

A +/- 5 scale in the menu adjusts the LCD screen’s brightness. This feature may be useful in either very dark shooting situations where a bright LCD could be distracting or very bright situations where users want to avoid solarization.

The GR-D395 also has a .33" electronic color viewfinder. Its image quality resembles that of the LCD screen. The viewfinder extends from the camcorder body and is clearly supposed to extend beyond the battery pack. This camcorder, however, ships with an extremely long-life battery that the viewfinder doesn’t clear. The long-life battery is a great addition to this camcorder, but it renders the viewfinder practically useless for hand-held shooting. If JVC had simply enabled the viewfinder to hinge upwards as well as extend, it would have retained its utility. Sadly, today’s world is one in which camcorder manufacturers increasingly treat viewfinders as vestigial organs and put all their eggs in the LCD basket. In the case of the GR-D395, JVC mated a huge battery with a camcorder whose viewfinder was not designed for it.

Battery Life* (18.2)*

The GR-D395 ships with the BN-VF714U battery. We tested the battery for its duration by shooting continuously with the LCD open, the image stabilization on, and no zoom or manual control engaged. In total, the battery lasted an incredible 182 minutes and 4 seconds (3 hours, 2 minutes, and 4 seconds). This unusual battery life is thanks to the extended life battery pack, which is a premium add-on for stepping up to the D395. The entry level D350 ships with the BN-VF707U, which we tested at the much shorter life of 112 minutes.

The ultra-long life of the battery is the sole distinguishing feature of this camcorder, and if that's good enough for you - great. Congratulations, your search has ended. But we recommend finding a camcorder with stronger performance and tossing an extra battery into the bag.

Audio/Playback/Connectivity

Audio* (4.0)*

The GR-D395 has a typically restricted feature set for a consumer camcorder – onboard stereo mics, in-camera dubbing, and wind cut. There is no external microphone jack, so the quality of recorded audio will be only as good as the GR-D395’s small front-mounted mic can muster. With such a dearth of options, audio recording is correspondingly simple.

The camcorder provides two audio quality settings: 16 bit and lower quality 12 bit. For most circumstances, 16 bit is preferable, but the camcorder does support in-camera dubbing when audio has been recorded in 12 bit mode. This kind of dubbing is another vestigial feature, left over from the days when many amateur video-makers edited in-camera. Today, inexpensive or free NLE’s (Non-linear Editors) like iMovie and Avid Free DV have made in-camera editing little more than a quaint left-over. That said, the dub feature could be useful, when sound quality is not vital, as a way to add voice-over notes or observations to recorded video footage, especially in the field.

Wind Cut, a feature in the menu, helps to reduce the buffeting noise of wind. When Wind Cut is on, it electronically reduces some of the low-end sound characteristic of wind noise. As a result, recorded audio with Wind Cut on will be of reduced quality, and this feature should only be used when necessary.

VCR Mode* (6.5)*

VCR mode is quite straightforward on the GR-D395, benefiting from a generally intuitive user-interface and the large, easy to use touchpad in the LCD cavity. Turning the mode switch to Play accesses playback mode. Switching into Play mode from video mode is slow, taking several seconds more than in most other camcorders.

The large touchpad serves as the VCR controller, and it is marked with familiar icons. Moving clockwise from the top of the touchpad, they are Play/Pause, Fast Forward, Stop, and Reverse. The GR-D395 also features a useful Blank Search button (serving as the 16:9 button in Record mode) that searches forward for the next blank section on the tape. This feature offers a quick way of finding the tape’s next blank section automatically.

The VCR menu

Ports* (4.5)*

The GR-D395’s ports are located on its lower back and inside the LCD cavity. The uncovered AV out port occupies the lower right hand corner. To its left, a plastic cover protects the DC port is. The port cover is relatively difficult to remove or replace, and much larger than it needs to be. Its size led us to wonder why JVC elected not to accommodate the AV port beneath the same cover, since even ill-fitting protection is better then none. Ports for USB and DV (Firewire) connections occupy the bottom right side of the LCD cavity. A card slot is located on the upper right edge of the LCD cavity, protected by a port cover that didn’t stay shut on our test unit.

Other Features

Widescreen/16:9 Mode* (6.5)*

Switching the D395 between 4:3 and 16:9 is a simple process, thanks to an external button in the LCD cavity. Unfortunately, the camcorder does not have a widescreen LCD. The screen is 2.5" and 4:3 in its aspect ratio. This is a real shame, as the camcorder does shoot in true 16:9 widescreen. You just can’t see it. In addition to the horizontal squeeze the picture undergoes when it is displayed, the LCD is poorly manufactured and crops the image several degrees smaller than the CCD is actually capturing. While there is always some discrepancy between the actual capture and the LCD display, the D395 is particularly bad.

Scan Rates/24p* (0.0)*

The camcorder does not have any additional scan rates beyond its 60i native rate.

Other Features* (7.5)*
*Data Battery *- Among the strong points of the JVC GR-D395 is its Data Battery feature, which is the best battery level indicator on the consumer camcorder market. The Data Battery system is accessed only while the camcorder is switched off by pressing ad holding the Set/Data button in the center of the touchpad. After a few seconds, a battery power display including percentage of charge used and remaining operating life appears. This measurement is both more detailed and more accurate than any other battery power display available on the consumer market, and better than many prosumer or higher systems.

LED Light - A bright LED light is located at the front of the GR-D395 just below the lens. It can be set to Off, Auto or On and is primarily useful as an assist for zero lux situations where no other illumination is available. In combination with AGC gain control, and Night Alive, the LED light offers a variety of options for shooting in low light.

Live Slow - Live Slow enables the user to record and playback footage at a slower than normal speed. Live Slow only operates for 1.5 seconds when it has been activated in either Record or Play modes.

Night-Alive - Night-Alive is JVC’s automatic slow shutter speed adjustment. Night-Alive cannot be adjusted manually and will produce brighter images that do not suffer from gain-induced noise. While using Night-Alive, the GR-D395’s ability to auto focus is compromised so manual focus and a tripod are necessary to achieve the best image quality.

AGC (Auto Gain Control) - AGC is the JVC GR-D395’s automatic gain control feature and increases the brightness of the recorded image electronically. Images recorded with AGC enabled can look far grainier then images recorded in normal mode, and are a useful addition to eh camcorder’s decent low-light performance in normal mode..

Digital Image Stabilization - The GR-D395 features digital Image stabilization, a common feature that helps to stabilize the video image and is particularly helpful for reducing hand shake. Digital image stabilization has an impact on video image quality, and is inferior to the analog optical image stabilization systems found on more expensive camcorders.

*Wipe and Fader Effects *- The JVC GR-D395 includes four in-camcorder fader effects that can be applied while recording to the beginning and ending of clips. The wipe and fader effects are listed in the function menu and should only be used when the footage is not going to be edited on a computer-based system. Editing programs like Apple iMovie and Avid Free DV offer more and better wipe and fader effects than are available in this or any other in-camcorder function set. Nonetheless, these effects could do the trick in a pinch.

Video Effects - Video effects for the JVC GR-D395 are found in the function menu while in manual mode and include settings for Sepia, Monotone B/W, Classic, and Strobe. These effects aren’t new – and pale in comparison to what can be done in post – but some users will have fun with them.

Comparisons/Conclusion

Comparison
JVC GR-D350
The step-down cousin of the GR-D395 – the JVC GR-D350 – is a similar camcorder, stripped of some major features, such as 16:9 mode and still photo mode. The core specs are the same, though, as is the majority of the body. Both models use a 1/6" CCD and boast a 32x zoom. The D350 loses the USB port, supporting only a DV connection for transferring footage to a PC. All in all, you get much more camcorder for the money with the $370 GR-D395 over the $300 GR-D350. Our advice in this comparison is to forgo a dinner out and spring for the GR-D395.

Sony DCR-HC26
We found many of the GR-D395’s design flaws to be annoying – the badly designed zoom toggle, uncomfortable hand-holding, and poorly fitting port covers – all areas in which the HD26 does well. Video performance is a toss-up between the two camcorders – Sony’s bright light performance is better, but the JVC is better in low light, and offers more low light options. When it comes to features overall, however, the GR-D395 comes out well ahead of the Sony HC26 with a stronger zoom, better manual controls, and a huge (both in size and operating time) battery. Despite an MSRP $20 higher at $370, the advantage lies with the GR-D395.

Canon ZR600
The ZR600 ($349 MSRP) is Canon’s middle child in the ZR line, between the ZR500 and ZR700. While we’ve had a chance to review both these models, the ZR600 has thus far eluded our grasp. This year’s ZRs feature identical imagers and are differentiated only by add-ons. In addition to the 1/6" CCD, the ZR600 offers 1024 x 768 stills, and shutter speed control. The ZR600 (safely assuming that it does perform the same as the other ZRs) will have slightly better video performance and low light performance than the JVC GR-D395.

Panasonic PV-GS39
The JVC GR-D395 and Panasonic PV-GS39 share much in common, which is not surprising since both companies are owned by Matsushita, and tend to produce camcorders with more manual controls than other manufacturers. The JVC’s optical zoom is slightly more powerful at 32x vs. 30x, and it offers a few features not found on the Panasonic such as Data Battery. But the PV-GS39 excels in most of the areas the JVC falls short. It’s joystick interface is better, placed on the camcorder’s back and enabling one-handed operation; it's top-loading, facilitating tape changes while affixed to a tripod; it doesn’t suffer from ergonomic issues with a great zoom toggle and comfortable hand strap; and its manual control feature set is better, including f-stop exposure adjustment vs. an EV-based scale. All in all, the Panasonic PV-GS39 is a more refined product, and it’s initial MSRP of $349 makes it a better deal than the $370 GR-D395.

Canon Elura 100
The Canon Elura 100 ($399 MSRP) is the best of what’s available in the under $500 MiniDV market. With a bigger than average 1/5" CCD, crisp, vivid, and well-balanced video performance, and solid low light performance. The Elura also gives you lots of options – useful options – like a mic input, analog-to-digital, and manual shutter speed and aperture control. Rarely does a camcorder this good come along at so low a price. Don’t miss a chance to check it out at your locally-owned electronics store.

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

The D395 is great for point-and-shooters, with a prominently displayed Auto button on the left side. The menu is pretty clear and straightforward. A novice could shoot with this.

Budget Consumers* (5.0)*

At $370 (MSRP), the D395 is certainly within the range of the bargain shopper. The extra-long life battery is also a pretty good bonus. If this is an attractive camcorder to you but the large battery is off-putting, check out the next model up, the GR-D396, which ships with two smaller batteries.

Still Photo / Video Camera Hybrid* (1.0)*

Maxing out at 640 x 480, the D395 is no competition for a dedicated still camera. Even if size is not important to you, the stills are of poor quality.

Gadget Freaks* (1.5)*

There are no gadgets to speak of on this camcorder. It captures moving pictures. If you just joined us from the Victorian era, hey! This device might really floor you. (Sound recording technology, too!)

Manual Control Freaks* (4.0)*

JVC generally has a decent manual control set, close to but not matching Panasonic’s. Shutter speed control, Auto Gain Control on/off, exposure control, and Iris Lock.

Pros/ Serious Hobbyists* (2.0)*

Most serious hobbyists would not be interested in a camcorder with such mediocre specs.

Conclusion

The JVC GR-D395 is a camcorder with some very attractive features that are not found on many other camcorders. Yet its strengths are counterbalanced by some serious weaknesses which could have been avoided if the design team had taken more interest in usability. For the average point and shooter, the GR-D395 is a workable choice, but other camcorders are easier to use and perform generally better in Auto mode. It suffers from slow automatic focus and exposure, which are arguably the most important image adjustments. The Panasonic PV-GS59 and Sony DCR-HC36 both perform better in full-auto mode. Yes, this is an easy camcorder to use, with a big one-touch Auto button, but if it can’t deliver the goods, why bother?

The GR-D395 has a decent suite of manual controls, efficiently accessed via the menu button, function submenu, and touchpad. For users who are comfortable using interface buttons that are out of sight on the camcorder’s left side, and don’t mind using two hands to navigate options, this camcorder is a friendly and capable tool. The touchpad won’t be for everyone – while it does have a raised surface allowing a practiced user to operate by touch, we favor joysticks which offer better control for most people. Locating the navigation controls at the camcorder’s back, like Panasonic’s joystick, make one-handed manual operation possible. Sony’s text-based touch screen can be efficient once you’ve learned its extensive hierarchy, but it is a poor interface for tracking picture quality (lots of greasy fingerprints).

In addition, the GR-D395 has some ergonomic and design flaws that take the camcorder down a few notches aesthetically and ergonomically. Hand held shooting is uncomfortable by virtue of a thinly padded hand strap, and the zoom toggle is inferior. Poorly fitting port covers on our unit raised questions about JVC’s quality control while we found the bottom-loading tape compartment inconvenient.

But certain users will still find this quirky camcorder attractive for a few reasons. It combines decent video performance with a 32x optical zoom. It has a great 3-hour battery that beats every other consumer camcorder on the market, and it has a useful battery life meter. Low light performance is bolstered by JVC’s powerful Auto Gain Control. In the end, getting the most out of the GR-D395 requires a thorough knowledge of what the camcorder can do and what it can’t, and the ability to work within these constraints. Others will find the rather strong surveillance capabilities attractive (33x zoom, low light options). But the majority of users would be likely be better served by cameras that don’t require so many trade-offs.

If you're still stuck between the JVC GR-D395, the Panasonic PV-GS39, and the Canon Elura 100, let us put your mind at ease. The Canon Elura 100 comes out the strong winner. The core essentials of a camcorder - performance, handling, manual controls, and ease of use - are all of the highest quality in the Elura 100. Sure the GR-D395 has a great battery, but it takes more than that to become champion in the Iron Camcorder Stadium.

 

 

Specs/Ratings

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