JVC GR DX77 as they say is a 'celebrity' camcorder. It also ideal for paparazis. The miniature size is the key feature. I feel it is smaller than the compareable mini Dv models of other makes. It is less than 4x4 inches, lxh and 3 inches wide. Yes I own one for the last 8 months.
To summarize the basic features, it got an 12x optical and 700x digital zoom. Media is mini DV, and stills can be recorded in tape or in media card. The CCD is single with around .8 mp. The LCD is 2.5 inches, the picture is for sure better than that of a Sony of my friend. The veiw finder is color. The controls are very simple and user friendly. The camera menu is also very stright forward. And features? You say it, it is there.
It got AV, S video input output, Firewire connection, MPEG video format, MPEG4 for email clip recording, a selection of faders and formats, audio dubbing ( require remote control), night shot (not as efficient as the sony), backlight function etc etc..
Another mentionable feature is built in light. My piece have 3 LEDs, but in some literatures they say 4. It got an array of manual settings, still you dont have to worry about all these complicated things as the automatic mode does the job well (some what). Then what is lacking? Only simple things. The battery is very small and have only a little more than one hour recording time. It become shorter if you use the LCD and frequently engage the zoom buttons.
So you can't cover the entire expediction to the wild. ( Buy an additional battery pack with extra time- 3 hrs. But I dont have it) If you rerecord on a cassette the pictures appear more pixalated. I don't know if it is a universal problem or not. The MPEG out put is of very large file size and you need to compress them before you burn the CD.
Your burning program (mine is nero) will do the job, but will take ages. A 45 mnt recording took 3 hrs and 17 mts. ( partly to my humble Celeron 500 Mhz) And they dont provide a carry bag - very bad. My friend's Sony have a decent carry bag.
Then why I still dont recommend it? This particular model have an innate problem. The camera gets zoomed out completely at times when you switch it on. I had this problem starting as an occasional trouble and progressing to an all time headache and useless. I had to send it back to US from where it was bought but still have the trouble occasionaly.
Visiting the user sites I learned that lot many others also have the same issue. So better wait till the company come up with a debugged version, or your $600 (Rs 29,000)will be in tears. If the problem were not there, this could have been an ultimate amateur camcorder.
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