The JVC GR-X5 is a new addition to JVC’s line of high-end 3CCD consumer camcorders. The camera features a unique cube-like design and a rear mounted LCD. The imaging power of the GR-X5 is provided by three 1/4.5-inch CCD’s and a 10x optical zoom lens. The camcorder also features an impressive still image mode which is advertised as being comparable to a 5 megapixel still camera.
Look and Feel
The first thing you notice about the camera is its unique cube-like design and small size. The GR-X5 appears as though it may be hard to grasp and keep steady but the small size of the camera allows you to get a firm grip and by using both hands the camcorder can be easily steadied. The Mini-DV camera fits well in your hand and the controls are easily accessible. The camcorder has a solid feel to it and with all of its hardware packed into such a small package it should. One complaint about the exterior of the GR-X5 would be the battery mount, which tends to hold the battery quite loosely, though it does not seem to cause any noticeable increase in camera rattle during movement.
The GR-X5 has three main clusters of controls. The controls on the top of the camera provide On/Off and recording functions. The camera has separate record buttons for recording video and taking still pictures which is somewhat of a necessary nuisance. I found myself on more than one occasion accidentally using the still image record button instead of the video record button which would cause it to quickly snap a still instead of record video. On the back of the camera you will find the main playback controls as well as the DV and USB connections. On the front left of the camera you will find the controls for manual shooting. Exposure and focus can be manually adjusted by using the small dial found on the front of the camera. A focus ring located on the lens of the camera would have been optimum but the small dial is positioned well and allows for simple use of the manual features.
The unique design of the camera positions the LCD at the rear of the unit which at first seems as though it may be an inconvenience but the wide range of positions the LCD can be set at gives GR-X5 plenty of flexibility. Most of the time I found myself shooting with the LCD positioned against the back of the camera and even though this blocked the controls behind the LCD, I rarely needed to use them while actually shooting.
One thing you will certainly notice about the camcorder is the lack of a viewfinder. The GR-X5 chooses to forgo the standard viewfinder and with the design and size of the camera it is hard to imagine where one would have been located. With the increased use of LCD’s in digital cameras and camcorders over the years the viewfinder has begun to be neglected and though most consumers rarely use it, the viewfinder still serves an important purpose. On sunny days when the LCD is hard to read the only back up you have is to use the viewfinder to see a clear image of the screen. Most users will probably not even notice the lack of a viewfinder but it is an important feature to be aware of.
The VCR functions of the camera were all very solid and help add to the X5's overall high-end feel. The VCR playback controls on the back of the camcorder are very responsive and it has very fast rewind and fast forward functions making it easier to find a certain spot on a full tape. The 3CCD camera also comes with a beefed up Audio/Video cable for connecting the camera directly to a TV. The cable features both RCA and S-Video connections. The cable connects to the camcorder using a snug digital connection, which significantly cuts down on interference and noise and gives a much cleaner picture than cameras that use cheaper analog connections.
Performance
The camera has two main modes of shooting full auto and manual. When using the full auto setting the camcorder is completely point and shoot. The built in digital image stabilizer is automatically activated in auto mode and noticeably improved the smoothness of handheld shooting though at the cost of a minor loss in overall resolution. The manual mode allows you to get into the menu system and also adjust the exposure and focus settings. The manual features in the menu system are easy to navigate and are pretty self-explanatory. The manual focus and exposure settings are a nice tool to have if you have time to set up your shot but for the most part you will rarely find yourself using them, though in certain situations you will be glad you have a fully manual option.
Now let’s get into the real selling point of this GR-X5, its image quality. The image produced by the camera’s optics is very sharp and has great color representation. This camcorder definitely delivers as far as the quality of its image, though while testing the camera did show a slight focus lag. Focus lag is a side effect of auto focus and all cameras using auto focus will show some sort of focus lag in varying degrees. The GR-X5 had a slight focus lag during long zooms but preformed well with wide shots. The camera produces a very clear and sharp picture, which is evident when the footage is played back on a television. The low light performance of the camera is less than desirable but with its 1/4.5 inch CCD sensors this is to be expected. The GR-X5 performs comparably to other cameras with its 1/4.5 inch sized CCD sensors and has a gain function which will help during low-light shooting, though it will add a considerable amount of noise to the video in many situations.
Color Chart
Color Chart Low-light
Still Images
The GR-X5 is one of a growing number of multi use camcorders, which double as still cameras. When these all-in-one cameras were originally introduced they were mainly seen as gimmicks, though with improved optics and storage options these cameras have improved drastically. The camera records its “5 MegaPixel” images to a secure digital card, which is located on the top right of the camera. The camera comes with a 32MB SD card that only hold about 17 photos at full resolution so upgrading to a larger card is a good idea.
The GR-X5 is advertised as taking 5 megapixel stills and at a max resolution of 2560 x 1920 it achieves this, though the quality of the still images would definitely not stand up against a true 5 megapixle still camera. The still images are probably more similar in quality to a 3 megapixel camera and considering the GR-X5 is a video camera first and foremost this is not such a bad thing. The GR-X5 is certainly not going to replace your DSLR but for point and shoot pictures destined for the web, or a home photo album the camera performs quite well.
Click for sample still image
Rating: 8.5/10
Pros: Sharp and clear image quality, quality VCR controls and onboard-connections, decent still camera capabilities
Cons: Focus Lag, low-light performance, loose battery mount,
Last Word: The JVC GR-X5 offers both strong video and still capabilities in a small package while still maintaining a good feeling and easy to use design. The camera would be a great fit for an intermediate user who wants to step up to a camera with the improved image quality offered from the 3 CCD’s as well as some form of manual controls. I would definitely recommend the GR-X5 to anyone who is looking for a new camcorder with a small footprint and impressive optics.
Detailed Specifications
CCD: 3 1/4.5" 1.33 Mega Pixels CCDs
Video: 690,000 Effective Pixels (per CCD)
Still: 1.23 Effective Mega Pixels (per CCD)
Lens: 3.2-32mm f/1.8-2.4
Zoom: Video: 10x Optical/300x Digital Still: 8x optical
Filter Size: 37mm
System: NTSC
Format: Mini DV
Time Code: Yes
Date & Time: Yes
LCD Monitor: 2.5" Dynamic Backlight LCD
Manual Controls: Focus, Exposure
Built-in Light: No
Built-in Mic: Yes
Built-in Speaker: Yes
Accessory Shoe: Cold Shoe
Digital Effects: Sepia, Strobe, Classic Film, Black & White
Fader Door Wipe, Slide Wipe, Black Fader, Corner Wipe, Scroll Wide, White Fader, Window Wipe, Shutter Wipe, Black & White Fader
Tape Loading: Side
Digital Still Mode
Resolution: 2560 x 1920
Card Slot: SD Card
Built-in Flash: Yes - Auto Flash
Input/Output Connectors
Inputs: IEEE-1394, S-Video, A/V
Outputs: IEEE-1394, USB 2.0, S-Video, A/V
Edit Protocol: No
Microphone Input: Yes
Headphone Jack: Yes
Dimensions: (WxHxD) 3.5 x 3.56 x 3.69" (88.9 x 90.5 x 93.7mm)
Weight: 18.0 oz (510.3 g)
Warranty: One Year Parts and 90 Days Labor
