JVC is one of the most important manufacturers of consumer electronics around and is definitely an innovator when it comes to digital video technology. Now the company presents a new MiniDV video camera, the GR-DA20. Innovation steps in with the appearance of an unique vertical sliding LCD monitor, a feature no similar device had in the past. We have a 34X optical zoom, an AUTO button that switches between auto and manual operation, two aspect ratio recording modes (Wide or Normal), new Stick Control and a whole lot more. Let us take a look now at the most important features we can see.

First of all we have JVC technology that is not available for video cameras produced by other companies. The Super High-Band Processor and 3D NR (3 Dimension Noise Reduction) help out in enhancing color reproduction and in reducing possible flickering. The Digital Color NightScope feature comes to complete quality by providing truly high quality when filming in dim light conditions. Even the LCD monitor is special because it reduces surface reflection when under bright light in outdoor environments.

The JVC GR-DA20’s pride in design is the vertical sliding LCD monitor. It can be positioned in a variety of angles and allows for an even greater viewing freedom than other monitors. You gain shooting control because of this and we can say it helps in getting an almost perfect shoot in any situation. The vertical LCD monitor position is the feat that makes this video camera really stand out when compared with others. Combine this with the 34X optical zoom that can go up to an impressive 800X digital zoom and you can easily see that enlarging an image up to 34 times without jagged edges or noise is quite possible. While recording all you need to do is push a button and the aspect ratio is changed from the standard of 4:3 to the very popular wide screen 16:9. The same high picture quality is maintained in both shooting modes.

The Stick Control available on the JVC GR-DA20 video camera will provide fast access to many of the key functions the device offers. The LCD door also has a four-way control that is very easy to use. Navigation through the menu is again easy due to the circular “compass point” control offered.

A Data Battery is included in the selling package and it can run up to 115 minutes of continuous shooting. Just by pressing the DATA button you can easily see if your JVC GR-DA20 has a lot of battery left or not. Thanks to this feature it is almost impossible to run out of battery when you need to film that important moment.

The AUTO button will switch between manual and automatic operation, as we stated above. Filming with the JVC GR-DA20 in automatic mode is of course very useful but for those of you that want complete control at any specific moment, the AUTO button is useful. The mentioned 3D NR comes to aid with noise reduction. It successfully reduces noise by around 30% and improves regular sound by 2 dB. Combine this with the possibility of shooting in low light situations through the Digital Color NightScope and we have a very good filming experience here.

The JVC GR-DA20 comes with a DV output for using another MiniDV camera or for allowing fast transfer to computers equipped with DV input cards. Webcam function is also available and it can stream live video and audio through DV output. All can be viewed on the 2.4 inch Clear LCD monitor, which provides high quality images. You can also apply a lot of video effects like Black and White, Classic Film, Sports, Snow and more. Scene transitions are also a possibility through Scroll Wipe, Black Fader and other effects. A lot of technology has been implemented in the JVC GR-DA20 to help users capture moments perfectly on film.

A complete list of features for the JVC GR-DA20:
• 1/6-inch 800k pixel CCD
• 34x Optical Zoom - 800x Digital Zoom
• 2.4 inch Vertical Sliding LCD monitor
• DV Out
• 16:9 Wide Mode (High Quality)
• 3-Dimension Noise Reduction (3D NR)
• Stick Control
• Data Battery
• DATA Button/AUTO Button

The JVC GR-DA20 is truly an impressive device!