Has anyone found good, no-holds-barred style reviews on JVC HD Camcorders? I've found a few "reviews" but they were all descriptions without a single word of criticism! As a present for a keen amateur,I need to purchase a hard drive camcorder with good quality recording ability and useful in low light conditions, eg., inside a moving car at night (car interior lights only), also views outside the car using the headlamps whilst driving on long journeys across Europe, also general use indoors and outdoors; also fairly fast moving objects, eg, cycle racing and table-tennis movement. I have a budget of about £650 real money (which seems to be about £850 retail price!). The only ones I have found are the JVC's
(2005 and the new 2006) ranges, but I seem to get the impression that they are not really up to it picture quality-wise, as the very few reviews suggest mini-dv if one wants quality pics. However I must have HD, at least 30Gb. What about the 1.3MP JVCs or the 3-CCD ones?

[mattlittle]

MG50 review: http://www.infosyncworld.com/reviews/n/6180.html

MG50 review; http://reviews-zdnet.com.com/JVC_Eve...2.html?tag=nav

MG70 Review: http://reviews-zdnet.com.com/JVC_Eve...2.html?tag=nav

I got quite a few useful review sites (in amoungst the price comparison sites) by searching google for the following: jvc everio review

Sony should be doing an HDD camcorder: http://www.techdigest.tv/2006/01/sony_dcrsr90e_c.html

Hope that helps,

Matt

[lurcher]

I use a JVC MG50 every day to record driving lessons in car.
Footage is transferred to DVD without editing. All footage is taken in daylight and recorded on highest setting.
I find the results transferred direct to DVD Recorder are very good.
Footage shot at night from inside the car is poor and not of much use to me.
This also is the same of a 3 chip Mini DV I used in the same circumstances.
Its the 30 Gig that sold it for me I can genly get a days lessons on it without having to erase any.
If you wish to view a sample of typical footage PM your details and I"ll send you a mini dvd.

Thanks Lurcher, well done! Godfrey

Thanks verily, mattlittle, I used your URLs to good effect. Also found some data on the Sony Hard drives: http://reviews-zdnet.com.com/Sony_DC...6-6411916.html, and an eBay search on "sony sr* camc*" produces the SR100 and SR90 camcorders (not that most of these sellers are at all likely to give you a good deal!) but at least you get clear descriptions.