Help!!! Canon 830i or JVC GRD290??

Morning all,

I'm looking to get a DV camcorder and could do with some advice. The main reason for getting the camcorder is for our holiday to Canada so my girlfriend can shoot while I take stills with my digital camera. We are going on some excursions such as a whale watching cruise and grizzly bear watching trip etc. I own a Canon digital SLR so I'm leaning towards the Canon - image stabilisation could be good for trips etc. My girlfriend has had JVC camcorders in the past so she's leaning that way.
What we're looking for is a nice neat, compact, good image quality, easy to use digi camcorder. I have USB on the PC but intend to install Firewire PCI too so no limitations there.
Stills quality is not a concern as my camera will take care of that side.
Any recommendations? Anyone use either the Canon 830i or JVC GRD290?

Thanks in advance
Andy