JVC GR-DVL805U

If it wasn't for the lack of an external mic jack, this would be one of the best 1 chip digital camcorders on the market, However without this capability, the camcorder ends up being useless.

The whole purpose of spending double the cost of a good Hi-8 or S-VHS unit is to get the best possible picture quality. Digital video makes possible near-broadcast quality videos. JVC defeats the entire purpose of this by not alowwing external sound on any of their single CCD digital camcorders. Anyone who has ever used a camcorder knows that the built in mics are useless for anything other than the most basic home videos. JVC...in their attempt to save a lousey $5 in manufacturing costs has ended up turning an otherwise great pruct line into a collection of useless junk.

The other omission was it's lack of an SVHS input. If they had included the SVHS input jack and an external mic jack, they would have increased the cost by less than $20 and would have ended up with the best digital camcorders on the market.

NOTE: I bought this unit because their website indicated that the camcorder had these features. When I got it, I discovered that the unit did not have them. I contacted JVC and they apologized for the error and corrected their website within 2 hours. The mail order company I bought it from was far less charitable. The charged a 15% restocking fee and I had to ship it back at my own expense.

Do yourself a favor...make sure that the unit you buy has all the features you need for good professional videos.

I ended up buying a Sony. Even their least expensive models and even their Digital8 models have ALL the features...external mic, earphones, analog and S video in and out...as well as top video quality on their DV models (not quite as good video on the digital8.