New product review by Kevin Hicks AKA 4 Video.

I had to go pick up some pro quality mini DV tape at my local pro video store. The owner had just gotten a few of these in and had to show me, and I just had to try it out. My review and opinion = WAY COOL! List price - about $1,700.00 bucks.

The design of this new DVD burner is elegant and simplistic. Front RCA inputs make plugging in your DV camera as easy as 1-2-3. JVC has introduced another industry first with the SR-DVM70-US three-in-one digital video recorder. Nobody else has anything like this. I'm sure there are a lot of electronic designers at JVC competitors scratching their heads asking themselves , " Why didn't I think of this?  Incorporating the all-digital format of MiniDV, 160GB hard disk drive, and DVD burner in a compact, easy to use package.

Whether your application is dubbing, editing, archiving, duplication or presentation, the SR-DVM70U simplifies and speeds up the process, while maintaining the highest, all-digital image quality. Professional archiving and media duplication are now easier. The hard disk itself at 160 GB offers a fair amount of storage capacity  for longer extended recording times.

It also enables high speed duplication with high-quality picture and audio being assured by the digital-to-digital signal transfer. These have been available in the UK since September 04 , but are just now reaching retailers in the US. Here are a few of the features & benefits of this awesome little bad boy.

Easy to use and connect. No complicated wiring
High quality DVD creation and duplication
Compatible with most non-linear editing systems
Use it as a stand alone editing/dubbing/viewing production system or plug it in to your existing system. Casablanca systems I am told are compatible.
Simple non-linear 'play-list' editing built-in. But are limited to basic crop - fade in - fade out etc.
IEEE-1394/ Firewire* dubbing to & from MiniDV tape
Program storage on HDD
160 GB HDD storage for extended recording time and high speed DVD duplication (up to 8X)
Full auto repeat discs can be made
BNC Video output connector
Sony DVCAM playback capability
RS-232C interface for custom installations

Here is the coolest feature: 18 DVD menu background patterns  are included for convenient DVD video production. Selecting the desired menu and then inserting titles and chapter marks was as easy as using iDVD from Apple on a Mac.

 Helping to simplify what could otherwise be a complex DVD authoring process. My 10 minute test clip burned in about 7 minutes and worked fine in my Mac and Go Video DVD player at home. DVD compatibility is becoming less and less of an issue. Every other DVD burner I have checked out just gives you a plain jane blue screen. This will give your DVD's a professional touch.

For more info here is the link to the PDF file from JVC - it says " Tentative " but I would suspect this info is accurate in what you can expect.
http://www.jvc.slak.si/pdf/SRDVM70EU%20NPN%20FINAL.pdf

So where can you get one? I'll save you the trouble of trying to find the lowest price. These things will not be discounted or "On Sale" anytime soon. So there is no reason to try and save a few bucks from some shaky light retailer. I like B&H because their sales people are knowledgeable, but also if you have an issue B&H in my experience is good at allowing you to return an item and also offers a warranty.

Get a great discount from B&H Photo Video

B&H also sponsors this site and if you would do us a favor and click the link from IVM here - then Mark  can buy himself a pair of new shoes with the small commission.  If anyone wants to buy me a new pair of shoes - I could use another pair of these.


 

All my stunt buddies are wearing them. http://www.sha-sha.com/2003/whos_wearing.shtml  If you think shoes have nothing to do with being a videographer, your wrong. Having the right shoes that you can run around carrying your video cam and gear all day long comfortably in is one of the most important pieces of gear you can own. With these shoes your feet will not only remain comfortable - you will look cool too.


Photos courtesy of JVC. &  Sha-Sha Shoes.  DVCAM*tm is a trademark of Sony Corporation. *Firewire is a trademark of Apple computer.
New product review by Kevin Hicks AKA 4 Video.