JVC GR-D23

Had the Lens Cap error. JVC had the CCD exchanged under recall warranty which was good....but that didn't solve the root cause of the error. Next issue is then paying JVC's service partners in advance for parts and labour (i.e. replacing the Optical Block) which may or may not resolve the error AND NOT getting refunded if the service guesswork was wrong. You'd think that JVC who designed the product and who put the recall together would have done this though investigating all root causes of the lens cap error. Apparently not.

I did my homework on this JVC GR-D23 cam before I purchased it, it got a lot of good reviews when it first came on the market, yes it could make less motor noise, and I'm sure a better model was available but I think over all I have been pleased with my machine for the money, it peed my fathering law off when he compared it to his lump of a digi sony.

Now to see if JVC will repair it free as claimed on their web site!

I bought my camera as an entry to digital video. On paper the spec sheet was very promising, but the camera has been a total disappointment. The handling was clumsy, the picture isn't all that good and it records it's own motor noise beautifully. Although mine has yet to develop the infamous 'lens cap' fault, it has blown the back light to the main LCD screen rendering the main viewing screen useless. Support from JVC wasn't very good meaning I for one won't buy another JVC product.

Look on GOOGLE for a Lens cap error search on the JVC GR-D23 digital camcorder! Many people have this problem, and JVC will not fix it for free like they should! My camera is about a year old, and it has had very little use (about 3-5 hours max). There is a lens cap error message on the screen, and it blacks out. RUBBISH!

I bought this camera 17 months ago, and it has developed the infamous lens cap problem. i.e. when the unit is switched on, the display is blank, the lens cap warning blinks on, and it will not record video. I have been quoted £130 to fix it. Do a Google search on JVC Lens Cap Problem, and judge for yourself. I would keep off JVC camcorders.

Video quality on the JVC GR-D23 is worse than bad. My old VHS C camera puts this piece of junk to shame. Doesn't cost very much, but every penny spent on this camera was wasted. Should have done my homework before wasting my money on this lemon.

Oooh forgot to mention, that this little gem of a camera picks up the motor noise of your tape. So forget about recording anything without hearing the constant drone of the tape in the foreground.

(Yes, background noise doesn't quite describe it).