I bought this camcorder for my teen daughter for Christmas in 2003. Per the product description, it is loaded with features and appeared to be a great value. However, after about six months of light usage, the circuit board went bad (according to an authorized repair center) and the camera will no longer charge the battery. We took it for repairs after the warranty period and the cost to fix it is about the same price as buying a new one. We can still use the camera, but I had to buy a charger and extra batts. Considering the problems with this model noted on this and other websites, it would be nice if JVC would offer an exchange program for a less problematic model.

This camera has had many faults do not buy it...

Condensation operation ALL THE TIME!!

Crapped out when we went to Hawaii due to moisture I am assuming

I too have the condensation error that prevents me from using the camcorder. There is no condensation. It's been stored in totally dry environments it's entire life yet the condensation error prevents me from using the camcorder most of the time. Don't buy any JVC GR series camcorders as this problems seems systemic in the GRD series.

After two tapes and only a year and a half later the camcorder went into a lock up mode "Operation Paused Condensation," and it will only allow a tape to be inserted after approximately 50 tries. To my surprise, I got absolutely no support from JVC's tech support. What a shame I WAS a very loyal JVC customer. I wished I never had replaced my 7-year-old Sony 8mm camcorder.

I ONLY GAVE THIS 1 STAR BECAUSE IT DOESNT GO LOWER THAN THAT. We had this camera and used it approximately 15 hours and it had a error and said the lens cap is on and will not work. Jvc's customer support is the worst I have ever used in my life. We emailed and they said they will get back to you in 5 days... We emailed a few times and got no reply in MONTHS....... You call and push the button for support and it transfers you and hangs up....Call back and get transfered and hung up on again.... Call again and push to get the location of a store and get a message that this is down also... I called again and pushed another option and finaly get to talk to someone,,, I tell the woman that i have seen the same problem listed online on numerous sites and ask if theres a recall or anything. I get told that jvc does not do recalls but she knows what is wrong from so many other customers having this problem, and then she says it definataly needs sent in and fixed. She asks if we had the camera longer than 3 months and says they will not cover anything, or recall anything, no matter how many customers have the problem. I ended up telling her that if the product they sell is worth a crap it would last longer than 3 months. DONT BUY FROM JVC......or if you do, in a few short months ill just say...I HATE TO SAY I TOLD YA SO.

This model is prone to display this error message for long periods of time. The manual says to just wait it out (1 hour recommended).

Solution: Take a slightly damp cotton swap and clean the moisture sensor.

Remove power from the camera. I remove the battery as well. In the back of where the tapes go, on the left side is a silver component. It's just behind a metal roller that hangs down from a plastic piece over the head. If you look behind the roller diagonally across where the tape goes, you can see a black square on the right side of the silver component. Clean this (gently!) with a moist cotton swab. The swap should get a bit of black gunk off. I'd recommend cleaning it with a dry swab next to remove any moisture. Wait a minute or so to be sure it's dry. Then re-apply power. You should not see a false consensation message for a long time. ;-)

Please take the time to look at the reviews on this page. Tim Riker "Linux Technologist" writes a review (a little further down) that anyone with a JVC MiniDV camcorder should read. I too was getting the dreaded "CONDENSATION" warning that was preventing me from using my model GR-D70, a very close relative to the GR-D30. Took me a little time to identify the area where the sensor resides. Once I cleaned it off a dried it out, my camcorder worked as good as new. Thanks Tim!

Just to help others orient themselves for the cleanin process, hold the camcorder on it's side, with the tape door open, lens facing right. Everything is where Tim says it should be. The silver component in question is in the rear left corner, with some orangish plasticky tape above and below. You almost can't see the small black sensor square on the right side of the component. May help to have a second pair of hands hold a flashlight in place.

Beyond the sensor issue, I have been very happy with the quality of the camera. Has held up well in the two years that I've had it.

this camera is ok. it picks up virtually no sound, its impossible to hear people talking when the tape is played back. most of time you'll have to turn the t.v. volume all the way up just to hear someone talking on tape. you can also hear the motor turning the tape inside the machine in the background. keep looking around.

I bought this camera 18 months ago, after my SONY took a crap after 3 1/2 years (guess I am not meant to record my children's childhood memories!). Being the cost of camcorders came down so much we decided to buy something smaller, instead of paying $$ to get the old one fixed. The salemsan told me that you can't go wrong with a JVC! Yeah Right!!! We went to video my youngest son's first birthday party and we are getting a low light flashing icons, but there is no picture available on my LCD or through the viewfinder. I now have to go through the hassle of having this thing repaired, but after reading everyones comments, I am not sure it is worth having fixed to have something else go wrong with it. I am cursed by the camcorder demon! So my obvious recommendation would be to go with something else!

Loved the camera for the year and 4 moths that it worked. It is small, light, easy to use, and makes good quality video. But the image sensor broke this month and I am told it would cost at least 150 to repair. Not at all happy with dead camcorder less than 6 months after warranty expired.

We have had the JVC GR-D30 Mini DV Camcorder for a little over a year. It could never be used during humid days outside and not very good for recording a baseball game, and basketball games inside a gym. Not only that, after a little over a year it's broke and will cost $180 to fix and had to pay $30 to find out what is wrong and estimate to fix. The CCD IC Lens Assembly is screwed up. We now are just going to buy a new Camcorder.

Definitely steer clear of this brand and model.

I wish we had read all the reviews before we purchased our JVC piece of junk. After a few short hours we too got an error message about condensation. There is no condensation problem. The problem is that JVC made a defective product and could care less.

I have heard of a few people who actual got this product to work and liked it. I can't comment on whether it works well. I can only tell you that most of them don't work at all. Some times on Amazon I read a bad review and think...it won't happen to me. Trust me...give the money to charity...throw it out a window...anything but purchase this item. And when it doesn't work, don't even bother calling jvc.

I have never written a review on Amazon, but now I can sleep better at night knowing that anyone who buys one of these cameras gets what they deserve.

Hope this helps.

Found this on JVC's website under CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION...this model is one of the reported ones, hope this helps everyone with this problem...

JVC has received reports that in certain circumstances, a small quantity of units of the models listed below, may, while in the camera mode, show no picture, a distorted picture and/or display "LENS CAP" even though the lens cap is removed. We have identified the cause as a failure of the CCD image sensor. Until October 1, 2007, repairs of units exhibiting these problems will be made free of charge at JVC Factory Service Centers. Click thisFactory Service Center link to find your nearest location. Please call (800) 858-6442 if you need any assistance in obtaining a free repair. We apologize for any inconvenience and are appreciative of your understanding and support.

Our family bought the JVC GR-D30U a couple of years ago and have used it infrequently, but lately it's been unreliable. It worked fine for awhile and the main problem was that it's wide-angle capability is poor.

About four months ago, we had to send it in because it kept saying "Lens Cap" even when the cap was off and it did not allow the camcorder to function. Apparently, JVC already had a number of complaints and had set up a free fix.

Now, though we've just encountered a new error message about "CONDENSATION. OPERATION PAUSED" and the net result is that I cannot operate any function of the camcorder.

Unfortunately, for myself, other JVC customers, and JVC itself, I can see that this problem is somewhat widespread. While I waited on the phone for the JVC customer service representative, I typed in "JVC digital camcorder condensation" into Google and found numerous listing for this problem with various JVC digital camcorders.

To my mind then, I am not the unfortunate owner of a lone, glitchy camcorder, buy the owner of a JVC camcorder that many people are having the same problem with. Therefore, it is a problem that JVC should fix free of charge to owners of these camcorders, as it did with its "Lens Cap"/"CCD Program". In fact, my lemon(?) of a camcorder had that problem and JVC did a prompt job of righting that. I got it back a couple of months ago, and now this.

However, when I spoke to JVC a few minutes ago, they told me it wasn't a "recognized problem" and I would simply have to send them the camcorder and a $50 money order for an "evaluation". Outrageous!

I hope to hear from JVC with a free and quick solution. My son's graduation is coming up in 6 weeks and this is exactly the kind of event my family bought the camcorder for.

In the meantime, I will add my my review to Amazon.com and a few other websites to vent my frustration at JVC's non-recognition of this latest manufacturing problem in the only way a lowly consumer can.

We purchased the GRD50 2 years ago and with less than 50 hours use in that time we have had the dreaded Condensation Error twice now. Once during the warranty and now just last week. JVC are waiting to hear from the repairer before they commit to covering the cost of the repairs. The camera has worked perfectly other then the condensation error.

I agree with the many other users who have experienced the "Condensation, Operation Paused" defect on their JVC GR-90DU. Despite numerous others reporting this problem, JVC says its not a recognized problem. I would disagree - it is a recognized problem, but its your problem, not theirs.

If you are like me and didnt know to research JVC customer support before you bought, and now are stuck with a JVC Lemoncorder model GR-D90U that has this problem, I would encourage you to call the JVC customer support (non-support) phone number 1-800-858-6442 and report your glee at being one of the lucky. I would also encourage you to post your satisfaction on-line.

Its especially nice that the local camera repair shop charged 90 dollars to take a shot at fixing it, only to have it go away after the repair shop's warranty period.

Do Not Buy JVC camcorders!

I've had this camera for 3 years, it's been pretty lightly used. No problems whatsoever until today, when I got the dreaded "condensation error" message. After reading the doom and gloom in other reviews of this product, I was ready to throw it (and the $300 I paid for it) in the trash, until I saw the "fix" below for the condensation problem. IT WORKS! I had to do it a couple of times, but everything is working A-OK. If you get the error message, don't despair - just get out a couple of Q-Tips and you'll be back in business in 5 minutes! THANKS!!!!

There's nothing worse that getting a seemingly random computer message--on a desktop, a laptop, a digital camcorder or a tv--and quickly realizing that your Father's Day gift or Christmas present has instantly become a paper weight. Well, I take that back, there is something worse: doing a quick Google search on the words "condensation operation paused" and realizing that there are scores and scores of people out there who are cursing under their breath just like you.

I have the JVC camcorder--it was a gift from my wife on the birth of my daughter. It worked fine for a year. Then one day I got the dreaded condensation message and that's all she wrote. And believe me, I live in a house so dry and devoid of condensation that I know the message is bogus. (We have forced air heat and anyone will tell you that some nights you wake up gasping for air and moisture!)


Seeing how many people have posted messages regarding this is depressing. What's more depressing though is the universal response from JVC: this is not a known problem and there's no recall or warranty. perhaps the folks at JVC might want to Google their own products once in a while.

DO NOT BUY THIS CAMERA!!!

Matt

My Model GR-D30U also has the "Condensation, Operation Paused" problem with less than about 50-75 hours of use. What a Lemon!

I should have checked more closely before buying. Consumer Reports shows that JVC camcorders have a poor reliability rating.

Had the same problem after approximately four years with the camcorder locking up in a pause mode with "condensation, operation paused" flashing on the screen. It eventually came out of it but then it happened again and again. I tried to clean the sensor in the tape bay but this did not correct the problem. I think I'l just dump the damn thing and never buy from JVC again. It looks from all I read on the net that they don't even suggest a solution.

Too bad for a brand like this