JVC GR-C1U Review: Dave goes BACK TO THE FUTURE!
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- Опубликовано: 30 июл 2024
- In this edition of DAVE'S RETRO VIDEO LAB, Dave takes a look at JVC's GR-C1u VHS-C video camcorder from 1984. He breaks down the camera's functionality plus it's collectability. We will also see if the GR-C1u still works after all these years. GRC1 GrC1U
DAVE'S RETRO VIDEO LAB reviews and tests vintage video cameras and camcorders from the 70s, 80s, and 90s. Enjoy!
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I’m a fellow video camera collector myself, it’s really amazing to see this channel pop up out of nowhere! I’m looking forward to seeing more of your videos!!
Hey darius, I’m working on more videos. Thanks for watching. :)
- you damn right!
Так и есть!
This is very cool! In fact, I just bought one from an Antique Store for $173 3 months ago. And it fully works!
You’re lucky. Most of these GRC1’s suffer from tube degradation if nothing else.
Amazing
Thank you. Its great to see the earliest model of camcorder I ever owned once again. .
Hey Admiral', I'm glad we were able to bring a bit of the past into the present for you. Thanks for watching.
This is my camera of choice whenever I shoot home movies. It's one of the few available tube-based cameras with an internal tape deck.
Hey Japhy, The GR-C1u is not only cool looking (and iconic) but quite functional as well. If the tube hasn't degraded over time, they generally power on and record with little or no issues.
The classic GR-C1. I own 2 at the moment along with a Zenith which I use for internal parts. Good video describing how to use it and showing off its features.
Oh and when you're doing some color testing could you have a direct capture so we can see how it really looks on the chart. Seeing it on the TV doesn't give us the best perspective of the color.
@@clarksters88 I'll remember that for the next DRVL episode. Thanks for the suggestion!
I once found a Zenith VideoMovie for sale, I didn't buy it though.
Great Scott! That was really cool!
Thank you kindly!
Came here from the Ben Heck channel. Great vid, love the production value
Awesome, thank you!
I like the end part where you test the camera under studio lights. The image quality is actually pretty good.
I like testing the cameras in our lab, but it’s a tight squeeze. Most cameras don’t have wide enough lenses so they have to positioned several feet back behind our primary camera which causes all sorts of other issues. I was thinking the other day, I may record an entire episode of DRVL with old camcorders.
Oh man, that play + record reminds me of all the times taping movies off TV lolol :)
It's very old school. Thanks for watching!
Wow man really liked your video, I randomly found looking for some information on my jvc camera and we'll I still can't find anything lol. Anyways loved it and the style of your video. I'm a follower now.
Hey Art,
Thanks for subscribing! Which JVC camera do you own?
- Dave
@@davesretrovideolab2709 its a JVC videomovie gr-303.
Found one at an estate sale. Battery packs wouldn't work with it but it also came with the DC cables. Worked however when I did everything to start recording. Once i did, the viewfinder turns off, the stop button blinks and then shuts off?
I've seen that happen with several camcorders. I'm going to take a guess and say the camera thinks it's running out of power and shuts down. Much like when it senses that the battery is almost drained. I understand you're not using a battery, but I wonder if there is something inside the camera which is only able to maintain power for a short period of time? Then shuts down when there is demand for more power? Maybe a bad capacitor? Anyone want to weigh in?
I had this but in England it was silver and was badged as Ferguson Videostar C
Thanks for sharing Dan! I believe Zenith had a silver version of this camera as well.
The pause makes sense. In order to be able to quickly start recording, the video head doesn't stop spinning when you pause, so you can quickly resume recording. But you have to bear in mind that if you leave it on pause for a long time, it's going to damage the tape. So the logic is pretty valid. You "arm" it for recording and then you "unpause" and "pause". Also, tape recorders had the same thing with pressing the record and play buttons because it was the simplest way of doing the mechanics - you have to get the tape moving by pressing play, but you also record onto it.
It’s just one of those things with solid state gadgets now we don’t even think about. So when looking over the GRC1u, I had to remember the good old record + play logic from way back when. I totally makes sense. I believe the GR1C will stop down if recording doesn’t begin within a certain window of time. I could be wrong about that however.
what type of AV cable does it use? thanks.
Hey Mike,
I'm afraid the JVC GR-C1's instruction manual doesn’t provide a part number for the AV cable. It simply says “A/V cable supplied”. One end of the cable has a multi-pin connector which plugs into the body of the camcorder. You may have to buy another GR-C1u with the a/v cable though they are somewhat pricey on eBay right now. You can save yourself some cash and maybe purchase a Zenith VM6000 (essentially, it’s a lesser known version of the GR-c1 and steal the part from that. Provided the VM6000 camcorder has it’s a/v cable as well.) Good luck!
Dave
What did you use as a power jack? Mine didn’t come with a DC power jack
Hey Sean, I believe the GR-C1U only came with a battery charger and the AC power supply had to be purchased separately. You have to find yourself a JVC AC Power Adapter - Model# AA-P1U (For North America 120v).
The picture quality is great! It looks even better on a CRT. Shoot some more footage with it!
I think the biggest drawback is that it's very difficult to tell from the view finder if what you're filming is in focus or not.
I hope to produce an episode taking the GR-C1u out and about to get people’s reactions. Yes, the old CRT viewfinders left something to be desired. :)
It would be interesting to compare this early VHS-C to one of the later consumer VHS-C camcorders such as the JVC GR-SXM55
Hey Drew,
Is the SXM-55 a S-VHS/C camcorder or just VHS-C? If it's an S-VHS/C cc there will certainly be a bump in quality over the older VHS-C ccs. This camcorder came out @ 2000 possibly? If so, there would be refinements with both the camcorder’s circuitry and CCD which would further enhance the overall quality of the image over older VHS-C camcorders. 😊
a friend just gave me one of these
Enjoy!
I know this is an old video, but I had this camera sitting on the porch for almost half a year which my uncle left behind and as fascinating cameras are to me I checked it out and I’m now in love with vintage cameras though It hit me by surprise when It was from “Back to the Future”
I just wanted to know how do the battery packs charge? I have 3 of them, and one being more bulky…they’re dead also though I have a dc power cable and it cuts the camera on I just wanna be mobile with it 😭
Please and Thank you.
Hey 17th Year,
Thanks for tuning in to DRVL. My understanding is there are battery packs available on Amazon which may work with your camera and others. I know other viewers were able to find them for their old cameras and they actually worked! I myself have not looked into this, but it's worth a looksee.
That being said, when I want to go mobile I rig together a special held portable battery back (used for jump starting cars among other things) with an dc to ac converter and it actually works. It's kind of klugey, but it gets the job done. This allows me to use the camera's ac power supply and simply plug it into the converter which has an Edison plug end (for the US). There's some math involved with the battery output, etc but it all works.
Soon, I'll produce a live video on how this works.
You can still buy replacement battery packs.
Subbed :)
Welcome aboard! Thank you!
Image quality is amazing in this 36 years camera.
I was surprised to see that the camera still put out an image. :)
Can you do a Video on the JVC GR-C2. It was like an 2 generation or Something... of the GR Type series from JVC. Some sources say is From 1981 or the Same year as the C1 1984
The GRC2 was the follow up camera to the Marty McFly camera (GRC1) from the movie - "Back to the Future". I actually have the Zenith brand equivalent to the GR2c and demonstrated it on one of my LIVE stream casts. That being said, I'm trying to purchase the real deal when I see one come up on ebay. When I get one, I will be sure to review it. Thanks for watching!
Thanks for the video, I just bought one for peanuts ($5), it's an ITT VMC3865, it's the same as the GR-C1, but unfortunately it's in black. I only realised what I just bought when I Googled the ITT model number. I suspected from the beginning it's probably an old JVC, but I haven't recognised the GR-C1 in this black color... I would not call the GR-C1 red though, it's more like burgundy. The REC button is red, you can compare the color of the camera's body to it, it's not the same.
So this thing needs a cassette to produce a live picture? It's weird, but I will dig out mine right now, because I thought it's faulty and that's why it doesn't give a live picture. I wasn't brave enough to put a cassette in it without checking the belts, gears and idlers.
Give it a checkup first before attempting any tape insertion. :)
@@davesretrovideolab2709 Nope, I was too curious and impatient to do so, so I put a cassette in it (one of the cassettes which came with the camcorder). AND IT WORKS! It played back its old recordings from the mid '80s perfectly, even without cleaning the heads or tape path. It's probably struggling a bit with tape threading, it takes a bit longer than what I would expect (also it's sounds a bit off...), but it never fails and doesn't eat the tape. I am amazed. The audio recording level is quite low, probably the electret capsule got damp and deteriorated. I will test it with an external mike at some point.
👍🏼 thnx for the video: I have question what is the difference between C1U & C1 ? They say the C1U is what they show in the movie screen BACK TO THE FUTURE
I believe the C1”U” designation indicated that the camcorder was mostly sold in the United States and operated under the NTSC TV standard. Whereas a GRC1E was sold in countries, such as the UK and Australia, which used the PAL television format.
@@davesretrovideolab2709thank youuuu very much for the quick response! 👊🏼
I own the camera and the case, but why is there two versions of the case? There’s a plastic smooth version and plastic with grooves almost like leather. Is there a reason why there’s two versions of the case? Which one is more hard to find?
Hey Jonte, Seems to me the grooved cases are more abundant, but don't hold me to that. Why the case design changes? Not sure. Thanks for watching!
Hi kannst du mir erklären wie schalter ich zum kamera kassette leüft super haber ich möchte aufnehmen und möchte das kamera umschalten danke
Hey Enzo,
I tried to find the correct translation for this message, but It was still unclear as to what you were trying to ask. Sorry about that. Maybe someone can provide a clearer translation. Thanks, Dave
@@davesretrovideolab2709
good morning and thanks for replying. to my question. however my problem is that I cannot access through the lens to capture an image. I would like to record something on the tape but I can't because through the lens I don't see anything just black. I repeat only the cassette I see and nothing. thanks again regards enzo
Try pressing the PLAY and RECORD buttons at the same time. This will make allow the camera video to be seen in both the viewfinder and make it accessible for recording.
Hello DAVE'S RETRO VIDEO LAB. now I understand how to access to make a recording you have to press the Rec button for playback and recording thank you very much. greetings Enzo
I've got my JVC GR-C1 signed by Christopher Lloyd. It also works and has the carriing case. found it for 15 euro in a 2nd hand shop.
What!?!? Christopher Lloyd signed your camera? Would you like to donate it to the lab!?!?!. Ha, just kidding of course...sort of. :)
Congrats!!!
@@davesretrovideolab2709 yes he did when he was here a couple of years ago in Belgium at a convention. "Its been a long time Ive seen one of those" he said and signed it.
i work for ups, the three trailers i load or unload a day there are ten packages destryed in transit, and i dont know how many are destroyed in handling, probably alot
Wow. That’s good to know. I will make sure I pack items for shipment with extra added protection.
Yeah I would recommend a flight case
@@DE-GEN-ART thanks for the very important tip.
One thing I know for sure is that this camera didn't stand a chance to capture anything that night at the JC Penney parking lot
Not enough light for sure. :)
Dave is somewhat cat-like.
As in he likes the boxes more than the camera.
Sometimes, it is all about the box. :)
Why can’t I see o tong my view finder?
There can be many different issues going on with your camera’s viewfinder. It may even be the camera itself. Typically, it’s an internal problem. I always blame capacitors, because they seem like the bane of all old retro video cameras. 😊
Should be in 60p.
I’m working on making better computer transfers with my old gear.