JVC GR-C1: Review of the very first VHS-C camcorder

An overview and in-depth review of the JVC GRC-1U camcorder, made famous from "Back to the Future." Feature review plus sample test footage and original footage that was shot back in the 80s.

[@BeyondBaito]

JVC could literally remake these cameras in modern-day for an HD digital camera. Hell, I'd buy it.

[@techtoremember8096]

That would be a great idea !

[@shakeyoulikehaiti]

i give this props for that idea

[@deancummings586]

I've always wanted to own this groundbreaking camcorder...imaging that one day I'd be visiting my local thrift shop and see one on the shelves. I think this will remain a dream after hearing from the store employees that ANY brand of camcorder will fly off the shelves! I'm just going to have to budget to get one. Thanks for this amazingly informative and entertaining video...I'm inspired by the quality of your work!

[@techtoremember8096]

Haha. Thanks again ! Yes of all the camcorders out there, the GR-C1 is special in many ways. I hope one day you’ll get one and live the dream ! It’s so much fun!

[@deancummings586]

@@techtoremember8096 Fun is the exact right word for it! Thanks and have a fantastic day!

[@deancummings586]

just to update our conversation, I was in my local thrift store today and found a very clean JVC GR-C7U that was in the box with the instruction manual, battery charging unit, TV connectors, warranty card and other accessories. As you mentioned in the video, the battery included did not work, but all the functions worked when I powered up the camera using the ac power via the battery charging unit. What a thrill to see and hear everything working! It was $20. Now that I have the manual, and I know the camera works, I'm going to purchase a battery, and a "speed rewinder" for the VHSc tapes. I have many tapes at home, and now I'll get the chance to watch them. Thanks again for this video, and the other one on the topic of the JVC GR-C7U...you helped me learn what to look for, and now I'm a proud owner of this storied piece of consumer electronic history! Sincerely, Dean

[@techtoremember8096]

Hey ! Thanks for checking back in. That’s great news. And what a great price too you got! Good idea to get that rewinder to keep some stress off the mechanism. Were you planning on using as a camera too or just to play back your tapes ?

[@deancummings586]

@@techtoremember8096 Hi! I thought of the rewinder based your excellent suggestions...thanks for that by the way! And yes, I am looking forward to playing back my old VHS-C tapes and actually using the camera as well, (it looks like a blast to use.) Having the owner's manual is helpful and I've already learned a few things, (for example, this model has a tracking adjustment feature.) A question for you, as far as ordering blank VHS-C branded tapes, are they all the same size to fit the GR-C7U? In other words, will they fit as long as they are marked VHS-C on the packaging? I'd appreciate your thoughts on this...thank you...

[@BleachedOctober]

Thanks for the video! I recently found a great condition one in a thrift store for ten bucks, and wasn't quite sure how to work it, this cleared it up!

[@techtoremember8096]

That's a great find! They are selling for $200 or more on Ebay so you got a fantastic deal on a real piece of history!

[@yaboijuanito1460]

Even though I was born in 2002. I really love the old 80s authentic camera even in the 90s and early 2000s. I really love old school stuff It just gives me a good nostalgic vibe to it.

[@Sebastian-uk3cp]

The light trails during the night adds a lot to the charm

[@techtoremember8096]

It’s the best part !

[@john.rc.3274]

I used this camera (minimum 15 lux illumination) from 1986 to 1991 when I upgraded to a Hi-Band 8mm Sony (it was a huge upgrade). I've been digitizing the old VHS-C tapes and they are definitely cringe worthy. However this JVC GR-C1 was a huge step up from the old JVC CV-0001 (just camera), minimum 90 lux illumination, was plugged into a full size VHS recorder (18lbs). That combo unit was used from 1979 until 1986. Makes me cringe every time I look at those old videos but they were better than nothing and they did have sound. Thanks again for the trip down memory lane.

[@techtoremember8096]

Hello ! Thanks for the comment. Yes from this cam to Hi-8 is a huge upgrade. Like 5 years or more You’re right the old tapes are cringeworthy but definitely invoke nostalgic memories of a time long gone ! Cheers! And thanks for watching

[@EdwinvandenAkker]

I'm a pro cameraman. And I seriously would love to do a few projects with a camcorder like the GRC-1U... it would be a cool challenge. I did try something a long time ago with an old umatic recorder. That was fun! But man, did those recorders weigh a ton! My shoulder is still hurtin'!

[@techtoremember8096]

Hey ! Oh those 3/4 “ machines were complete beasts ! Thanks for watching !

[@EdwinvandenAkker]

​@@techtoremember8096 You're welcome I have seen so many formats. I started with Betacam SP... and now solid state recording on XQD. umatic was a beast indeed, it was fun to "play" with is. Through it down the stairs, and it would still work... I won't try that with my Sony FX9....

[@JohnSmith-qn3ob]

My left ear enjoyed this

[@cyberlight22]

I like how you used a pro vcr in your intro

[@TheSnowOlve]

Hey! Recently got my hands on the JVC GR-C1. With a new battery its working fine and i have shot my first tape :D No i want to convert it to a digital file and have some problems. I was planing to use a converter from RCA to USB with capture software, that i have bought. But my camera is missing the 8 Pin Mini din to RCA cable , and i cant see to find it anywhere unless i buy a new camera for parts. I realise i can buy a VHS-player and converter from VHS to VHS-C, and from there use another type of videocapture system to SD card. But this also seems expencive. The GR-C1 came with a cable making it possible to conect to a old TV. Can i some how proceed with this? I would love to see a video on your digitalisation process or would love a comment on my question!

[@techtoremember8096]

HI there! Congratulations on your GR-C1 purchase. To answer your question, yes that's unfortunate that you don't have that proprietary cable. I don't understand why JVC chose to go that route, as opposed to a standard RCA connector, but they did. You are right, they are hard to find unless you can find it bundled with a camera for parts. Without that cable, I'm afraid you are going to need a VHS player, which is pretty easy and relatively cheap to get either online or at a Goodwill shop etc. and then a VHS-C adapter, which you can find but they are surprisingly not that cheap.. $(20-$40 range ) As for digitizing the footage, I actually do plan on making a video on how I go about that process , but in the meantime I have a video on the Elgato vs. Clearclick capture devices. If you haven't seen it, please check out that video for 2 solid options for converting your footage to digital. I wish I could tell you there was a very cheap and easy way to to do this without needing these extra pieces of equipment, but if there is I certainly don't know about it. If you have patience and want to wait for that JVC cable you probably will eventually find it on EBAY, but it may take some time. Cost aside, I do think its a better idea to play back your footage from a VCR, as it does take the wear and tear off the camcorder. I understand your unit works now but let's not forget how old it is and shuttling tape, rewinding fast forwarding etc, is going to put extra stress on the camera so its much better to leave the heavy lifting of playback to a dedicated VCR anyway. Oh, and finally you did mention that it came with a cable for an old TV. I think you are referring to a COAX with antenna inputs but this isn't really going to do much good for digitizing your footage. If you have a TV with that older COAX or antenna input you can certainly watch your footage back on that TV but you won't be able to capture it that way. Best of luck to you! Hope this helps a bit.

[@h.ugurcelik6434]

Hey great job sir. I have one too. I'm wondering if this is just black and white? and when I shoot a small white spot appears where I look. Is this problem from tape or camera? what could have happened? Thank you!

[@techtoremember8096]

Thank you ! Did you check your lens to see if there is dust on the lens ? If not it is possible some dust got inside the lens and on the sensor It doesn’t sound like it’s a tape issue but I would start by making sure your lens is clean and go from there!

[@clarksters88]

Love these. Got 2 of them as well as their zenith counterparts.

[@techtoremember8096]

Nice! The zenith ones are cool too as they are not as well known

[@clarksters88]

Tech to Remember Only reason why I have it is for when one of the JVCs have issues.

[@clarksters88]

Tech to Remember Also while editing your video I have no idea if it’s your microphone and or the way that your editing software rendered the video, but double check to make sure your audio is in stereo, because in some parts it’s in mono and others in stereo. When listening with headphones on and with my phone horizontal it becomes a huge problem. Besides that the video is really great. I love the way you edit and use transitions. Can’t wait to see more content from you!

[@techtoremember8096]

Hey. I believe you’re right ! I was using a mono lav mic and I may have missed a few sections where I didn’t convert to stereo. Good catch and helpful suggestion. Thanks for the compliment. More videos in the works for sure. !

[@KylesDigitalLab]

I once found one of the Zeniths at a trade center, forget the exact model, it might have been of the later CCD models. However it didn't have the power adapter and I didn't feel like gambling to see if the thing would work.

[@philnisco]

I really love the light trails on the footage at 12:55. I just purchased a GRC1 (waiting for my replacement batteries to come in the mail so i can actually begin shooting with it)... do you by any chance have any advice on how to achieve these types of light trails on purpose? Or does the camera just do this at night automatically when you're filming bright lights?

[@techtoremember8096]

Hi ! Since the camera uses a tube and not a CCD, it naturally will produce the trails -all you have to do is move the camera while it’s pointed towards a light source . Speaking of batteries , many people are having trouble sourcing batteries. Can I ask where you ordered yours from ?

[@fletzyproductions1190]

@@techtoremember8096 thats so sick, i thought you could only achieve it with film cameras (if you even can) and always wondered how they did it

[@LegosGood]

This is really cool! I found one in January of this year (2024) a JVC GR-C1U at an antique store for $256 (negotiated it down to $173). It came with the case, cables, tapes that were used, battery, charger, the camera itself, and the manual. It also fully works too! Although, I do have a question. How am I able to make the footage more colorful. I’m having a hard time with the white balance and sensitivity switch.

[@techtoremember8096]

Great deal you got ! Unfortunately (or fortunately if you want your footage to look authentic ) this camera produced very pale colors. There is no in -camera adjustment to change that-white balance will only change the color temperature , not the saturation. The only thing you could do is up the saturation in an editing program - but the real fun is having the footage look as it did in 1983 ! Have fun with your camera

[@LegosGood]

@@techtoremember8096 Thank you! I just went to an Easter event with it and I hope it looks alright when I get home and view the footage

[@KylesDigitalLab]

The GR-C1 is not the first camcorder, that was the Sony Betamovie BMC-110 from 1983. Yes, the first ever camcorder used Betamax, not VHS. Surprised how many people get this fact wrong. However, it was quite limited since you could only record, with no playback capability. The GR-C1 is the first VHS-based camcorder though, and full size VHS camcorders were released in 1985. Sony abandoned Betamovie and launched the Video8 format in 1985 also, which competed against VHS-C.

[@clarksters88]

He was talking about an all in one camcorder meaning one that could playback.

[@Panebco]

Hi! Great video. Thank you so much. My GR-C1 doesn’t open cassette tray and flash 3 led..Do you know what that means? Can you help me? sorry for my bad English Cheers from Italy..

[@techtoremember8096]

Oh sorry to hear. The parts are very old inside and the camera probably needs a little servicing If you have a local repair person nearby maybe he could take a look at it and it’s a simple fix -stay safe in Italy !

[@Panebco]

@@techtoremember8096 thank you 🙏🏻 I hope that will stop soon for all mankind.

[@HowdyMyDudes]

Hello! I was just curious how you purchased a battery off the Battery Kings website at 3:39 ? I looked all over the page and I couldn't find a way to purchase one

[@techtoremember8096]

Hi! That’s a great question. Since the making of the video in 2020, it looks like Battery Kings stopped selling them. They are almost impossible to find now. You may get lucky if you see a listing with an after market battery but you’d have to ask the seller if it works and many times they won’t know. There is an option to have a battery rebuilt and there are companies that do this. You send them the battery and they rebuild the cells inside. I know, this battery is getting very tough to source !

[@sk8tbrdt]

got da rare circuit city shirt on lolll

[@pinkipromise]

sony ps vita is a digital video camera with a vintage charm too

[@japhyriddle]

I use this camera (the PAL version) to take home movies these days. My white balance card is a greenish-yellow Post-It note to counteract this camera's obsession with green. While the image quality is somewhat disappointing at times, it sure beats trying to lug around the old HL-79E, and is definitely more fun than an iPhone.

[@techtoremember8096]

Oh it’s definitely fun. And I’m sure you get a lot of attention and looks from people ! Creative idea about the white balance. Thanks for watching

[@AndrRtlk]

Nice!

[@techtoremember8096]

Thank you !!

[@henrywhitehouse1922]

Kind of a long shot at this point but I am really hoping you could help me. I recently purchased a Zenith vm6000, I have been looking around for a while now but I am really struggling to find compatible batteries. Any recommendations for websites I can look at or even batteries on Amazon?

[@techtoremember8096]

Hi there ! I feel your pain. It’s real tough sourcing a battery right now. The third party manufacturers have stopped making them quite a while ago. There are companies that can rebuild a battery and that’s what I would recommend. Essentially , they replace the internals in the battery shell and can either replace them with a AA battery pack or a new cell. If you google battery rebuild you will find a few. It’s real tough now !

[@henrywhitehouse1922]

Thank you so much!

[@brandonalldredgeba]

The 80s style music just tops off the test footage haha 🤌

[@techtoremember8096]

Haha yes. Thanks for noticing the details !

[@user-mh5gb5rx3r]

I recently watched one of your videos, and you where carrying a portable power source. I have a sony ccd-v1 and v3 and would love to have a mobile power supply. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Great videos!

[@techtoremember8096]

Thank you ! Please watch my video on the ccd-m8u (most recent video ) and I go into detail on that !!!

[@user-mh5gb5rx3r]

@@techtoremember8096 Thank you so much!

[@res1tah71]

Which one where you in the video? Great job

[@techtoremember8096]

Thanks. I was guy in the desert walking with the cigarette in my mouth !

[@res1tah71]

@@techtoremember8096 you should show the old 80s camcorder footage on your channel. That would be great to see that

[@osmankerimben2149]

Thnx for the video: I have question what was exact the official JVC type camera in de movie back to the future? Is it the JVC GR-C1 OR the C1E OR the C1U. I am confused 😀

[@techtoremember8096]

Hi! It was this exact camera in the video the GR-C1U

[@osmankerimben2149]

Thanks for the super quick response I really appreciate it! Last question, what about the model JVC GR C7 I just subscribed yes! ⚡️👍🏼

[@techtoremember8096]

Hey, GR-C7U is the official model number! (That's the USA version) although that model wasn't in any famous movies that I know of!

[@osmankerimben2149]

@@techtoremember8096thank youuuu very much! 🙏🏼

[@stinkyox]

I had the GR-C1E, the UK/PAL version of this camera. When I see it being demonstrated I still have a tactile memory of what it felt like to press the buttons and such, it's weird. And my VHS cassette adaptor wasn't powered, you had to put in the VHS-C cassette and then manually rotate a kind of wheel on the right hand side of the adaptor to pull the tape through and get it ready to put in the video deck. Long gone, alas; stolen when my house was broken into in the late 80s. I do have some footage online shot with it, although at least one copy away from first generation, so not showing the camera in its best light. kzbin.info/www/bejne/p36WnYmArJqKaNk Fond memories of the clunky old thing, and the trips I took with it.

[@techtoremember8096]

Just saw your footage (gave it a like ). Awesome. Nothing like vintage footage with a vintage cam Very distinctive green tint the camera had. Yeah the sound of the buttons was very distinctive and brings back nostalgia ! Thanks for watching !

[@tedharlin4462]

Hey man, thanks for this great review. It was great how you compared the footage to 4k near the end of the video. Man, has video changed a lot. Wheres the best way to buy one of these cameras?

[@techtoremember8096]

Thanks for that ! You could get lucky and see one of these cameras at a garage sale but your best bet is eBay. Just be careful there. I’ll have an upcoming video about buying vintage gear on eBay!

[@multimood]

Where can I get an A/V cable for one?

[@techtoremember8096]

Best bet is to find a listing on eBay for parts.

[@alexwallberg5607]

I have a question, what vcr did you use to play back the footage?

[@techtoremember8096]

It was the Sony hdv-700 a portable deck that plays regular dv and hdv tapes ! nice deck that has FireWire, a nice screen and is portable too

[@techtoremember8096]

just to clarify, I used the Sony deck after transferring the vhs footage to that deck. I have a jvc super vhs deck model 9500. That deck outputs into a dhr-1000 mini DV recorder. Then the recorded mini dv footage I play back from the Sony hdv-700 into final cut. (I know it’s a little complicated)

[@patarrota1986]

Tienes la cámara en venta por casualidad

[@techtoremember8096]

No. Lo siento!

[@patarrota1986]

@@techtoremember8096 ok llevo idea de comprar una cámara por eso te pregunté

[@ilcutrese1977]

Hello Tech to Remember I bought my own camcorder a week ago. she looks good the picture is very good. the problem the camera does not pick up as soon as soon as I press the two buttons stops the camera immediately. do you have an idea what the problem can be? may be that the drive belts or the case would have to be cleaned can be that the buttons have a problem. I wanted to tell them great video

[@techtoremember8096]

Hi there I had that happen to me the other day and it turned out the battery didn’t have enough charge. Make sure your batteries are fully charged. If that’s not it sounds like a belt I’d say. Was it working before ?

[@ilcutrese1977]

@@techtoremember8096 Hello thanks for replying. Unfortunately I don't have a battery for the camera. I had to buy a new power supply for 12v, so as I said, playback runs without problems, only when backwashing does the camera stop and when recording. If the straps are I think are not easy to find the camera is 38 years old or helps if I clean the camera completely I would have to open it I don't want to do that with a cleaning cassette

[@techtoremember8096]

Yes. It sounds like the camera will need some service. Possibly one of the belts snapped inside or something needs to be replaced. It’s hard to find parts but if it’s only a belt you may be in luck !

[@ilcutrese1977]

@@techtoremember8096 Yes I also think something needs to be done I try to clean the camera first and find the straps I found the service manual it says everything part by part how to remove the camera I hope I'm lucky I thank you for your time. greetings enzo

[@techtoremember8096]

Oh. Wow. That’s great you have the manual. And that you have the know-how. Good luck, Enzo. Keep in touch and let us know if you found the problem

[@vintagelover3873]

I just found today in india 500 rupees only but unfortunately here dont have svhs recorded cassette:)

[@techtoremember8096]

You mean vhs ? You can’t get a cassette online ?

[@vintagelover3873]

@@techtoremember8096 no this camcorder vhsc same cam as u use in videos 😀

[@Videoneer]

I actually shot a short horror film with a JVC VHSC model very close to this one! It’s right here (we cranked it out in 48 hours): kzbin.info/www/bejne/eIibmKpji9t_hqM

[@techtoremember8096]

Very cool ! Nice work

[@zeromega]

I'm gonna ask

[@techtoremember8096]

What are you asking ? Lol

[@zeromega]

@@techtoremember8096 what happened in the desert 😂

[@techtoremember8096]

What happened in the desert stays in the desert ! Lol

[@zeromega]

@@techtoremember8096 😂