Not able to record

It could one of a few problems:

1. The viewfinder is pulled out and "PRIORITY" is set to "FINDER".

Push the viewfinder back in or set "PRIORITY" to "LCD".

2. The LCD monitor's brightness setting is too dark.

Adjust the brightness of the LCD monitor.

3. If the monitor is tilted upward 180 degrees, open the monitor fully.

Download the manual for more info:
JVC GR D290 Manual

take the lense cap off

Some of the tapes that we get can be problematic so, if you want to record professionally like the TV studios do. Here is what you must do so that you do not lose the information on your tapes. Some of the bad news is that you can not recover anything from your DV tapes if nothing was recorded on them. However the way forward from now on is to record black on your tapes before shooting on them. Here is what you do. Buy a new tape or if you want to use a used tape you do the same. You insert your tape in the camcorder, with your lens cap on that means you do not take your lens cap off and then start recording. What you will be doing is laying black on your tape so that it becomes ready for recording. It means that your tape will now be recorded with black. you can then rewind and start recording with your cap off the true recording. The tapes will not then be problematic. Please let me know if this has solved your problem.

You may have lost your image sensor.

1. Take lens cap off.
2. Look in lens make sure there is nothing on or blocking lens.
3. Find bright room & see if image comes up.
4. Make sure your in video record mode.
5. If you have eyepiece lens look to make sure it is off. {Most cams will not let you use both at same time.}
6. Still no image try recording on blank disk then play back see if image is recording.

If that does not work MSG back.

I fixed the problem by knocking on the top of the camera as said by someone here...not technical, but it worked:P

It seems problem of defective ccd imager IC, please confirm is this DCR-HC18E model Sony camcorder to guide you further.

Sent item back to JVC, repaired FOC by extending guarantee

excellent service!!

I HAD THIS PROBLEM ERROR CODE C31 : 22 WOULD COME UP AND TRV 118 CAM WOULD NOT WORK. I TRIED EVERYTHING TILL ONE DAY I BANGED IT ON A CARPETED FLOOR ON THE BOTTOM OF THE CAMCORDER 5 TIMES QUITE HARD. THEN THE CAM WORKED JUST FINE! MY CAM HADN'T WORKED FOR OVER 7 MONTHS. NOW I HAVE IT BACK. HOPE THIS HELPS SOMEONE.

SORRY FOR DELAY RE YOUR PROBLEM
WOULD THE CAMERA HAVE BEEN SET AT MANUAL EXPOSURE WITH THE EXPOSURE SET WRONG
TRY!!
ROBERT

You may have a problem with the image sensor device (CCD). From October 3, 2005 through October 2, 2007, Sony will repair, free of charge, affected products exhibiting the above-mentioned problem where it is caused by the image sensor device. Sony will also cover the cost of shipping and handling from and to addresses within the United States and US Territories for service to correct this issue. To see if you have this problem: Power On your camcorder (make sure the battery is fully charged). Check the LCD screen and verify that the display icons are turned on. If you cannot see the icons, press the Display button until the icons are visible. Put a tape in the camcorder. With the lens cap off, record some video. NOTE: Be sure to speak during the recording so the video will contain your voice. Rewind this section of the tape (using tape counter to verify start of your recording). Play back the recorded video and use the LCD screen on the camcorder to view it. You should hear the audio you recorded and the Display icons/text will still appear. If your camcorder is affected by this CCD issue, the picture will either be extremely distorted, or there will be no visible picture (just a blank LCD screen with the display icons still visible).