JVC Pro HD "studio camera" special edition
 

Pretty cool happenings in the JVC booth at NAB this year.
They were showing a non-working prototype of one of their new
small HD cameras. It's a mega pixel-three CCD wonder!

This new 'studio' model was a trade show floor "test balloon" to see if it would draw interest. IT DID!
It had its (HDV) tape recorder guts replaced with encoders that will offer both uncompressed SMPTE 259M (uncompressed 4:2:2) video
or uncompressed SMPTE 292M (_uncompressed_ 720P) HD, in addition
to analog component video.

Either SDI signal can be fed directly to a deck, or more likely, straight into
an NLE's drive several hundred feet away. For that purpose,
this 'studio model' would also provide a industry standard 26 pin connection.
The JVC guys also said that it could do 4 channel audio.

Under $10K with (removable) lens.

I am sure that PS technik can make 1:1 35mm lens adapters for it, but
I would also love it if I could get the 7.2 magnification factor that happens
with the XL2-EOS-35mm Canon glass for wildlife videography.

This thing, if JVC take the plunge, could be the poor man's Cinealta or Viper.

Looks like a great option for low budget TV production. I wonder if the folks at BattleStar Galactica are checking it out since they use Cinealtas connected directly to HDCam HDD editing setups.

I agree, what's the release date?

There is no set release date as this 'studio' model was a test to see
"If we make it, will they come?". The JVC guys said YES was
the answer they were getting. How could they not when anything else
is at least 5 times mo money. This thing could be BIG and open the
gates for others like Canon to follow along.