New JVC cameras
 

Here's JVC's new cameras from NAB. They look like hand held versions of the HM700 line, but now with 1/3" 1920x1080 CMOS chips.

JVC Professional Features page

JVC Professional Features page

And the press releases:

JVC / NAB 2012 News Releases

Re: New JVC cameras
 

In fact there will be two models: the GY-HM650U ($5695)
http://pro.jvc.com/prof/attributes/f...&feature_id=01

and the GY-HM600 ($4695).
http://pro.jvc.com/prof/attributes/f...&feature_id=01

It will be interesting to compare them to the Sony EX1R and to the Panasonic AG-AC160 & AG-AC250.

Re: New JVC cameras
 

Thanks to our amazing product design team, we will have an operational GY-HM600 concept unit in our booth, C4314 in the LVCC central hall.

Looking forward to seeing you all,

- Craig

Re: New JVC cameras
 

I wish I was in vegas to see it. I'm impressed with some of the innovative features of the 650. The ability to record to two codecs to two cards, one HD and one 1/4 HD is great for us. We are constantly posting to to web-sites and our internal intranet.

Also, it looks like you can Wifi push files from the camera via ftp?? Wow. And if I am reading this correctly you can use an iPAD for monitoring via Wifi from the camera? If so, that's really cool!!

Very smart design, I wish i could see it in person.

Good job JVC!

Re: New JVC cameras
 

Way to go JVC! F11 @ 2000 lux is quite a stat for a 1/3" camera. That is laregeshoulder mount light sensitivity. Looking forward to seeing the images.

I know this might be a strange question but will this new chipset be available in the mini-shoulder mount design? I have always been drawn to this form factor. It would be a shame if one of the most innovative parts of the JVC line would be stopped along with the imaging update.

Re: New JVC cameras
 

Wow!

Initial impression I'm very impressed.

What are the differences between the HM600 & 650? FTP transfer in camera, what is that!?

It doesn't look like I'd like the lens as much as the EX1 (I love the hard stops on zoom, focus and iris & this is hard to beat w/o going to a "real" ENG lens). But it is nice there is 3 rings & looks like all the switches were they should be.

Longer zoom range than Panasonic's 22x zoom AC130 / AC160 / HPX250. I wonder if Panasonic got the memo that they can't say they have the longest zoom in this class.

Though the Panasonic's 3 cameras go wider at an amazing 3.9mm lens, making even the XHA1 able to zoom in closer with it's 20x zoom. If you want to get closer, it looks like JVC is king of the hill at 94.3mm lens for 1/3" chips.

I know what I'll be looking at on my lunch break.

Re: New JVC cameras
 

Codec flexibility looks to be what may make this win in some workflows' minds. AVCHD AND MPEG-2 on the same camera is unheard of until now.

Re: New JVC cameras
 

Isn't JVC owned by Panasonic?

Re: New JVC cameras
 

From: JVC - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
To me it seems like JVC releases very, very different cameras than Panasonic. So either they do that intentionally to not compete, or they just operate as two independent companies.

One thing I really like about JVC over all of the other manufactures is the photos of new cameras they put online & all of the detailed information they have on the same page. (Heck, you can even find that info from discontinued products too!) Everyone else releases one, maybe two or three photos of a new camera. JVC releases three high resolution print quality images & then another dozen photos creating a nearly 360 view of the camera. I love that.

Re: New JVC cameras
 

Nice lens, specs and very competitive price point too.
Color me interested.

Re: New JVC cameras
 

No, it isn't. JVC Kenwood is the formal company name.

Re: New JVC cameras
 

Craig,

Do these new cameras offer a rear zoom control option? Maybe a rear iris control as well?

Thanks

Re: New JVC cameras
 

These cameras will have LANC standard.

Re: New JVC cameras
 

Craig,

If I am reading the specs right, it appears that the AVCHD codec recording mode is 60i only while the 35mbit/sec codec is all of the progressive frame rates.

Is there a reason for this? Just curious.

Re: New JVC cameras
 

Also Craig (or anyone who can stop by the JVC NAB booth & can get an answer)...

Variable frame rate record options?
1080p60? Now, or firmware upgrade later?

Re: New JVC cameras
 

Thanks for your reply but will it have zoom and iris control or just zoom?

Re: New JVC cameras
 

The GY-HM600 will support standard AVCHD. The GY-HM650 adds H.264 recording with the additional frame rates.

Re: New JVC cameras
 

Both camcorders will have variable frame rate recording. Specifications aren't finalized, yet.

AVCHD standard format of 1080 60i is the current specification to conform to broadcast standards. AVCHD Progressive implementation is something we will be looking into as well.

Re: New JVC cameras
 

VFR... #@*& YEAH!

Thanks Craig. I look forward to seeing what they are. I don't know how you could beat the 1-frame increments of Sony's EX series, but if you can implement that, it would be fantastic. As long as it isn't fewer options than the HM700, I'll be excited.

---

I'll have to say since I'm still on FCP7, the HD MPEG2 is better for me to work with at the moment (quicker log & transfer), but AVCHD I think is great future proofing, because what I've seen it is a better codec. When I move past FCP7 to something that can edit more video natively (like FCPX or Premiere Pro) I'll probably be more open to AVCHD.

I think it would be great to have all the same recording rates in HD MPEG2 & AVCHD, when my post production flow changes, all I have to do is go into the menu of my camera instead of looking for a new camera.

Carig, if possible for AVCHD & HD MPEG 2 to have the same offerings (or at least most of the same), that would be ideal.

Re: New JVC cameras
 

The LANC control will be for zoom, focus, iris and start/stop.

Re: New JVC cameras
 

Thanks Craig! A true event camera. I will give this camera a look next to my XF300. Though it will be hard to pass up the 4:2:2 of the XF300.

Re: New JVC cameras
 

Any updates coming to the GY-HM 710? I am done with the hand held camera game.

Re: New JVC cameras
 

There aren't any immediate changes to our current HM700 series line. They're all doing quite well in their respective segments.

Re: New JVC cameras
 

I will be curious to see if you observe differences, if any, with the recorded material.

- Craig

Re: New JVC cameras
 

To quote the engineering team at JVC Professional, "Anything's possible from a technology standpoint."

We'll be looking into this as we get closer to the shipping date later this year.

Re: New JVC cameras
 

Hi Craig,
And whatabout the interchangeable lens version of the GY-HMQ10, that was shown during the CES? Is it still on tracks?
That would be great for wildlife documentary.

Re: New JVC cameras
 

2. questions 1.When the info says its low light is f11 what are the condidtions? ie is f11 @ 0 gain now special low light modes? is at @ 2000 lux? 2. How does it compare to the 710s? about the same or better? In low light.

Re: New JVC cameras
 

Probably true but I am in the habit of using secondary color correction on everything I shoot and the 4:2:2 MXF just does a great job. This is where I would test between the two.

I too am hoping the F11 number is in a normal shooting mode and as clean as the XF300s.

Re: New JVC cameras
 

1. F11 @2000 lux, 0db gain.

2. Better.

Re: New JVC cameras
 

F11 @ 2000 lux! sounds like were back to the DV days finally!

Re: New JVC cameras
 

What does F11 @ 2,000 lux mean, exactly? How does this compare to the HM600's competitors?

Re: New JVC cameras
 

Craig - the 650 looks like an interesting camera. I've always been a Panasonic P2 person, but I'm willing to consider switching. For me, the final needed spec is 1080 p 60, preferably at better than 28 Mbps. I know that this is asking a lot, but for sports, many of us need 60 fps. I'm sticking with 720p 60 until a good 1080p 60 option arrives. I have read that both the US and Europe are looking at 1080p 60 for a future-proof television standard - JVC could be a leader in this format.

Re: New JVC cameras
 

I'm with Mark, I'd love to see 1080p60 on this. If not there is still the AC130 / AC160 out there. For me, 1080p60 isn't a deal breaker, but just one more feature it would be nice to have.

Roughly it means that you light a scene with 2,000lux & to get the f-stop, you close the iris down to for proper exposure. The higher the f-stop, aka the more the iris is closed, the less light the camera needs, the more sensitive it is & the better it will perform in low light.

I believe I've seen the 1/2" CMOS EX1 quoted for F10. Panasonic's new 2/3" MOS HPX600 is rated at F12.

If HM600 / HM650 provide a clean picture at F11, then we might have the best performing low light 1/3" HD camera (please correct me if I'm wrong).

All I can say is: Witch craft; typo; or the HM600/650 is going to be the next leading camera in this class on the market.

Re: New JVC cameras
 

If the camera's sensitivity is accurate, that's very impressive! Especially considering it has 1/3" chips.

Re: New JVC cameras
 

When a company prints the low light performance like f11 @ 2000 lux thats very promising. when the camera are not good in low light they usually just say .5 lux but thats with 1/30 sec. 30 db gain and or some special low light mode that is only usable if no one moves. F11@ 2000 lux is what my old Panasonic DV 200 was rated at which is the best camera I ever owned.

Re: New JVC cameras
 

May I ask where you found this information? For the US, I am sure it is correct. But 1080p60 as television standard in Europe is highly unlikely as Europe uses 50 Hz, not 60 Hz. All I heard is that the European Broadcasting Union (representing 74 TV stations in 56 countries in Europe, Africa and Asia) is thinking about 1080p50 as a future format for HDTV, but 60p would be really strange.

Re: New JVC cameras
 

You are correct, Bernd. For Europe, it will be 1080p 50, but US cameras that do 1080p 60 almost always do 1080p 50 in their European versions. Sorry for the failure to fully explain - I keep forgetting how international DVInfo.net really is. One reference for this information is Wikipedia, under the "1080p" title. I have also seen references from other sources.

Re: New JVC cameras
 

@ Craig Yanagi;

Craig, I was VERY impressed that you took the time to return my call! That shows that JVC is a company that really cares about customers. I had tried to reach the persons in your position at Sony and Panny for many months with no success.

I must echo what others are saying about the GY-HM600U. Please, please find a way to give it 1080/60p! JVC has six months to work on this. I will keep my $5K parked and ready for at least a few months, waiting with bated breath for good word about this. Every other aspect of your new cam looks perfect, almost as if you were reading my mind - except for the lack of 1080/60p.

I posted the details of my latest test/rejection (a Panny AG-AC160) in my quest for my first "pro" camera here:

http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/digital-...ml#post1729328

Thanks again, keep up the excellent customer interaction - it IS a way to win and keep customers.

Steve

Re: New JVC cameras
 

Zach, you might want to check out my post below in the other thread.

I had my eye on the Panny AG-AC160 for months, finally bought one after very serious research. Unlike you, I simply MUST have AVCHD 2.0 with the 1080 50/60p, having gotten a taste with a Sony NX70 that I bought and then rejected for reasons related to terrible image quality. The Panny AC160 arrived yesterday; I did not need to test it for more than 2 hours to realize it was not worth the price, despite all the great features and the promise of 1080/60p with the firmware update due in late May:

http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/digital-...ml#post1729328

I realize your mileage might vary, but I was shocked and saddened. I had such high hopes. There were other problems than just those mentioned in my post above.

Steve

Re: New JVC cameras
 

Although a lot of cameras that use the original AVCHD standard do 1280x720/60p at up to 24 Mbps, the new AVCHD 2.0 standard specifies 1080 50/60p at up to 28 Mbps. It is possible to double the frame rate with only a 4 Mbps increase in data because of the way h.264 encodes differences in frames. In most cases, the actual change in detail between two frames that are separated by only 1/60th of a second is not very large. All this is a big part of the reason that 1080 60p is doable with AVCHD but not with the MPEG-2 broadcast standard codecs such as the ones used by Sony XDCAM or Canon XF100 - 300.

I personally have been very pleased with the footage produced by the AVCHD 2.0 cams I have used. It is a LOT better at capturing details and motion. I benefited tremendously from just shooting everything in 1080/60p, because I never knew when something would happen that lent itself to a touch of 2.5x slo-mo in post. I also have completely given up on 720 - the images are just too soft when I render to BluRay, or even to YouTube!

@ Craig Yanagi - again, I urge you to put your engineers in the basement, throw them pizza and not let them out until the new GY-HM600/HM650 supports AVCHD 2.0! With it, your new cam will sweep the ENG world. Without it, it will seem old and tired the day it is born.

FYI:

AVCHD INFORMATION WEB SITE

Steve