Any rumours on a handycam versions of the HDxxx series?
 

Sony just continue to release model after model of new lower cost HD cameras in the handycam format yet JVC is deafeningly silent.

I appreciate the upgrades to the 100 (110, 200 etc) but do they think that is the only direction we need? A HD100 variant is my long term plan but to start with I only want a HD version of the GY-DV300 (something akin to the Z1 or new V1) with 1/3" 720p sensors (CMOS wouldn't be so bad either) and fixed lens etc

Are there any rumours?
Any idea when such a model if in the pipeline might be announced (upcoming expos)?

JVC reps care to comment and let the cat out of the bag? (I won't hold my breath on this one though)

PS: For anyone interested, the IDX Vmount adaptor plate works a treat on the DV301E as well. You have to monitor battery levels on the battery but thats the only apparent limitation. The battery rests quite nicely on your shoulder too for comfortable hand hold.

Better than rumors -- actual pix.

3 CCD handycam that shoots 1080i and records it to hard-disk. Arrival in 2007.

Most likely MPEG-2 at 19Mbps -- to keep it compatible with ATSC Transport Stream infra-structure.

No mention of 720p and I suspect since this is a CONSUMER product it will not shoot progressive video.

Now will the PRO division modify this model into a ProHD camcorder. Let's hope so and by NAB 2007. Or, better let's hope they do their own.

Steve Mullen

This is the first encouraging news I have heard. You say you have seen pix, I assume though they are not on your sites as I couldn't find anything.

I agree the 1080i aspect is a concern as the major reason I have been holding out for a JVC is in hope of a 720p semipro handycam. If I wanted 1080i I would just by a Sony already, they have a stack of models to pick from.

The HDD aspect sounds great in theory, exactly what I want. In practise though I'll bet even in a Pro model they will kill this feature with something like a fixed 60GB drive which doesn't give enough leeway for a single wedding shoot (for me). 2.5" Drives are pretty cheap now, let me swap them myself in some sort of caddy as needed.

So many possibilities, but oh so often so many disappointments (in life).

I can certainly wait until NAB next year, I won't be buying before then anyway.

Have you seen Catapult? Seems like it will be a great little add-on to pretty much any DV/HDV camera.

I'd love to know where you saw the pictures. I did find some pictures of a JVC HD HDD-camcorder. Did you mean that camera?

http://www.gizmodo.com/assets/resour..._everio_hd.jpg

Actually, this has already been discussed, in area 51: http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=74721

You may also want to read this post by DSE who explains a couple of things about the status of recording formats at present as well as the "take out" practices of the companies.

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showpost....1&postcount=52

Note that this JVC camcorder is supposed to record "full HD" which noone knows what format it is...

Thanks,

Thanasis

Seems like I can wait even longer now. I Just bought a Century 16:9 adaptor off eBay for my DV301E and with the IDX VMount adaptor for JVC mount I am in no short supply of battery power, just the IDX battery that came with the IDX kit lasted me from 12pm - 11pm yesterday in a wedding with 2 cermonies and over 4 hours of record time over that period (no the camera wasn't on all the time but it was on most of the time).

Half of my reason for such a HD handycam was to move to native 16:9 SD. JVC, I can wait for now in the hope of great things to come....

"Second, Hugo Gaggioni's points were made almost exclusively towards AVC Interframe, ... increases bitrate requirements to ridiculous levels for zero gain in quality"

Given the price of P2 -- Panasonic had no choice but to find a way to cut DVCPRO HD 100Mbps bit-rate in half while maintaing 100Mbps quality. That would have been fine. But, to attack MPEG-2 was foolish as it DSE points out.

"Not to mention the decoding requirements that currently cannot be affordably met by the average Joe."

I've made samples of AVC at 35Mbps and encode times were 10X MPEG-2. So while I believe decode will be possible (it's only H.264 after all) encode will be a killer. However, as an aquistion-only media it should work. (And AVCHD will be used that way.)

"All that adds up to a pretty weak picture, as displayed in the presentation."

I think Pana went out on a limb with P2 and AVC will either save them or it will saw off the limb.

"Sony was left no choice but to publically respond to a white paper that Panasonic recently issued that said anyone using MPEG 2 is foolish."

Sony had another reason. MPEG-2 has universally been panned on their BR media as it can't do as good a job as VC-1. BR is in trouble. 2X-3X more $ for a player and poor quality. Early adopters will make and break one of the formats and it looks like HD DVD, using VC-1, is turning-out to be the sleeper. I certainly like the ability to burn an HD DVD on any computer. Toshiba prices are down to almost $400.

PS: I think FullHD is 1080i marketing speak for not 720p. So JVC consumer is joining Sony in dumping on 720p. But that makes sense because BR is 1080. Or, it could mean 1080p -- which would really kill 720p.

Steve Mullen