Is JVC going to make a 2/3 HD camera

[Paul Kapp]

My mistake, the 250's had HDSDI 720p out.
I here you.
Love JVC.
I would like better image quality in the same form factor too.
I too am not turned on by cmos.
As you say, the desired form and specs are 4 x JVC price.

Maybe it's time for JVC to make a quantum leap to a new paradigm.
Drop the tape and chip recording, do a good HD SDI output with high image qual with 1/2" CCD sensor.

[Paul R Johnson]

I was considering the 750, which ticks all my boxes - but this is the first I've heard about them being less than good in low light - I do mainly theatre work? I've seen night time material from them and it looked ok - what is the problem with low light?

[Adam Letch]

Paul I can't speak of the newer 700 series camera's as I've not experienced them, maybe JVC tweaked them a bit to reduce noise, I know they have a higher bitrate to record which would help some as I believe the main culprit on the JVC is its processor that encodes.

I say this as my 251 is noisy in any shadow or blacks to tape, but component out when I do live concerts etc is reasonably clean. I shoot a lot with HD101s in low light stage work and they work fine, but they are light hungry, and we always have 6db of gain. So as long as the theatre is well lit you should be fine, just don't expect miracles.

[Glen Vandermolen]

Originally Posted by Paul R Johnson

I was considering the 750, which ticks all my boxes - but this is the first I've heard about them being less than good in low light - I do mainly theatre work? I've seen night time material from them and it looked ok - what is the problem with low light?

Any 1/3" CCD camera is not going to have the best low light capability. It's just the physics of the small sensor size. Some here don't like CMOS chips, and for all their faults, they're actually quite good and generally are a bit more sensitive with light compared to CCDs. Plus, they're cheaper and they run cooler.
The Canon XF300/305s have 1/3" 3-CMOS chips. I had one, and it isn't too bad in low light. The TV show "Coal" was shot with them, and that's taking place in a black, dark coal mine!

I was hesitant to go the CMOS route at first, but once I got to play with some cameras with CMOS sensors, I was sold. If JVC introduced a 1/2" 3-CMOS camera in the HM700 body style, I think it'd be a big hit. I would think the news organizations would eat them up.

Apparently, the Panny HPX370 is pretty good in low light. The EX1R/3 cameras are very good. The media, however, is expensive for all of them.
If you want a light sensitive camera, go with the Sony FS100. That camera can practically see in the dark!