JVC GY-HM100 - 35 Mbps

jamesc

Well-known member
Hope this isn't a repost (searched on dvx and using google). Also, sorry if this is in the wrong forum.

Just got back from the Macworld FCPUG Supermeet where they unveiled the JVC GY-HM100. The promo video is up at:

http://pro.jvc.com/hm100

The big features are:

- Encodes to Native Quicktime (MPEG2 Long GOP)
- Encodes onto SDHC Class 6 at 35 Mbps (2 slots, supposedly hot swappable?)
- 1/4" 3CCD
- under $4k
- 3.2 lbs with battery

They demo'd the workflow on stage and it was cool to see how you can edit footage directly from the SDHC card. No wrapping necessary.

And some more detailed specs:

Dimensions: 138(w) x 178 (h) x 365 (d)mm
Weight: 3.2 lbs (with battery and microphone)
Image Sensor: 1/4" 3CCD
Lens: Fujinon F1.8, f=3.7-37mm 10x
Filter Diameter: 46mm
Shutter Speed: 1/4 to 1/10000
Gain: 0,3,6,9,12,15,18 dB, ALC
LCD: 2.8"
Recording Media: 2x SDHC Class 6
Video Codec: MPEG2 Long GOP
Video File Format: Quick time for FCP
Recording Modes:
- HQ 1920x1080 - 60i, 30p, 24p (60Hz) ; 50i, 25p (50Hz)
- HQ 1440x1080 - 60i (60Hz), 50i (50Hz)
- HQ 1280x720 - 60i, 30p 24p (60Hz), 50i, 25p (50Hz)
- SP modes are similar at 1440x1080 and 1280x720

Audio: LPCM 2ch, 48kHz/16-bit
Video output: Composite out, component out, HDMI out, USB 2.0
Ships: April 2008

There was also mention of a bigger brother, the GY-HM700, but no specs on that.
 
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You mean JVC?

I've read it also records XDCAM EX format @ 35mbps, wow meets broadcast standard? But it's only 1/4" chip 3CCD though, anyways I am curious to see actual footage.

Good rival for the HMC150! 2 SDHC slots!
 
It looks like a great design for a small cam and on paper looks pretty good.

I've read it also records XDCAM EX format @ 35mbps

It doesn't doesn't it records 35mbps mpeg2 but that doesn't make it xdcam ex, it's in a native quicktime wrapper which sounds both cool and scary.
 
You mean JVC?

I've read it also records XDCAM EX format @ 35mbps, wow meets broadcast standard? But it's only 1/4" chip 3CCD though, anyways I am curious to see actual footage.

Good rival for the HMC150! 2 SDHC slots!

I've never really been much of a fan of JVC's cameras but curious here as well. This has some nice features:

- All the various 1080 and 720 modes.
- Uses cheap SD cards, but how much more space will be taken up by the 35mbps format?
- Has a nice DVX-style viewfinder eyecup.
- Broadcast standard XDCAM EX for much cheaper and using cheaper recording media.
- For Final Cut users like myself, the FCP native file format is great. I've thought about going to an HMC150 but the workflow for FCP is not there yet unless you want to have ridiculous file sizes by transcoding to ProRes.
- Gotta love the 2 SDHC card slots. One is probably enough, but you never know if you will miss something by changing out a card. Throw a couple 32 gig cards in and not have to worry so much.
- Lots of gain settings which is great for wedding receptions. My A1 jumps from +6 to +12, where a +9 would be hugely appreciated.

I like the idea of the small size which could be good for matching it up with a DOF adaptor.

The big bummer is that it is only 1/4 CCD's. I might be totally sold on this if it had at least 1/3 so that I could get decent DOF control when an adaptor wasn't available or practical.

I'm curious as to what the GY-HM700 is and how much it will cost. Could it be the replacement for the HD100/HD200 HDV series?

Also, the good thing about this is that maybe it will urge Sony to come out with some cheaper XDCAM EX models that use SDHC cards instead of their expensive SxS cards. Now we've got Panasonic, JVC, and Sony all offering professional tapeless solutions, maybe it will force Canon to get with the program and release some pro level tapeless cams.

Now that I think of it, since it can go from card to FCP right away, this might become my basic videography camera, especially if it has decent low light capabilities (darn those 1/4 CCD's). Then maybe I will get the 2/3 fixed lens or 2/3 modular Scarlet for films, music videos, slow motion, arsty experimental stuff, etc.

Edit:

Looked at the pictures on JVC's site, and it appears that there is no iris dial. The only thing I see is a button for iris and shutter at the back left of the camera near the viewfinder. Crap.
 
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http://pro.jvc.com/pro/pr/2009/releases/solid_state_release.html

Preliminary GY-HM700 Features

1. Compact shoulder form factor of less than 4 kg (8.9 lbs.) in operation
2. High quality 1/3” progressive 3CCD with unique JVC’s H/V spatial offset
3. Newly developed 14x high-quality interchangeable lens by Canon
4. Newly developed high-quality LCOS viewfinder
5. Newly developed large LCD display
6. Double-memory hybrid recording system using optional KA-MR100G SxS memory card recorder
7. HD SDI output, SD down-convert capability over IEEE 1394 interface, USB 2.0 interface

The GY-HM700 is scheduled for delivery in March 2009. More details will be released in February 2009.
 
http://pro.jvc.com/pro/pr/2009/releases/solid_state_release.html

Preliminary GY-HM700 Features

1. Compact shoulder form factor of less than 4 kg (8.9 lbs.) in operation
2. High quality 1/3” progressive 3CCD with unique JVC’s H/V spatial offset
3. Newly developed 14x high-quality interchangeable lens by Canon
4. Newly developed high-quality LCOS viewfinder
5. Newly developed large LCD display
6. Double-memory hybrid recording system using optional KA-MR100G SxS memory card recorder
7. HD SDI output, SD down-convert capability over IEEE 1394 interface, USB 2.0 interface

The GY-HM700 is scheduled for delivery in March 2009. More details will be released in February 2009.

Sounds like the replacement for the HD100/200's. Will probably be at least 5-6 grand. Would love to just see a picture.
 
http://pro.jvc.com/pro/pr/2009/releases/solid_state_release.html

Preliminary GY-HM700 Features

1. Compact shoulder form factor of less than 4 kg (8.9 lbs.) in operation
2. High quality 1/3” progressive 3CCD with unique JVC’s H/V spatial offset
3. Newly developed 14x high-quality interchangeable lens by Canon
4. Newly developed high-quality LCOS viewfinder
5. Newly developed large LCD display
6. Double-memory hybrid recording system using optional KA-MR100G SxS memory card recorder
7. HD SDI output, SD down-convert capability over IEEE 1394 interface, USB 2.0 interface

The GY-HM700 is scheduled for delivery in March 2009. More details will be released in February 2009.

The features of the 700 is what gets me really excited! Shoulder size, interchangeable lenses! If it´s cheaper than the EX3, this might be my next camera.

Great news!
 
Is this what they intro'd at MacWorld? A Mac-specific AVCHD Camera. Awesome!

-Nate

Well, technically wouldn't this be XDCAM format? But yeah, pretty similar to AVCHD considering it uses cheap SD and SDHC cards. I didn't see it at first but it has 2 recording formats, one specifically for FCP users, but then another one they're calling ISO base recording that is compatible with all other NLE's.

I really want to see more on the GY-HM700 though. If it is not too expensive, does well in low light, and has a nice cine gamma and cine matrix then I could see this being popular. Also, Letus, Brevis, or SGpro could design a flipped adaptor for it so that you can just pop the adaptor on instead of the included interchangeable lens. Didn't Letus do that with one of their older adaptors? I think it was for the Canon XL series and there was one for the JVC HD100 series as well.
 
Oh poop, I just realized the GY-HM100 uses SxS which will end up adding considerably to the price, plus with the HD-SDI output I'm thinking it will be pretty expensive. Too bad they don't offer SD and SDHC as an option.

Oh well, still interested to see what it is. I'm definitely not thrilled by the 1/4 CCD's on the GY-HM100.
 
wonder with what will come Pany and Canon (maybe Sony too)

Well, if JVC can basically do the XDCAM EX format for under $4,000 and using SD cards then Sony should be able to have something priced under the EX-1. I wonder if Sony is going to keep AVC-HD for their consumer stuff and just do HDV and XDCAM for prosumer and professional equipment.

I'd say it is safe to say Panasonic will stick with P2 and AVC-HD. Could AVC-Intra eventually trickle down to the HVX and below market? I have no idea.

I would think that Canon will eventually move towards AVC-HD. They'll probably be last as they usually wait to see what everyone else does. Kinda bums me out because I love Canon products but I don't want to wait too long to switch to tapeless. Maybe one more year of HDV and I'm going to AVC-HD or this Sony or JVC stuff, plus there is RED's Scarlet as well.

It uses SDHC, not SxS.

Ooops, my mistake. I was getting excited and meant to say GY-HM700 uses SxS not the GY-HM100. I just checked the link to the press release and the 700 uses SD and SDHC as well. Great news as I wouldn't want to be forced to use SxS.
 
I have yet to see what advantages JVC, Canon , Panasonic, will have in 12 months over what the Scarlet will offer and at it's price point. I suggest that if you are planning on buying a new camera, wait and rent for now. At this pace it will take these companies 2-3 years to catch up to the Scarlet.
 
I would take the EX1 at $2500 maybe over a scarlet. Ease of use and Flexibility. But at the $3000 price point I have to agree that waiting for scarlet seems like a smart move if you are making movies. The GY-HM100 would have been perfect with 1/2 inch ccds. I am glad JVC is trying.
 
I have yet to see what advantages JVC, Canon , Panasonic, will have in 12 months over what the Scarlet will offer and at it's price point. I suggest that if you are planning on buying a new camera, wait and rent for now. At this pace it will take these companies 2-3 years to catch up to the Scarlet.

You're absolutely right, however, for wedding and event videographers and anyone who needs something that shoots good HD footage without taking up tons of hard disk space, plus faster/less hassle post production something like this is more suited to that. Add to that it has a native Final Cut codec and I can't help but get excited.

Scarlet sounds great for pure filmmaking, but for event coverage I don't know, seems to not be really suited for it. Maybe the workflow will mature enough to allow for those kinds of jobs. If I can afford it I would like to get both a Scarlet (for films) and some sort of tapeless cam (for basic videography) later in 09. At least that is my reasoning.
 
I have yet to see what advantages JVC, Canon , Panasonic, will have in 12 months over what the Scarlet will offer and at it's price point.
Yep. Key point being "in 12 months". And that's Red's timeline, which has been slipped repeatedly since Scarlet's initial announcement. The HM700 is scheduled for March release. Solid-state tools for users NOW. Another concern of mine is addressed in the HM100 and HM700, namely CCD imagers vs CMOS. As we all have learned about skew and wobble, CMOS isn't well-suited to certain shooting situations.

You're absolutely right, however, for wedding and event videographers and anyone who needs something that shoots good HD footage without taking up tons of hard disk space, plus faster/less hassle post production something like this is more suited to that. Add to that it has a native Final Cut codec and I can't help but get excited.
I agree wholeheartedly. Different strokes for different folks. I can see JVC making huge inroads in the wedding, event, recital, sports, etc etc markets with these new solid-state cameras.

Never used to be excited about JVC cameras, but that's changed with this announcement. My thoughts here: http://provideocoalition.com/index.php/freshdv/story/jvc_camcorder_native_quicktime/
 
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