Musings on the JVC ⅓" chip cameras from the past 20 years

paulears

paulears

Veteran
I pulled out some old cameras, powered them up and shot a few things to see how well their images actually stand up, and if there is any point in even trying to use them?

I ignored the very old stuff and started with DV - the JVC 5000, then the 100 series I still have, through to the 700 series. I've looked at what people moaned about, and talked about why I still like them and use them in the studio and out in theatres. I've added a quick clip from a Chinese sports cam style thing and some video from a Pentax F-5 DSLR that only gets used for stills.

Just my opinion, of course, but I have to say I was surprised how even an old 4:3 camera at 720x576 still looks pretty good.
 
Thanks for posting this. I recently found myself reaching for some older cameras as solutions. And i have a miniDV project in an edit that was interesting to see. of the standard def NTSC miniDV footage i have seen recently, the dvx is probably still my favorite. The JVC has great detail for being so old. And i think those bodies were well thought out. They are like little V-Raptors ;)
 
Very interesting vid, thanks. I have a growing interest in these cams too and in putting them to use in some projects. I got my hands on a Canon XL1 recently and am still figuring it out, but I also own and have used the wonderful HVX200 and JVC GY HD 250 recently. Using external recorders like the Blackmagic video assist (through SDI out) or the Immersion RC Powerplay through RCA are good ways to go tapeless on these too.
 
The HD250 is a cracking camera - the canon is nice but just doesn't fit me that well. On a tripod they're great cameras the colour just looks a little different, I guess.
 
paulears said:
The HD250 is a cracking camera - the canon is nice but just doesn't fit me that well. On a tripod they're great cameras the colour just looks a little different, I guess.
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I can’t really thing of a better overall design camcorder.
 
Thanks Charles! That one works great - thanks. Interesting video that has survived time quite well. Thanks
 
JimGao said:
so bad, its so good!

I like the footage you and the crew were getting, but the promo is wild.
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yeah, I way overloaded myself--I was shooting and directing a narrative piece, then turning around and answering questions for the BTS cameras which I was also directing, as well as trying not to sound dumb at the same time. Bit off way too much. I was hoping for a much more casual vibe to the BTS stuff where the questions felt naturalistic, but it ended up pretty contrived. I guess you have to try to see it in the context of 15 years ago, when camera demos were much stiffer and before the "influencer" real-world approach to this sort of thing came into vogue.
 
Well one thing is for sure...tungsten never gets old.

BTW - Charles, why do you look like you're the only one who doesn't feel like a hostage in this piece? lol
 
CharlesPapert said:
yeah, I way overloaded myself--I was shooting and directing a narrative piece, then turning around and answering questions for the BTS cameras which I was also directing, as well as trying not to sound dumb at the same time. Bit off way too much. I was hoping for a much more casual vibe to the BTS stuff where the questions felt naturalistic, but it ended up pretty contrived. I guess you have to try to see it in the context of 15 years ago, when camera demos were much stiffer and before the "influencer" real-world approach to this sort of thing came into vogue.
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Yeah, that is amazing. i try to run lighting tests with colleagues here and there, and we decide to do one setup so we can dedicate the time to it, but we still run out time. So whatever ninja discipline you have it shows.

Sometimes i feel the way the interviewer interacts with interviewees has a big influence on overall vibe.

Overall, that is one for the books. First of all, how many people get to introduce state of the art cameras when they are released.

The promo still works overall, because now i want one of those JVC’s! can they make it in 2K with Alexa like DR? The JVC Amira…
 
spill the tea... :wink:

seriously though, to me they all seem so uncomfortable besides maybe the woman - and you're so fluid, calm, natural
 
I suspect Charles is comfy with working with other people at different technical and educational/social levels as part of his usual roles, so he comes across as 'normal' while the others do look a bit like rabbits in the car headlights, trying to be 'authoritative and knowledgeable - Charles is just doing what he does every day. It's like when you give a well known theatre type person an autocue to read. Theyve always assumed they can do it but until they practice it's fun!
 
paulears said:
The HD250 is a cracking camera - the canon is nice but just doesn't fit me that well. On a tripod they're great cameras the colour just looks a little different, I guess.
Click to expand...

I love the design of the HD250. A dream to operate manually and it has clean hd-sdi out to combine with my blackmagic video assist.
 
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