Interchangeable lens, robust 3-chip CCD,
lightweight but professional shoulder-mount form factor, and a patented
focus-assist viewfinder that’s handy in the field
What's Cool
Wondering why JVC appears to be shying away from grouping its new
GY-HD100U camera with the HDV format, even though its built-in "ProHD"
recording system records 720-line HD images on MiniDV cassettes? So are
we.
A lot of people can’t wait to get their hands on the camera and try it
out. Until NAB, that included the people who work for JVC in the U.S.,
who didn’t even get to touch the camera until two days before the start
of the show in April. So when can you get your hands on one? The
GY-HD100U will arrive at your favorite dealer in July for a suggested
list price of $6,295. Street prices could rival those for Sony’s
HVR-Z1U, which is now streeting for around $4,000.
Lens Options
There’s a lot to be excited about when it comes to the ProHD camera,
according to Dave Walton, JVC’s national marketing communications
manager. First of all, it records true 24 progressive frames per
second, which makes it a good fit in a consumer world that is
increasingly moving to flat screen progressive-scan monitors in the
home. Second, unlike the fixed lens configuration of Sony’s new HDV
camcorder, JVC is offering the ability to change lenses, which
theoretically makes the camera attractive to a wider range of users.
The camera comes with a standard detachable 16x Servo Fujinon lens, but
customers can order a 13x (3.5mm) wide zoom lens, a wide-angle
converter for the standard 16x lens, and an adapter allowing a variety
of 1 / 2 -inch lenses to be used on the camera. And, according to JVC
spokesmen, the GY-HD100U uses less (MPEG-2) compression than Sony’s HDV
camera. JVC’s unit is producing 1280 x 720p images at 24p fps while
Sony’s camera captures 1440 x 1080i pictures at 60 fps, which requires
slightly more compression. The new GY-HD100U also outputs an
uncompressed 720/P60 HD signal.
It can be connected to an external hard-disk recording module, like the
FireStore FS-4 Pro HD recorder from Focus Enhancements, which lets you
edit footage without waiting for digitization (for a tutorial on how to
use the FS-4 to capture and edit 16:9 DV footage, turn to page 20). An
IEEE-1394 bus interface lets users connect simply and quickly to D-VHS
or a PC for easy downloading, editing or archiving.
The GY-HD100U includes three 1 / 3 -inch CCD image sensors, each one
featuring 1280 x 720 square pixels (approximately 1 megapixel), which
is what appears on most HDTV displays and video projectors that support
720p natively. Interlaced images from the Sony HDV camera, for example,
must be stretched or scaled to fit today’s HDTV displays, which some
purists say changes the look and resolution of a frame.
The GY-HD100U has a lot of other key features that make it competitive,
namely a proprietary "focus-assist" function that exaggerates the
detail in the viewfinder to help with focusing in HD, as well as 2 XLR
audio inputs for recording CD-quality digital audio and customizable
settings you could move on a standard SD memory card from one GY-HD100U
to another.
Add a shotgun microphone, Anton-Bauer power system, quick-release
tripod mounting plate, an FS-4 or another accessory, and it’s ready for
prime time.
First Things First
This isn’t the prototype that JVC showed at NAB last year, which was
designed with 2 / 3 -inch CMOS chips. That ProHD camera, the
GY-HD7000U, was also shown at NAB but will not deliver until sometime
later this year. It includes native 1920 x 1080i chips and a larger
body designed for ENG applications. Recording on HDV tape as well as
other media, the GY-HD7000U provides true 1920 x 1080i images, avoiding
the problem of "1080i HDV images" that are limited to 1440 x 1080i
resolution.
First out of the gate is this affordable HD model that some, including
Kristen Cox, president of 16x9 Productions, say is primed to become a
staple of ENG and documentary shooting, where focus is critical. Cox,
who tried out the camera during the show and talked to attendees for
JVC about what she found, says the follow focus, in particular, is a
great feature for those who are new to HD. "It’s also great for
situations where you’re in a hurry or are having a hard time seeing
what’s in the viewfinder. But the interchangeable lens feature is
really huge, as is the adaptor that lets you use Anton Bauer or lithium
ion batteries. When you put those heavier batteries on the back, the
camera has a really nice balance to it—and it runs a long time."
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