Pro video blog…Produced by Philip Johnston DoP/Editor

 

Once again we see two new handheld camcorders from JVC with 23x lenses upstaging the new Sony PMW-100 now looking rather lame in comparison. JVC have taken their information from a white paper from EBU as follows…

Although a camera can meet the requirements of a Tier (or standard) it may be let down (or even downgraded by an on-board codec. EBU R-132 recommends minimum acquisition codec.

  •   50 Mbit/s 4:2:2 minimum for MPEG-2 based inter-frame codecs.
  •   100 Mbit/s 4:2:2 minimum for intra-frame codecs.Additionally, AVCHD above 35 Mbit/s 4:2:0 may be acceptable provided all post processing is carried out in the native camera codec.

    For Journalism/News these standards can be relaxed to allow the use of.

  •   35 Mbit/s MPEG-2 based inter-frame codecs at 4:2:0.
  •   50 Mbit/s AVC intra-frame codecs at 4:2:0.
    Additionally, AVCHD at a minimum of 24 Mbit/s 4:2:0 may be acceptable

JVC Professional Europe Ltd. has announced the GY-HM600, a next-generation handheld ProHD camera that delivers exceptional imagery and features for news, sports, and independent production. It features a built-in wide angle 23x autofocus zoom lens, delivers superior low-light performance and provides excellent sensitivity (F11 at 2000 lux) in a comfortable, versatile form factor. The new HD camera will be demonstrated at the 2012 NAB Show (Booth C4314) in Las Vegas.

The lightweight camera records HD or SD footage in multiple file formats, including native XDCAM EX™ (.MP4), Final Cut Pro™ (.MOV), and AVCHD, to non-proprietary SDHC or SDXC media cards. In addition to relay mode for uninterrupted recording, the GY-HM600 allows simultaneous recording to both memory cards for instant backup or client copy.

“JVC understands the needs of today’s video professionals, and our new GY-HM600 delivers innovation without compromise,” said Gustav Emrich, European Product Manager. “It sets a new standard of performance for handheld cameras with incredible optics, intuitive operation and the industry’s fastest shoot-to-edit workflow.”

With a 1.22 MP colour viewfinder and colour 3.5-inch LCD, the GY-HM600 is versatile enough to handle tripod-based shots and run-and-gun situations. A second trigger and servo zoom control on the built-in handle make it easy to record while holding the camera at low or high angles, while the Pre Rec (retro cache) feature continuously records and stores up to five seconds of footage in cache memory to help prevent missed shots of breaking events.

The GY-HM600 is equipped with three, 1/3-inch 12-bit CMOS sensors, each with 1920×1080 pixels. The built-in Fujinon HD lens features a wide focal range of 29mm-667mm (35mm equivalent) and has manual focus, zoom, and iris rings, along with three ND filters. Other features include auto-focus with face detection and an optical image stabilizer.

A built-in stereo microphone is ideal for capturing natural sound, but the GY-HM600 also includes two XLR inputs with phantom power and a shotgun mic holder, as well as a headphone jack and separate input for a wireless mic receiver. The GY-HM600 is equipped with a LANC remote connector and includes a time-code synchronization input as well as HD-SDI and HDMI outputs, and is expected in Autumn 2012.

JVC Professional Europe Ltd. has ushered in a new era of mobile newsgathering with its new GY-HM650 ProHD handheld mobile news camera, which can shoot and deliver news footage faster than ever. Equipped with dual codecs, it produces full HD files on one memory card while simultaneously creating smaller, web-friendly files (1/4 HD) on a second card. With built-in FTP and Wi-Fi connectivity, the GY-HM650 delivers the footage back to a station without a microwave or satellite connection.

With a built-in Fujinon wide angle 23x zoom lens, superior low-light performance, and excellent sensitivity (F11 at 2000 lux), the GY-HM650 has ideal optics for challenging shooting environments. The HD lens has a focal range of 29mm-667mm (35mm equivalent) and includes manual focus, servo zoom, and iris rings, along with three ND filters and a removable hood. Other features include JVC’s auto-focus with face detection and an optical image stabilizer.

Equipped with three, 1/3-inch 1920×1080 12-bit CMOS sensors, the lightweight GY-HM650 records HD or SD footage in multiple file formats, including native XDCAM EX™ (.MP4), Final Cut Pro™ (.MOV), and AVCHD, to non-proprietary SDHC or SDXC media cards. It also records .MXF files with rich descriptive metadata that is optimized for asset management. The camera also includes HD-SDI and HDMI outputs for easy monitoring of HD footage.

“Newsgathering and independent production continue to evolve. One or two-person teams have become commonplace, and many shooters are capturing images for TV, the Internet, and mobile devices,” said Gustav Emrich, European Product Manager. “With built-in web connectivity, simultaneous recording of a web-friendly video file, and .MXF files with rich descriptive metadata, the GY-HM650 is ideal for today’s file-based workflows.”

Designed for versatility, the GY-HM650 features a 1.22 MP colour viewfinder and color 3.5-inch LCD to handle run-and-gun and tripod-based stand-ups. The Pre Rec (retro cache) feature continuously records and stores up to five seconds of footage in cache memory to help prevent missed shots of breaking news, while a second trigger and servo zoom control on the built-in handle makes it easy to record while holding the camera at low or high angles.

In addition, the GY-HM650 provides a number of essential audio features. Its built-in stereo microphone is ideal for capturing natural sound on location, but the camera also includes two XLR inputs with phantom power and a shotgun mic holder, as well as a headphone jack and separate input for a wireless mic receiver.

author

Having been working in the video business since 1988 I have amassed a great amount of knowledge of both the kit and production values over the last 30 years.

3 thoughts on “JVC GY-HM600 and 650 broadcast news camcorders

  1. where is the replacement of ex1r or ex3 from sony. i thought this show is suppose to be it!!!

  2. I saw the GY-HM600 and thought “wow! Finally!” until I read the specs and realized it does not have the AVCHD 2.0 codec with 1080 50/60p … (sob) … yet another example of manufacturers leaving out ONE THING I really need. Everything else about this camera is perfect … why oh why do they keep messing with my head?!?

    Steve

  3. Steve, IKR! it seems like they always leave out one feature that I need as well or I have to spend $16,000 to get all the features I want!

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