JVC Professional Products Company is now shipping the GY-HM600, its next-generation handheld ProHD camera. Introduced earlier this year at the 2012 NAB Show, the newHD camera features a built-in 23X zoom lens and delivers superior low-light performance with excellent sensitivity (F11 at 2000 lux).

With a 1.22-megapixel color viewfinder and color 3.5in LCD, the GY-HM600 is versatile enough to handle tripod-based shots and run-and-gun situations. It is equipped with three, 1/3in 12-bit CMOS sensors, each with 1920 x 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 autofocus with face detection and an optical image stabilizer.

The JVC GY-HM600 features a 23X zoom lens and low-light performance of F11 at 2000 lux, JVC have assured us that all new GY-HM600s have now been checked and the 23x lens problem has been fixed.

The lightweight camera records HD or SD footage in multiple file formats, including native XDCAM EX (.MP4), Final Cut Pro (.MOV) and AVCHD, to nonproprietary 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. Plus, the Pre Rec (retro cache) feature continuously records and stores up to 20 seconds of footage in cache memory to help prevent missed shots of breaking events.

Equipped with a LANC-based remote connector and compatible with JVC’s ProHD Compact Studio 7in monitor, the GY-HM600 can be used for an affordable studio system. The camera also includes a time code synchronization input as well as HD-SDI and HDMI outputs. A built-in stereo microphone is ideal for capturing natural sound, but the GY-HM600 also includes two XLR inputs with phantom power, shotgun mic holder, headphone jack and additional input for a wireless mic receiver.

An updated firmware is being prepared by JVC Japan to fix the 1080 25p bug which only records in interlace at the moment.