Having used the JVC GY-LS300 in anger I can confirm the shots are solid with very natural skin tones, the Super 35mm sensor in this camera is producing some delightful HD footage. I am at the editing stage with some extra footage still to be filmed.
The navigation of the menu system on the LS300 is one of the best and most intuitive I have come across using the joystick right where its needed…on the LCD itself, other manufacturers take note !
As you can see the JVC LS300 takes a variety of lenses from Panasonic MFT to Canon and Nikon. The Panasonic uses the cameras native MFT (Micro Four Third) mount and the Canon uses an electronic Metabones adapter. The camera has Variable Scan Mapping (VSM) allowing you to match various lenses preventing vignetting.
The Nikon is the odd one out with a manual adapter from MTF, fortunately the lens is one of the older full frame “D” lenses which has a proper aperture ring.
We used the JVC LS300 to film at a local Speedway meeting in Glasgow, recording bikes and interviews. I stuck to my Panasonic MFT lenses as the VSM (Variable Scan Mapping) would wast precious time changing from MTF to full frame, this will be explained in detail on the video review.
Although the camera performed well its not a camera I would recommend for fast action sport as there are two servo zoom lenses and both of them are only 3x.
I have not yet shot any 4K 25p footage on the LS300…that will depend on the Scottish weather.
The JVC LS300 does have a rocker switch but is limited to two Panasonic servo lenses, the 14-45 and the 45-175 both 3x zooms not practical in a professional environment. Panasonic need to bring out a 10x servo zoom lens ranging from 14-140 at f2.8, this would really boost sales of the JVC LS300.
The JVC LS300 has 3 ND filters built in 1/4, 1/16, 1/64 and clear, perfect for tricky out door shooting in sunlight fortunately for those extra bright days you also get a rear viewfinder, not the biggest but it will get you through where the LCD won’t. Low light will also be explained in detail in the video.
LOL if Panasonic made a real servo zoom (wide to tele) then we’d all buy a GH4 instead of a camcorder, no?
do they know that? of course they know.
HDW : Dont talk rubbish, I have got a GH4 and its now used for photography, if Panasonic brought out a decent 10x MFT zoom it would enhance the JVC LS300, the DSLR is a tool but like all DSLRs they are very limiting.
Phillip, I’m looking forward to your review, but now that you’ve done some outside shooting I wonder if you can say about getting correct exposure with no histogram. If it’s no problem for you how do you get around it?
HDW : Tom I have never used a histogram, its a photographic tool, use zebra and ND filters and get to know both your LCD and viewfinder.
I don’t understand the purpose of this camera. It takes stunning footage? cell phones take stunning footage too. so it’s not that. it is for movies with a director actors crew and focus pullers? then any DSLR will do. No servo zoom? So there goes the only segment interested in a camcorder (sports, event, weddings and such). Then cameras for “movies” are usually rented. so I still don’t see the purpose here.
HDW : “No servo zoom” there is if you care to buy one of the Panasonic servo zoom lenses, the camera in my opinion is clearly a winner for the event videographer looking for that shallow depth of field and fed up with the DSLR limitations.
Above, you say, “The navigation of the menu system on the LS300 is one of the best and most intuitive I have come across using the joystick right where its needed…on the LCD itself, other manufacturers take note!” Canon already has this in place on the C100 MK2.
HDW : Its one of the few cameras I have not reviewed, but to be fair to JVC this has been a feature since the HM600, long before Canon !
Thanks for your quick reply. I suppose Sony has spoiled me because they provide a histogram on almost every video cam. I also use Zebra, for sure, when I’m shooting for good skin tone exposure, but out and about a quick glance at the light distribution on the histogram is, if nothing else, a comforting thing to know, with objective certitude, that the light distribution is good.
Plus LDCs can be adjusted in all sorts of ways that can make the output have no reality to what is actually being recorded.
The more instruments that give me information the better.
Love your reviews. The are enormously helpful and I’ve found your analysis spot on. Thank you so much, Phillip.
What is use the microphone audio cable (red)?
HDW : Its a balanced XLR mic cable (red). Cable is more preferable than radio mic in this type of environment as the bikes can sometimes interfere with the radio mic.
this camera is in line with the recent delirium of bekeh-obsessed new videographers. Nobody uses bokeh anymore. it’s boring. plain and simple. Not even in the latest music videos promoting bands. Rarely in commercial works, almost never in movies. Never in sports. Never in broadcast. The only places where I see bokeh in full force is on youtube with some funny music in the background but they all are testing the new gadget camera with bokeh.
That said on GH4 you get a touch focus (on faces) that works. on the LCD panel. Which is the only way to face detect and select in AF. The joystick of both the X70 and the JVC (I have the HM200) is far from that. then JVC bought the use of m4t from olympus, not panasonic. there is a difference. (the servo zoom thing , the real one, wide to tele for m4t is some delicate matter, extremely delicate). Now who doesn’t like a touch focus that works? I’m pretty sure that even in hollywood many would like that. The problem is the servo zoom, and today that signs the difference between camcorders and the others.
I don’t understand where this biz is going, Philip … I have to say it again: in order to have a decent camcorder with everything (zoom, lanc,ND, AF) we’re going to have to spend 5K US again. and only because there are no servo zooms for the GH4.
I can’t afford a camera like this to play the bokeh thing (annoying after 1-2 seconds) , I need a camcorder to work (sports, some press, events). Who likes to zoom manually? MF? the productions can afford that, but they have a crew and focus pullers from the unions! and then they don’t buy the cameras, they rent.
anyway, maybe I’m wrong… maybe there is a purpose for these new expensive GH4-alike , maybe is the focus pullers association pushing for more MF cameras LOL
Mark, if you don’t like bokeh and want some servo-zoom then use the Variable Scan Mapping and a 2/3 lens with a cheap adapter and feed the rocker with a fotodiox turbo pack. You won’t be able to do that with a GH4 or any other camera around…
Granted, it will be 1080p but tell me where you can get a camera that versatile.
which model cable?
HDW : I made it myself about 15 years ago. XLR mic cable can be bought at RS components or Maplin.
@IvI thanks , that’s clever. And again THAT only because there are no wide to tele zooms for m4t. And it will never be one. Guess why?
This one is like the AF100 4k version.
if they make Servo zoom lens, will it be expensive like those broadcast type? ND filter and professional audio option are features that current DLSR lacks.
I guess there are different tools for different folks.
Its good time for videographer!
Hi Phillip – I’m really interested in this camera, the versatility makes it a great option. Can you talk about autofocus in your review – servo-zoom I can live without, and work with a lever on the lens, but focus is more important to just get quickly. I’m assuming it will only work with MFT lenses, but if it could work with other lenses through an adapter that would be great to know.
HDW : I will get back to you on this
Hi Phillip – I’m interested in this camera.the lcd you look what did you record and what zoom lens you can use and work
with full 35mm sensor
Looking at some recent footage from Japan the image looks really good with good detail and plenty of dynamic range, which seemed to be lacking in the early clips. How easy is to use this camera handheld and get professional looking video?
Liked your reviews and testing on the JVC GY-LS300 so much I bought one – amazing for the price, especially now with the free 2.0 firmware update that added these features:
JVC Log Gamma
Prime Zoom (allows zooming with prime lens)
Cinema 4K (4096 x 2160) and Cinema 2K (2048 x 1080) recording at true 24p
Histogram
Spot meter
Color matrix / Black Paint adjustment
4K recording at 70 Mbps
Zixi variable bitrate streaming
FTP resume function
located at:
http://pro.jvc.com/pro/attributes/CAMERA/soft/gyls300_firmware_v2.0.html