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REPRINTED FROM SEPTEMBER 7, 2005 WWW.TVTECHNOLOGY.COM CAMCORDER JVC GY-HD100 ProHD Camcorder by Geoff Poister can record 480/60i, 576/50i, 576/25p and FAST FACTS here’s a lot of buzz about the HDV format 480/24p. HDV records in the 16:9 aspect these days. For those who need a recap, ratio, while it is optional for regular DV. The Application ENG/EFP T HDV is a low-cost format that meets HD camera employs three 1/3-inch CCDs with specs while using MPEG-2 compression to 1,110,000 effective pixels, and records on Key Features squeeze the data rate down to the DV level. standard miniDV tapes. It does not accept the HDV acquisition in 720p and 24p; Fujinon lens; The consortium that developed the format larger DV tapes. interchangeable lens; hybrid recording to mini-DV includes JVC, Sony, Canon and Sharp, but so The first thing you notice that is distinctive tape or hard drive; optional 40/80 GB disk drive far, JVC and Sony are the only two that have about the GY-HD100 is the lens and ergonom- Price released cameras. And the only one that profes- ic design. It is patterned after the more tradi- $6,295 (msrp) sional videographers have taken seriously is the tional video camera that sits on the shoulder Sony HVR-Z1U. and has physical control rings on the lens for Contact That is about to change. JVC is now ship- iris, focus, and zoom. It also has more physical JVC 973-317-5000 ping the GY-HD100, a camera designed to controls than smaller camcorders for setting http://pro.jvc.com bring HDV up to the professional level of gain, white balance, shutter, ND filters, and television and film producers. With inter- audio levels. used for archiving, while the hard disk can be changeable lenses and a shoulder mount, Like all cameras in its class, it has a plugged into an NLE for editing. Also, ENG-style design, it seeks a place alongside color eyepiece and a flip-out LCD screen, because tape dropouts in MPEG-2 can dis- expensive, high-end cameras. XLR audio connectors, IEEE, component rupt up to a full second of video, recording to TV Technology was offered a first look at this and composite outputs, and a camera- hard disk is more reliable. groundbreaking camera. mounted shotgun microphone. There are also some advanced signal pro- cessing features that can be adjusted in the FEATURES menu. The patented motion smoothing func- The JVC GY-HD100 uses the 720p HDV tion in HDV mode performs a subtle image format as opposed to the Sony HVR-Z1U, blending technique that creates more natural which is 1080i. While people may argue the motion between progressive frames. And there virtues of each format, they can’t deny that are extensive color matrix controls for those the GY-HD100 offers recording in 24p, while who want to emulate a certain film stock or cre- the Sony does not. ate a customized color balance. They also make The ability to record at the film rate of 24p The GY-HD100 features a color eyepiece and it simple by offering a Cinema Mode, which sets is a feature that is bound to catch the atten- flip-out LCD screen, XLR audio connectors, the camera to preset values for color and tion of independent filmmakers, and anyone IEEE, component and composite outputs, and gamma that emulate a film look. who desires a film look. While taking the a camera-mounted shotgun microphone. Finally, the fact that the lens is interchange- video image one step closer to film, it offers But there are some useful added features. able is a significant feature for the videographer. tremendous advantages for anyone making a The Focus Assist button changes the image in The camera accepts 1/3-inch bayonet-type lens- film transfer. the viewfinder to a black and white image es, and with optional adapters, can accept a Both Sony and JVC cameras record in both where lines that are in focus appear red. This wide range of lenses. HDV and DV formats, but the JVC GY-HD100 results in a kind of zebra pattern for focus. will also record DV in 24p. Focus is more critical in HD, and this makes the IN USE The GY-HD100 provides many recording process less subjective. The GY-HD100 is incredibly light. With full format options. In the HDV mode, you can The GY-HD100 offers a hybrid recordings lens, battery and tape, it weighs 6.9 pounds, record 720/24p, 25p or 30p. It also offers system that allows simultaneous recording to compared to its DV predecessor, the GY- 480/60p and 576/50p. In the DV mode you both tape and hard disk. The tape can be DV500, which weighed 11 pounds. Copyright 2005 IMAS Publishing (USA), Inc. Reprinted with permission. But it is just large enough to sit comfortably ferences. Image clarity and detail is pretty com- longer lasting Anton Bauer batteries as well. on the shoulder, which I find allows for much parable in both cameras despite the fact that the And finally, the optional 40 or 80 GB disk more stable hand-held shooting. The eyepiece Sony is 1080i and JVC is 720p. But there is a drive is something to consider. It can be is positioned for shoulder mounted shooting, noticeable difference in freeze frames or stills. attached to the camera, allowing up to 7.5 while the LCD screen is best used when the The progressive image definitely is superior as it hours of recording time that can be quickly camera is held away from the body or mounted lacks interlaced artifacts. Presumably, the image plugged into an NLE. on a tripod. clarity of the progressive frame would enhance The camera also outputs uncompressed HD Anyone who has shot with any large format slow motion footage as well, although I did not (720/60p) via its component connections. This camera, such as Betacam or DVCPRO, will find test that. uncompressed HD signal can be used for live that the layout is familiar on the GY-HD100, Initially, the footage shot on the GY-HD100 broadcast with no MPEG-2 compression. allowing you to begin shooting immediately. All seemed to have slightly paler colors than the of the key controls are in customary places, so it footage shot on the Sony camera. I called a rep- SUMMARY is a snap to white balance, set the iris to manu- resentative at JVC and was told that the default This article is intended to be a review of al or auto, turn on the zebra, and adjust sound settings on the test camera were not finalized the JVC GY-HD100, not a product compar- levels. The tendency in cameras as they have yet, and he suggested I try changing the color ison. However, with only two professional migrated to smaller sizes has been to put more matrix settings in the menu. After switching on HDV cameras on the market, comparison controls into the menu. The JVC design keeps the “Cinema Mode” I found the colors and is unavoidable. key controls on the outside of the camera, mak- gamma level to be more desirable. To that end, I have to say that the Sony HDR- ing it more intuitive to operate. Without read- The GY-HD100 also is a top-grade DV cam- Z1U and JVC GY-HD100 are both excellent ing the manual, I began shooting as if I had era capable of shooting 24p as well as standard cameras. But the JVC camera adheres to a more owned the camera for years. 480/60i. I shot footage in standard DV mode professional design than a prosumer one. The The next thing you notice, if you are used to (30-frame interlaced) and in 24p. The standard Sony HDV camera follows the prosumer design shooting DV, is how much sharper and brilliant DV looked as good on playback as any of the of the PD-170 and has a fixed lens. The JVC the HDV image is, even through the viewfinder. high-end DV cameras, and the 24p looked like camera is a shoulder-mounted camera with an When I switched back and forth between DV DV with a film look. ENG-style lens. Because it shoots 24p, and and HDV modes, I was struck by the clarity and The ability to shoot standard DV at 24p is a accommodates a wide variety of lenses, it has level of detail contained in the HDV image. nice feature. But the obvious advantage of this wider potential and will appeal to the indepen- I shot footage in several modes and viewed camera is the fact that it produces stunning dent film market in addition to all other users. them later for comparison. The HDV 24p set- images in the HDV mode. While one can use it In my comparisons, I found the image ting produces an image that definitely is remi- as an excellent DV camera, it makes more sense quality to be comparable between brands. niscent of film that has been transferred to tape. to me to use it in HDV mode and downconvert The Sony may have some edge in its color In fact, what you are seeing is essentially that, as to DV on output from the NLE, if desired. That quality, however it appears this can be com- the camera performs a 2:3:2:3 pulldown when way you can have two versions of every project: pensated in the JVC camera with some recording to tape.

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