First Look at the New JVC GY-HM100
JVC’s new camera is world’s first with QuickTime format support
The JVC Pro HDGY-HM100U ProHD Camera is a revolutionary product combining all the aspects of major broadcast video cameras packaged into a lightweight, handheld camcorder. The modesty ends with its size however, as the capabilities far exceed models in its class. With an ability to shoot high definition footage up to 35 Mbps, the camera ushers in a new level of quality, eliminating many problems associated with other lower-bitrate methods.
At its core, the GY-HM100U HD builds on the success of previous tape-based ProHD cameras, instead recording footage to widely used SDHC cards. The benefit of solid-state recording is numerous, including the ability increase workflow speeds; shoot and start editing in minutes! Additionally such as sophisticated focus assist, uncompressed audio, optical image stabilization, and hot swappable capability, make the GY-HM100U HD the ideal ultra-compact video camera for enthusiasts and professionals alike.
Key Features
Compact Frame
The camera’s compact frame makes it easy to venture into uncharted territory. Long gone are the days of lugging around a brick one hand. The GY-HM100U’s lightweight body allows for long run times without the fatigue. Whether you’re shooting a documentary, wedding, or grabbing the news, both wrists and arms will thank you.
Sophisticated Format
JVC’s proprietary HD format is based on industry standard MPEG-2 compression, used for both HD broadcasts and DVD videos. By using the same basic technology as HDV and incorporating some advanced industry know-how, the GY-HM100U can shoot 720 at 19 Mbps and 1080 at 25 Mbps. The major difference, however, is the ability to shoot both resolutions at 35 Mbps, producing the highest quality MPEG-2 video available! The format can be recorded in .mov form, making it easy to ingest into Final Cut Pro for quick direct-to-edit flexibility. For PC users, video can be recorded as ISO Base Media, which is compatible with virtually all major Non-Linear editors.
Recording to SDHC
Unlike other cameras that record to expensive proprietary memory cards, the GY-HM100 shoots to the abundant SDHC standard. Recording hours of high definition footage across two slots; both are hot swappable and can be quickly ingested into any computer or device with any inexpensive SD card reader. How’s that for cost-effective?
Cutting Edge CCD Technology
The 1/4″-inch progressive scan CCDs produce stunning images with picture perfect color accuracy. The sensors incorporate spatial offset technology, which places the red and blue sensors 1/2 of a pixel in respect to the green sensor, increasing effective resolution without sacrificing image quality or by using interpolation.
Fujinon Lens
The camera comes equipped with a 10x HD lens developed by Fujinon, the leader in broadcast-level video optics. The lens takes advantage of a compact 3-aspheric element body, which decreases both size and weight. The lens exhibits exceptional quality while showing less distortion, color aberration, and flare. Additionally, the lens comes with a built-in lens flip-up cover so users don’t have to keep track of those pesky lens caps.
Optical Image Stabilization
The Optical Image Stabilization incorporated in the lens helps defeat camera shake from hand held shooting, as well turbulence produced from a moving vehicle. Since it’s an optical function, OIS can compensate for a greater amount of problems while avoiding any loss in image quality, which is common when using more antiquated electronic or digital stabilizing methods.
HD Gigabrid DSP
The camera’s digital signal processor encodes all formats from a pristine 1920 x 1080 signal, ensuring all footage is of the highest resolution and quality. By starting with the maximum amount of color and spatial information the recorded footage will prove crystal clear every time. Additionally, JVC has incorporated a series of noise reducing technologies that take the entire process to another level!
Professional Audio Capability
Just because the camera is small doesn’t mean its audio capabilities are. The GY-HM100 has audio control and capability almost exclusively found on ENG camcorders! Located just in front of the handle are 2 standard XLR inputs with phantom power. Unlike its MPEG-2 HDV counterpart, JVC has upped the ante by electing to use LPCM (Linear Pulse Code Modulated) uncompressed 16-bit audio, taking productions to that coveted ‘next level’. To ensure users get the most out of their sound system, JVC has provided a high-quality shotgun microphone to accompany the already sublime internal bi-directional microphone.
Focus Assist
Taking its cue from JVC’s ProHD line of camcorders, the GY-HM100 uses an edge-detection technique for image focus-assist. With the increasing importance to verify ones focus on lower resolution LCDs, focus-assist has become incredibly important. Unfortunately, it can be tricky at times. Some methods even obstruct the view of a frame, which can be both tedious and useless. The best part of the GY-HM100′s method is that is doesn’t hinder the operators ability to frame a shot or follow the action, which in the end is most important.
LoLux Mode
JVC’s exclusive technology allows users to shoot in extremely low lighting conditions. Whether you’re making that next great reality show or simply need to grab something in a dark room, LoLux mode has it covered.
My friend bought 2 JVC GYHM100 cameras, believing that what is advertised is true — that you can import QT .mov files irectly into Final Cut Express. Unfotunately it’s NOT true. QuickTime can’t play them… He can import .mov files but can’t play them. Just shows red screen with the error message that Final Cut can’t play that format. Apparently JVC camera creates non-standard QT file, which doesn’t work as advertized.
Just purchaced the GY HM100 been using something else. I have been working with Adobe CS4, digitizing with firewire 1390. now am stuck.
at the moment I cant get FCP. am I in trouble?
We’ve had a GY-HM100E for a year now and it’s simply gorgeous: produces crystal images that hold up pretty well in low light and it can be put under 100% manual control without being as fiddly as you’d expect from a camera this small. Bit more zoom would be nice on occasion, but other than that it’s an awesome piece of kit.
Tripod work can be a little awkward as the zoom rocker switch is on the right like the panhandle and the servo-assisted ring zoom is a little bit jerky. These are minor niggles though as I’ve got used to working around it.
I have tried the camera, and this commercial needs to be a dusted a little. Check out my review. http://videoreporter.blogspot.com/2010/02/jeg-har-prvd-jvc-gy-hm100.html It´s in norwegian, but you can use the translator on the right side of the blog.
I think as a professional, I lack control over the most important: FOCUSING. I need to use peaking as a guide.
I think it is great if you tend to rely on automatic functions, and also it is great to have this as a extra, spare camera and sometimes I need to look like an amateur.
JVC is crap. Don’t even think about it.
Hi David,
just a quick answer to your concern. I tried out one of these cameras recently to compare the footage quality with that of another well known camcorder, and unfortunately missed the “.mov” recording option, and here I am with mp4 files and my powerbook G4 with FCP 6 : the only software that’s been able to recognize and play (if not in a fluid way) these clips is Mplayer OSX so far. Neither FCP 6 nor VLC or QT pro was able to do anything with it, I only got error messages about the file format. With Mplayer, I can see the frames but in a broken slow motion effect, and the sound is just the same.
So no, I guess your camcorder is not the problem, but compatibility seems to be an issue with the mp4 files the GY HM 100 produces.
Cheers,
Marc
I purchased this camera partly because of it’s ability to work with FCP, but more because of the tapeless workflow. I can transfer the .MOV files into FCP (only version 6 or higher would work), however, nothing else I owned would recognize the files (Mac and PC, Quicktime Pro, VLC, Sorensen Squeeze, iMovie, etc.). I need to be able to pop out the SD card and look at the footage in the field. I bought a copy of XDCAM viewer from Calibrated Software, but at $80 per license (non-transferable), it’s not the best option. So I tried shooting in .MP4 – that’s worse – nothing (including FCP) recognized the files except for VLC. I tried talking to JVC tec support, but they kept bringing up FCP. Is it possible that my camcorder is writing corrupted files? How can I check that?
Thanks,
D
I would buy it in a heartbeat but there is no LANC . JVC would take away the market from Sony
for Underwater video if they would just put a simple L control on their fantastic products .
i agree, a hard drive would suit perfectly on this camera. thats what i love about the jvc everio camcorders, the 120gb hdd. i think the newer ones have 240gb even. i guess that recording at 35mb would fill this up pretty fast but it’d be nice to have so you dont have to worry about sdhc all the time, or if you want to go shoot something real quick.
my opinion anyway
I like this one. It look very powerful and useful in a small size. I like design&size of the camcorder. But it will better if the ccd size is 1/3″ or bigger, hahaha. And it will very good if in this size of camcorder has some little harddisk for when we forgot SDHC, hahaha.
I think what people fail to realize is that this camera is a camcorders size, but not a camcorder at all. this produces broadcast quality image, and there’s nothing camcorderish about that.
It’s real features are the pro mic imputs and the ability to use 2 SDHC cards. The capacity of these cards multiplies all the time, and the 35mbps requires just that, 2 32GB sdhc cards. You are lucky to get 2 hours per card, but this eliminates the problems with tapes that I’ve become tired of after one import. You can swap out the SDHC cards within a few seconds, and the imports are very fast. You had better have at least a terabyte of free hard drive space, because 32gb can quickly become 1000gb when you start making your projects.
Consumers should be confused, this is one of the most powerful cameras formed into one of the smallest sizes. It is expensive, and clearly holds more risk of being damaged or lost, probably more so, stolen, so a backup might be in your best interest. This camera is marketed perfectly at film students and professionals. if you have the money, buy it. But don’t buy it online, you want to be able to try it out. Most local camera stores can have 5-15 day return policies to give you an opportunity to try things out. Check before you buy it, but buy it before you judge the limits.
What a beautiful camera. I sure could use one of these as my first real camcorder. At the moment I only have a flip mino.
If this camcorder holds well in low light and trades around $2500, I will buy it, but I doubt its low light capability because of 1/4″ chips, I will wait for it’s reviews.
how could i forgot this? made a 3.5″LCD not 2.8″ for your next handheld cam,or at least 3.2″ if JVC can made a LCD hood for 3.2″LCD,JVC just need to made more HANDHELD cam,just look at sony,panasonic and canon,handheld is the bigger market than the shoulder mount for prosumer,KEY WORD:HANDHELD,1/3″ 3CCD,3.5or3.2LCD,IRIS RING,COMFORTABLE HANDLE.
I am not a codec expert, but from what I understand, I have to question the logic of an MPEG-2 long gop acquisition codec going into a .mov. Wouldn’t an H.264/MPEG4 compression have produced file sizes light enough without the long gop? My understand of working in HDV is that you import and then transcode ASAP. Although my experiences working in XDCAM have been painless, I see codecs like AVC-Intra as being better in terms of visual quality, compositing, and, well everything.
This camera seems amazing, but I just wanted to hear from some people more knowledgeable than me about any potential pitfalls before I drop whatever the street price turns out to be.
let’s summary my suggestion for JVC:1.i checked all the comments,people most worry is the 1/4″ CCD not good enough,so unless you can prove these new 1/4″ is as good as the old 1/3″CCD,put the 1/3″ 3CCD in your next cam! 2.IRIS ring on the lens! you can even skip the zoom ring but we want IRIS ring instead! 3.people won’t feel comfortable with this handle which you have to separate your fingers to hold it,design and change it! 4.why the color of the battery is not black? is it matter? yes.
Ok, JVC – you have my attention
i been doing video shooting about ten years,live event,run and gun,never get a chance to do manual focus or manual zoom,but sometime i have to adjust the aperture(Iris),only if i want to made a indie movie then manual focus is important,so if JVC want to put just one ring on the lens,make it 3 in 1:IRIS-FOCUS-ZOOM,because most of the time you use Iris ring more often than focus and zoom ring,so this is something missing from the HM100:the Iris control is not on the ring, JVC,way to go!
let me do a market survey for you guy,check the price of these 1/3″ 3CCD cam:Canon A1 is 3000 USD,Panasonic HMC150 is 3290 USD,even JVC’s shoulder mount HDV cam GY-HD110 with interchangeable lens is only 3480 USD! HM100 is 1/4″ 3CCD,supposed to be under 3000 not 4000,and JVC can’t just made only one handheld cam,better come out another handheld with 1/3″ 3CCD soon before sony catch up! sony can made another cam work like HM100 and even better in six months!
i am happy with this camcorder but not happy with the price if it cost like 4000 or even 3500 USD,supposed to be like 3000 for a 1/4 3CCD cam for today’s market! sony z5(1/3 3CMOS) with 20X zoom and widest angle lens for 4200 USD,and sony could made the next optional SSD recorder do like HM100 did!
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