View Full Version : HM100 Production Model In Sight Yet?


Jack Walker
April 22nd, 2009, 06:32 PM
The HM100 is supposed to be shipping out in a week (according to previous schedule announcements), so has anyone seen one yet?

Is there any news on HM100 at the show? Or are we still looking at the same pre-production model that has been making the rounds.

Any production model low-light mode footage yet?

Or is the release of the HM100 been delayed?

Tim Dashwood
April 22nd, 2009, 11:39 PM
No delay. The word is that it's shipping in a week.

Jack Walker
April 23rd, 2009, 12:17 AM
Thank you!

Dan Chung
April 23rd, 2009, 08:38 AM
They have been out here on sale in China for about a month now.

Dan

Andrew Maclaurin
April 23rd, 2009, 09:13 AM
hi dan,
have you heard any feedback on them?

Battle Vaughan
April 23rd, 2009, 04:06 PM
Does anyone know if the HM100 comes with the Anton Bauer battery, or just the mount? Sounds odd, but B&H list "Anton Bauer Gold mount" and don't mention the battery, and JVC's web site doesn't specify, or at least I couldn't find it.../Battle Vaughan/miamiherald.com video team

Michael Lafleur
April 23rd, 2009, 04:37 PM
Battle,

I believe your question applies to the HM700 and not the soon-to-be-released smaller form, HM100. There are a number of other threads on this forum that have discussed various battery configurations with the new 700. The only thing that AB makes that will eventually work with the HM100 is their ElipZ system.

When I spoke with Anton Bauer reps yesterday, they said the special adapter cable (the correct ElipZ power cable is J100-ADP-ELPZ) was likely still 1-3 months away from being released to support the ElipZ battery system. For the time being, I plan on using the JVC BN-VF823 Lithium-Ion extended life Battery Pack for the HM100.

Cheers,

Michael Lafleur

Brian Rhodes
April 23rd, 2009, 05:20 PM
I took some low light footage at NAB with a production model. I will post the video Sat when I return from Vegas I shot 1080 24p 0,3 and 6 gain.

Jack Walker
April 23rd, 2009, 06:50 PM
I took some low light footage at NAB with a production model. I will post the video Sat when I return from Vegas I shot 1080 24p 0,3 and 6 gain.
Excellent! Looking forward to seeing it very much.

Robert Morane
April 23rd, 2009, 08:21 PM
Brian , can you already share your impressions: likes and dislikes about the camera?

Steve Cottrell
April 24th, 2009, 02:52 PM
I've joined the queue at Pro-Av (UK). HM100, wide angle adapter, extra battery. Due in Tues/Weds. Will pick up in person. My son is running the Blenheim Palace (q.v.) 7K a week on Sunday. Will grab some shots as a real world test once I've figured it all out. Be interesting to see how the w/a adapter works out....

Cotty

Battle Vaughan
April 24th, 2009, 04:42 PM
Battle,

I believe your question applies to the HM700 and not the soon-to-be-released smaller form, HM100.

Oops, you're right. I'll look up the threads, still wondering "what comes in the box" as JVC doesn't specify anything but the mount, no mention of the battery...Thanks for the correction! :) /bvaughan

Colin Rowe
April 26th, 2009, 10:19 AM
I've joined the queue at Pro-Av (UK). HM100, wide angle adapter, extra battery. Due in Tues/Weds. Will pick up in person. My son is running the Blenheim Palace (q.v.) 7K a week on Sunday. Will grab some shots as a real world test once I've figured it all out. Be interesting to see how the w/a adapter works out....

Cotty
Steve. Is the price as per ProAvs website? I have a demo booked for the HM100 with a dealer in Exeter, so hopefully it should be next week. Looking forward to it.

Kajito Nagib
April 26th, 2009, 02:31 PM
I was at B&H today and asked when the GY-HM100 would be available
they told me that it would probably not be available in May and could be delayed up to
3 months. Someone in this forum said it would be available early May. Can anyone confirm this?

Jack Walker
April 26th, 2009, 03:31 PM
The official announcements have been the end of April. I haven't seen any official announcements to change this.

Above Tim says the word is that delivery is on schedule, but I don't know where the word comes from. He has a working relationship with JVC, and he was just at NAB with JVC, so I presume the word is from JVC.

A few weeks ago a regional/area (I'm not sure of the difference) rep told me JVC expected to have a couple of thousand of the HM100s sold by the end of April. However, the rep did not say whether JVC was planning to actually deliver the cameras. Maybe just sell them? I didn't think to ask.

Since where in the delivery chain the cameras are doesn't really involve any trade secrets, I don't know why JVC is remaining silent on the subject. It would seem to JVCs benefit to let people know when the cameras would be available.

Unless, of course, there is a major problematic development, and the company doesn't know what to do.

Since B&H has been selling the camera -- and charging the customer -- for the last couple of months, it is certainly reasonable now to be told when the cameras will be shipped.

If there is no official news in the next two days, I expect I will cancel my order, and reorder when and if the camera does ship -- and after the professional reviewers have received production models to review.

====
And there is still no low-light footage from the HM100, even after NAB. I am sure JVC has had access to a production camera if they exist and could have shot a few frames to demonstrate the "outstanding low-light capabilities."

I think most conspiracies are bunk, but there is a point where coincidence is over-rated.

Steve Cottrell
April 26th, 2009, 03:34 PM
Steve. Is the price as per ProAvs website? I have a demo booked for the HM100 with a dealer in Exeter, so hopefully it should be next week. Looking forward to it.

Yessir. 2495. Wide angle 195, extra batt 95.

A couple a years ago I bought some Hytron 140s and a charger from Proav and was very impressed by their service. Pleased to be buying from them as I always prefer to patronize enthusiastic and helpful retailers.

Cotty

Tim Dashwood
April 26th, 2009, 04:16 PM
Above Tim says the word is that delivery is on schedule, but I don't know where the word comes from. He has a working relationship with JVC, and he was just at NAB with JVC, so I presume the word is from JVC...Since where in the delivery chain the cameras are doesn't really involve any trade secrets, I don't know why JVC is remaining silent on the subject. It would seem to JVCs benefit to let people know when the cameras would be available.
Anyone who attended the booth, the press luncheon or FCP Supermeet was told that the HM100 is available "immediately."

And there is still no low-light footage from the HM100, even after NAB. I am sure JVC has had access to a production camera if they exist and could have shot a few frames to demonstrate the "outstanding low-light capabilities."
It seemed that the few cameras made available for the booth arrived last minute and were immediately set up for NAB. I managed to get one for an afternoon last Sunday and took it out for testing (along with the HM700 & Canon 14x lens - more on that to come.)
I demonstrated the "lo-lux" feature to many interested in the HM100. I didn't take the camera out on the strip at night but I may have one or two low-light clips on one of my SDHC cards. I'm looking now.

Jack Walker
April 26th, 2009, 04:42 PM
If you had a clip, that would be great.

The comment from B&H may have been confused with the arrival of the Canon lens for the HM700 or there may have been a similar misunderstanding or lack of info.

The ProAV site in the UK now shows the HM100 to be in stock.

Perhaps tomorrow B&H will have info on when they will be shipping their prepaid orders.

Brian Rhodes
April 26th, 2009, 05:05 PM
http://www.vimeo.com/4344852


Just got back from Vegas did a quick edit on some of the footage, had about 30min to play with the cam at NAB. The cam feels very solid well built the irs on the back of the cam took some getting use to it dose not roll you have to click it up or down. The Cam preformed well in low light. I think its on par with the canon A1. I will do a more detail write up tomr. on my way to a Video shoot.

Matt San
April 26th, 2009, 05:28 PM
the video is marked as private... :(

Brian Rhodes
April 26th, 2009, 05:40 PM
the video is marked as private... :(

Try it now Matt

Matt San
April 26th, 2009, 05:48 PM
yea working now - thanks for posting the footage - ill go check it out :)

Matt San
April 26th, 2009, 05:58 PM
looking quite clean even on 6db of gain - I know you can only judge so much due to recompression (even downloaded the file) but still - quite impressive for 1/4 chips.

Even my EX1 has noticable noise on 6db gain (i know its CMOS) so all in all I'd say JVC have done a good job on this cam

let the footage roll!

Jack Walker
April 26th, 2009, 06:35 PM
Thank you for the example footage!

Brian Rhodes
April 26th, 2009, 07:14 PM
looking quite clean even on 6db of gain - I know you can only judge so much due to recompression (even downloaded the file) but still - quite impressive for 1/4 chips.

Even my EX1 has noticable noise on 6db gain (i know its CMOS) so all in all I'd say JVC have done a good job on this cam

let the footage roll!

Shot the same footage with my EX1 will post side by side footage later this week. I will up load to my website or post on YouTube HD

Jack Walker
April 26th, 2009, 07:39 PM
Shot the same footage with my EX1 will post side by side footage later this week. I will up load to my website or post on YouTube HD
Yes, I would like to see the comparison as I have no experience with the EX1.

Kaushik Parmar
April 26th, 2009, 08:32 PM
Anyone who attended the booth, the press luncheon or FCP Supermeet was told that the HM100 is available "immediately."

It seemed that the few cameras made available for the booth arrived last minute and were immediately set up for NAB. I managed to get one for an afternoon last Sunday and took it out for testing (along with the HM700 & Canon 14x lens - more on that to come.)
I demonstrated the "lo-lux" feature to many interested in the HM100. I didn't take the camera out on the strip at night but I may have one or two low-light clips on one of my SDHC cards. I'm looking now.

Sir,

Are you going to upload those clips?

Kaushik

Colin Rowe
April 27th, 2009, 04:13 AM
Yessir. 2495. Wide angle 195, extra batt 95.

A couple a years ago I bought some Hytron 140s and a charger from Proav and was very impressed by their service. Pleased to be buying from them as I always prefer to patronize enthusiastic and helpful retailers.

Cotty

Thanks for that Steve. Looking forward to trying this little guy out.

Steve Cottrell
April 27th, 2009, 03:48 PM
Thanks for that Steve. Looking forward to trying this little guy out.

Yeah, me too. I'm picking up either tomorrow or Weds. I have to be at London Heathrow (filming tunnel boring under the runways for new baggage system) so hopefully time to pop up to Hemel Hempstead, if they've arrived. If not I'm free Weds so boys and toys....

Will advise.

Cotty

George Angeludis
April 29th, 2009, 07:17 AM
This is 24p and it looks very dark. In 50i or 60i with a steady /stop it will be even worse. It reminds me of the V1E which I was really close to buy but I didn't because the low light was disappointing. Of course you can't expect more from 1/4 chips.

Steve Cottrell
April 29th, 2009, 10:14 AM
HM-100's now in at Proactive - am picking up tomorrow afternoon :-) Hopefully with extra batt and wide angle adapter. Got a couple of Transcend 16GB cards from Amazon - 28 quid each. Love it.

Cotty

Colin Rowe
April 29th, 2009, 12:33 PM
GY-HM 100 Low Light Footage on Vimeo (http://www.vimeo.com/4344852)


Just got back from Vegas did a quick edit on some of the footage, had about 30min to play with the cam at NAB. The cam feels very solid well built the irs on the back of the cam took some getting use to it dose not roll you have to click it up or down. The Cam preformed well in low light. I think its on par with the canon A1. I will do a more detail write up tomr. on my way to a Video shoot.
Hi Brian.
Thanks for posting, very interesting. Just a thought on the shots titled "Auto Shutter", was it auto shutter or auto iris??. The reason I ask is that the shots marked 1.8 are much darker than the ones in auto, which in a lo light situation would open the iris to 1.8 ie max, so you must be able to get the same exposure in manual or auto. Just wonder what settings you used on the darker shots? (What I am getting at is, the exposure would have probably been at 1.8 in the auto mode, yet when you state 1.8 manual it is much darker?)

Steve Cottrell
May 1st, 2009, 09:04 AM
Picked up my HM100, wide angle adapter lens and spare battery from Proactive yesterday. Very busy couple of days so not had a lot of time with the camera yet.

First impressions are that it seems pretty sturdy. Minor nits are the flip out LCD, seems just a tad flimsy on the hinge, but not worried by it. Also, the viewfinder pull-out section seems to wobble a bit when adjust v/f focus but hey. The rest of the camera appears bullet-proof. Handle is excellent, layouts okay but a bit fiddly with manual iris and whatnot - but I did not buy this camera to fiddle with things like that. I bought it to take to places inaccessible to larger cameras, and I can see that it will do this is buckets. Speaking of fiddly - the SD cards need a bit of persuading at first to get out, and my stubby digits are no good for that!

For my doc I will be running a 416 on the top into track 2 and a radio mic receiver into track 1. Have already decided on building a jig that will take the receiver underneath the camera using my tripod plate. The wide angle works great, takes the angle of view out to about the same as 28mm on a 35mm film or full frame sensor still camera. Would like wider but it's fine. Need to look for a decent lens shade for the wide angle - the standard shade comes off to accommodate it. I have a Vocas on my DSR450 and like it, maybe they do some smaller ones.

The OIS works well - one person on a different thread didn't appear to notice a difference with it on or off. Obviously it works better with the lens zoomed in to a telephoto setting, and having used Canon IS lenses on 1D still DSLRs, it's not quite as good as that, but not far off. Very happy with that. However, I tend to shoot my subjects wide and get in closer. Bit of CA with the adapter on and zoomed through to the end of the bottle, not much.

The focus assist function is great and works well - better than the peaking on my XDCam viewfinder on the 450. I'm manual focus all the way and would not consider AF on a video camera. The focus/zoom ring is fine - easy to get used to with a nice stiffness to it, but useless for the zoom function! The standard rocker is fine for zoom, if a tad slow. The AE seems very good, fast enough to react - this was my only worry as I'm used to an iris ring every time. BUT I didn't buy the camera to mess with buttons, I need good automation in certain areas, while having subjects chat away to me in difficult circumstances/conditions. What with the light weight and excellent audio functions, this camera is a winner for me.

Did I mention the pics off it? I'm blown away. Absolutely brilliant. Nothing to post yet - I don't do tests. When I have something watchable I will link here.

Really excellent bit of kit - highly recommended if you know what to want to use it for.

Cotty

Steve Mullen
May 3rd, 2009, 06:05 PM
With samples from NAB I've had no problem using both .mov and .mp4 files. Media Composer imports, with a conversion to DNxHD, the .mov files. However, using the Sony XDCAM EX Browser, "converting" .mp4 to .mxf yielded a file with only 1 audio channel (the other one was garbled) and video break-up.

Hoping someone else will try with MC and then report.

David Parks
May 4th, 2009, 09:24 AM
With samples from NAB I've had no problem using both .mov and .mp4 files. Media Composer imports, with a conversion to DNxHD, the .mov files. However, using the Sony XDCAM EX Browser, "converting" .mp4 to .mxf yielded a file with only 1 audio channel (the other one was garbled) and video break-up.

Hoping someone else will try with MC and then report.

I haven't tried any samples from NAB, but Tim Dashwoods duck and geese clips in mp4 came into Media Composer with all channles with no problem. Of course that's the HM700 not the 100.

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/jvc-gy-hm-series-camera-systems/146467-downloadable-hm700-35mbps-clips-testing-your-nle.html