"Based on the solid ergonomic design of the popular GY-HM100, which
is used by thousands of photojournalists at major media outlets around the
world, the GY-HM150 is built to handle demanding news and production
environments. Plus, a new encoder and digital signal processor, adopted
from JVC’s 700 series cameras, deliver improved HD recording and add
support for standard definition."

Read the press release here: JVC Unveils New GY-HM150 ProHD Handheld Camcorder at DVInfo.net (http://www.dvinfo.net/news/jvc-unveils-new-gy-hm150-prohd-handheld-camcorder.html)

I'm interested in the new time lapse feature. Doesn't seem like there is much info on that yet.

Hi Calvin,

We have full details of the GY-HM150 up on our web site:

JVC Professional GY-HM150 Features page (http://pro.jvc.com/prof/attributes/features.jsp?model_id=MDL102117)

Cheers,
Craig

I wonder who is going to buy this camera if you can have a XF-100 for less. This camera is offering nothing compelling to me. JVC is seriously losing ground in the prosumer/professional video market.

>>I wonder who is going to buy this camera if you can have a XF-100 for less.

I for one will be purchasing one! I am continually amazed at the images I get out of my HM100.... this little camera is amazing... :) I have had one for about a year now...


Now that we have remote focus/zoom this solves my only real gripe with this camera..

Craig - is this standard lanc compatible? or will we need a special remote controller?

thanks

Dave,

Thanks very much for your support! With the addition of the GY-HM150 we're expanding our handheld offering to a wider audience. The new features should enable more applications such as you've mentioned.

The remote protocol is based on RS-232C, the same one JVC had used before. We're working with a number of manufacturers for the wired remote solution.

I hope this information helps.

- Craig

I wonder who is going to buy this camera if you can have a XF-100 for less. This camera is offering nothing compelling to me. JVC is seriously losing ground in the prosumer/professional video market.

The features of the camcorder appeals to the professionals who's specifications are in line with their work. CNN, who has purchased over 200 units of the GY-HM100 so far, can benefit from the additional features of the GY-HM150 such as simultaneous dual media recording and cache recording.

From a sales volume standpoint, we haven't seen a decrease in GY-HM100 sales with the XF-100 coming to market, so they must be being sold to a different audience.

- Craig

Interesting camera. The only two things lacking are 4:2:2 codec (how about licencing XDCAM 422 from Sony?) and some waterproof casing.

Does this camera have the same issue with iris closing in visible steps in auto mode like HM100, or has this issue been resolved so that exposure change is now continuous?

Craig,
is there a published minimum illumination
Thanks

Interesting camera. The only two things lacking are 4:2:2 codec (how about licencing XDCAM 422 from Sony?) and some waterproof casing.

Does this camera have the same issue with iris closing in visible steps in auto mode like HM100, or has this issue been resolved so that exposure change is now continuous?

According to our top tier broadcast and production customers, XDCAM EX is the mainstream file format. Its an ideal balance of bandwidth and bit rate payload.

If you plan on using XLR connectors and a handle for your compact camcorder, you'll need a rain cover of some sort. Having your investment exposed to the elements would be questionable.

Iris closure in visible steps is something I've witness in camcorders in this class when set in auto mode, especially when transitioning from one extreme lighting environment to another. You can set the camera manually so you know exactly how the scene will turn out and be able to repeat it. In auto mode, repeating the scene can be difficult.

Craig,
is there a published minimum illumination
Thanks

Don,

This information is not available, but in comparison with the GY-HM100 I am expecting the performance to be enhanced with the new signal processor.

- Craig

Hey Craig, do you know what the settings are going to be for the time lapse. That was the info that I couldn't find on your website. Also do you know if JVC is work on a 2/3 inch version of their 7XX cameras. I'm looking at getting a few 790's but if there is a 2/3 in the works I may hold out.

>>The remote protocol is based on RS-232C, the same one JVC had used before. We're working with a number of manufacturers for the wired remote solution.

Yes thats helpful thanks Craig... so can I assume by the time the camera is shipping there will be a compatible remote available?

I was looking at the 790 also, but I need something a little better in low light and I was hoping JVC was coming out with a larger chip camera 2/3 or a 1/2 chip would be great. I have used JVC cameras for years from the KY29s ,GY550, and know the 250s . Its time for me to upgrade just wounding if it is worth the wait for JVC.

According to our top tier broadcast and production customers, XDCAM EX is the mainstream file format. Its an ideal balance of bandwidth and bit rate payload.

If you plan on using XLR connectors and a handle for your compact camcorder, you'll need a rain cover of some sort. Having your investment exposed to the elements would be questionable.

Iris closure in visible steps is something I've witness in camcorders in this class when set in auto mode, especially when transitioning from one extreme lighting environment to another. You can set the camera manually so you know exactly how the scene will turn out and be able to repeat it. In auto mode, repeating the scene can be difficult.

Well, who am I to argue with top tier broadcast and production customers, I only wanted to buy two pieces that would suit our specific needs.

Thanks for clarifying JVC position on the subject, even though it is not what I hoped to hear.

I think silence on half inch stuff etc is the answer to your question, I mean a 1/2 sensor can't be that big a jump with a few modifications to the current design??

Anyway back into my corner

Hey Craig, do you know what the settings are going to be for the time lapse. That was the info that I couldn't find on your website. Also do you know if JVC is work on a 2/3 inch version of their 7XX cameras. I'm looking at getting a few 790's but if there is a 2/3 in the works I may hold out.

Hi Calvin,

The available settings are 1, 3 or 6 frame recording times with a duration interval preset selection of 1 sec., 2 sec., 5 sec., 10 sec., 30 sec., 1 min., 2 min., 5 min., 10 min., 30 min., and 1 hour.

The GY-HM790 will remain our flagship model. We have all of the new components and modules such as our fiber system fully in sync now and we're ramping up our installed base.

>>The remote protocol is based on RS-232C, the same one JVC had used before. We're working with a number of manufacturers for the wired remote solution.

Yes thats helpful thanks Craig... so can I assume by the time the camera is shipping there will be a compatible remote available?

We're working with a number of remote manufacturers, and we hope to have the solution available at the time the GY-HM150 ships.

I think silence on half inch stuff etc is the answer to your question, I mean a 1/2 sensor can't be that big a jump with a few modifications to the current design??

Actually, a change of the imager would greatly alter the size and form of the camcorder.

Have you seen a 1/2" imager handheld camcorder lately, and visually compared it side-by-side to a GY-HM100? The difference in size and weight is significant.

The concept and design of the GY-HM100 and GY-HM150 to be a true handheld camcorder for all level of users. With the positive feedback we've received from the majority of our users, we appear to have achieved our goal.

Interesting camera. The only two things lacking are 4:2:2 codec (how about licencing XDCAM 422 from Sony?) and some waterproof casing.

Thanks for clarifying JVC position on the subject, even though it is not what I hoped to hear.

From your inquiries, it looks like you've already narrowed your choices. Good luck with your hunt. There's a lot of options out there...

Frankly, if it were not for the non-continuous change of exposure, we'd have bought two HM100s already. It was the main point that drew us away from the cam. It's a pity that it has not been fixed in this new model.

Every camera we've looked at was a trade-off, and each had this little "if only" thing that it lacked. So please, don't presume anything from my inquiries.

Bart-
Just the fact that Craig is even on this board speaks volumes on how much he/JVC cares....he is the top guy at JVC USA and there are very few people at his level that participate in blogs in general.

Craig-
Good to see you on the board here and congrats on the new camera.

Jim Martin
Filmtools.com

Frankly, if it were not for the non-continuous change of exposure, we'd have bought two HM100s already. It was the main point that drew us away from the cam. It's a pity that it has not been fixed in this new model.

Every camera we've looked at was a trade-off, and each had this little "if only" thing that it lacked. So please, don't presume anything from my inquiries.

Please accept my apology for presuming that you've made a decision to purchase another product because of the detailed specifications you've stated as being prerequisites for your camcorder choice. Whether a characteristic of a camcorder is an issue or not may depend on the circumstances of the shot. If your acquisition requires filming dynamic light intensity changes, then perhaps you would fair better with a larger imager camera.

The GY-HM100 was born from direct feed back from our customers, and we have implemented the feature additions and adjustments on the GY-HM150 based on the numerous requests from our users. The very first comment made on this thread regarding the announcement of the GY-HM150 is positive affirmation of this.

All manufacturers work to bring the best of their technologies in their products, and they do care about what they deliver. At the same time, never before has there been as many choices.

Craig, I can't seem to find any reference to a date/time function on this camera?
Is there a way to super a date/time stamp? or is is it only available in some meta data info ?

Just the fact that Craig is even on this board speaks volumes on how much he/JVC cares....he is the top guy at JVC USA and there are very few people at his level that participate in blogs in general.I could not have said it better myself -- many thanks for posting this, Jim!

Craig, I can't seem to find any reference to a date/time function on this camera?
Is there a way to super a date/time stamp? or is is it only available in some meta data info ?

Hi Carl,

There is no on-screen superimposing of the date/time stamp. The date and time is recorded within the meta data of the video file and be seen in the playback GUI.

Hope this helps.

- Craig

Craig,

Thanks for your response, and I apologize for my attitude.

I really wish GY-HM150 did record 4:2:2, and had the continuous exposure resolved. We already own cameras with bigger form factor (both Sony's and JVC's) that serve most of our needs, but we would love to have a smaller camera for the situations where others are too unwieldy. We travel a lot, we shoot a lot of live action close to the water, often on boats, mostly hand-held, often moving the frame from the sky background to foliage/water, sometimes with lavaliers, sometimes without. This is perhaps quite extreme "run & gun", and we do realize that our needs are pretty specific, but I hope you can see why we are looking for continuous exposure change, splashproof housing, and 4:2:2 recording. HM-100 was very close match with NX-50U, and although we loved the controls of HM-100, the exposure factor unfortunately disqualified it. I hoped that HM-150 had this issue resolved, that's essentially it.

No worries, Bart.

Once we get a production GY-HM150 in our hands we'll run some performance tests. I'm curious to see how the new chips enhance the imaging.

We'll have one of the prototype units from IBC, but I don't know at what production level it will be at.

For those in town, the unit will be under plexiglass at Createasphere being held in the New Yorker Hotel, NYC next week. This will be the GY-HM150's US debut.

- Craig

Craig, I'm coming into this thread a little late, I know, but I just wanted to say how much I love the HM100 (so much, in fact, that I bought a second). That said, I was wondering about the possibility of including some of the new functionality of the HM150 in a firmware update for the HM100. Not a free firmware update, of course... I would be completely willing to pay for an update that would bring some of the new functions over to the HM100, such as interval recording and simultaneous recording. I understand that this could affect the sales numbers of your new camera, so I know this is likely not possible, but I just had to ask, for myself and all the HM100 users our there.

Anyway, love your product. Thanks for giving of your time on the forum here.

David Elsea

David,

I'm really glad to hear your positive comments on the HM100. Thanks very much for sharing them.

The new and added features on the GY-HM150U is made possible with the implementation of the processor we use with the HM700 series camcorders. Our product development team went to work as quickly as possible after the release of the HM100 and obtaining the feedback from the field. So, it is not physically possible from a signal processing standpoint to enable the new features on the HM100. The processor in the HM100 is maximizing its fullest potential in order to provide its current features, and we've done the same with the HM150 as well.

There is a thought or belief that the JVC camcorders can be "reflashed" to operate like newer models, but this is simply not the case. The successive generations of products generally have new components, a key one being the processor chip, that enable the new functionality. If this were true, no one would need to purchase new computers with faster processing capabilities to handle the latest software with added features.

JVC pioneered the ability for end users to upgrade their camcorders on their own with the GY-HD100 series. This was risky from a company standpoint, but over the long run we found that our users are extremely competent at this task. These firmware upgrades, though, are designed to optimize an existing feature rather than add new ones.

- Craig

We'll have one of the prototype units from IBC, but I don't know at what production level it will be at.

We received the unit from IBC, but unfortunately it was an engineering sample (not production level). We hope to get a production level product in soon so we can begin our testing...

- Craig

Craig I owned the GY-HM100 the only issue that I had with it was battery life. I had to carry a least 4 batteries in my kit to get through an event. Does JVC have any plans on making an extended life battery for the GY-HM150?

My apologies for the delayed response. I've been on the road a bit.

JVC will continue to offer the BN-VF823USP as the standard battery offering, but other third-party batteries with extended life have been known to work with the GY-HM150. The Anton-Bauer ElipZ system also works well and provides hours of operation, even with their optional light attached.

- Craig

One of my biggest beef with the HM100 is also the battery life (and also the inaccurate zoom rocker), it lasts 2 hours at best, with the stock battery, and generic ones. Half the time I am worrying about when I should change the battery during shooting.

Now with my Canon XF 100, I use generic batteries at $36 per unit that will last at least 4 hours. It is simply awesome...

Interesting camera. The only two things lacking are 4:2:2 codec and some waterproof casing.

One of my biggest beef with the HM100 is also the battery life (and also the inaccurate zoom rocker), it lasts 2 hours at best, with the stock battery, and generic ones. Half the time I am worrying about when I should change the battery during shooting.

Now with my Canon XF 100, I use generic batteries at $36 per unit that will last at least 4 hours. It is simply awesome...

How does the image quality stand with the Canon to the JVC?

Picture quality wise comparing to the HM 100, I think they are around the same in good light, I look at my XF and HM clips back to back, and they are both good. Noise wise , in my opinion, the XF 100 is better in low light. However, people are saying the 150 does better in low light now, so you will have to see for yourself. :)

We're working with a number of remote manufacturers, and we hope to have the solution available at the time the GY-HM150 ships.

Hi Craig,

I just purchased the GY-HM150 (upgraded from the GY-HM100). Where can I purchase the remote zoom controller for this camera?

Karl