Info on all 3 Camera's:

First Look: JVC 4K Camcorders - YouTube

Wow, that's a great overview from B&H. Thanks for posting this, Troy!

Great rundown on the three cams. Now, which one is in the budget for me?

Hi,

questions on the JVC GY-HM 170

the 422 is 8 or 10 bit?

can be used in full manual?

which is the general level of jvc camcorder respect to Sony, Canon and Panasonic?

Ugo

Here is test footage in 24p at 1600 ISO...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8t60dfyrT0&feature=youtu.be

Check this video starting from 01:10 to see how much noise the camera produces, not sure how much 18db is in gain but 18DB already seems to be very noisy while 24db seems to be unusable, it doesn't look like a good low light performer to me.

JVC GY-LS300 4K Super 35mm - video-test (full HD) on Vimeo

Here is test footage in 24p at 1600 ISO...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8t60dfyrT0&feature=youtu.be

Thanks for sharing the footage Jim. Looked great--and then the hand came in. Sorry to see that the camera did not do well in holding the highlights on the hand. I will keep optimistic--I am really pulling for this camera.

I like the footage we shot so far....we put it in tough situations. We'll shoot the rest this weekend with some night and daytime using the standard cinema mode (last week we shot in the cinema subdued mode to try and mimic a log stetting)...

Jim Martin
EVSonline.com

Check this video starting from 01:10 to see how much noise the camera produces, not sure how much 18db is in gain but 18DB already seems to be very noisy while 24db seems to be unusable, it doesn't look like a good low light performer to me.

JVC GY-LS300 4K Super 35mm - video-test (full HD) on Vimeo (https://vimeo.com/118128509)

I like the footage we have shot much better.....

Jim Martin
EVSonline.com

I for one would like to know when the image would be falling apart at higher iso's when I would spend 4K on a large sensor camera. A clean 1600 iso is something I would expect from every camera these days but what's more interesting is how it will handle higher iso's, would you say then that 1600 iso is the highest usable gain?

From what we can tell so far, 1600 is fine, 3200 starts to get some noise going but still very usable, and 6400 is too much...at this time. I'm in constant contact with the head of engineering and they are working on getting better above 1600 and will be adding noise reduction, all through updates that will come very soon. Again, the cameras ship the last week of this month which is a fair amount of time to do some tweaks to the system........

Jim Martin
EVSonline.com

Thx for the info and good to see JVC has interest in improving the performance. It was not my intention to come off as negative but I think that anyone that wants to buy a camera where there is little known about wants to know what's good about it but especially what's not so good about it so they can make a better decision before spending this amount of money. I think it's safe to say that currently those who where expecting canon c100 clean high iso's would be disappointed, not that this is something everyone needs but it's good to know what the limits of a camera are.

wow. the low light with gain puts it into perspective for me. Looks like C100 MK II will be my purchase.

I think you should split this thread three ways, as there is cross talk about two of the three JVC models, some responding to the LS 300 and others to the 200, both being compared to the x70. The 170 seems to have been almost forgotten, and certainly, there are people who are in that market, as well.

Also, for those intrepid camera guys, a four way line comparison between the x70 and the three JVC units, including price.

All of these cameras share 4k or 4k capable cameras, but I wonder how comparable a 1 inch sensor is to a 35 mil sensor.

Also, comparing the LS300 to anything makes almost no sense if we don't understand what lenses are being used with it.

Also, comparing the LS300 to anything makes almost no sense if we don't understand what lenses are being used with it.

When looking at high ISO performance it doesn't matter which lens or f-stop is used, the noise doesn"t change.

I wouldn't be too quick to judge based on that video which wasn't that great....again, pre-production models. I'd suggest to wait until the units ship.....from what we have shot at 1600 and 3200 ISO, the noise level was less than what this video showed.......

Jim Martin
EVSonline.com

If you are in town (LA) this Weds, be sure to come on out to the debut seminar on the camera....and will be showing the footage we have shot over the last two weekends (in camera and to the Shogun)...here's the link:

JVC GY-LS300 4KCAM S35mm Camcorder Debut Event (http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07eal8ke3j8864da05&llr=y5gtzzcab)

Jim Martin

PS- We are also going to stream the seminar (on Ustream) and I'll have the link up as soon as I have it.

Will you upload the video to Youtube or Vimeo, Jim?

I've found this one today and it shows that the LS300 will do well even at 24dB! Well, at least for my needs...

JVC GY-LS300 : Gamma, VSM, ISO Test - YouTube

Cool stuff. Sure does seem like it can swing ISO 1600 a lot better than another example I've seen. 3200 gets a little soft but still not bad. I'd put this ISO performance about on par with the GH4 based on this example.

it looks decent up to 6400, still on my radar, especially for the price.

We are going to stream the event today at 1pm PDT........here is the link:
JVC Carl H on USTREAM: JVC GY-HM650 camera streaming live via Verizon 4G LTE modem. 720p stream via Cloud Server powered by Zixi. This demo is provided by ... (http://www.ustream.tv/channel/jvc-carl-h)

Jim Martin
EVSonline.com

According to JVC's website, the HM200 has "f5.6 sensitivity". What does that mean, f5.6@2000?

Also, the HM200 lens is listed as f1.2-f3.5. If taken at face, that means that if you zoom in from wide angle, you must add 18db to retain your image brightness. If the lens ramping is similar to the X70 and others, you will have to add that 18db by around 6x into the zoom range.

If it is f5.6@2000, and f3.5 at medium zoom, then this would be the equivalent of an old 1987 Sony BVP5 (first Gen 3CCD camera), with the lens stopped down to f4-f4.5! Not good at all in low light.

JVC, can you confirm those specs for us? Loosing 3 full stops by zooming in is pretty massive.

Paul

We are going to stream the event today at 1pm PDT........here is the link:
JVC Carl H on USTREAM: JVC GY-HM650 camera streaming live via Verizon 4G LTE modem. 720p stream via Cloud Server powered by Zixi. This demo is provided by ... (http://www.ustream.tv/channel/jvc-carl-h)

Jim Martin
EVSonline.com

Any chance of a replay, Jim? Pix/video/and or a recap on your blog or social media pages? I missed it.

Thanks,

Bill
Hybrid Camera Revolution (http://www.hybridcamerarevolution.com)

Jim -- this is good idea from Bill, above. I would be happy to host it right here on DVi.

Bill - same here.
Any chance of a replay, Jim? Pix/video/and or a recap on your blog or social media pages? I missed it.
Hybrid Camera Revolution (http://www.hybridcamerarevolution.com)

Had it on my list of things to do and still didn't get to watch it. Busy day. So "a second on this" request.

One area I'm interested in is the image stabilization. The JVC web site JVC Pro Product Overview Page (http://pro.jvc.com/prof/attributes/features.jsp?model_id=MDL102319) didn't mention this but elsewhere I read that there is IS.

"The devil is in the details"

Not the same footage from the EVS presentation but scouting the internets for more footage I found this one. the LS300 is looking mighty good. If this is without cinema subdued I can imagine the image can be far more gradable friendly after a little tweaking.

JVC GY-LS300 - CAMERA TEST on Vimeo

I have a Canon TV Zoom J6x11 macro lens. Considering my absolute inexperience in lenses, could this lens fit the sensor in this camera, and would this be a C-mount? What will this lens do for me? If it can be made to adapt, what adapter is recommended?

Thanks

I did a little research after getting blank looks from some of you. This lens does not appear to be compatible, and even if it was, the motor will present problems.

Seems like some prime lenses from some of the older cameras could be adapted, though, making the LS300 a more practical solution. What slowed me down on this camera is the cost of a great lens to match it. I am sure the lens included in the deal is o.k., but clearly, as stated by Jim earlier, certain prime lenses will make this camera really shine.

The LS300 is like a sideways DLSR with a handle and camcorder toggle controls. Just wish lenses would meet our wants in these "other" mounts!

At least give us a 16x f1.4 ENG style wide capable power zoom lens and a matching crop setting for it in the LS300.

Paul

Some LS300 low light and "banding" tests.

JVC GY-LS300 Low Light Test in Roma - YouTube

What slowed me down on this camera is the cost of a great lens to match it.

If you're looking for a solution for run-and-gun shooting, then maybe you would be better to look at lenses by Olympus or Lumix with zooming capability. We've found the Olympus PRO series lenses to have excellent imaging capability, even 4K, at a nominal cost.

Is there any news on the GW-SP100E remote head unit ?

Ron Evans

JVC LS300 with OLYMPUS PEN M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 12-50mm f3.5-6.3

[4K] JVC KENWOOD GY-LS300　Shooting at Asakusa - YouTube

I somehow missed this camera... but was filtering on "new" cameras at B&H and this guy came up... for $1,295 it looks incredible with 4K and 422 1080p. It's on sale for $500 off right now. Based on original post this thing was almost $2,500 and it's basically 50% off from that.

JVC GY-HM170UA 4KCAM Compact Professional Camcorder GY-HM170UA

this looks mighty tempting. I was considering an NX500, but this would be an ideal balcony camera. any footage available?

I somehow missed this camera... but was filtering on "new" cameras at B&H and this guy came up... for $1,295 it looks incredible with 4K and 422 1080p. It's on sale for $500 off right now. Based on original post this thing was almost $2,500 and it's basically 50% off from that.

JVC GY-HM170UA 4KCAM Compact Professional Camcorder GY-HM170UA (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1194106-REG/jvc_gy_hm170ua_4kcam_compact_professional.html)

I own the GY-HM170 and have used it on several projects over the past couple of months. The 4K option at either 70Mbps (via v.2 firmware) or 150Mbps and the 422 1080P are big positives. The major challenge is the functional sweet spot of the lens aperture. Even though max opening is f/1.2 and the smallest aperture is f/11, the lens actually performs best between f/2.2 and f/6.3. Working within that range provides good results. There are enough controls via menu to get the picture quality dialed in to your preference, and all settings can be saved to SD card for quick switching to different shooting situations and formats. The handle attachment and easy firmware upgrade process combine to make a feature set that's hard to match at the price point.

Mark, in low light, is the 18db sensitivity change when zooming from wide to telephoto a nightmare? I already shoot a LOT of 30-33db (max gain) on my little Sony X70 at telephoto, I cannot imagine how dark the image would be at night with the JVC.

I really want to like (and buy) the JVC, because I need a Zixi capable alternative to my Sony X70.

Paul

Mark, in low light, is the 18db sensitivity change when zooming from wide to telephoto a nightmare? I already shoot a LOT of 30-33db (max gain) on my little Sony X70 at telephoto, I cannot imagine how dark the image would be at night with the JVC.

Paul, most of my stuff in tight quarters and at the wider range of the zoom, and I use an on-camera light when necessary (Amaran 198). Even in the middle of the zoom I think the maximum gain I've used so far is 12 dB, so can't give an answer to your question about high gain low light shooting at the moment.