I'm shopping for a general purpose camcorder and come across the JVC GY-HM620.

Why is it called a "mobile news camera"? How is it different from a general purpose camcorder?

Hi Peter,

To understand the HM620, you have to consider it along with its sibling, the HM660.

The HM660 is referred to as a "mobile news camera" because it has the ability to stream HD video live over IP direct to a television news station or a mobile production truck. Anybody can buy it, but it was made for JVC's primary customers in the broadcast television news market such as the Sinclair Broadcast Group.*

The HM660 is "mobile news" because it also includes a return audio function over IP, which allows a remote producer to talk to the local crew off-air, through back-channel audio.

So the HM620 is pretty much identical to the HM660, except it doesn't have the live streaming capability. It still falls under the "mobile news" category, but sure, you could use it as a general-purpose video camcorder. In fact, a lot of people do just that.

Have you seen my Buyer's Guide for this and other JVC ProHD and 4KCAM camcorders? It has a lot of this type of info, plus links to brochures, user manuals, and more. Check it out at:

Buyer’s Guide: JVC Professional 4KCAM and ProHD Camcorders at DV Info Net (http://www.dvinfo.net/article/buyers_guides/buyers-guide-jvc-4kcam-and-prohd-camcorders.html)

Hope this helps!

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* in fact, JVC camcorders provided to Sinclair have a secret Acquisition Authenticity Mode switch hidden inside, which allow them to be toggled between "real news" and "fake news."

If the 620 is anything like it's older brother the 600 of which I own two, and you don't need the streaming capabilities, you'll have a really dependable all purpose HD camera. The image is great right out of the camera.

Oh wow, from over here in Oz I had no idea about the Sinclair Group and their AAM capabilities. Then I found this.

Sinclair's script for stations - YouTube

Andrew