New GY-HM850 and GY-HM890 ENG & studio camcorders

[Svein Rune Skilnand]

JVC are releasing new cameras: http://www.dvinfo.net/news/new-jvcpr...streaming.html

[Tim Lewis]

Interestingly these appear to be firmly in the HD camp with no hint of a 4K version. Will that be the next iteration?

[Svein Rune Skilnand]

I think these cameras are a very clever move by JVC. Maybe they want to see how 4K actually fits into the broadcast world before jumping on it.

JVC should be able to sell tons of these models. Interesting to see they have gone back to Fujinon lenses as well.

[Gabor Heeres]

What me surprises is these write 50 Mbps to SDHC cards? Previously this was only possible using CompactFlash cards right?

[Glen Vandermolen]

Does the XHQ codec have 4:2:2 color? If so, this would be a "broadcast level" codec, wouldn't it?

[David Heath]

Originally Posted by Gabor Heeres

What me surprises is these write 50 Mbps to SDHC cards? Previously this was only possible using CompactFlash cards right?

SDHC is perfectly capable of recording 50Mbs and more (the better cards, anyway) - the restriction has been the way the cards are formatted didn't allow for recording XDCAM422.

And that still seems to be the case - JVC Pro Technical Description (scroll down until you get to the table of codecs) - the highest bitrate for an MPEG2 codec is 35Mbs.

The 50Mbs mode is H264 - and it's well worth noting that enables a 1080p/50(60) mode.

Originally Posted by Tim Lewis

Interestingly these appear to be firmly in the HD camp with no hint of a 4K version.

4K seems to be following in the footsteps of HD in that first appearance is in top end cameras, next comes early adopter consumer, with "run of the mill pro cameras" following a while later.

That doesn't surprise me at all. First appearance to satisfy the high end market who are demanding the best, next for consumers who haven't got to worry about legacy, infrastructure, and broadcast standards/bandwidth. (Just plug in to suitable TV and play.)

This camera seems fairly aimed at the "budget pro" user, and lower budget TV stations who can't afford 2/3", but want something with decent form factor. As such, I think it will do very, very well, especially as it offers 35Mbs MPEG in a choice of wrapper. (And for news etc use, the XDCAM EX codec seems to be more popular than XDCAM 422 anyway.)

As far as 4K, then maybe a 4K version will come out in a few years, but it's likely to not then be with 3 1/3" chips.

[Jack Zhang]

Sure, it mentions it can do 50mbps at 1080p50 and 1080p60, but it doesn't mention whether that's 4:2:2 10bit. It is the exact same as XAVC-S 4:2:0 8bit 1080p60 and 1080p50 at 50mbps.

The golden age for 1080p60 is 10bit 4:2:2 at 50mbps long GOP.

[Michael Warren]

I have to commend JVC on having so much information, including MSRP available at announcement.

Also, the HM850 addresses many of the user requests for an update of the HM700 series.

I'm looking forward to seeing sample video.

[Phil Goetz]

The GY-HM600 has 1080 chips. The HM700/710/790 still have the 720 chips. I am NOT saying that the 720 chip doesn't do 1080 video, because it does. I am just curious as to why we don't see the HM600 chip set in the HM850/890 now. JVC bought a sensor / chip company in the last year and they have to be about ready to put something out... Where is the JVC DSLR? I thought that was going to be the news last year.

[Michael Warren]

I expect the 850/890 do have the same chips as the 600. They are CMOS, not CCD, so they are not the same as the 700 series.

"At the heart of the GY-HM850/HM890 are three 1/3-inch 2.07
effective-megapixel CMOS sensors, each capable of capturing full
HD 1920 x 1080 resolution images. Featuring 12bit processing, an
excellent sensitivity of F11 (60Hz) / F12 (50Hz) and a remarkable
signal-to-noise ratio, the devices provide
superior precision and color reproduction
with minimal aberration. For improved
CMOS sensor performance, flash-band
compensation is also supported."

[Zach Love]

Originally Posted by Michael Warren

I have to commend JVC on having so much information, including MSRP available at announcement.

I really like how JVC also usually has about 5-8 high quality photos too of cameras when they announce them. You often can't find that many from a manufacture even after a camera starts shipping.

JVC Pro Product Images

[Michael Warren]

Originally Posted by Svein Rune Skilnand

Interesting to see they have gone back to Fujinon lenses as well.

The HM600/650 have a Fujinon lens. I strongly suspect the lens on these cameras is basically the same optics, but with limited zoom range to keep it in the sweet spot, performance wise.

[Paul R Johnson]

I started with the 500, then the 5000, then 100, then 200 series - I've looked a couple of times at the 700 series, but never quite made the jump. JVC are still the only manufacturer really interested in studio style versions - with the really neat cradle. When budgets permit, I'll no doubt stick with them again, because all my purchases have been totally trouble free. I've no interest at all in 4K - yet.

[Craig Yanagi]

Originally Posted by Gabor Heeres

What me surprises is these write 50 Mbps to SDHC cards? Previously this was only possible using CompactFlash cards right?

You have to be sure to use Class-10 SDHC cards when recording 50 Mbp/s H.264. Class-6 cards won't have the "speed capabilty" to handle the bit rate.

[Craig Yanagi]

Originally Posted by Glen Vandermolen

Does the XHQ codec have 4:2:2 color?

The color space is 4:2:0. The codec emulates that of the Canon 5D Mk III.