4k60p firmware release - May 29th 2017

[Duncan Craig]

JVC just published an official press release about he upcoming software:
JVC News Release -- New firmware for GY-LS300 adds 4K 4:2:2 recording and 60p output

WAYNE, NJ (April 19, 2017) – JVC Professional Video, a division of JVCKENWOOD USA Corporation, today announced the Version 4.0 firmware upgrade for its popular GY-LS300CH 4KCAM Super 35 handheld camcorder that increases color resolution to 4:2:2 in 4K mode recording and expands Ultra HD (3840x2160) output to include 60/50p. JVC will demonstrate the new capabilities during the 2017 NAB Show (Booth C4315), which runs April 24-27 in Las Vegas, Nev.
Version 4.0 provides 4:2:2 (8-bit) 4K recording at 24/25/30p onboard to SDXC media cards. In addition, IP remote function will now allow remote control and image viewing in 4K. When using 4K 4:2:2 recording mode, the video output from the HDMI/SDI terminals is HD. The Version 4.0 firmware upgrade is free of charge for all current GY-LS300CH owners and will be available in late May.
The GY-LS300CH will also now have the capability to output Ultra HD at 60/50p via its HDMI 2.0b port. Through JVC’s partnership with Atomos, the GY-LS300CH will operate seamlessly with the new Ninja Inferno and Shogun Inferno monitor recorders, triggering recording from the camera’s start/stop operation. Plus, when the camera is set to J-Log1 gamma recording mode, the Atomos units will record the HDR footage and display it on their integrated, seven-inch monitors.
“The upgrades included in our Version 4.0 firmware provide performance enhancements for high raster recording and IP remote capability in 4K, adding even more content creation flexibility to the GY-LS300CH,” said Craig Yanagi, product marketing manager, JVCKENWOOD. “Seamless integration with the new Ninja Inferno will help deliver 60p to our customers and allow them to produce outstanding footage for a variety of 4K and UHD productions.”
JVC and Atomos will also collaborate on a special promotion when the GY-LS300CH and Ninja Inferno are purchased together at participating resellers.

[Courtney Baynes]

This is such good news! Even though it is still 8 bit, users of this camera now have the opportunity to stretch the limits of grading! Nice work JVC! Also I'm hoping they announce a new cinema camera like the rumors allude to.

[John Vincent]

What's very pleasing is watching a company continuing to support a product, especially when that product didn't light the world on fire.

Gives confidence to buyers, not just of the LS300 but for future cameras as well. So props to JVC.

Still saving my pennies for a used one.... unless something spectacular happens this week at NAB (which I doubt).

[Lee Powell]

The LS300's new and used price is holding steady around $2500 on both Amazon and Ebay. When the Panasonic AF100 started to falter, its resale value dropped dramatically over a few months, from over $3000 to less than $2000. Panasonic's neglect and exhorbitant firmware upgrade policies made it clear that they'd abandoned the AF100 years before it was officially discontinued. JVC's generous and proactive firmware upgrade campaign has made a world of difference in demonstrating their ongoing commitment to this camera.

[Steve Rosen]

I've been trying to download the update but the JVC site won't recognize my camera model; as...

GY-LS300CHU

I haven't had this problem before, so I must be doing something wrong...

Any suggestions?

[Duncan Craig]

The v4 firmware isn't out until the end of May AFAIK.

[Steve Rosen]

Thanks, I discovered that immediately after posting...

[John Vincent]

Originally Posted by Lee Powell

JVC's generous and proactive firmware upgrade campaign has made a world of difference in demonstrating their ongoing commitment to this camera.

Yup - I wouldn't consider buying it w/o those upgrades, at least of two which have been significant.

Maybe it's because JVC has traditionally not worried so much about the indie market but rather TV stations, or maybe they're just that much different then their brother division Panasonic, but paying attention to those firmware updates has been great to see.

I couldn't agree more about the AF100: Panasonic vastly over-sold the capacities of that camera and worse, when some of the deficiencies came to light, they did nothing to address them. And the AF-100 was a very expensive camera when it debuted - something like $5,000 if memory serves.

So a win for everyone - current owners, future buyers, and JVC themselves.

[W. Bill Magac]

While at a Boston area pro video trade show today, I asked Ken Freed, a JVC District Sales Manager, about this 4K60 firmware upgrade. Ken indicated there may be a slight delay in the release of this software. It may be available in June instead of May 29th.

[Petros Kolyvas]

Originally Posted by John Vincent

Yup - I wouldn't consider buying it w/o those upgrades, at least of two which have been significant.

Maybe it's because JVC has traditionally not worried so much about the indie market but rather TV stations, or maybe they're just that much different then their brother division Panasonic, but paying attention to those firmware updates has been great to see.

I couldn't agree more about the AF100: Panasonic vastly over-sold the capacities of that camera and worse, when some of the deficiencies came to light, they did nothing to address them. And the AF-100 was a very expensive camera when it debuted - something like $5,000 if memory serves.

So a win for everyone - current owners, future buyers, and JVC themselves.

We paid around that in Canadian funds for an AF100 on release. It was indeed exceptionally disappointing at times and I could never really get over the shockingly bad highlights. It has some pluses - and set us up perfectly for the LS300. On the other hand, the AF100 is built like a tank, and the LS300 feels like it'll snap apart (it won't - but it's something that still crosses my mind.)

The JVC has its own shortcomings, but considering the price and JVC's on-going support it's really hard to fault. 4k 4:2:2 is just a fantastic addition - we've used it for a bunch of Chroma-key work without issue and I hope this will just make it that much more pain-free.

[Scott Berrington]

It's May 30th...I guess the firmware 4.0 update is not ready? Would be nice if JVC would put out a statement about when it will be released.

[W. Bill Magac]

Read comment #24.

[Marcello Mazzilli]

Really interested to see the qualitu. I didn't purcjase the camera nrcause I thought 430 jlog files were basically ungradable