Review of JVC HD1 on CNET

Steve Mullen · May 22nd, 2003, 01:21 AM

<<<-- Originally posted by Joseph George You have a strong demand, the technology is available, but there is no supply. -->>>

The real key is availability of a small, low-power MPEG-2 HD encoder/decoder. As far as I know only one is available. It was developed by NTT. (It consumers a lot of power!)

And, it's the one JVC uses.

To increase the frame rate to 60p will require a revision and will consume even more power which means lots of heat.

I'ts likely Sony is developing its own encoder/decoder. They already have a 2M pixel CCD. That would allow 1080i. But don't expect great sensitivity or latitude. It's a tiny CCD.

At their pre-NAB lunch, Sony told me their's will use a Blu-ray recorder not tape. Editing will be built in like other DVDCAMs. The camcorder will be it's own playback device.

So when will some use 3 CCDs? As several have pointed out -- it could be good enough to hurt the high profit HD camcorders. So I suspect no one will do one for awhile. But it won't make any difference to me because I'll bet it's priced too high for me. As Ken said, cost sensitivity is high.

Joseph George · May 22nd, 2003, 01:47 AM

Steve, What is the approximate size of the Sony 2 meg CCD; is it 16:9 -- I suppose it is; do you expect their HD camcorder to be 1080i? What's your best guess as to when will they start selling it? Are you sure that there will not be 3-CCD version?

Frank Granovski · May 22nd, 2003, 02:26 AM

I'm not in a hurry for this consumer HD stuff. I'm more interested in plain ol' widescreen. :)

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Steve Mullen · May 22nd, 2003, 09:06 AM

<<<-- Originally posted by Joseph George : Steve, What is the approximate size of the Sony 2 meg CCD; is it 16:9 -- I suppose it is; do you expect their HD camcorder to be 1080i? What's your best guess as to when will they start selling it? Are you sure that there will not be 3-CCD version? -->>>

I believe it is 4:3. But the fact they can do 2Mp shows what's possible.

Given Sony's support of 1080i, I would expect it from them. I didn't ask because I'd be very happy with 720p60.

They hinted at the end of 2003 or early 2004. But, it could ALL have been disinformation because they normally never tell reporters anything!

The 3CCD vs 1 CCD is primarily an issue of cost and target market. If they are aiming at the Japan/US consumer market -- as is JVC -- then I'd expect 1 CCD to keep price reasonable. (And the $ is dropping!) And that's the market I would expect they would go after. Think VX1000.

And if they do do a 3CCD, they will market it as PROSUMER to keep pros from looking at it. They could also limit the output to, for example, feed TVs via YPrPb and a feed to their Blu-ray.

BECAUSE the market is slow -- companies do NOT slow new product introductions. They use NEW products to DRIVE the market to buy. Sony in particular needs more sales. No company can ACCEPT lower sales revenues because of market conditions. Products like this have been in planning for 5 years or more. It's a fundamental misunderstanding of business to think Sony will hold back anything because it MIGHT NOT be bought. Sales VPs don't accept that kind of thinking.

Joseph George · May 22nd, 2003, 01:54 PM

Steve, I don't think that 1080/60i or 720/60p would make much difference. Visually they'd be just as sharp and you can transfer both easily to 30p, PAL, 24p. But 60p would give you slow motion at 30p and 24p, without any digital procesing.

May 22nd, 2003, 01:21 AM	#16
Steve Mullen HDV Cinema Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 4,007	<<<-- Originally posted by Joseph George You have a strong demand, the technology is available, but there is no supply. -->>> The real key is availability of a small, low-power MPEG-2 HD encoder/decoder. As far as I know only one is available. It was developed by NTT. (It consumers a lot of power!) And, it's the one JVC uses. To increase the frame rate to 60p will require a revision and will consume even more power which means lots of heat. I'ts likely Sony is developing its own encoder/decoder. They already have a 2M pixel CCD. That would allow 1080i. But don't expect great sensitivity or latitude. It's a tiny CCD. At their pre-NAB lunch, Sony told me their's will use a Blu-ray recorder not tape. Editing will be built in like other DVDCAMs. The camcorder will be it's own playback device. So when will some use 3 CCDs? As several have pointed out -- it could be good enough to hurt the high profit HD camcorders. So I suspect no one will do one for awhile. But it won't make any difference to me because I'll bet it's priced too high for me. As Ken said, cost sensitivity is high. __________________ Switcher's Quick Guide to the Avid Media Composer >>> http://home.mindspring.com/~d-v-c

May 22nd, 2003, 09:06 AM	#19
Steve Mullen HDV Cinema Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 4,007	<<<-- Originally posted by Joseph George : Steve, What is the approximate size of the Sony 2 meg CCD; is it 16:9 -- I suppose it is; do you expect their HD camcorder to be 1080i? What's your best guess as to when will they start selling it? Are you sure that there will not be 3-CCD version? -->>> I believe it is 4:3. But the fact they can do 2Mp shows what's possible. Given Sony's support of 1080i, I would expect it from them. I didn't ask because I'd be very happy with 720p60. They hinted at the end of 2003 or early 2004. But, it could ALL have been disinformation because they normally never tell reporters anything! The 3CCD vs 1 CCD is primarily an issue of cost and target market. If they are aiming at the Japan/US consumer market -- as is JVC -- then I'd expect 1 CCD to keep price reasonable. (And the $ is dropping!) And that's the market I would expect they would go after. Think VX1000. And if they do do a 3CCD, they will market it as PROSUMER to keep pros from looking at it. They could also limit the output to, for example, feed TVs via YPrPb and a feed to their Blu-ray. BECAUSE the market is slow -- companies do NOT slow new product introductions. They use NEW products to DRIVE the market to buy. Sony in particular needs more sales. No company can ACCEPT lower sales revenues because of market conditions. Products like this have been in planning for 5 years or more. It's a fundamental misunderstanding of business to think Sony will hold back anything because it MIGHT NOT be bought. Sales VPs don't accept that kind of thinking. __________________ Switcher's Quick Guide to the Avid Media Composer >>> http://home.mindspring.com/~d-v-c

May 22nd, 2003, 01:47 AM	#17
Joseph George Permanently Banned Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Los Angeles, California Posts: 265	Steve, What is the approximate size of the Sony 2 meg CCD; is it 16:9 -- I suppose it is; do you expect their HD camcorder to be 1080i? What's your best guess as to when will they start selling it? Are you sure that there will not be 3-CCD version?

May 22nd, 2003, 02:26 AM	#18
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	I'm not in a hurry for this consumer HD stuff. I'm more interested in plain ol' widescreen. :) ------------------------------------------------------------------ http://www.dvfreak.com/mx5_go.htm

May 22nd, 2003, 01:54 PM	#20
Joseph George Permanently Banned Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Los Angeles, California Posts: 265	Steve, I don't think that 1080/60i or 720/60p would make much difference. Visually they'd be just as sharp and you can transfer both easily to 30p, PAL, 24p. But 60p would give you slow motion at 30p and 24p, without any digital procesing.