Bit rate will affect data transfer to and from the hard drives but DVCPRO will be much easier to decode for a processor than Mpeg2 (XDCAM.)

Well I beg to differ about 30p being better than 24p. 30p is great for HD 720p broadcast or 1080i cross conversion broadcast, but fairly awful for downconversion to DVD or for international sales (Pal). NTSC DVD players decode 24p and 60i. 30p comes out as the worst of both formats rammed together in a train wreck. All the static straight lines of buildings and windows looking instead like venetian blinds buzzing in the wind at the lead edge of a hurricane.

I find it very frustrating that B & H already has the GY-HM100U listed on their web site at $3495 but nothing on the obviously much more anticipated GY-HM700U.

B & H Photo - JVC GY-HM100U - $3495

I called them today to see if I could get an answer as to when they would have it listed on their site and was told hopefully by April. Their web site states the GY-HM100U has an approx arrival of April. I wonder if the delivery of these new cameras is being pushed back to April instead of the original March date? Everything I've been reading on these cameras says March. Heck, March is only 10 days away! I hope we don't have to wait until April or later to see this camera in stores.

today
 

I've seen today a GY-HM100 sample in JVC Italy in Milan.
The camera is small, but has all described functions as in pdf on web site.
i can confirm that it will arrive after HM700, even if HM700 hasn't up today a defined price.

i've recorded something in 720/50p and 1080/50i.
i hope i can see these files soon.

I hate to beat a dead horse but low light perfromance is pretty much key to what I do. Has anyone played enough with this camera to see how it performs against they current GY-HD100? and how the image quality is in comparison? Is it considered a step down from a GY-HD100? or up?

I'm assuming your not talking about the HM100 and instead referring to the HM700 right?

The HM100 is in a different category than the HD100.
HM700 is a huge step up from the HD100.

no I meant the 100, I was just wondering. I know it only has 1/4 inch chips but they have made some advancments in chips so I was wondering how they compared. I thought they were in different classes at first but if you look at a GY-HD100 without the big lens its not that much different than a GY-HM100. The HM100 records in a higher quality format over the GY-HD100 too. You cant really compare the GY-HM700 to a GY-HD100 its a $4,000 camera vs a $7000. The HM100 is the GY-HD100s price range.

No point in doing that though, because without the lens the HD100 is useless. It's more accurate to say that the HD100 & HD200 series cameras are very similar in size and shape to the HM700.

It depends entirely on the configuration. An HD110 or HD200 with the Fuji 17x lens is $7200, roughly the same price as the HM700.

The proper comparison is obviously between the HD series and the HM700 since they are similar in size, weight, form factor (interchangeable lenses, etc.).

low light in HM100
 

i've seen a single file with lolux recorded by HM100.
i can't say if it's better of the HD100 files, but new chips on HM100 should be able to give a real improvement even with 1/4" size.
Another question (imho) is how much Full auto on HM100 is a good solution to get best results?
i felt you can reach the best only using manual settings.

I guess I was trying to point out the marketing side of it and what camera is replacing what camera. From where I sit it looks like the GY-HM100 is replacing the GY-HD100(110) and the GY-HM700 is replacing the GY-HD200(250) in a price point anyway. Thats why im curious to see if the HD100 is comparable to the GY-HD100 in specs.

Well, not quite REPLACING. The HM700 doesn't do Standard Def. I'm holding onto my 200's for the sole purposes of instant archiving to tape and the ability to shoot SD and hand tape over to clients OR for multicamera live switched applications where SD is required.

The HM series does not "replace" the HD series. The HD series isn't going away just yet. The HM series is an expansion of the ProHD product line.

Chris,

I dont know if this has been answered before, forgive me if it was, but did you and Tim get to test the hm700 in dark or low light conditions?


Ted

That's a question for Tim (I held it briefly while it was powered on in a low-light restaurant, but I didn't record anything). Tim had more hands-on time with it than I did.

Tim, I just downloaded a sample in xdcam 1080/60i and G5 handles it all right.