JVC’s ProHD* camcorder delivered across Europe
Interchangeable lenses, ergonomic design, SD and progressive HDVTM images are the major selling points
RAI Centre, Amsterdam, Holland, 9-13 September, 2005 – JVC is now shipping the 1/3-inch 3-CCD GY-HD100E camcorder across Europe. Literally thousands of orders have been taken and JVC are fulfilling the orders to meet customer demand.
ProHD products can be used in combination with existing equipment and accessories, facilitating a seamless link between the current SD formats and the HD formats of the future. The JVC GY-HD100E is ideal for users who want to phase in HD production and ProHD is today’s most affordable and most adaptable HD solution. The ability to record on Mini-DV tape has enabled this remarkable revolution to take place.
Physical qualities and benefits
The camcorder is provided with a standard detachable 16x servo Fujinon lens and is equipped with a standard 1/3-inch bayonet lens mount enabling the user to work with a wide variety of professional lenses. As a professional system, ProHD products naturally include timecode reading and writing ability. The convenient menu operation makes it easy to present time code at the beginning of a tape. The camera is lightweight enabling it to be either shoulder mounted or hand held. A range of film accessories is now available with the camcorder including lenses, stabilisers, light controls and battery adaptors.
Philip Johnston, an experienced Director and Cameraman from the Small Video Company Limited based in Scotland invested in the GY-HD100E in August, 2005 to make corporate and educational videos for a range of clients’ needs. Philip is currently working on a corporate video on Diabetes for the Scottish Executive. The production will be shot using the GY-HD100E in 16:9 standard definition mode for final output to DVD for distribution throughout Scotland. Philip explains why he chose the JVC camcorder, “I chose it for the size. It is a professional camera with a proper lens without all the hardware added on. I have been waiting for this camera to appear because it is just the right size and it is not too heavy. It has a manual lens which is necessary for SD production. Basically, it has all the right ingredients. A bonus is that it comes with more ingredients such as the ½-inch and wide-angle adaptors as an optional accessories. This is the first camera that I have seen that has two headphone outputs which a bonus for sound mixing. I can’t ask for a better camera to suit my needs.”
Selling factors and benefits
The camera uses the 720p HDV format where it can capture and record progressive high definition and standard definition images with full resolution. If necessary, these 720p (1,280 x 720) images can be converted into interlaced format (1,080i) without degradation. It captures images that match those available from today’s top HDTV displays including JVC’s new LCD monitors, rear-projection HDTV displays and DT-V monitors.
Capturing and recording data at the film frame rate of 24fps, the GY-HD100E offers extensive user customisation of settings like exposure, gamma, and detail. 24fps recordings can be easily transferred on to 16mm or 35 mm film if needed.
Dave Blackham, Head of Operations at Granada Bristol comments on the camcorder, “The GY-HD100E looks to be a good choice of compact camcorder where acquisition of progressive 720 HDV images required. It is also good for shooting both interlaced and progressive DV. The 1/3 bayonet lens mount allows the use of high quality optics and converters such as P+S Technik optical converter and looks set to produce pleasing images. In operation the camcorder is ergonomically designed and is easy to operate.”
It records using the broadcast industry standard MPEG-2 main profile at HL-14. Offering far greater efficiency than frame bound systems, ProHD records at data rates at or above commercial broadcast rates.
Recent advancements in non-linear editing have made it possible to edit ProHD on virtually all popular NLE systems. Direct digital transfer through IEEE 1394 ensures the quality is maintained throughout the process.
*ProHD
ProHD is a concept of JVC’s affordable high definition solution and its format HDV. From the outset all ProHD models have been designed strictly for professional use and JVC has implemented professional features in areas such as timecode and audio.
HDV and HDV logo are trademarks of Sony Corporation and Victor Company of Japan, Limited (JVC).
