JVC's GY-HM700 First Thoughts
IndependentFilm.com gets an exclusive first look before the official NAB launch.
Published Feb 11, 2009
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Today JVC has done what no other camera company has done before. A couple of things actually. Today JVC announced that in a special working arrangement with Apple and Final Cut Pro, their two new camcorders will shoot directly to .mov Final Cut Pro native editing files.
Over the past few years, for those of us who follow these things, have seen how the format wars have battled on since the awkward transition from the easy use of mini-DV camcorders to high definition shooting. Some things to consider here are the lens, the format, the hd spec, the form factor, and acquisition format, ie. mini-DV tapes.
It's been interesting to say the least. Sony gave us the VX1000, Canon gave us the GL-1 and XL1. Panasonic gave us the DVX100 and 24p capabilities on mini-DV tape, then Sony gave us the PD150. Apple gave us a professional editing software suite that we could run on our lap tops. Then with the advent of High Def a new round of confusing specs that didn't play very well together and our simplicity of DV was gone forever. And it left all of us wondering when the new round of HD 24p camcorders would be available. And it seamed like none of the camera companies wanted to take a stab at it because perhaps they felt that smaller inexpensive cameras would eat away at their 25,000 to 75,000 dollar cine alta and varicam cameras. Then JVC introduced the GY-HD100 720p 24p ProHD camcorder.
Sony's HDV format knocked on the doors of Apple asking "can you add our format to Final Cut Pro". Panasonic with their HD format asking Apple to add their spec to Final Cut Pro, and yes even JVC with their 720p ProHD HDV spec had a similar story.
Actually, Apple in one of their latest rounds of upgrades to Final Cut Pro made a really big deal about how in their workflow you could edit all of these formats together on the same timeline, including smaller sized DV files. Something that will still be very important in the coming years.
But what makes today so different is JVC's partnership with Apple, taking a reverse approach to the workflow by working directly with Apple to shoot natively, in camera, to Final Cut Pro's quick time. This time JVC approached Apple and asked, "what can we do on our end to be native to Final Cut Pro". (Technically JVC's new camcorders are shooting to Sony's rock solid XDCAM format wrapped in a native Final Cut Pro .mov file.) It's so simple it's mind blowing it took this long.
What this means is a seamless workflow solution with the number one editing solution Final Cut Pro.
The second revolutionary announcement is that these new JVC camcorders shoot to SDHC media cards. The tiny inexpensive cards that we have been using in our still cameras for a few years now. They are so inexpensive they are almost archivable. It makes one wonder what Panasonic will do with their P2 card based camcorders. Now that apple has removed the wide PCMCIA card slot from their laptops, and the price of P2 cards never really came down like the industry had hoped. Or at least not fast enough.
My first thoughts, since I got to play with the camcorder for a little bit in Central Park.
I have been a JVC HD100 shooter for a few years now. I owned my HD100 even before Final Cut Pro accepted the 24p camera spec. So I can speak with some authority on the new changes that have been introduced in the new GY-HM700.
- The GY-HM700 shoots directly to tiny SDHC media cards. So no tape drop outs.
- The camera will have a brand new Canon Lens standard that ships at about 20% wider than the current Fujinon lens. Canon has developed this lens just for the GY-HM700.
- The GY-HM700 has brand new technology implemented into the new view finder and flip out lcd panel which are also larger.
- There are also some new controls on the side that make it easier to access the professional switches.
- The small shoulder mount ENG format is basically still the same.
- And just to be clear, there is still an option to shoot in other formats if you are not using Final Cut Pro.
- The image quality was stunning and clear, even that much stronger than the GY-HD200 series.
- The GY-HM700 shoots to both 1080p or 720p.
- An introduction of a USB port and Firewire.
-And the footage looks amazing.
More information is expected to be announced at NAB later this year.
It will probably be inevitable that other camera companies will follow suit with what JVC has done. But at the end of the day JVC is currently the only company to do this and they will always have been the first.
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Comments
13 comment(s) on this page. Add your own comment below.
Hi Corey, thanks for your 1st input into the JVC HM700, as an EX-3 man myself I was thinking of jumping ship back to JVC (My 4th time in 20 years). In my opinion JVC should post files for us to download and see the "quality" in our own editing environments. DVINFO have done a similar "review" but rather than concentrate on low light issues and normal footage at various settings which is the number one burning issue they have decided to give us under & over cranking which in my professional opinion is an effect that should be used sparingly but is way overused by some so called "professionals" no names no pack-drill. Did you get a chance to record any footage and play with it ?
Hi HD Warrior,
I did see Tim Dashwood's review on DVINFO and I can safely say that after reading his article we are both on the same page.
I did get to play with the camera in Central Park. The new LCD panel is very different than the HD-200's and 100's. And so the view finder is a huge improvement as well.
Since there is new technology with the JVC 1/3 chips, I can tell you that what I saw was a very very awesome 1080p image.
I did not record any footage but really wish that I had. I can try to work on that so I can post it here on IndependentFilm.com.
That would be very useful. I will contact JVC on Friday as they are in London at Earls Court "showing off" the new camera. I told a young JVC sales man about a week ago that they should upload files on the net for us to play with...how simple is that these days and how much more pre sales would they now have if they had listened to me. I was also interested to see the Panasonic HPX300, but in my opinion it's Panasonics last ditch attempt with P2, it uses dated/expensive technology that know one wants since the EX-1, EX-3 and now JVC have brought out the SDHC camera... personally unless Panasonic re jig the prices of the P2 cards the 300 is dead in the water.
hi
does someone know the senstivity of the gy-hm700?
thank you.
Hi Izik,
Since this is a pre-production model and won't be released until around April 2009, I can only tell you that the performance of low light situations is superior to their previous HD100 and HD200 models. There is a new Canon lens that was specially designed for the GY-HM700 that also contributes to better performance.
-Corey
Can you add a Letus Extreme to the GY-HM700 to change the depth of field? The GY-HM700 has a detachable lens ?
Hi JP,
The GY-HM700 has the same lens mount system that the HD100 HD200 series has. Lens's designed for 1/3 inch sensors. However, the standard lens that ships with this new camera will be a Canon, not the original Fuji.
As time moves forward, and this camera is released, I am sure that you will hear how people are using the Letus with the GY-HM700.
But don't forget, JVC sells a PL lens mount adapter all of it's own. And the GY-HM700 has in-camera flip conversion. Since PL lenses will flip the image upside-down, the camera will flip it back upright.
I bought my HD100 in Feb '06 and was excited about it then. The new model is even more appetizing. Wish the undercrank and overcrank was available in all shooting modes, though (not just 720p). Having shot with an EX-1, that format is very attractive for editing, but the workflow can't beat directly to quicktime.
Im struggling to decide between the GY-HM700 and Ex1. The ex1 uses CMOS chips rather than the old CCD chips, its full HD as opposed to the blown up 720p of the JVC but its uses expensive SXS and has a fixed lens. Which is better?
Im struggling to decide between the GY-HM700 and Ex1. The ex1 uses CMOS chips rather than the old CCD chips, its full HD as opposed to the blown up 720p of the JVC but its uses expensive SXS and has a fixed lens. Which is better?
Dave, "old CCD" is in many ways better than "new CMOS" CMOS technology is actually quite old. Camera usage is relatively new however. You should be concerned about the affects of a "rolling shutter". Have a read around.
Peace
We just shot a film on Oct. 10th, 11th and 12th using the GY-HM700 with a P & S Technik Films lens adapter. Duall had to make a special plate to link up the camera with the adapter. Footage looks incredible. We will be using FCP to edit. One more scene to shoot on Nov.7th & 8th and we begin the editing process.
Actordude
I have been researching pro camcorders and prosumer camcorders for about 4 years though I have yet to purchase one. I am convinced that the 700U is the best pro camcorder on the market for my needs, which are many. It will be the one for me!
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