JVC has always succeeded in bringing highly innovative camera ideas to the market, which - at least in Europe - often receive little recognition. Perhaps because JVC is mainly active in the broadcast market, which is known to be rather conservative towards new technologies.
The new GY-HC500 and GY HC550 1-inch camcorders are once again being advertised primarily as streaming camcorders that can output IP streams directly from the camera for IP network-based production and studio environments. A market in which JVC has been a successful player for some time now.
The JVC GY-HC500
The JVC GY-HC500/550 can handle H.264 in HD and UHD with up to 10 bit 4:2:2 recording in addition to the common broadcast HD-MPEG-2 formats. However, the additional support of ProRES 422HQ, 422 and 422 LT at 10 bits with up to 60p is especially remarkable. In FullHD even 120 fps should be possible.
The cameras offer two SDHC / SDXC memory slots, but for the higher ProRES data rates there is also the option of recording on M.2 SSDs. The information available so far is still somewhat vague, but we interpret the Japanese translation to mean that an additional M.2 slot has been installed in the camera. Since M.2 SSDs from the PC sector offer a fantastic ratio of fast memory and large available capacities at low prices, this is a great idea. Compared to comparable CFast memory (from about 70 cents/GB), M.2 SSDs currently only cost about one fifth (from 14 cents/GB). However, M.2 SSDs are actually only intended for internal installation in laptops and PCs, which is why JVC is launching its own caddies under the accessory name "KA-MC100". As I said, all under the reservation that we have understood the Japanese press release correctly.
A typical M.2 SSD does not offer a protective case
The other data of the Henkel men read quite well: The 1-inch sensor resolves with quite 4K-native 9 MPixels, whereby JVC promises a dynamic of up to 12 f-stops. These can also be logarithmically recorded using JVC's own J-Log curve. An HLG profile is also available.
There is a three-stage ND filter (OFF, 1/4, 1/16, 1/64) located behind a 20x zoom lens (F 2.8 to F 4.5, 20x zoom, f = 9.43 mm to 188.6 mm (converted to 35 mm: f = 28 mm to 560 mm). This lens has three lens rings and a zoom rocker.
Both cameras offer not only live streaming, FTP file transfer and camera remote control via IP, but also feedback video via IP and IFB audio return. The GY-HC550 also offers integrated wireless LAN antennas, integrated broadcast graphics overlays and Zixi protocol support for streaming applications.
Both cameras are expected to be available from January 2019. Prices have not yet been communicated.
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