JVC GY-HM100 in the house! « Videomaker Forums

jburkhart

We just got our GY-HM100 in from JVC today, and charging up the batteries right now. It will take a little while for our final review, but we'd be happy to post our impressions, and answer any qucik testable questions you have on this new camcorder from JVC.

John Burkhart
Editor-in-Chief
Videomaker

Posted 5 months ago # Login to Send PM
WhizKid21
Member

Hey John,

I'll take you up on that offer for testable questions. I'm editing on Adobe Premiere Pro CS4 on a PC platform. i wanted to ask if the native quicktime format would also work on a PC platform smoothly (unlike AVCHD, which is jittery without upshifting).

If not, does the MP4 format edit smoothly, or is it similarly subjected to AVCHD-like jitter?

Thanks!

Posted 5 months ago # Login to Send PM
fisherman
Member

Thanks John, eagerly awaiting your report on the questions from the other thread, thanks and have fun testing!!

Posted 5 months ago # Login to Send PM
robgrauert
Member

can I have it when you're done testing it?

Robert J. Grauert, Jr
http://www.robgrauert.com

Posted 5 months ago # Login to Send PM
jburkhart

Sorry all, I was out this morning for Jury Duty. Anywho when i got back to the office our very efficient managing editor had already handed the GY-HM100 off to our reviewer, who is out testing it now.I ask you, what's the point of being Editor-in-Chief if you're not first in line to play with all the new toys?

So until it returns I'll answer what questions I can, only having my hands on it for a few moments.

1) It does have a "built-in" microphone, in addition to the XLR inputs on the handle. So when the handle is removed you still have the on camera mic to use.

2) The quicktime codec is based on mpeg2, not AVCHD so it should edit quite smoothly on just about any system. It's long-GOP though which still means a fairly lengthy conform process at the end if you want to go back to mpeg2 for your master.

3) It's very solid feeling. It looks like a consumer camcorder but built very tough.

4) It's remarkably small, light and tiny.

I'll update you all as soon as it get's back to the office.

Posted 5 months ago # Login to Send PM
WhizKid21
Member

Thanks John. I agree with you. If you don't get first dibs on the new toys, then what the heck? lol

Looking forward to what else you have to add, as well as the full review.

--Andrew

Posted 5 months ago # Login to Send PM
fisherman
Member

so, whats the word??

Posted 5 months ago # Login to Send PM
fisherman
Member

OK, so apparently, it's not that good eh? :-)

Posted 5 months ago # Login to Send PM
VideoChick
Administrator

haha... our reviewer had some good things to say, I just got the report from him via email.. but he has yet to return the camera.. hum... keeping it over the weekend, perhaps? As SOON as it arrives, I will rush it into John's office for his first-look attack for youse-guys! k? Jennifer

Posted 5 months ago # Login to Send PM
jburkhart

OK. Just got it back and it's on my desk: Some observations-

1. The quicktime workflow is the easiest I've ever used. Just drag and drop off the cards, or you can even edit straight off the cards. No capturing or transcoding needed.

2. The camera also has an option to record an .mp4 file exactly like XDCAM EX, so you can use it with any of the same workflows, if you aren't on a mac, this is the mode you'd shoot in.

3. Just took some shots in full sunlight outside the office. The pictures are very nice, with a larger contrast range than I was expecting. The camera handles highlights very elegantly, but of course blows out white when you get too hot.

4. The LCD is a little small both in size and resolution, I wouldn't feel comfortable focusing on this without using the focus assist feature (peaking), it does have a nice option to keep the focus assist color, while making everything else black and white, which really helps you to see what's sharp in frame.

5. The viewfinder is not all that great, but I haven't seen a good viewfinder on a camcorder since they stopped using tubes.

6. The menu system makes sense and is very easy to navigate.

7. Using the small wheel at the back to adjust the iris feels strange to me, though I probably could get used to it over time.

8. Our reviewer said that low-light was a problem, but with 1/4" chips this is par for the course.

Â

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Gocycle
Member

Agree...I am NOT impressed with the lowlight capability of this camera.

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