November 12, 2014

JVC's GY-HM200 + GY-HM170 4Kcam compact UHD camcorders

JVC Professional has launched its new 4Kcam (Ultra HD) product line, including two new large sensor cameras (the GY-LS300 and GW-SP100 - dealt with elsewhere), and two smaller models: the GY-HM200, which includes HD streaming and an SDI output; and the compact GY-HM170. All four should arrive early in 2015.

The GY-HM200 (pictured above) and GY-HM170 are essentially the same, but the HM200 will be the one to choose if you need to deliver breaking stories for broadcast or the web via WiFi, internet or mobile (3G or 4G) connections, or if you are working with other (SDI-based) broadcast equipment.


GY-HM170 compact camcorder

The entry-level JVC GY-HM170 offers “professional control layout” and comprehensive video profile settings. It records 150Mbps Ultra HD (3840x2160 resolution at 25p for 50Hz countries or 29.97p or 23.98p for 60Hz regions, rather than true 4K, the cinema format, which would be 4096x2160) as H.264 files.

It can also record 4:2:2 HD (in H.264 at up to 50Mbps or AVCHD at up to 28Mbps) or SD (AVCHD) video in a variety of resolutions and frame rates (24p to 60p). It has dual SDHC/SDXC slots for simultaneous (HD/SD or HD/Proxy), backup or continuous recording, and requires: an SDXC (UHS-I Speed Class3) card for UHD; a Class10 card for 50Mbps HD; a Class6 card for .mov H.264 files; and a Class4 for AVCHD.

It uses a single 1/2.3-inch back side illuminated CMOS image sensor with 12.76 million pixels (9.03MP active)

Other features include: an integrated 12x zoom lens with optical image stabiliser and two ND filters (1/4, 1/16); a built-in stereo microphone and 3.5mm audio input; wired remote control support; 9 user-assignable button functions; and live 4K UHD output via its HDMI port.

The F1.2 (wide) to F3.5 (tele) lens goes from 29.5mm to 354mm (35mm equivalent). For use in HD, there is also a dynamic zoom that combines the optical zoom with pixel mapping to create a seamless and lossless 24x zoom.

Both cameras also have a 3.5-inch colour LCD display (920K pixel) and 0.24-inch colour viewfinder (1.56M pixel), both with smart focus assist function.

The GY-HM170 comes with a BN-VF823U 7.2v battery and 12v AC adapter, and has a power consumption of about 8.1W (with VF in 4K REC mode, default setting). It weighs about 1.11kg (including battery), and measures: 153mm (W) x 112mm (H) x 299mm (D).

GY-HM200 live streaming camcorder

The JVC GY-HM200 adds an SDI output (one BNC port), plus a USB Host (Network) connection, as well as the Device (mass storage) USB port the HM170 has. This means it can support plug-in 3G/4G cellular modems, WiFi and LAN adapters for live streaming (although not at 4K), FTP file uploads, and remote control/remote viewing/metadata editing. As the HD-SDI output is 3G (3Gbps) only, the 4K output is only via HDMI.

It is JVC’s most affordable streaming camcorder and can stream instantly to Ustream or other destinations. The live video streaming uses the RTMP, MPEG2-TS/UDP, MPEG2-TS/TCP, RTSP/RTP and Zixi protocols, at a bitrate of between 0.2Mbps and 8Mbps, at a resolution of 1920x1080, 1280x720, 720x480 or 480x270.

JVC’s dual-codec Advanced Streaming Technology is compatible with Ustream, Zixi servers, the Wowza Streaming Engine, and hardware decoders. Zixi’s Advanced Streaming Technology provides content-aware error correction and bandwidth shaping, while the camcorder offers real-time feedback of signal and streaming status in the viewfinder.

The HM200 also adds two mic/line switchable XLR audio inputs with 48v phantom power in the integrated handle, which has a hot shoe and dedicated microphone mount.

It comes with the handle unit and an SSL-JVC50 7.4v battery (its power consumption is 8.3W with VF and LCD monitor), plus AC adapter. It weighs about 1.55kg (including battery), and measures: 135mm (W) x 190mm (H) x 263mm (D).

By David Fox

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