ENG and studio connected by ProHD

JVC has introduced a new range topper for its ProHD camcorder line at NAB. The GY-HM790 effectively takes the successful GY-HM700 and makes it more flexible and studio friendly. The HM790 can be fitted with multicore or fibre outputs for studio or OB use.

It has three 1/3-inch CCDs (so no rolling shutter effects), recording 1920x1080 at 50/60i, or 720p, or standard definition, recording using Sony's 35Mbps XDCAM codec or Final Cut-compatible .mov files to SDHC cards. An optional SxS recorder module allows simultaneous recording to SDHC and SxS cards.

An optional ASI output module provides a direct feed from the camera to a satellite uplink or microwave transmitter via BNC for live HD video. For ENG use, there is also an analogue SD pool feed input. It has a 4.3-inch LCD screen and a 1.2megapixel LCOS viewfinder, plus two XLR audio inputs, HD-SDI and FireWire ports

For studio or multi-camera use the HM790 has time code in/out and genlock. The studio modules connect directly to the camera without external cabling, so they can be used either with the studio sled or handheld JVC may bring out further modules. A remote camera control unit, remote shader panel, 8.4-inch studio viewfinder, and multi-input special effects generators, are also available. It should be available in the Summer, priced at under $12,000 including a Canon 14x zoom lens (it will also be available without the lens).

However, there will be a further version in the Autumn that might be very interesting. The GY-HM790LL is a low light version that will use JVC’s patented LoLux function to capture video in "extremely low light" – on some of its other cameras this is as low as 0.05 lux, which is hardly any light (1 lux performance is usually about the best you can get).

By David Fox