Interview: Dave Walton, JVC
Shawn Lam and Dave Walton discuss the JVC GY-HM650 2.0, JVC's newly updated dual-card/dual-codec ProHD camcorder with built-in FTP and live-output capability and a 23:1 Fujinon lens.
GY-HM650 2.0 Basic Specs, Fujinon Zoom
Shawn Lam: What can you tell me about some of the basic specs on this camera?
Dave Walton: The GY-HM650 is a one-and-done handheld-style camcorder that records directly to SDHC solid state memory cards. It has two card slots, and you can record to both cars simultaneously or one and then relay to the other if it fills up. Much like a lot of our other products, it has a 23:1 Fujinon zoom lens, which has a very wide-angle 29mm capability and then zooms all the way in to 667mm. So it’s a great zoom lens for news gathering and for run-and-gun-type shooting.
It's a very good, long lens, and it makes it really easy to get shots that are quite a ways away. Traditionally, news photogs have preferred to have 2x extenders just for that reason. So you need a lens that can get you a long shot when you need it, but can provide good wide-angle capability because you're often in very tight quarters, trying to interview people in a crowded situation, and you need to be able to get back so you can get good shots. Just like at a trade show when it's as busy at the JVC booth is. You can't be too far away or people are walking in front of you.
EBU Certification for ENG
Shawn: In terms of performance, I heard a little report coming out of the EBU, the agency that does research for the BBC and certifies cameras. What can you tell me about this camera and how it did?
Dave: Well, the EBU certified this camera for ENG, for the market in the UK, which is actually quite impressive. We haven't had a similar study in the United States, but we know already that it is. We have a lot of broadcasters that have purchased these and are using them. So it's a validation of what we already knew.
Shawn: So if that was where all the features stopped, this would be a great camcorder.
Dave: And, in fact, if you stop there, you have the GY-HM600, which is a couple of thousand dollars less, and it performs equally well with the same lens and everything else.
Related Articles
In performance testing, the JVC GY-HM650 produced exceptionally sharp quality. It offers very good manual controls and outstanding auto-mode performance, and shoots very well-balanced pictures in a range of lighting conditions.
The Patriot League, a Division 1 conference with sponsored championship competition in 24 sports, has purchased 30 JVC GY-HM600 ProHD cameras as part of 10 portable video production systems to stream live coverage of sporting events from its member schools to its digital network, in partnership with Campus Insiders
JVC's GY-HM650 is a new three-chip CMOS camcorder with computer-like functionality that enables Internet connectivity and a second encoder that enables shooting and storing two different formats to SD card, or storing one format and transmitting live streaming video. Part 1 of this 2-part review details the mechanics of the online and dual-codec capabilities. In the second, we'll look at the GY-HM650 as a traditional camera and test quality and usability.
Shawn Lam interviews Matrox marketing manager Dan Maloney regarding the Streaming Media Innovation Award-winning MonarchHD, a new professional streaming and recording appliance.
Shawn Lam and Atomos' Jeremy Young discuss the Samurai Blade, Atomos' new field recorder that features an improved 16:9 preview screen, waveform functionality, and enhanced Canon 5D Mark III support.
Shawn Lam and Tal Tzuk of PetrolBags discuss Petrol's new Deca Airflow Camera Backpack (PC306) for cameras and camcorders up to the size of a Sony PMW-200, plus accessories and and lenses and a 17" laptop.
Shawn Lam and Al Mooney of Adobe discuss new features in Adobe Premiere Pro, including improved multicam and expanded GPU support, and new keyboard-driven editing enhancements.
Shawn Lam and Doug Jensen discuss two new models in Sony's PMW camcorder line (that previously brought you the popular EX1 and EX3), the PMW-160 and its larger stablemate the PMW-200, and discuss the cameras' new 4:2:2 codec, recording media, and noise-handling features.
Shawn Lam discusses the new ATEM Production Studio 4K and 6Gb SDI with Blackmagic Design's Stuart Ashton an NAB 2013.
In the first installment of Streaming Media's NAB 2013 Interviews, Shawn Lam and Jon Sagud discuss the Canon XA25, the new $2700 compact pro camcorder unveiled by Canon at this year's show.