<!-- Rating:</B> 4.5<img src="http://www.camcorderinfo.com/images/icons/star.gif" width=22 height=18><img src="http://www.camcorderinfo.com/images/icons/star.gif" width=22 height=18><img src="http://www.camcorderinfo.com/images/icons/star.gif" width=22 height=18><img src="http://www.camcorderinfo.com/images/icons/star.gif" width=22 height=18><img src="http://www.camcorderinfo.com/images/icons/half_star.gif" width=12 height=18><BR> --><BR>Wonder why no any Camera integrates with 3CCD ? inteads of 1 with 4,5, 6.. Mega pixels.

<!-- Rating:</B> 5<img src="http://www.camcorderinfo.com/images/icons/star.gif" width=22 height=18><img src="http://www.camcorderinfo.com/images/icons/star.gif" width=22 height=18><img src="http://www.camcorderinfo.com/images/icons/star.gif" width=22 height=18><img src="http://www.camcorderinfo.com/images/icons/star.gif" width=22 height=18><img src="http://www.camcorderinfo.com/images/icons/star.gif" width=22 height=18><BR> --><BR>This was an excellent review. One of the best I have seen.

IMHO this is the biggest development in video for the masses since DV. I have already pre-ordered.

The review says "Adding to the flexibility, material recorded either in DV or HD format can be downconverted or upconverted as necessary for whatever playback device is currently attached." I'm not clear on how this works. If you shoot HD, on playback will the camcorder output NTSC? How? Via composite video out? S-video out? Component? Firewire stream?

Is there some way to get an output from this thing WITH TIMECODE (I assume it has timecode... does it?) in a form that can be captured and edited with standard NLEs (esp. FCP)?

That is, you shoot in HD 720p. You capture to your NLE in letterboxed NTSC, 480i. Edit your project yielding a video workprint. If the result is good and someone coughs up some $$, you use the EDL to go back, transfer the HD image to filmstock, and conform the film based on your workprint. This would be a good working path for low/no-budget filmmaking. So can this be done? (or does it just make too much sense) Lorin? Anyone?

For all you doubters out there....

Lemme ask you this, the best comparison you could make between the JVC HD1 and comparably priced 3 chippers like the vx2000, GL2, and ag dvx100, is to watch their content side by side on a TV. Which video produced do you think would immediately stand out the most?

First off, the differences in color saturation are extremely subtle. It takes a pretty trained eye to quickly differentiate the three chippers and the isolated 1 chipper by color alone. Many of the differences in nuances of color are both subjective and slight. It usually requires multiple shots in different lighting situations, familiarity with all the cameras, as well as a bit of practice before being able separate these videos consistently on a regular TV.

However, when viewed on HDTV's, its flat out obvious to anyone which video contains the most detail, sharpest picture, and greatest resolution. There is absolutely no contest. The most stunning images comes from the JVC HD1. It's got a WOW factor that none of the other cameras can come close to.

Many people will aviod this camera because they will claim that better things will come in the future. Yes this is true. Eventually HD 3chippers will come, satisfying the pretentions of those these cameras are marketed towards. And yes, maybe these cameras will have better low light performance, and slight improvements in exposure latitude and color saturation.

But to tell you the truth, I don't believe it's really fair to compare these latest 3 chipper DV products with the JVC. DV has now had over 10 years to refine it's format to the current crop of prosumer 3 chippers. In fact it's so refined its pretty much run it's course towards extinction.

The HD1 is the first of its kind. I admit its a bit rough around the edges right now compared to what the format is capable of after a few rounds of improvements. Having experience with all of these cameras, I believe the biggest disadvantage of the JVC is that it is not as flexible as the other cameras. It is capable of producing superior images, heads and tails above the others, but also if not handled right, can make some nauseating crap. It's greatest advantage is I believe also it's downfall in the hands of amatures. When dealing with more pixels and a more detailed image, novice errors like too much hand shake, inappropriate panning and zooming, will make people dizzy beyond belief when viewed on large screen with all that resolution. Although this applies to regular DV as well, anyone that has seen bad video on the HD1 will know exactly what I mean. Maybe better image stabilization from larger ccd's in the future can solve this.

However, put the HD1 on a tripod, and compose some nice shots in good light. You will not be disappointed. It has 30p which produces a nice filmlike quality, has really fine color (I still don't understand why so many people have already blown off the JVC after learning it was one chip... without even seeing the video first- it's kind of funny actually), and brings that incredible realism and three dimensional depth that only an HD image can bring.

Is it unfair to compare the refined DV 3 Chippers to the soon to be father of all consumer HD cams. You bet it is. Why buy the old and soon to be extinct when the next generation is staring you in the face?

I got mine for $2700, and at that price point (sure to drop further soon), is there really a contest?

Hi there,

Thanks for the review, thought you'd like to know that the manual for the camera and software is available online, as well as a brochure and help file. Here's the link:

http://www.jvc.com/promotions/grhd1/pdf/download.html

The next best thing to checking out the camera physically is reading the manual I guess! It won't tell you what the images look like, but it should answer most questions about features etc. I'm downloading it now...


Skevos Mavros
mavart@mavart.com
http://www.mavart.com

I agree with the previous post. As a new owner of the JVC HD10
and an experienced camera operator I can say for sure only some one who has not seen images from this machine would dismiss it or compare it against 3-CCD DV cameras. I also own a pair of JVC GY-DV500s that I use for corporate TV work in Orlando and this thig smokes them in the resolution department. Anyone having a good background in photography could make this baby sing. And any one with mush for brains will be brainwashed by the marketing campaign next year that states 4 BOBs are better than 3 CCDs now and they will all buy the cameras with 4 BOBs.

Before getting too excited about this machine, I would like to be sure that it does not have the same jam prone tape loading/playing mechanism that negatively affetcs the reliability of most other JVC DV camcorders......... This remark comes from personal experience with having two JVC DV camcorders becoming useless because of jamming just after one year of moderate use......

Could someone send me sample HD 720p video from this camcoder (3-5 sec)?

Please send to forum @ mezenin.com

In a comparison strictly in DV -- 480p for this camcorder of course -- how does it compare to the 3 CCD GS400 for color, and resolution?

Thanks,
Norm

I bought this camcorder on September 28, 2003 when it was still fairly new on the market and more expensive than it is now. By July 2004 both the LCD screen and the viewfinder just went black. No image but I was still able to record audio. I reported it to JVC. They told me I had to send it in for repair, which I did. It seems that this was a common problem. They didn't ask too many questions. The warranty had already expired so I had to pay a couple hundred dollars. Six months later, the same problem again. I called JVC again and told them the problem. The technician who attended to me suggested that I turn it off and disconnect all power for about an hour and then try again because "that usually works." Now what kind of advice is that? I need this camera to shoot footage of events. What am I supposed to do each time this happens? Turn it off for an hour and ask the event organisers to postpone their events for an hour? Anyway, even that super solution didn't work, so I called again and they said I had to send it in for repair again. So I asked, would I have to be sending this camera in to you every six months? "No," she responded but "thank you for calling JVC."
The words I would like to use to describe this camera and JVC cannot be expressed here but do not buy this camera!!! For the short period of time that it did work, it was great, but I will never buy this or any other JVC product ever again.

I thought about fixing it and then selling it used but then my conscience wouldn't let me pass this problem on to someone else. So I decided to write this review instead.