JVC Displays GZ-MC500 3 CCD Hard Drive Everio Camcorder - Smallest Ever

At a dealer event in Prague today, JVC displayed a new hard drive based Everio camcorder, the GZ-MC500 (Review, Specs, $669.99), featuring 3 CCD technology. This new camcorder, the third out of JVC, is also the smallest 3 CCD camcorder ever. The camcorders of the Everio series record to Microdrive hard drive disks instead of tape based media.

According to online reports, the GZ-MC500 uses 3 CCDs and pixel shifting technology to produce 5 Megapixel still images. This camcorder includes a 10x optical zoom and records MPEG-2 video to cards, just like the GZ-MC100 and GZ-MC200 (Specs, $719) Everio camcorders, which are on the market currently.

Based on the photo, the camcorder appears very small. The LCD screen appears to be located in the back of the camcorder, just as it is positioned on the GZ-MC200. The camcorder includes a focus ring - a feature popular with prosumer high end shooters. Its black color supports the suggestion that the camcorder is aimed at the prosumer market.

Panasonic is the only other manufacturer to produce a 3 CCD consumer low end camcorder. Although he would not comment on the JVC directly, Rudy Vitti, Camcorder Product Manager at Panasonic stated in an email "The market for 3CCD camcorders is continuously rising and with this technology, consumers get professional video with a consumer camera."

The GZ-MC500 was supposed to be announced at the Photo Marketing Association later this month, and there is little information available about the camcorder at present. It appears that the camcorder will sell for 1,499 euros.

JVC US officials would not recognize the new product at this time, and had no comment on its availability in the US.

Picture from Heise.de.