JVC to Display 3 Chip CMOS HDV 24 Frames Progressive Scan Camcorder at NAB

by Robin Liss
Published on Apr 9, 2004 12:00 AM



According to official information from JVC, the company will be showing a 2/3 in. 3 chip CMOS high definition HDV camcorder at the National Association of Broadcasters annual convention in less than two weeks. Once again, JVC is pushing the affordable high definition barrier. The camcorder is also capable of recording HD video to a hard drive for flash media. In addition, sources close to JVC have told CamcorderInfo.com that the camcorder will also be capable of shooting 24 frames progressive scan video, a feature very popular with independent filmmakers.

''We will be previewing a 3 CCD ENG [Electronic News Gathering] EFP [Electronic Film Production] style camcorder at NAB [National Association of Broadcasters]. It will conform to the HDV format, plus it will have some professional enhancements by JVC. The camera portion will have three 2/3 in CMOS chips capable of 1920 x 1080 resolution,'' said Dave Walton, spokesman for JVC Professional Broadcast Division. Walton cautioned however that the specs for the recording portion are not being announced.

A source close to JVC expanded on Walton's 'enhancements' statement clarifying that the camcorder will include the ability to shoot 24 frames progressive scan video as well as the HDV specifications. The source also stated that the camcorder would be priced in the $20,000 price range. Although the source did not tell us which specific frame rates and resolutions of the HDV spec the camcorder would meet, they did say ''The CMOS chip allows us to scan at different rates, and different resolutions. I wonder whether or not Sony is using a CMOS chip,'' in reference to the Sony HDV camcorder previewed in March at CeBiT in Germany.

The source close to JVC also wanted to dispel rumors that JVC was announcing a sub $10,000 ENG camcorder. Stating ''Just an HD lens would cost at least $8,000. HD Lenses are not cheap.''

When asked what type of chip the Sony HDV camcorder will use, Tom DiNome, spokesperson for Sony Broadcast camcorder states that it would use CCDs. DiNome also told CamcorderInfo.com that the HDV prototype which was displayed at CeBiT in March will be on display at the NAB.

Walton also told CamcorderInfo.com that the new camcorder will be capable of recording to hard drives and flash media. ''As it stands HDV is really a tape format, and the world of high definition takes many different forms, including recording on tape and even on memory card. An important component of this camera that we're showing is the ability to record onto a hard disk. And that will be shown with the camera,'' he continued ''In addition to that we've developed plug in modules like the hard drives that have solid state memory on them. It's a solid state module that plugs in just like a hard drive.''

This new camcorder from JVC is likely to become a strong competitor to Panasonic's SDX900, which features 24 frames progressive scan video with 3 CCDs, however it does not record HD video. The interesting dynamic is that Panasonic and JVC are both owned by Matushita in Japan. In response to a question regarding JVC hurting sales of it's sister companies products, Walton stated ''In the length of time I've been with JVC we've always had a competitive relationship with Panasonic, and it's probably been good for the marketplace to have it that way.''

When questioned about many of the rumor web sites and posts in online message boards claiming to have information about JVC's NAB announcements, including one on CamcorderInfo.com's own JVC HDV Users Group Walton stated ''I can't confirm or deny the accuracy of that post or any post for that matter.''

JVC did not provide information on availability. We attempted to contact officials at Canon for this story however they did not get back to us by the time of publication.