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New HD Camera Recorder from JVC to Offer Broadcasters Affordability and Versatility (10/5/2005)

JVC HD Camera Ideal for Electronic News Gathering, Long-Form Documentary and Feature Film Production

JVC PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTS COMPANY today announced a three-chip, high-definition/standard-definition (HD/SD) switchable electronic newsgathering/electronic filed production (ENG/EFP) style camcorder. The camcorder is the flagship product in JVC's ProHD line-up - a family of reasonably priced yet highly advanced HD equipment. It is the industry's first moderately priced, full-size, full function three-chip High Definition camcorder for HD production and HD newsgathering.

The GY-HD7000U utilizes three 2/3-inch CMOS imagers. The new full native HD resolution imaging chips produce higher image quality with far lower power consumption than conventional CCDs, and are easily adaptable to various scanning rates including 720p and 1080i. Previously, in this category, only high-end digital cinema cameras used CMOS sensors. The camera's advanced and unconventional technology only begins with the imaging chips, however.

The camera includes a built-in highly efficient MPEG-2 encoder capable of providing extremely high-quality, bandwidth-efficient recordings of the HD images. The GY-HD7000U captures both SD and HD recording, including HD at 24 frames progressive.

GY-HD7000U adopts HDV(tm) format, established by JVC, Sharp, Sony and Canon, for recording high quality pictures on DV tape in HD. This camcorder records 720p (24, 30, 60 fps) continuously up to 276 minutes on full size DV media, or up to 60 minutes on mini-DV media. In addition, it records 720p or 1080i directly to an optional Direct To Edit(tm) (DTE(tm)) HDD module. The workflow productivity gains of DTE(tm) recording are especially important in electronic newsgathering where time-to-air of edited material is critical.

"With JVC's affordable HD solution, most producers will find that shooting and editing in HD will be easier than with conventional standard definition systems," said Tim Tokita, product marketing manger for JVC. "With its ability to switch between standard and high definition formats, we expect this camcorder to be a hit with broadcast news organizations."

The camera's 24p capability will have special appeal with cinematographers. Previously, electronic cinematography cameras have been at the very high end of the price spectrum. JVC's affordable HD solution is expected to usher in a new era of mainstream digital cinematography.

JVC's HD innovations with non-proprietary, affordable HD acquisition, coupled with efficient data rates bring HD newsgathering, documentary and feature film production to a practical reality.

The GY-HD7000U is priced at $27,950 including lens. Final camera design will be charted by an end-user advisory board, with market evaluation deliveries estimated in late 2005 and full manufacture scheduled for April, 2006. Evaluation reservations are being accepted by JVC.

pro.jvc.com