Content area
Full Text
Barely a decade ago the only 720/60p cameras in America were basically experiments in a laboratory and were anything but portable. VariCams were still several years into the future and 720p field recording was just a dream on the distant horizon. Today, the VariCam-the first 720p camcorder-is already old news and JVC's GYHD250 is the new kid on the 720p block. Priced at less than $11,000 with lens and weighing less than 10 lb. (without battery), it is as portable as it is affordable. It also takes 720/60p acquisition out of the lab and puts it within reach of thousands of independents, smaller market broadcasters and many more. Could HD wedding shoots be just around the corner?
FEATURES
At a glance, the JVC GY-HD250 is indistinguishable from the company's familiar HD100 and 110 camcorders, with their long frames, interchangeable pro lenses and other such features that define the family. However, unlike the others, this compact (9"x9.7"xl6") HD250 model is capable of functioning as a genlockable studio camera when assisted by the KAD250U studio adapter.
Among the new or updated features are 50p/60p encoding, a new cross-converter for 1080i live or recorded output, HV flip for image inversion with prime lenses, 14-bit A/D conversion, VariCam flagging, a new DSP for better picture accuracy, wideband analog front end for lower noise, better low-light performance and a sharper image. There's also genlock, timecode in and out, HD/SD-SDI, composite video input, a 6-pin remote connector and a studio package option.
The HD250 has a 230,000-pixel color viewfinder, plus a full-color flip-out LCD screen that slides to the left or right. The HD250 shares key audio functions with the HD100 and HD110, such as twin XLR inputs for line or microphone levels, 48V phantom power and independent user configuration of each input.
As for video formats, the HD250 supports 24p, 25p, 30p, 50p and 60p HDV recording, as well as 60p live output (analog 4:2:2). It can also generate VariCam flags in HD to facilitate motion effects in post. In the 720/60p mode, 12 frames are encoded into one GOP, with two extra flags inserted between frames. It can also record 480/60i DV in 4:3 or 16:9, while 24p DV can be shot as DV-24p with 2:3:2:3 pull-down or as...