JVC'S NEW GY-HM600 SERIES APPROVED BY THE EBU FOR BROADCAST

JVC Professional Europe Ltd. has announced that both the recently released GY-HM600 ProHD and network enabled GY-HM650 camcorders are now fully EBU approved for broadcast use.

These two new JVC ProHD cameras have been designed specifically to be in line with European Broadcasting Union (EBU) guidelines for broadcast use. The EBU recommendations are designed to provide a common set of performance standards for broadcast production across Europe. Cameras are independently tested and approved by the EBU.

JVC’s GY-HM600 series cameras (GY-HM600 and GY-HM650) are now fully approved for journalism use (“Tier 2J”). The cameras are also approved for general long form HD programming (“Tier 2L”), when used with a suitable external recording device supporting 50MB/s or greater recording.

The testing of the GY-HM600 and GY-HM650 cameras was carried out by Alan Roberts in accordance with the EBU guidelines.

Gustav Emrich, European Product Manager for JVC Professional said: “We are delighted that the GY-HM600 series has easily met the EBU standard requirements for broadcast use. We are pleased with the reports for these cameras which were designed to be innovative new tools for mobile news gathering in challenging situations. JVC believe that the 600 series cameras are a big step forward for both us and our customers in terms of ease of use and versatility, as well as features and functions, and EBU approval is a validation of this.”

The EBU test report for the GY-HM600E and GY-HM650E can be viewed at:

tech.ebu.ch/camtest/CamTestReports04

The full EBU recommendations for camera types can be seen at tech.ebu.ch/camtest

The GY-HM600 Series Camcorders

These dual mode ProHD camcorders feature an industry leading, wide angle 23x autofocus zoom lens, and deliver superior low-light performance (F12 at 2000 lux in Extended mode) in a comfortable, versatile form factor.

The lightweight cameras record HD or SD footage in multiple file formats, including native XDCAM EX™ (.MP4), Final Cut Pro™ (.MOV), and AVCHD, to non-proprietary SDHC or SDXC media cards.

Where fast recording in formats suitable for broadcasting is essential, the GY-HM650 ProHD handheld mobile news camera adds dual codecs to its extensive list of features. It can produce full HD files on one memory card, while simultaneously creating smaller, web-friendly files (1/4 HD or SD) on a second card. With built-in FTP client and network connectivity, the GY-HM650 delivers the footage back to a station without a microwave or satellite connection, ideal for breaking an important story as it happens.

With the ability to act as a secure web server built-in, the GY-HM650 also allows you to take full control of the camera – including zoom, Rec start/stop and metadata editing – via any browser-enabled device such as a tablet or smart phone.

The two user selectable shooting modes (Extended and Standard) allow the cameras to be adapted to different shooting environments, with Standard mode ideal for controlled environments with regulated lighting, and Extended mode optimised for situations where conditions might be variable and more challenging.

With a 1.22 MP colour viewfinder and colour 3.5-inch LCD, the GY-HM600 series models are versatile enough to handle everything from tripod-based shoots to run-and-gun situations. A second trigger and servo zoom control on the built-in handle make it easy to record while holding the cameras at low or high angles, while the Pre Rec (retro cache) feature continuously records and stores up to fifteen seconds of footage in cache memory to help prevent missed shots of breaking events.

Both cameras are equipped with three, 1/3-inch 12-bit CMOS sensors, each with 1920×1080 pixels. The built-in Fujinon HD lens features a wide focal range of 29mm-667mm (35mm equivalent) and has manual focus, zoom, and iris rings, along with three ND filters. Other features include auto-focus with face detection and an optical image stabilizer.

A built-in stereo microphone is ideal for capturing natural sound, but the GY-HM600 also includes two XLR inputs with phantom power and a shotgun mic holder, as well as a headphone jack and separate input for a wireless mic receiver. The GY-HM600 series is equipped with a LANC remote connector and includes a time-code synchronization input as well as HD-SDI and HDMI outputs, and is available for purchase from JVC Professional dealers now.

The GY-HM600E and GY-HM650E are now both available for order from authorised JVC Professional dealers