JVC Professional Products Company, a division of JVC Americas Corp., today announced the world’s first handheld 4K camcorder, the GY-HMQ10, is now shipping. Powered by JVC’s Falconbrid large-scale integration (LSI) chip for high-speed signal processing and a 1/2-inch CMOS imager with 8.3 million active pixels, it captures, records, and plays video images in real time at four times the resolution of high definition television (3840×2160) at 24p, 50p, or 60p.
In addition to 4K imaging, the GY-HMQ10 also captures and records 1080i or 1080/60p full HD in a format compatible with most editing systems, with extraordinary detail provided by its 8.3 megapixel imager and superior built-in F2.8 10x zoom lens with optical image stabilizer. Plus, an HD image can be cropped from an 4K frame in real time or in post production using the camera’s 3.5-inch touch panel LCD display.
“Even if the finished product is delivered in today’s HD resolution, 4K acquisition offers a number of technical and artistic advantages over HD acquisition,” said Edgar Shane, general manager of engineering. “We are at the beginning of end-to-end 4K production, and we have only started to scratch the surface of potential applications of the GY-HMQ10. It is truly a breakthrough product at a breakthrough price.”
JVC’s exclusive processing technology takes raw image data from the camera’s CMOS device and dematrixes (deBayers) it in real time. Unlike many high end 4K cameras, the GY-HMQ10 can output 4K images to a monitor or projection system in real time with virtually no latency, which makes it useful in a variety of applications. For example, the GY-HMQ10 can be used to feed four large 1080p flat screen monitors in a quad configuration (via four HDMI terminals) to create a large video wall presentation during a live event. Plus, with its built-in cropping feature, the GY-HMQ10 also has potential news, sports, and surveillance applications.
Using MPEG-4 technology and a variable bit rate H.264 codec operating at up to 144 Mbps, the GY-HMQ10 records up to two hours of 4K video to economical SDHC or SDXC memory cards. Similar in size to JVC’s popular GY-HM150 ProHD handheld camcorder, the GY-HMQ10 features JVC’s patented Focus Assist, as well as manual and auto control of focus, iris, gain, shutter, gamma, color matrix, and white balance. In addition to its flip-out LCD monitor, it also includes a color LCOS viewfinder and a new, intuitive user interface.
For audio, the GY-HMQ10 is equipped with manual level controls and offers audio metering in the LCD and viewfinder displays. A microphone holder and two balanced XLR connectors with phantom power are located on the handle. The camera is also equipped with a built-in stereo mic for ambient sound pickup.
The GY-HMQ10 has a suggested list price of $5,550.
ABOUT JVC PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTS COMPANY
Headquartered in Wayne, New Jersey, JVC Professional Products Company is a division of JVC Americas Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of JVC KENWOOD Corporation. JVC is a leading manufacturer and distributor of broadcast and professional video and audio equipment, security products including IP network cameras and recorders, premium front projection systems for home theater use, and projection displays and optics used in aviation simulators. The JVC Technology Center provides advanced technology in support of major JVC business alliances. For further product information, visit JVC Professional’s Web site at http://pro.jvc.com or call (800) 582-5825.