Well, I can't say I've tried it....I don't even think that cam has been released yet, but the 4b Vegas plug-in will allow you to import a wide variety of HD formats. One thing about that camera though -it only has 1 CCD and I don't think it does very well in low light. I look forward to seeing what's next though.

Hi,

I think rextilleon is probably right. It looks like it is a JVC response to the
DVX100...

http://sonicfoundry.com/forums/ShowMessage.asp?MessageID=178635&Replies=6&Page=14

I've bought some sample footage from the camera into V40.b and done some work on it and rendered it back out at 720 HD 24p. Unfortunately the subject matter hardly shows it off that well. It is only a single chip CCD but I believe the new encoder chip in it is very impressive.

Certainly I don't think Sony are going to loose sales of their HD cameras to it but as a poor mans HD camera it might have its uses and it can also shoot plain DV in 16:9 at what would seem a reasonable price.

Beyond that as the only way to play out the footage is in the camera it certainly will have its limitations.

Rextilleon said:

* I dont think it will work---the camera comes with JVC
* proprietary software that can hardly be called a full-
* fledged NLE---(I dont even think it does transitions)

Based on what I've read, most people will only use the JVC software to capture and/or print to tape. You can use your favourite NLE to do the actual editing (assuming it supports the JVC's higher resolution, as Vegas now does).

* The camera itself is still shrouded in mystery (it still
* isn't available)

Well, I dunno about "shrouded in mystery"... :-) Here's a "first look" review that's pretty detailed:

http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/jvc_grhd1_fi_camcorder_review.htm

It includes six still image grabs from footage taken with the camera. The images are pretty amazing when you consider the proposed cost of the camera. They definetely have a one-chip look to them, but to be fair they seem to have been shot out of a window at a trade show - no lighting or tweaking at all. So who knows, with a bit of effort the camera could produce great results.

* but from some NAB attendees told me,
* it is much to do about nothing---a gimmick item for people
* with cash to burn who want to see their birthdays and
* Little League games on their HD sets.

That's a little harsh! :-) Sure, there are compromises in the camera; such as using only a single chip; using MPEG2 as the shooting/editing format (I've always seen MPEG2 as a delivery format, not for acquisition or editing); and using the not-quite-full-HD-resolution. The camera "only" shoots in 1280x720 (progressive), which is definetely smaller than what most people think of when they think HD - 1920x1080 (well, that's what *I* think of when I think HD for feature films). But 1280x720 still beats PAL and NTSC! :-)

Come to think of it, I've seen standard definition PAL DigiBeta footage (720x576) printed to 35mm film for a low-budget feature film (saw it at a film festival) and it actually looked quite good - it took me several minutes into the film to spot it (great cinematography). And judging from the audience response to my questions to the filmmakers after the film, most of them were unaware they were watching PAL printed to 35mm - which makes me think that the JVC's 1280x720 will look quite good if printed to film using one of the more modern film scanners. For example, this frame printed to 35mm would look quite good in most medium-sized cinemas:

http://www.camcorderinfo.com/images/articles/jvc_hd_scr.jpg

Compare the size of that image to your PAL or NTSC Vegas Preview screen. :-) One advantage of using an HD camcorder and printing the results to film is that you can go nuts with your "optical effects" (transitions, compositing, colour changes, titling, etc) and they won't cost you a penny extra as they will be done in your NLE. But if you're shooting for delivery only on DVD or VHS then sure, these new breed of HD camcorders are probably overkill. For now.

Will I rush out and buy one of these JVC HD camcorders? Probably not - I've been burnt too many times in the past by being an early adopter of new technology, though time will tell if I can resist it. On the other hand, I'm REALLY interested in what other manufacturers bring out in response to this camera, particularly those companies that don't currently have a broadcast camera range and hence don't have to worry about "competing" with themselves - I imagine Canon and Samsung are working on HD camcorders, at least I hope they are! :-)

Skev

filmy:

missing 'www', fixed link to related thread:

http://www.sonicfoundry.com/forums/ShowMessage.asp?MessageID=178635&Replies=6&Page=14

///d@