JVC HD Camera Options

[Johnny Clark]

If those are your only contenders than get the hm700. The HD200 isn\’t aging well as you probably have seen throughout these threads.
The form factor rocks on both models.
The focus enhancements hard drive ruins the audio and adds a sick hiss when recording to QT format so m2t is manditory so in the end there is no native format from the hd200. Maybe others have had different experiences but things like blown FireWire ports and limited support from jvc really stink.
I vote hm700 from the two choices you gave.

[Phil Balsdon]

Double post. See my response on the Final Cut Pro forum.

https://forums.creativecow.net/thread/8/1055400#1055400

Cinematographer, Steadicam Operator, Final Cut Pro Post Production.
https://www.steadi-onfilms.com.au/

[Dan Magnafichi]

Thanks guys, has anyone else had the audio problems with the hard drive conversion files? I’m reletively new to all this so please excuse my ignorance but is the JVC DR-HD100 the same as the Focus Enhancements HD that Johnny mentioned and what is m2t?

[Johnny Clark]

Hey Dan,
m2t is a file format like QT is a file format. you can choose on the DRHD100 which format you want to record to. Since QT wrecks the audio you’re kind of stuck with the m2t option as it does not.
My QT audio experience with the DRHD100 was pitiful at best. There are lots of threads coving this here on the COW and elsewhere so be sure to know what you may be getting into before thinking its the be all end all solution.
I sent the drive to Focus 3 times thinking it was a flaw and they ended up pretty much telling me to deal with it… I bought it with intentions similar to yours and sold it never wanting another Focus product.

Then when the firewire port blew on the JVC camera I had no way to get the footage from the tapes so I had to send the camera to JVC and they took many weeks to even get back to me.

Like I said, others may have wonderful praises for this setup (hd200 and drhd100), I do not!

[Dan Magnafichi]

Thanks Johnny, I just spoke with the equipment dealer I’m buying from and he said they would not sell me the GY-HD200 bundled with the DR-HD100 because of other clients who’ve had issues with the Firestorm units. Looks like I’m leaning towards the HM700 now, but it’s a big leap for me to go completely tapeless.

[Byron Goggin]

Beware: A couple things related to the 700. I have won 13 Emmys for photojournalism and shoot for Discovery Channel, Nat Geo and PBS. Im not beating my chest, just giving cridentials. Here is some advice from the professional side.

Overall, I really like the camera, however it has some flaws. I have found that there are some recording issues with this camera. Most who test and use this camera, I assume, are only recording for a short time. I have experienced that if you record for any significant amount of time that the recording will eventually stop. I have tried different brands of recommended cards and still have the same issue. Not so cool when you are recording a one time only event and the camera stops recording. JVC reps have no answer at this point. They gave me a new camera and the new one is doing the same thing.

I love the idea of multiple record formats, that is why I purchased it. The problem comes with this: If you use the native quicktime format and record in any of the 1080I selections you have to deal with the Long GOP format. If you are unaware, this is a terrible format to edit in. A simple dissolve can take upwards of 30 seconds to render. More difficult transitions, or multiple layers of video is an even longer render process.

As most FCP users know editing in PRO Res 422 is the hot set up for most day to day projects. Unfortuneately, the formats that JVC provides does not allow you edit in PRO Res unless you go through an endless render process. Sony has a brilliant transcoder for XD cam and it works awesome! JVC needs to acknowledge the problem and make a similar software product. Also, you cannot use the log and transfer feature of the FCP which is a huge deal to most editors.

If you are a news shooter, or just want to string some cuts only stuff together this is a great camera, but if you are using this for professional needs that involves true post production, you may want to look at something else or wait for the 2nd generation.

Anybody want to buy a like new JVC 700? Let me know. I’ll give you a good price.

[Dan Magnafichi]

Thanks for your input Byron. Concerning the stopping recording issue, what is a “considerable amount of time”? 1 hour… 2 hours… or more?

Concerning “ProRes” editing, the newest literature says the 700 uses QuickTime as its native file format and that clips can be dragged directly into FCP “ready for editing – no file wrapping, no transcoding, no waiting.” Is ProRes a different file format? And is this only when shooting in 1080i? As far as the log and capture function, is it necessary if your files come into FCP as clips based on record start and stop times?

Sorry about all the questions but I’m an old “Tape” guy that is now just getting into HD and tapeless production and post.

[Mark Salloum]

Thanks for your feedback as I am very close to buying one of these 700 cameras. My two questions are this: First, how long into the recording time to you see the camera stop? Is it the same point (in time) every time? Next, we have edit bays with Edius on PC computers. Do you happen to know if we’ll be dealing with the same complications that FC users have? Thanks in advance for your response.

[Phil Balsdon]

When recording long takes using the JVC HD200 camera (or 100 versions) with a DR HD100 Firestore drive the files will be limited to 1.95Gb, however when this limit is reached a new file is created and no frames are lost. In post these files can be edited together with no lost frames and there will be a duplicate on the tape.

If the tape runs out the camera will continue to record to the DR HD100.

Cinematographer, Steadicam Operator, Final Cut Pro Post Production.
https://www.steadi-onfilms.com.au/

[Jon Leyse]

Hey guys,
Great discussion on the 700. I’ve been using one for 4 months now and love it. I switched from tape and so far haven’t missed it one bit. The image quality is great, the form factor is nice and the workflow has been a real plus. I’ve probably run over 1 TB of video through my SDHC cards.

I’ve not run into the camera stopping recording after a long period of time. I know I’ve recorded several sessions that were 1.5 hours long with no problems. I know some guys have had trouble with different SDHC cards. Apparently not all class 6 cards are the same. I’ve been using SanDisk and Transcend with no problems. I even did one shoot in over 100 degree heat in the direct Dallas sun with the rain slick on to keep the dust out. The camera was so hot I could barely touch it but it kept recording all day long. (The photographer’s camera quit due to the heat.)

As far as work flow goes, I just drag the files onto my hard drive and then directly into FCP. No log and capture needed for what I do, so it is great.

I did some testing and the 1280×720 60p at the Highest Quality looks much better than the 1080i formats. So I’ve switched to using this progressive format with great results. I’ve not needed to use any of the ProRes formats. The 1280×720 60p edits fine in FCP. The render times are normal and so are the exports. I’ve also edited on an older Mac Book Pro without any trouble.

There are a few things I would like to have (interval recording, 1/2″ CCD, another ND filter), but bang for the buck it is a great tool.

Jon

Jon Leyse
Crash 31, LLC
http://www.crash31.com