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JVC GY-HM700U Review

Aug 31, 2009 12:00 PM, By D.W. Leitner

JVC scales new heights of tapelessness.

The MR100G was developed originally with the HDV-based HD200 series in mind. At one point the MR100G instructions state, “When connecting and recording with a camcorder other than GY-HD200/GY-HD250, the recording may not work properly.” Oops. Another editing pass perhaps?

Not surprisingly, then, the MR100G connects to a cam¬corder using IEEE-1394 (FireWire), the standard HDV conduit. In the case of a HD200 series camcorder, it can be a short FireWire cable, or in the case of my review HM700UXT, an internal FireWire connection hidden from sight. (Much like Sony’s similarly named HVR-MRC1 solid-state recording module, which records HDV to CompactFlash also via FireWire.)

Here’s where things get tricky, however. On the one hand, having a dual SDHC and SxS recording capability makes the HM700 the first and only file-based camcorder that can record its own backup files simultaneously. On the other hand, it’s a kludge with several drawbacks.

The MR100G only records .MP4 files. No QuickTime. Conversely, the only time the HM700 can internally record .MP4 files is when an MR100G is attached. Otherwise the HM700 is limited to QuickTime files. If you’re into .MP4 files, you’re a happy camper. If you’re into Final Cut Pro ease of transfer, you’re going to be mildly miffed. You can’t record simultaneous QT backups of QT files.

At least you can have MP4 back-ups of your QT files (or vice versa, depending upon which is your backup). But if you also want timecode to match, well, you must be exceedingly careful in setting up the MR100G. The FireWire bus sends only start/stop signals, MPEG2 video, and timecode—that’s it. As a standalone recorder, the MR100G doesn’t otherwise communicate with the HM700. It doesn’t know which camera resolution—1920x1080, 1440x1080, 1280x720—the HM700 is capturing unless you specifically program this information into it. Nor does it know frame rate. And if, in the heat of battle, these two bits of data are overlooked and don’t match those of the camera, the MR100G won’t record anything.

If you don’t select external (EXT) in setting the MR100G’s timecode source—yes, the MR100G boasts an internal timecode generator—it will record its own timecode, which will bear little relationship to that of the camera. In a similar vein, see how close you can get the MR100G’s independent date/time settings to those of the camera. In attempting this, perhaps it’s a good thing the MR100G has a “Cross-Shaped Button” just like the HM700, minus the glowing ring, to facilitate your manual data entry.

If you’re thinking of converting the SxS slot to SDHC using SDHC-to-ExpressCard/34 adapters from Hoodman or eFilm, forget about it. The MR100G doesn’t support the USB bus needed to enable this workaround. I found myself instead fantasizing about someday being able to dual-record to SDHC using the two existing slots. Why not? It would function like a RAID 1, mirroring the same data to both cards. Again, why not?

As in the case of the compact HM100, I viewed my QuickTime files directly from the HM700 (connected by USB 2.0) on my Mac’s Desktop using the Browser’s little preview window. I also dragged them directly into Final Cut Pro 7’s Browser and dropped them into a timeline in the time it took to write this sentence. (Not wishing to rely on the HM700 as a scratch drive, I would ordinarily copy them first, of course.) I transferred .MP4 files using Sony’s XDCAM Transfer (File > Import > Sony XDCAM). No problems. For the record, the HM700 comes with JVC’s own ProHD Log and Transfer Plug-in for Final Cut Pro, which I suspect is much the same thing.

For some reason—CCDs? screaming-fast DSPs?—the HM700 uses 23W of power compared to 20W for its predecessor, the HD250, or, by comparison, 7W for Sony’s tape-based Z7. This is the reason a sizable Anton Bauer minibrick Dionic battery is required in the first place. One consequence of which is weight. Another is heat. The bottom front of the HM700UXT and the bottom rear—especially the base of the MR100G—grow noticeably hot to the touch over time. You’re going to need a handful of Dionics to shoot for any length of time.

Because of the HM700UXT’s long, slender shape—at 23in., it’s 10in. longer than Sony’s Z7—I would give serious thought to breaking down an HM700 for traveling. In the days of 16mm, we rarely carried an Arri SR or Aaton in a case with a long zoom attached. The thinking then was that if the case were dropped, inertial forces upon impact would torque the lens and possibly wrench the camera’s lens mount. At least, that’s what we feared. As a result, we always traveled with camera and lenses broken down, which made for smaller, more compact cases. I would suggest the same thing for the HM700. Unless you prefer big, impressive-looking shipping cases checked as expensive baggage.

Lastly, I wish to compliment JVC on its clear, helpful, remarkably well-designed website. Everything you would need to know about JVC camcorders is there. Exemplary.

The website is where you’ll find PDFs of user manuals to download. And you’re going to need them. For some reason, JVC doesn’t believe in indexes at the end of its thick, detailed paper manuals. Good thing PDFs are easily searched.

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bottomline

Company: JVC
pro.jvc.com
Product: JVC GY-HM700U
Assets: File-based recording to cheap SDHC cards using Sony XDCAM EX formats; choice of file type, either Apple QuickTime for direct drag-and-drop into Final Cut Pro or MPEG-4 when using optional KA-MR100G memory recorder for SxS cards; new LCoS color viewfinder; huge 4.3in. LCD panel; HD/SD-SDI output with embedded audio and timecode; 6-pin DIN connector for remote control; image inversion for use with lens adapters; exceptionally well-organized menus; can set timecode without entering menus; dual-zone adjustable zebra patterns; new professional 14X Canon lens supplied as standard; solidly built.
Caveats: Timecode in/out and genlock are missing; no autofocus and no image stabilization beyond your shoulder; KA-MR100G can be tricky to work with.
Price: $8,995

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