By Mark J. Pescatore, June 9, 2004
A little more than a year ago, I wrote that a little camcorder from JVC was going to change the world (see "Dazzling debuts," May 2003). A bit arrogant on my part, sure, but just one NAB cycle later, my prediction is already coming true.
The camcorder is the JY-HD10U, and it's a significant milestone because it's the first low-cost HD camcorder. The last time I checked B&H Photo-Video, it was priced below $2,900. And yes, it shoots true HD footage on a mini-DV tape.
Over the past several months, I have traveled to six different cities teaching video professionals about HD in general and HDV in particular. If there's one thing I've learned from the people attending these seminars, it's that the industry is hungry for HD solutions. (Full disclosure: This was a paid gig that was sponsored by JVC.)
Randall Paris Dark, who has been working with HD for 18 years and is president and co-founder of HD Vision, spoke at the Los Angeles seminar last month. He said the world is going digital, widescreen, and high resolution - if you're not shooting in HD, your projects are basically "disposable."
Mind you, the government marketplace needs to keep his opinion in perspective. After all, Dark works in entertainment; Hollywood producers aren't in the business of shooting city commission meetings or training videos. But there is a definite move toward HD in the video industry as a whole, and HDV is certainly the most viable HD option for government organizations with limited budgets.
Industry Support
HDV is not an exclusive JVC concept, and it's gaining momentum in the industry. The format was jointly announced last year by JVC, Sony, Sharp, and Canon, and Sony showed off its prototype HDV camcorder at NAB2004.
Almost two dozen companies have also expressed support for the format. Cineform, for example, has Aspect HD, a plug-in for Adobe Premiere 6.5 and Pro, while HEURIS offers its Indie HD Toolkit, a Final Cut Pro HDV solution. And BOXX Technologies has introduced editing workstations specifically designed for HDV users.
Meanwhile, Sharp and Canon seem to be taking a wait-and-see approach before introducing their own HDV products
. Who knows - maybe Canon is just waiting to bring its HDV camcorder to market until after its supply of XL1s units is depleted. After all, who would spend $3,500 for an XL1s if they could get the added functionality of HD for a few hundred more?
And that's really my point about HDV. Forgive me for quoting JVC's new catch phrase, but this recording format truly offers affordable HD for everyone. Imagine the industry response if Canon announced an "XL1-HDV," especially if the company could keep it priced reasonably close to its established workhorse. Anytime, guys...
The JY-HD10U changed the world because it gave video professionals the ability to shoot high definition without breaking the bank. I'm not saying it performs as well as a top-of-the-line Sony HDCAM unit - it doesn't. If you really think you'll get the same performance from a one-chip, $3,000 camcorder that you will from a CineAlta that costs more than $100,000, I've got a bridge in Brooklyn I'd like to sell you. But the JY-HD10U does provide HD opportunities for more budget-conscious operations.
Around The Corner
While the HD10U established low-cost HD acquisition, what's coming in the next year has the potential to open the HD floodgates. JVC showcased a prototype ENG-style HDV camcorder at NAB2004. While specifications haven't been finalized, preliminary plans include three CMOS imagers, 24p, and even disk-based acquisition.
I'm not sure even JVC realizes the potential significance of an affordable ENG HDV camcorder. (Panasonic's DVCPROHD ENG camcorder is in the $60,000 ballpark.) HD news acquisition would no longer be an exclusive club for a select few broadcasters. Independent filmmakers, frustrated by the limitations of the HD10U, would have a field day. Government agencies that thought they'd never afford anything better than mini-DV could make a quantum leap in quality while maintaining a logical upgrade path and lower tape stock costs. Even educational institutions could make the jump.
Don't confuse the product with the format. The HD10U, while impressive on many levels, does not realize the full potential of HDV. With a growing number of editing solutions, as well as new acquisition options on the horizon, we're only at the beginning of the HDV revolution.
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