JVC Still Has No Idea What Video Professionals Want

Cameras
Posted by Admin on 13, June 2013 with 5 Comments
Twitt

JVC announced a new 4K camera today, the JY-HMQ30. It’s expected to be about $18,000 and should not be bought by anyone. It shoots 4K cut into 4 quadrants onto 4 SD cards! WHY WOULD YOU THINK THAT IS A GOOD IDEA?!

You can check these links for all the ‘features‘ but here are the first 10 reasons I could think of not to buy it.

1. Records 4K H.264, its everyone’s favorite flavor of WTF.
2. No built-in NDs. Not really a deal breaker for a true cinema camera, but this is not that.
3. It’s $18,000 and shoots H.264!!! Go home JVC, you’re drunk.
4. Mini-HDMI out ONLY, 4 of them. I’m punching babies.
5. Nikon mount. No PL or EF lens is going on this bad boy.
6. Low Res LCD. Comparable to FS700 or FS100 display… which everyone hates and is like getting critical focus through a garbage bag.
7. This SD card only contains the top right 1080p quadrant and could fail.
8. This SD card only contains the top left 1080p quadrant and could fail.
9. This SD card only contains the bottom right 1080p quadrant and could fail.
10. This SD card only contains the bottom left 1080p quadrant and could fail.

Admin
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Jared Abrams is a cinematographer based in Hollywood, California. After many years as a professional camera assistant he switched over to still photography. About two years ago a new Canon camera changed the way the world sees both motion and still photography. He just happened to be in the right place at the right time.
  • APSeim

    Well written and informative article!

  • http://nease.tumblr.com M. Nease

    Thank you! I will avoid this camera like the plague and treat it in the same manner I treat the former 720p JVC HDV cameras that preceded it.

  • Alex Elkins

    The specs don’t list support for 25p or 29.97p. It’s either 23.98 or HFR. What are they thinking?!

  • http://dylanreeve.com/ Dylan Reeve

    Holy shit, it’s even worst than it seems!

    The JVC Japan website seems to suggest that the only option for 4K live output is via 4x HDMI 1.3 connections. A SINGLE HDMI 1.4 connection would be able to carry that picture…. WTF?

    You think monitoring a 5D via HDMI is bad, wait until you’re trying to monitor this camera with FOUR HDMI cables!

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