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  • Introduction

  • Product Tour

  • Audio

  • Compression & Media

  • Manual Controls

  • Still Features

  • Handling & Use

  • Playback & Connectivity

  • Other Features

  • Conclusion

  • Introduction
  • Product Tour
  • Audio
  • Compression & Media
  • Manual Controls
  • Still Features
  • Handling & Use
  • Playback & Connectivity
  • Other Features
  • Conclusion

Introduction

Even with all these perks, the GY-HM100 is not a camcorder that will be cherished by traditional professionals. If you're used to large, shoulder-mounted models, the HM100 may feel like a toy in comparison. The lack of extensive manual controls, as well as the cramped design of the camcorder, will also send many pros looking elsewhere. The GY-HM100 has an MSRP of $3995 and JVC will begin shipping the model in the next few days.

Product Tour

 

Lens & Imaging System

 

The JVC GY-HM100 is equipped with a non-removable, 10x optical zoom Fujinon lens. The lens has a large ring that can control either focus or zoom, and it includes a detachable lens hood. The lens is made up of three aspheric elements in order to reduce weight and size, while still capturing a strong image. The lens is also coated with an Electronic Beam Coating that is meant to reduce lens flare, ghosting, and degradation caused by reflecting light.

 

Front

From the front, you get a great view of the camcorder's lens surrounded by the large hood. Above the lens, the front of the camcorder's handlebar juts out with the JVC logo and a record lamp prominently displayed. The detachable shotgun microphone also extends out towards the front of the camcorder.

 

Right

The right side doesn't have too many controls, but it has a few ports. Below the shotgun microphone holder are two XLR inputs. The mic holder itself plugs into a port near the hand strap on the right side in order to power the XLR inputs. Below that connector is the headphone and 3.5mm mic jack. Towards the back of the camcorder is a mode dial that also acts as an on/off switch.

 

Back

The back houses the camcorder's electronic viewfinder, which can pivot upward to a roughly 45-degree angle. Below the viewfinder is the battery compartment that fits a horizontally-loaded battery pack. To the left of the battery pack are three buttons: iris, shutter, and AE +/-. Beneath these buttons is a tiny dial that is used to make adjustments to the controls whose buttons are listed above (iris, shutter, and AE). The dial is incredibly small and doesn't offer very precise adjustment. To the right of the battery is the record button and three LED lights access lights.

Left

From the left side you can get a good look at the lens ring, as well as many of the camcorder's controls. To the right of the lens ring is an ND filter, a zoom/focus ring control switch, two user assignable buttons, an AF/MF button, a full auto button, a gain control switch and a white balance control switch. Above all this is the audio control box, which is attached to the front of the handlebar. The control box has two-channel audio level adjustment, two auto/manual switches, and three audio input selectors.

The LCD screen is also located on this side. Opening it reveals the LCD cavity, which has a few buttons, the most important being the menu button. Below this is a component-out and AV-out port. Further down, near the base of the camcorder are the two SDHC card slots.

Top

The only important part of the top is the accessory shoe located near the front of the handlebar.

 

Bottom

The bottom has is a standard tripod mount, but that's about it.

Audio

Audio Features

The JVC GY-HM100 has a good amount of audio features and controls. The best part is, the camcorder actually comes with a removeable shotgun microphone. Many manufacturers force you to pay extra for a mic like this, but the GY-HM100 is ready to go right out of the box. The camcorder also has a built-in mic, so if you want to remove the handlebar and shotgun mic to make the camcorder even smaller, you can still record precious audio.The built-in mic doesn't have the best placement as it can be in the way when you're using the lens ring or holding the camcorder with two hands. The shotgun mic connects via one of XLR inputs on the front. The mic looks a bit funny when mounted, mainly because the GY-HM100 is such a small camcorder. 

In all, the GY-HM100 has 2 XLR inputs, a 3.5mm microphone jack, and a mini headphone output. Along with the built-in mic, this is quite an arsental of audio features. Audio is recorded as 2 channels of uncompressed LCPM 16 bit audio at 48kHz. Audio levels can be controled manually using the channel adjustment dials on the audio control panel, or they can be set to automatic control. There are options for +48V of phantom power for XLR connected mics and an audio meter can be displayed on the LCD and viewfinder.

 

 

Compression & Media

 

Compression

The JVC GY-HM100 uses MPEG-2 Long GOP compression to capture HD footage, which has been around for a while and is very common. The camcorder offers a ton of recording formats, including the standard 60i, 30p, and 24p modes. The GY-HM100 also offers PAL options of 50i and 25p that are based on the 60 Hz recording standard used in European countries. Of the various recording formats on the camcorder, there are a number of bitrate options—35Mbps, 25Mbps, and 19Mbps. For each bitrate, a slightly different MPEG-2 codec is used for compression.

The GY-HM100 can capture video in two file formats: QuickTime's MOV or MP4. The MOV format is very useful if you're planning on bringing your footage into Final Cut Pro, as it is the native format of that particular editing software. This makes the files completely compatible with FCP, QuickTime, and other software designed by Apple. The MP4 structure is more common across all systems, so it may be more compatible if you're going to be editing on a PC or bringing the footage into Adobe Premier or AVID.

One drawback of the camcorder is the lack of any standard definition video settings. JVC went to great lengths to include a variety of formats, but it would have given the camcorder far more versatility to have an SD recording option.For a full list of compression options, consult the table below:

 

Media

The JVC GY-HM100 records to regular SDHC cards, just like you put in your consumer camcorder. It doesn't require any special (and expensive) SxS or P2 card systems, which will save you a lot of money. SDHC cards are quite cheap right now and they'll only continue to become cheaper. Any class 6 SDHC card will work with the camcorder.

 

 

There are two card slots on the GY-HM100, both located near the base of the camcorder just below the LCD screen. Since SDHC cards don't offer the lengthiest record times (a 16GB card will give you 50 minutes of video at the highest quality), JVC has implemented an automatic transfer system between the two cards. Once one card fills up, the video will continue to roll onto the next card without any loss of data.

 

Editing

If you're a Final Cut Pro user, the JVC GY-HM100 was designed with you in mind. The camcorder simply has the easiest workflow with Apple's FCP software. The HM109 (along with its sister model the HM700) are the only camcorders that have been licensed by apple to use the MOV wrapper. This means the files are designed to be 100% compatible with Final Cut Pro. Footage shot with the MOV extension can be dragged right off the SDHC card into Final Cut's timeline. There is no need to do any logging or transferring, all you need to do is drag and drop. The video files will also open and work seamlessly with Quicktime.

The GY-HM700 also has the ability to record using the MP4 extension, if that file system works better with your non-linear editing software. While, the camcorder is clearly an excellent pairing with Final Cut Pro, it is unclear how its performance with other editing software will be. Things definitely won't be quite as easy working with AVID or Adobe Premier, but the camcorder's two video file format options should make it compatible with almost anything.

Manual Controls

 

Auto Mode

Unlike some higher-end professional camcorders, the JVC GY-HM100 offers a full auto mode. The mode looks very similar to the one found on JVC's consumer camcorders (the onscreen font used for Auto and Manual are even identical), and it functions essentially the same. All the controls are set to automatic, and all you need to do is point and shoot.

Some of the manual controls on the GY-HM100 aren't very easy to adjust or access, so we feel many users will actually end up using the camcorder in full auto mode—or, at least, with a good portion of the controls set to automatic. The camcorder works very well in this manner. It is larger than a consumer model, but it functions just the same. We found the auto controls to work well in our experience with the camcorder on the floor at NAB.

We like that you can set some controls to automatic while manually controlling others—especially in the case of aperture, shutter speed, and exposure. If you only want to adjust aperture in order to play with depth of field, you can select that option for manual control, while leaving the other settings to be adjusted automatically.

Low Light Modes

JVC offers a LoLux mode on the GY-HM100. It is unclear exactly what this mode does, but it appears to boost gain to its maximum level—likely even higher than the 18dB gain you can set manually. It doesn't look like the mode drops the shutter speed down to below 1/60 of a second, which is good because speeds of 1/30 and lower will produce motion blur and slow-shutter effects.

Scene Modes

We couldn't find any any scene modes on the GY-HM100 that we checked out on the floor at NAB.

 

Zoom

The camcorder is equipped with a zoom rocker on the right side. It is meant to be manipulated with your index and middle fingers, just like most zoom rockers are. The rocker is a bit smaller than we're used to seeing on pro camcorders. This smaller size made it a bit less precise than the one featured on the Canon XL H1A and Sony HDR-FX100, two camcorders we've given full-length reviews. Still, the rocker was decent and it was easy to reach.

The single lens ring on the Fujinon lens can also be used to adjust zoom. A switch on the left side of the camcorder changes the control of the lens ring between focus and zoom, which are the only two controls the ring can be set to. The ring is very well designed and we liked its thick, solid feel. Many rings don't stick out as far from the body of the camcorder, but the one on the GY-HM100 does, making it easier to grab and control. The ring wasn't overly smooth either, which can often be a problem with lens rings.

 

Zoom Ratio

The Fujinon lens has a 10x optical zoom. We would have liked to see a bit more zoom on the camcorder, but 10x is satisfactory for such a small model.

 

Focus

Focus can be set to auto or manual on the GY-HM100, with the manual focus being controlled by the lens ring. As we discussed in the Zoom section of this review, the lens ring is well-designed and felt good when we used it to make adjustments. We can't give too much insight to the quality of the camcorder's autofocus system, as it was difficult to get a good sense of how well it worked on the show floor at NAB.

The GY-HM100 has a few focus assist features in the form of peaking. Peaking assists with manual focus by creating a fine, colorful grain around the edge of your subject within the camcorder's frame. When your subect comes into focus, the colorful grain will become sharper and more prominent. If focus is too soft, the grain will not be present. To enhance the peaking controls even further on the GY-HM100, the camcorder sets the LCD and viewfinder to black and white, so you can work with the colorful peaking even better. Peaking on the camcorder can be set to red, green, or blue.

 

Exposure

The camcorder offers 13 steps of exposure adjustment from -6 to +6. The only problem with adjusting exposure, and the same thing goes with aperture and shutter speed, is the control system is very poorly implemented. These manual controls are all manipulated by using a tiny wheel on the back of the camcorder. The wheel is incredibly small and it isn't placed very well either. It can be accessed with your thumb while shooting, but it isn't comfortable to do so. We would have loved to see a better ring, dial, or control knob for these very important manual settings.

The GY-HM100 also has an ND filter that can be turned on and off using a switch near the lens.

Aperture

Aperture control is called iris on the GY-HM100, as is common with pro camcorders. The manual aperture range is f/1.8 to f/8 and it is controlled with the same tiny dial that is used to make adjustments to exposure. Information appears onscreen when you adjust the aperture, with a little icon in the upper left telling you what f-stop is being selected.

Shutter Speed

Shutter speed can be manually set from 1/4 of a second to 1/10000 of a second in 1080/60i mode. When using alternate frame rates, the shutter speed options change slightly to match the record mode (i.e. 1/48 shutter speed is available in 24p mode). Shutter speed control is also located on the back of the camcorder, along with aperture (iris) and exposure. We like that all these settings are grouped together—they should be—it's simply the poor design of the miniscule control wheel that we have an issue with.*
*

White Balance

There are two white balance presets on the camcorder: 3200K and 5600K. With a camcorder like the GY-HM100, a manual white balance is really the way to go. 2 user-set white balances can be saved in the camcorder, so if you're shooting in two different lighting conditions you can swap between the settings with ease. An easy-access switch near the front of the camcorder makes switching white balance settings very user-friendly—even while you are in the process of shooting.

There are also  two options for manually adjusting the color temperature. JVC calls these settings White Paint (Red), for adjusting the warm tones, and White Paint (Blue), which controls the cool tones. Both can be set at increments from -15 to +15. The term 'White Paint' is a bit confusing on the camcorder and it would probably have been better for JVC simply to label the controls as color temperature adjustment.

 

Gain

Gain can be set from 0dB to 18dB with every three decibel increments in between. JVC really should have a negative gain setting on the camcorder, which is a common feature on most pro models, as a way to cut out the image noise when you really don't want it. Other than that, the manual gain range is decent. Gain can be quickly adjusted using a switch (next to the white balance switch) near the front of the camcorder. The switch has settings for L, M, and H. Each setting can be assigned a manual gain level in the camcorder's menu. The switch is easy to reach and it shouldn't be any problem toquickly change gain settings while you're recording. A nearly identical 'switch' system is featured on the Sony HDR-FX100, Panasonic AG-HPX300, and a number of other professional camcorders.

 

Color & Image Controls

The JVC GY-HM100 doesn't have all the color and image controls you'd find on, say, the Canon XL H1A, Panasonic AG-HPX300, or Sony PMW-EX3, but it does allow for a good deal of manual adjustment.

 

 

Still Features

 

Still Features

The JVC GY-HM100 can capture 2-megapixel still photos and it saves them in the JPEG format. There are four still image size options—1920 x 1080, 1440 x 1080, 1024 x 768, 640 x 480—and two quality options, fine and standard. Photos can be captured in photo mode by pressing the shutter button, or they can be grabbed from already recorded video (1920 x 1080 resolution only).

 

There is no flash on the camcorder, although one could be mounted onto the accessory shoe. While this photo capability doesn't sound like much, it is more than many professional camcorders offer. If you're looking for a pro cam that can take high-resolution still photos, check out the newly released Panasonic AG-HMC40.

 

Handling & Use

 

Ease of Use


The JVC GY-HM100 is one of the simplest pro camcorders we've ever used. Its full auto mode makes it almost as easy to control as your average consumer camcorder, and its small size makes it a far less daunting product than most pro models. The fact that it records to regular SDHC cards is another plus, as you don't have to worry about learning a new memory card system. If you're just breaking into the professional camcorder industry, or if you're an experienced amateur who wants to upgrade to a more powerful product, the GY-HM100 is an ideal camcorder for you. If you're strongly interested in manual controls, however, the GY-HM100 will not satisfy you. Not only does it lack some very important features (negative gain setting, removable lens system, noise reduction, etc.), but it also implements some manual controls very poorly.

Aperture, shutter speed, and exposure are all controlled from the back of the camcorder and adjustments are made using a small wheel that is near the base of the camcorder. The wheel is clumsy, hard to reach while shooting, and doesn't offer precise control like a dial, ring, or knob. We would have loved to see a little control dial near the front of the camcorder, like Canon and Sony are using on high-end consumer models this year. This would have kept the camcorder tiny and would have offered a smoother, easier method for making those vital manual adjustments.

We should also point out the solid editing compatibility the camcorder has with Final Cut Pro. You can simply drag-and-drop footage from the camcorder's SDHC cards right into Final Cut because of the MOV file structure of the recorded video. If you're an FCP user and you edit with a Mac, the GY-HM100 offers the most seamless workflow in the pro camcorder market.

Handling

The JVC GY-HM100 is obviously small and light, so it might feel a bit awkward to pros who are used to a large device. It definitely feels good in the hand, although it isn't quite as comfortable as a large consumer camcorder, like the Canon HF S10. Using two hands with the HM100 feels natural and its probably the best way to control the product. The handlebar on the top of the camcorder can get a bit cramped if you have the shotgun microphone connected. We didn't like the way the camcorder felt when we picked it up by the handle fully-loaded. There just wasn't enough to grab onto.

Along with the handlebar, the camcorder often had a cluttered feel. For the most part, buttons are spread out and settings are easy to find, but the compact size of the GY-HM100 definitely raises some handling issues. The viewfinder doesn't offer much adjustment—it can only pivot vertically—and it can be difficult to use when shooting at high angles. The ports on the back of the camcorder are a bit too close together and there can be a lot of wires getting in the way when you have the GY-HM100 fully loaded. The horizontal-loading design of the battery pack also posed some problems. With a large battery pack installed, it can get in the way of ports and makes some buttons more difficult to access.

There biggest problem with the camcorder's handling is the control wheel that adjusts aperture, exposure, and shutter speed. As discussed in the Ease of Use section above, the wheel is simply no good for making precise adjustments and it is likely to drive professional users, who are used to using lens rings, crazy. Of course, if you hate using compact, hand-held products, it is unlikely the GY-HM100 will ever be able to win you over.

 

Stabilization

The JVC GY-HM100 is equipped with optical image stabilization that can be turned on or off. We don't have a good idea as to how effective the stabilization is, but we'll be able to test this feature once we get the camcorder int our testing labs. JVC's consumer camcorder line in 2009 all offer digital stabilization rather than optical, so it should be interesting to see how well JVC's optical system works on the GY-HM100.

Portability

The JVC GY-HM100 is as small as professional camcorders get. It only weighs 3.1 lbs (1.4 kg) fully loaded, which is less than 1/4 the weight of many professional camcorders.It is the ideal size to fit into a backpack or carry in a small camera bag. The fact that the HM100 includes XLR inputs is very impressive for the small camcorder. The slightly larger Sony HDR-FX1000 includes no XLR inputs, although it is significantly cheaper than the JVC. If you want to make the HM100 even smaller, the included shotgun microphone and handlebar can be completely removed. Using the camcorder with this setup, and it feels like you're wielding a large consumer model, instead of a small professional one.

Even with its small size, the GY-HM100 is definitely a professional camcorder. At NAB, JVC showed off how the camcorder can be connected to a variety of third-party devices to make it even more versatile. Below, the camcorder is attached to an M2 Encore 35mm lens adapter system from Redrock. Seeing such a small camcorder using a 35mm lens system is quite incredible, and, in a way, it says a lot about the GY-HM100's portability. By hooking it up to certain products, you can have an entire professional film kit that is based around a hand-held camcorder that weighs only 3.1 lbs.

 

Most pro camcorders that use a tapeless recording system require special memory cards (like Panasonic's P2 system or Sony's SxS), but the JVC GY-HM100 records to regular SDHC memory cards. These cards are so common nowadays, they're commonly available in drugstores, office supply shops, and any electronics market. So, if you lose a card while you're on a shoot, you can probably go into town and pick up another one. You might not be able to say the same about P2 or SxS, which can be very difficult to find—and are much more expensive than SDHC.

 

 

LCD & Viewfinder

The camcorder has a fairly standard 2.8-inch LCD with a 206,000-pixel display. The LCD is similar in design from what you'd see on your average consumer camcorder. The screen is only 0.1-inch larger than the LCD on JVC's ultra-compact consumer line. We're not saying it's an awful LCD screen, but it would be good to have a bit more size and resolution, since it is a pro camcorder after all. In comparison, the JVC GY-HM700 features a huge, 4.3-inch, 384,000-pixel resolution LCD. The screen on the GY-HM100 looks like a baby compared to that.

 

The electronic viewfinder on the GY-HM100 isn't fantastic. It's a decent size, 0.44 inches, but we wish it offered a higher resolution than 235,000 pixels. The viewfinder does pivot vertically, but it offers no horizontal movement. This makes it difficult to use when shooting at high angles and you often must crane your neck uncomfortably to keep a good seal on the eyecup. Nevertheless, this is the price you have to pay for having such a compact camcorder.

 

 

Menus

The menu system on the GY-HM100 is quite simple and shares a strong resemblance to the menus on JVC's consumer camcorders. Menus are organized in a simple pattern and a small info box appears at the bottom of the screen to tell you what each setting actually does. This is definitely one of the easiest-to-use menus on a professional camcorder we've seen.

To navigate the menus, you use a small joystick located on the left portion of the LCD panel. The joystick is a good navigation tool and it works much better than the laser-touch system featured on JVC's consumer line. We're happy to see JVC didn't include a laser-touch on their pro camcorders, as the system is too inaccurate and too gimmicky to be included on a professional product. The joystick can also doubles as a zoom toggle, although it doesn't work very well as such.

 

 

Playback & Connectivity

 

Playback

We didn't get to check out the playback features on the GY-HM100 too much at NAB. From the little bit we saw, the playback system looked fairly intuitive. Clips are organized in the standard thumbnail arrangement and the navigation joystick on the LCD screen is used to select them. JVC has redesigned the graphic interface for playback mode and they claim to have improved the resolution of the thumbnail display and made the system easier to use. While reviewing clips in playback mode, shooting information can be accessed so you can keep track of what settings were used to record your video.

Connectivity

The JVC GY-HM100 doesn't have lots of professional outputs, like GEN-LOCK or an uncompressed video output via HD-SDI, but it has all the important connections a low-end professional camcorder should. At the back, below the battery compartment are three ports: HDMI, USB, and the DC-input. These ports aren't placed perfectly and they can get in the way if you're shooting while multiple cables are connected.

Swinging around to the left side of the camcorder, you'll find the Component-out and A/V-out ports, both of which are located inside the LCD cavity. Beneath them, near the base of the camcorder, are the two SDHC card slots. The card slots are well-protected by a plastic flip-down door.

All the camcorder's audio ports are located near the front. The audio unit on the handlebar offers two XLR inputs. To power these inputs, the audio unit must be plugged into a connector on the right side of the camcorder that is sandwiched between the lens barrel and the hand strap. Below this connector are the 3.5mm microphone input and headphone jack. These ports are definitely a bit cramped, especially if you're using the camcorder as a handheld device. Your right hand comes right up next to the audio unit connector and things can be tight if you also have headphones and a mic plugged into the 3.5mm jacks.

 

 

 

Other Features

 

Other Features

All of the JVC GY-HM100's features are described elsewhere in the review. The only other things worth mention are the inclusion of a wireless remote control and a data battery feature that works with JVC batteries only. With a JVC battery installed, the camcorder allows you to monitor the remaining power and record time when you press the battery info button. This really isn't anything special, but we thought we should mention it anyway.

 

 

 

Conclusion

The JVC GY-HM100 has a lot to offer in its compact body. First of all, it is one of the easiest pro camcorder's we've ever worked with. The Menus were simple and informative and the automatic controls were strong and reliable. This may be an ideal camcorder for those who are looking to purchase their first pro model and want an upgrade over what the consumer market has to offer.

We also like the inclusion of 2 XLR inputs and a detachable shotgun mic. This makes the camcorder ready to go right out of the box—you don't need to purchase any expensive accessories or peripheral devices. The fact that the camcorder records to regular SDHC cards also enhances its usability.

Now, if you're an entrenched video professional, the GY-HM100 will probably not satisfy your needs. It doesn't have the range of manual controls you'll find on any higher-end pro model, and it lacks the precise manual adjustment interface many pros require. There is only one lens ring on the camcorder—for adjusting focus or zoom—which leaves other settings, like shutter speed and aperture, to be controlled by a poorly implemented adjustment wheel on the back of the camcorder. At times, the camcorder can also feel cluttered and cramped due to the small design of its body.

JVC will begin shipping the GY-HM100 in the next couple of days with an MSRP of $3995. With Panasonic's release of the AG-HMC40 at NAB, there are now a number of compact, budget options in the pro market. Once we get the products into our labs for testing, we'll be able to give you a better idea as to which has the best overall performance.

Meet the tester

Jeremy Stamas

Jeremy Stamas

Managing Editor, Video

@nematode9

Jeremy is the video expert of our imaging team and Reviewed.com's head of video production. Originally from Pennsylvania and upstate NY, he graduated from Bard college with a degree in film and electronic media. He has been living and working in New England since 2005.

See all of Jeremy Stamas's reviews

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