Sony and JVC Unveil Pro 3D Camcorders at NAB

Sony and JVC decided to push further into the 3D market this week, as both company’s unveiled professional 3D camcorders at the National Association of Broadcasters convention in Las Vegas. Sony’s compact 3D model, called the HXR-NX3D1U, looks eerily similar to the company’s consumer 3D camcorder—the Handycam HDR-TD10. The same should definitely be said about JVC’s GY-HMZ1U professional 3D cam as well. It has nearly the same body design and layout as the recently-reviewed (by us!) GS-TD1.

                JVC GY-HMZ1U 3D camcorder

In fact, looking at the specs of the GY-HMZ1U, we only noticed three significant differences between it and the GS-TD10 3D camcorder that JVC launched earlier this year: the GY-HMZ1U comes with dual XLR mic inputs, it offers a 24p frame rate (in addition to 60i), and it comes with 80GB of internal memory (as opposed to 64GB on the TD1). JVC claims the GY-HMZ1U is also loaded with a few more pro features, like zebra pattern, that were not present on the GS-TD1. Most importantly, of course, the GY-HMZ1U is expected to retail this Autumn for $2,500—a price that’s nearly $800 more than the current MSRP of the GS-TD1. Are the features we listed above worth that much? We don’t think so.

Like the GY-HMZ1U, the Sony HXR-NX3D1U appears to be a beefed-up version of Sony’s consumer 3D cam, the "HDR-TD10":https://reviewed.usatoday.com/camcorders/content/Sony-HDR-TD10-First-Impressions-Camcorder-Review.htm. New features on the HXR-NX3D1U, which is part of Sony’s NXCAM line, include PAL compatibility (offering both 50i and 60i recording), XLR connectors, and a time code recording option. Most other specs for the HXR-NX3D1U (yeah, it’s a mouthful of a modelname) look to be identical to what the HDR-TD10 includes. The HXR-NX3D1 is expected to hit stores this summer in the US, and it should retail for around $3,400.