JVC Unveil World's First Handheld 4K Camcorder

JVC Professional Europe is showing the new GY-HMQ10, the world’s first handheld 4K camcorder, at the NAB show.
The camcorder captures, records and plays video images at four times the resolution of high definition television. Powered by JVC’s Falconbrid large-scale integration (LSI) chip for high-speed signal processing and a 1/2.3-inch CMOS imager with 8.3 million active pixels, it delivers real-time 3840x2160 footage at 24p and 50p.
"We’re witnessing the birth of what is destined to become a broad market for full 4K end-to-end production," said product manager, Gustav Emrich.
"The GY-HMQ10 is a breakthrough product that opens up 4K imaging to users who previously wouldn't have considered it."
High resolution 4K still picture imaging has been around for several years in DSLR cameras. Motion video capture with these cameras has always been done at a lower video resolution because of lack of processing power. Likewise, high end digital motion picture cameras may capture 4K images, but often provide a raw data output to an external storage array for later processing - again due to lack of processing power in the camera. There just hasn't been the ability to capture, process, display and record full 4K images in real time until now.
JVC's exclusive Falconbrid LSI processing takes raw image data from the camera's CMOS device and dematrixes (deBayers) it in real time. Unlike many high end 4K cameras, the GY-HMQ10 is able to output live 4K images to a monitor or projection system in real time via four HDMI terminals with virtually no latency. This capability opens up applications in cinematography, medical microscopy, telepresence, specialised observation / surveillance, and live wide-view event coverage.
Using MPEG-4 technology and a variable bit rate H.264 codec operating at up to 144 Mbps, the GY-HMQ10 records up to two hours of 4K video to economical SDHC or SDXC memory cards.
In addition to 4K imaging, the GY-HMQ10 also captures and records astonishing 1080i or 1080/50p full HD, with extraordinary detail provided by its 8.3 megapixel imager and superior lens. HD is recorded on a single memory card in a format compatible with most editing systems, along with the ability to crop an HD image from a 4K frame. This can be accomplished in post production, or in real time during camera playback. The “trimming” feature makes HD cropping easy using the camera's touch panel LCD monitor.
"Historically, JVC has been a leader in camcorder and display technology, and the GY-HMQ10 is our latest breakthrough," added Gustav.
"It's part of a larger move at JVC to bring 4K technology to a wide range of customers." In September 2011, JVC introduced an affordable line of 4K projectors to the home theatre market. The company's high-end 4K projectors are widely used in commercial flight simulators and planetariums.
"4K is the logical step beyond HD," he added, "and JVC is uniquely positioned to lead the industry in this new direction."
www.jvc.co.uk
(LB)