JVC’s 500 Series Connected Cams

NAB NYC 2018: Three new 4K units establish a family of live-streaming camcorders.

Beginning with three cameras, the GY‑HC500 base model, GY‑HC550 with internal streaming and graphics, and GY-HC500SPC for sports productions, JVC’s 500 Series will be introduced during the NAB Show New York — Oct 17-18 — at the Jacob K. Javits Center.

Designed for concurrent live IP production and high-quality 4K acquisitions, the 500 Series cameras will record to SSD media in formats up to 10-bit, ProRes 422 in 4K resolution with 50/60p frame rates. With connectivity in mind, compression formats are also available in H.264 and MPEG-2. (The GY-HC550 adds MPEG-2 and MXF recording.)

“No other competing 1" camcorder in this category comes close to our connectivity,” says Joe D’Amico, vice president, JVC Professional Video, in the press release. "The new 500 Series delivers a complete production-over-IP workflow solution in a compact form factor.

"With the GY‑HM550, stations can deliver live coverage of breaking news in the field without a satellite or microwave truck, and then provide single-camera live coverage of regional sporting events complete with graphics without a mobile production unit. For coach, the GY‑HM500SPC provides stunning 4K/60p images with DV Sport and XOS Digital compatibility for more critical video analysis.”

For the most advanced options, the GY-HC550 houses dual external antennas with built-in wireless LAN, integrated GPS, and Zixi error correction with automatic repeat request (ARQ).

In addition to SSD, all three 500 Series cameras have dual SDHC/SDXC media card slots for redundant, relay, backup, and proxy recording. Direct Auto FTP upload is available during productions. SMPTE 2022 forward error correction is featured for reliability in 1080p streaming performance at up to 20 Mbps. 

Like the JVC 800 and 900 Series camcorders, the 500 Series is a ProHD-Bridge-compatible product, so all models provide bi-directional live streaming with low latency — less than 500ms — and return video with IFB. For the most advanced transmission options, the GY-HC550 houses dual external antennas with built-in wireless LAN, integrated GPS, and Zixi error correction with automatic repeat request (ARQ). 

The GY-HC550 and GY-HM500SPC also have integrated lower-third and full-screen titling options for recorded or streamed video without need for any external CG. With WiFi updates to scores and the like available via connected smartphone or tablet, the GY‑HC500SPC also has versatile score overlays with customizable graphics for sports events.

Each 500 Series camera has up to 12-stops of dynamic range, 1" 4K CMOS imager and integrated 20x zoom lens with three-ring control and built-in ND filters. Lossless 40x dynamic zoom is possible in HD, and HDR is supported through HLG (hybrid log gamma) mode or 10-bit J-Log mode. The 10-bit J-Log mode expands dynamic range by 800-percent for “film-like” latitude.

All three feature a 4", high-resolution LCD screen for menu navigation, LCOS viewfinder, dual XLR inputs, 3G-SDI and HDMI video outputs, M.2 drive slot for external SSD recording and IPX2 water-resistant rating for operation in inclement weather.

The cams are expected to ship in January at $5,500 (GY-HC550), $4,400 (GY-HC500SPC), and $3,900 (GY-HC500). Last April, JVC launched the GY-HC900 “Connected Cam”, a 2/3" broadcast news-over-IP camcorder solution, during the 2018 NAB Show. 

JVC Professional is a division of JVCKENWOOD USA Corporation.

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