JVC has announced a new video camera JVC HD Everio GZ-HM400 built to emphasize image quality and usability.
The HD Everio GZ-HM400, which records to an SD/SDHC card and includes 32GB of internal memory, features a 10.3-megapixel CMOS sensor that delivers nine-megapixel still images and 1080 TV lines of horizontal resolution for Full HD video. High-speed recording of up to 600fps is also possible for slow-motion playback.
The core image sensing device for this camera is a 1/2.33-inch 10.3-megapixel CMOS sensor with Bayer Array RGB Color Filter making nine-megapixel stills possible without any need for interpolation.
For video, the high-speed image processing of 5.3 million effective pixels applied by the HD Gigabrid Premium II Engine’s super high-band processor results in 1080 TV lines of horizontal resolution -” the theoretical maximum level of 1920 x 1080 Full HD.
Optically, the GZ-HM400 features a Konica Minolta HD Lens that provides a high-resolution image source. Also interesting to note is the JVC-developed optical image stabilizer that uses two active prisms to correct camera shake at the lens entrance before the image enters the lens. The two prisms, compensating in the horizontal and vertical directions, provide the same effectiveness throughout the entire zoom range, from wide to telephoto.
On the top of the camera are three buttons, “A”, “S” and “U”, for selecting shooting modes. “A” selects the Aperture Priority Setting, “S” is for selecting the shutter speed, and “U” is User-Assignable, which lets users assign their own frequently used settings to this button. Positioned next to the lens barrel are controls for manual brightness and focus adjustment; just tilt a lever switch to select either brightness or focus, then turn the manual adjustment dial in the direction desired. Zoom is controlled by a seesaw-style zoom lever.
Frame Speeds
Three different high-speed recording modes are available for slow-motion video playback: 600fps, 300fps and 120fps. For instance, at 600fps, motion occurring over a mere 2.4 seconds is slowed down to 24 seconds.
For still image shooting, up to 60fps 5.3-megapixel stills can be shot in a continuous burst of up to 11 images. Or, if preferred, continuous shooting of up to six nine-megapixel stills at up to 15fps is also possible. It is also possible to shoot 5.3-megapixel stills simultaneously while recording 1920 x 1080 Full HD video.
Other features of the GZ-HM400 include Face Detection technology that identifies up to 16 faces to accurately adjust the focus and exposure, as well as One Touch Upload to YouTube and the One Touch Export function to easily export videos and stills to an iTunes Library.
Price and Availability
The JVC HD Everio GZ-HM400 is available immediately at a nationally advertised value of $999.95.
This camera looks like it has good quality footage, but It’s still not very visualy apealing to me.