It’s been a long time we heard about JVC updating their Everio brand of camcorders (back in July to be more exact). But the company today announced a total of three new models for the Japanese market. Expect all of these to go on sale outside this country sooner or later.

The GZ-MG980 [JP, pictured above] is the most powerful of the three new Everio devices. It features 10.7MP with 1.6″ CCD sensor, produces 720×480 resolution, and comes with an 80GB HDD, an SD/SDHC slot, 39x optical zoom (F1.8〜4.3), a USB port and a 2.7 LCD screen. Japanese street price: $690.

The GZ-MS230 [JP] basically has the same specs, but it features just 8GB of internal memory (price: $515).

And the GZ-MS210 [JP] just has two SD/SDHC slots but no internal memory. But sized at just 52×110×62mm and weighing only 230g (battery included), it’s the smallest version (price: $460).

Victor JVC started selling the new Everios today. The company hasn’t said anything yet about its international sales plans.

It seems VHS will never die, and this is generally welcome, as a lot of good movies aren’t still available on optical discs. In summer 2008, Panasonic released a VHS/Blu-ray combo, followed by Sharp’s Aquos BD-HDV22 that was pretty much the same thing. And today, over one year later, JVC anounced the DR-BH250 [JP], which is a VHS recorder, Blu-Ray Recorder and 250GB HDD rolled into one.

JVC also threw in 1080/60p/24p support, BD-Live and BONUSVIEW support, AVCHD support, a USB port, an HDMI CEC interface, and an SD/SDHC card slot. It’s possible to transfer material between DVD, VHS and Blu-ray, including copying video from a VHS cassette to a Blu-ray disc.

JVC plans to roll out the DR-BH250 at the beginning of next month in Japan for $1,400. The company hasn’t said yet whether VHS fans not living in Japan will ever get to lay their hands on the device, too.

Besides that little failure, the XV-BP11 seems like a fine player with HDMI x.v.Color/Deep Color, Dobly TrueHD and DTS-HD decoding. But that really doesn’t matter though. You can snag countless Profile 2.0 players for less than the starting price of the new JVC. Move along.

JVC Announces Popularly-Priced Blu-ray Player

New XV-BP11 player offers AVCHD file playback.

WAYNE, NJ, October 28, 2009 – JVC today announced the availability of a new entry-level Blu-ray player. The new JVC XV-BP11 is a truly versatile high definition player, offering playback of high definition Blu-ray discs, plus playback of the AVCHD format, the high definition format widely used for HD camcorders, including the JVC HD Everio line.

JVC XV-BP11 Features
Playable Discs: BD-Rom, BD-R/RE, DVD-Video, DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW, Audio CD, CD-R/RW
Playable Formats: AVCHD, WMV, JPEG, MP3, WMA, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital plus, Dolby True HD, DTS, DTS HD Master Audio/Essential
Connections:
o Video: HDMI V1.3, composite
o Audio: Analog L/R, coaxial, HDMI V1.3
o USB Host (front panel)
Convenience Features: Quick loading, cinema zoom (x16), parental lock, slim design

The new JVC XV-BP11 Blu-ray player is available immediately for $199.95.

At 31mm, the amplifier is a tiny bit thicker and weighs 0.73kg.It features 20W×4ch(4Ω) average power output and Dolby Digital DTS and AAC support. You can either hang the speakers up on a wall or use a stand that Victor JVC throws in.

The sound system will go on sale in Japan at the end of this month. No announcements for markets outside Japan were made, but Japanese buyers will have to pay $260 for the amplifier and $220 for the speaker set. The system will be available in black and white.

What is the Everio X GZ-X900? Is it a pocket camcorder like a Flip? Is it a fully-fledged video camera? Is it a YouTube-uploading device? Is it a hybrid of all of these – and more?

This new Everio is basically a compact video camera that records at full 1920×1080 1080i resolution at 24Mbps in its highest setting. It can take 9-megapixel still images and records directly to an SD/SDHC memory card. It weights 300 grams (.66 pounds) and has a 2.8-inch color screen.

So you want to record at 1080i, eh? Well you’d better have a huge SDHC card because the max you can record is three hours on a 32GB model. A 4GB one can hold 20 minutes at UXP resolution and 2 hours at EP resolution (1920×1080i @ 5Mbps).

This brings us to the question: do we as a species need to record at 1080i? No. We do not. There are precious few ways to use this full HD content except for direct TV playback but, god bless us, we’ll die trying.

The camera is fairly idiot proof and small enough to fit in a pocket or purse. It is about as big as two Flip HD cameras laid end-to-end. The styling pays homage to leather and brushed steel and Konica Minolta lens hides deep inside the case and offers shake reduction and 5X zoom. Interestingly you can actually watch the lens go absolutely nuts inside the camera when you look into the hole to the lens assembly.

In terms of image quality you’re going to see quite a range. The camera really fails in low light. The pictures are grainy and the video is grainier. However, in bright light or sunlight you get amazingly crisp video and images. This is a large trade off and something party-goers may want to consider.

This is a real image taken in partial sunlight. This image is indicative of what you’ll get in anything but full light.

Another interesting feature is the “High Speed Recording” mode which records at 600, 200, and 120fps. This, in essence, allows you to create slow-motion movies. Again, we fall into the low-light trap. This sample footage was taken directly under a desk lamp.

The camera uses JVC’s Laser Touch menu system which consists of a side slider and a set of buttons under the screen. This is not a touchscreen device.

It also records using JVC’s dreaded MTS format. This format should import seamlessly into iMovie and other movie-making software but it requires a bit of conversion.

Then there are few other problems. The device has no mic input, a fairly important addition to something that could presumably take high quality video. This thing is halfway between a high end camera and a toy yet JVC seems to keep nudging towards the latter.

I recorded this video review with the Everio X and the original footage was quite sharp. However, after enough fiddling it became exactly what you see here: YouTube junk. Although we recorded at high quality we learn the real problem with cameras like these – they’re a bit head of their time.

How much would you pay for what is essentially a compact camera that records in HD? $399? $599? Try $999.

Bottom Line
Overall I like the Everio line and am impressed with the amount of power stuffed into such a small package. However I’d be hard pressed to recommend this camera over something like the Kodak Zi6/Zi8 or even any of JVC’s superior HD-based cameras. This is an interesting experiment and if you can overlook the limited storage space and seemingly odd low-light recording issues this may be a contender. For everyone else, I’d look elsewhere.

Everio X GZ-X900

From the presser:

The HA-M750 is a full-size headphone with a 1.57-inch (40mm) driver unit for deep bass reproduction. It offers “DJ-style” one-ear monitoring with an innovative twistable housing, and a foldable design for easy packing. It comes with a 3.94-foot (1.2 meter) pure copper cord as well as a 6.56-foot (two meter) extension cord. So that it’s ready for any application, the HA-M750 comes with a slim, gold-plated iPhone-compatible plug and a ¼-inch plug adapter. The JVC HA-S650 is a flat-folding model so it’s easy to pack, and light weight so it’s comfortable during extended use. The slim design does not compromise on sound quality, with a 1.42-inch (36mm) driver unit providing deep bass and the 3.94-foot (1.2 meter) pure copper cord minimizing friction noise. It’s outfitted with a slim, gold-plated iPhone-compatible plug.

Both are foldable, glossy, and sexy. Expect to pay $79.95 for the HA-M750 and $69.95 for the HA-S650.

Victor JVC Japan announced [JP] a new full HD camcorder from their Everio series today, the Everio GZ-HM400. The device features a 10.3MP CMOS sensor, 10x optical zoom, 32GB of built-in storage, a 2.8-inch flip-out LCD screen, SD/SDHC support, a YouTube and iTunes upload function, a USB port and an HDMI interface.

Buyers will be able to store around three hours of full HD footage in the camera (at 24fps) but can also use SD/SDHC cards (up to 32GB). The Everio can also shoot pictures in 9MP resolution. It weighs 485g (including the battery).

Victor JVC plans to start selling the new camcorder in Japan at the beginning of next month in black and silver (price: $1,100). The company hasn’t said yet when the device will hit stores outside Japan.

JVC Japan announced the XV-BP1 today [JP], a new Blu-ray player that comes with two interesting features and a fair price. The player supports DivX/MPEG-4/MKV/AVCHD files and sports a USB port at the front so you can plug in a USB stick with your DivX-movies (you know, the ones you downloaded legally earlier) into the device and directly start watching.

The player also supports BD-Live, Bonus View and delivers video in 1080/60p or 24p quality (DVD upscaling in 1080/60p). Needless to say, it not only features a USB port but also an HDMI interface.

The XV-BP1 will hit Japanese stores in late July (JVC is yet to announce international distribution plans) and will cost $440.

JVC today announced a new brand for LCD TVs in Japan [JP]. The first model of the badly named XIVIEW series is the LT-42WX7, a full HD display sized at 42 inches. JVC said they first want to target business customers with the new model, possibly followed by XIVIEWs for home use.

The new TV covers 100% of the sRGB color space and is able to reproduce 96% of the Adobe RGB color space. Other specs include a contrast ratio of 4,000:1, 450cd/m² brightness, 178° viewing angle and a 5.5ms response time. Buyers also get 2×10W speakers and 3HDMI interfaces.

Sales in Japan start at the beginning of next month. The LT-42WX7 will be priced at $3,700. JVC is yet to say if the XIVIEW TVs will ever make it outside the Japanese market.

The full HD TV measures just 6.4mm at its thinnest point, and with a weight of just 5.7kg, JVC also gets the bragging rights for the planet’s lightest LCD screen. It features 400cd/m2 brightness and a contrast ratio of 4,000:1.

As LG is said to work on LCD displays as thin as 5.9mm, JVC is particularly quick to bring their LCD to market.

Japanese users should be ready to spend $2,500 for the device, with JVC hoping to sell 10,000 units yearly (mainly to stores and public facilities). A price or release date for overseas markets hasn’t been announced yet.

Announced back in January at CES, JVC announced today that the LT-42WX70 LCD “monitor” is now shipping for $2400. JVC is marketing the 42-inch LCD 1080p/120Hz HDTV in the hopes that it will snag photographers using a DSLR who might be shopping around for a high-end “monitor”. Sure, it displays 96 percent of the Adobe RGB spectrum and includes 52 image quality tweaks, but do photographers really need a 42-inch “monitor”?

WAYNE, NJ, May 26, 2009 – Establishing a new category in flat panel TV design, JVC today announced the availability of a super slim LCD TV monitor that features a color space that is wider than a typical HDTV’s.

The new JVC Xiview LT-42WX70 is a 42-inch class (42.02 inches diagonal) 120Hz 1080p LCD TV monitor that targets digital imaging professionals and enthusiasts using high-end digital SLR cameras, allowing them for the first time to see the subtle colors, details and textures of their images faithfully reproduced.

The monitor features expanded color space capacity encompassing 100 percent of HDTV broadcasting’s (sRGB.904) color space and a coverage rate of 96 percent for Adobe RGB — a color space for still photographs taken on high-definition digital SLR cameras — to provide accurate reproduction of both video and still photographs. The LT-42WX70 also features 52 picture-quality adjustment properties for tweaking both still and video images source-by-source to the exact colors and tones the user prefers. In addition, JVC’s GENESSA Picture Engine produces video images without blur, color bleed or noise for clear images with smooth movement.

In addition to its advanced display technology, the LT-42WX70 offers JVC’s groundbreaking design. The super slim monitor measures just 1-5/8 inches deep and is supported by an elegant, curved pedestal-style stand and the rear of the monitor is finished in metallic silver without any visible vents or assembly screws, making it ideal for settings where the rear of the set is visible.

Flexible High Technology from JVC
Depending on the source signal – video or stills – the user selects a color mode from among Wide (the TV’s color space), Normal (ITU-R BT.709; HDTV standards), x.v.Color (xvYCC extended gamut), sRGB (same primaries as HDTV) and Adobe RGB. sRGB and Adobe RGB color spaces are exclusive for viewing digital still images. Digital photos taken using the Adobe RGB colors space and displayed on the LT-42WX70 in the Adobe RGB mode will be reproduced with colors faithful to the original.

The monitor encompasses 100 percent of the sRGB (which is equivalent to HDTV for video signals) color space and a coverage rate of 96 percent for Adobe RGB, allowing the LT-42WX70 to fully reproduce the deeper reds and bluish greens that are a characteristic of Adobe RGB color.

To fine-tune the color for different sources, the LT-42WX70 features 52 on-screen image-quality adjustment properties that allow fine-tuning of colors, tint, gamma, and more, which can be memorized per source for future use. For example, individual color management settings of red, yellow, green, cyan tints and colors, as well as skin tone tint can be adjusted on-screen using the supplied remote controller.

JVC’s Individual Gamma Adjust System calibrates each panel’s grayscale tones to gamma 2.2 to ensure displaying consistent and faithful colors regardless of the set or manufactured lot. This extra effort is put in because color consistency between the source and display are essential when reproducing photos that are taken on digital SLR cameras or video from different sources.

Breaking new ground in performance for both moving as well as still images
To further ensure the best possible video quality, the set uses JVC’s new high-quality GENESSA Picture Engine with 12-bit (x RGB = 36-bit) for truly accurate and natural colors. The Real Bit Driver processes in 12-bit, and so up-converts 8-bit HD broadcasting and DVD signals or 10-bit Blu-ray signals into 12-bit Deep Color signals, regardless of the quality of the source signal, to achieve videos with smoother gradation.

To compensate for color bleed and color drift caused by the gap in the source color format and the LCD’s color space, the Chromaticity Point Conversion Circuit in the engine matches the colors so they are deep, natural and accurate.

120HzClear Motion Drive III (100Hz for PAL video signals) in the engine reduces blurring on LCD TV, helping to make images with rapid movement clearer and smoother using a high-precision interpolation algorithm. The 3D real time, motion-estimated Hadamard noise reduction is applied to eliminate noise while suppressing blur. Picture signal frequencies are also divided into 16 sections and noise reduction performed per section to produce images without noise while maintaining the realism and sharpness of the original picture.

Slim and lightweight at just 1-5/8 inches deep, the LT-42WX70 features a stylish black leather-like texture on its slim bezel that also helps to reduce glare. The flat rear panel is completely finished in metallic silver without any visible assembly screws or vents, providing a clean, attractive design and allowing for greater placement flexibility. To support the monitor, the supplied stand has a center pillar that curves toward the front of the panel. The stand features a three-step height adjustment to further broaden installation possibilities and the TV can be easily removed from the stand for hanging from a ceiling or wall. In addition, the monitor comes equipped with a slim detachable stereo speaker module that runs along the bottom of the panel. If an external sound source is to be used, the speaker module can be removed, giving the monitor an even sleeker, cleaner appearance.

An intuitive graphical on-screen display is easy to use via the included remote, and touch-panel operation makes essential operations available at the front panel. The remote can control other devices connected to the display via HDMI CEC.

The ENERGY STAR 3.0 compliant LT-42WX70 features an array of connectors for video and still image viewing, including three HDMI CEC terminals, D-Sub 15pin with component video, and an audio input jack. This allows the user to easily perform various operations such as checking images by connecting directly to an SLR camera compatible with HDMI or component connector, editing stills on the large 42-inch screen by connecting it to a PC via a D-sub 15-pin, or even do a round of on-screen checks in accurate colors prior to outputting images to a high-resolution digital photo printer and thus save on expenses.

The monitor measures 39 x 28-1/4 x 1-5/8 inches (W x H x D) and weighs 26.4 pounds. Mounted on its stand, the total weight is 41.8 pounds and depth is 6-3/4 inches.

The JVC LT-42WX70 is available now and is priced at $2,399.95.

JVC

Actually, it’s pretty ridiculous. 8K content is pretty much…impossible to find right now. Unless you were to make a motion-JPEG movie out of full-size shots from a Hasselblad, I don’t think 8K is even approaching necessary. Fortunately, it also supports 4K (and why shouldn’t it?), a more reachable standard and one at which hi-def cinema cameras are actually shooting.

They’re also releasing a 4K camera, but my industry insider says it’s more of a broadcast cam, especially considering how boxy and straightforward it is; no rails, no customization, etc. Plus it costs “under $200,000.” You may remember that Red has had a camera shooting that resolution for quite some time, although it’s not meant for a broadcast environment. And the rumors of a Red projector have died down, so this JVC one may be a new standard for getting that high-def footage up on the big screen.

[via Akihabara News]

* The camera is small enough to slip into a shirt pocket and at just 0.66 pounds is one of the lightest cameras that can shoot 1920 x 1080 Full HD AVCHD video;
* Shoots nine-megapixel (no interpolation) digital stills and Full HD video with 1000 TV lines of horizontal resolution – close to the theoretical maximum horizontal resolution for 1920 x 1080 high definition video for no-compromise images;
* 10x slow motion shooting plays back four seconds of recorded video over 24 seconds;
* Up to six nine-megapixel stills can be shot at 15 images per second – faster than what digital SLRs can achieve;
* Simultaneous five-megapixel digital still shooting while recording Full HD video – photos can be shot at shutter speeds as fast as 1/4000 second without interrupting video recording;
* Records video and stills to SDHC memory cards.

It will cost $999.95 and will be available in June.

Hybrid Camera by JVC Shoots Full HD Video and 9-Megapixel Stills

JVC today introduced the Everio X, a dual-use, 9-megapixel camera that shoots high definition video and high resolution digital still images.? Weighing just 0.66 pounds, the JVC Everio X is one of the lightest cameras that can shoot 1920 x 1080 Full HD AVCHD video, and will be available nation wide in June. (PRNewsFoto/JVC Company of America)

LAS VEGAS, NV UNITED STATES

Small, light all-in-one camera also shoots slow-motion video and high-speed stills.

LAS VEGAS, March 3 /PRNewswire/ — JVC today announced a new dual-use camera that shoots high definition video and high resolution digital still images. The new hybrid Everio GZ-X900, or Everio X (http://everiox.jvc.com/), is a small, light, all-in-one camera that offers the powerful shooting combination of Full HD video and nine-megapixel still photos, plus creative shooting functions such as slow motion video and high speed “motor drive” still photography.

Highlights of the new JVC Everio X include:

* The camera is small enough to slip into a shirt pocket and at just 0.66 pounds is one of the lightest cameras that can shoot 1920 x 1080 Full HD AVCHD video;
* Shoots nine-megapixel (no interpolation) digital stills and Full HD video with 1000 TV lines of horizontal resolution – close to the theoretical maximum horizontal resolution for 1920 x 1080 high definition video for no-compromise images;
* 10x slow motion shooting plays back four seconds of recorded video over 24 seconds;
* Up to six nine-megapixel stills can be shot at 15 images per second – faster than what digital SLRs can achieve;
* Simultaneous five-megapixel digital still shooting while recording Full HD video – photos can be shot at shutter speeds as fast as 1/4000 second without interrupting video recording;
* Records video and stills to SDHC memory cards.

The new Everio X was designed for the consumer who wants to shoot high quality digital stills and HD video, but wants the convenience of a single camera. While most conventional video camcorders shoot digital stills and most digital still cameras shoot video, the secondary capabilities of these cameras don’t offer sufficient quality for many users. Everio X solves that dilemma by providing high quality stills and top quality HD video.

Unique Design

The design of Everio X is a distinct departure from other camcorders, including other Everio models. About the size of a chunky smart phone, Everio X is a slab-sided rectangle without the handgrip, protrusions or indentations found on most camcorders. The design allows plenty of flexibility in how the camera is held – from below, above, or whatever suits the situation and the user’s preference. There are top-mounted zoom and record buttons, and a second set next to the LCD screen for additional shooting flexibility. The camera is black with silver accents, with the right side featuring a textured carbon fiber-like finish to provide a secure grip and resist smudges.

Small enough to easily slip into a pocket or purse, Everio X weighs just 0.66 pounds (including the internal battery and a memory card) and measures 2.6 inches tall, 4.88 inches long and just 1.46 inches wide.

1000 TV Lines of Full HD and Nine-Megapixel Stills

A 10.3-megapixel CMOS sensor is at the heart of the camera’s superior image quality. The high quality nine-megapixel digital still photos the camera shoots correlate directly to the un-interpolated performance of this 1/2.33-inch CMOS sensor. For the first time ever, it is also the source of 1920 x 1080/60i Full HD AVCHD format video. The camera records at a stunning 1000 TV lines of horizontal resolution – close to the theoretical maximum of 1920 x 1080 Full HD.

JVC’s new proprietary optical image stabilization (OIS) technology applies camera shake compensation optically at the Everio X lens entrance to ensure effectiveness throughout the zoom range and allow high quality shooting without a tripod. Everio X also uses a new KONICA MINOLTA HD LENS with a 5X optical zoom.

Further contributing to the camera’s high image quality is JVC’s HD Gigabrid Premium image processing engine. In addition, face detection technology assures accurate focus and exposure, and HDMI(TM) V.1.3 with x.v.Color(TM) provides increased color accuracy when connected to HDTV displays.

10x Slow Motion Shooting, High-Speed Motor Drive Stills

Slow motion video recording is a key Everio X feature. The camera’s high-speed recording function shoots ultra-slow motion video. Any one of three speeds – 120 frames per second (fps), 300fps and 600fps – can be selected; the faster the recording speed, the slower the playback motion. With this function, approximately four-second bursts of video are recorded that are then played back over a period of up to 24 seconds, a maximum of 10 times longer than normal speed.

Recording speed Image size Recording time Playback time
600fps 640 x 72 pixels Approx. 2.4 sec. Approx. 24 sec. (10x)
300fps 480 x 116 pixels Approx. 4 sec. Approx. 20 sec. (5x)
120fps 480 x 270 pixels Approx. 8 sec. Approx. 16 sec. (2x)

In the still mode, Everio X offers high-speed shooting, similar to the motor drive function found in some mechanical still cameras. As many as six nine-megapixel photos can be shot at up to 15 images per second, a speed that surpasses what’s offered by typical nine-megapixel DSLR cameras. Everio X also allows shooting of 1920 x 1080/60i Full HD video and fully 5.3 megapixel stills at the same time — a unique advantage of this all-in-one camera. While recording video, photos can be shot at shutter speeds as fast as 1/4000 second without interrupting video recording.

5 Mega simultaneous Shooting speed Maximum limit
still mode
High speed 60 images / sec. 11 images
Medium speed 11 images / sec. 11 images
Low speed 4 images / sec. No limit

Global Sharing

With the worldwide explosion of interest in video sharing, Everio X offers easy solutions for distribution. A One Touch Export function provided by bundled software for Windows(R) makes it easy to export videos from the camera into iTunes(R) for playback on an iPod(R) or iPhone(R). And the One Touch Upload function, when used with the included software for Windows, simplifies uploading videos to YouTube(TM).

The DVD Creation function makes it easy to transfer video to a disc for archiving or sharing. Create a disc directly from the camera using the JVC Everio CU-VD50 burner/player or CU-VD3 burner SHARE STATION. Other direct storage solutions include third party external hard disk drives from LaCie and Seagate, and an external Blu-ray Disc Burner from LaCie.

The Everio GZ-X900 will be available in June at a nationally advertised value of $999.95.

The main difference between the GZ-M120 and the GZ-M130 (pictured above) is that the first camcorder comes with a dual SD card slot, while the former model features a 16GB HDD in addition to its SD card slot. JVC says the GZ-M120 is the first device in the industry that’s equipped with two SD card slots.

Both models feature a 1/6-inch CCD lens, a 2.7-inch LCD screen, 40x dynamic Zoom, a YouTube and iTunes one-touch upload function and a maximum resolution of 720×480. The GZ-M120 will cost $530, while the the GZ-M130 will set you back $640 (prices for Japan).

The GZ-HM200 (pictured above) is a full HD AVCHD camcorder and supports two 8GB SD/SDHC cards at the same time. It features a 1/4.1-inch 3.05Mp CMOS lens, a 2.7-inch LCD screen, 20x optical Zoom, a YouTube and iTunes one-touch upload function and HDMI V.1.3. The GZ-M200 will retail in Japan for $1,060.

The JVC GZ-HD40U is small enough to go anywhere and can produce some very high-quality recordings. It’s about as long as a soda can and somewhat fatter. It weighs a bit over a pound and is comfortable to hold for hand held shooting. While the entire body is plastic, it feels well made and solid. There are very few controls on the camera, making its operation quite simple and straightforward. The image quality in well lit environments is stunning. Overall, I’ve really enjoyed using this camcorder.

With good lighting, sunlight or very bright indoor lighting, the image clarity is superb. As the amount of light decreases, the HD40U produces fairly accurate colors without having to go into a sub-menu and adjust the exposure (AE). No orange faces in dim, indoor places. This is a huge differentiator, for me,compared to lower-end cameras that don’t automatically handle colors well in a variety of light situations. Unfortunately, you will also loose crispness and add noise as the amount of light decreases. This has nothing to do with the AE,but just the lack of light. The more stable the camera (i.e. tripod), the less of an effect this will have, but it will still be noticeable. There is a built-in LED light to help with low-light shooting, but it is only good for about 5′-10′. Even in extremely dark rooms, early morning with shades drawn, the HD40 still picked up plenty of details and recorded impressive footage for that light situation.

Small (771×649) excerpt from a full frame (1920×1080) shot using AVCHD in daylight. Actual size. The jaggies are because this is a motion shot. I am holding the camera facing both of us as we walk around the house.  Click for larger image.

The HD40U powers on automatically and quickly when the screen is opened. No extended boot time. As I mentioned, the controls are very simple. To the left of the screen are a small, clickable joystick and two function buttons. The joystick makes it easy to navigate menus and recordings and allows for quick access to the attached LED light and manual exposure (AE) settings while recording. One of the buttons accesses the menu in either playback or record mode. The other button displays the index of recordings while in playback mode and toggles between remaining recording time/HDD space available and a detailed battery display during record mode. These displays are simple yet informative. The remaining recording time shows the HDD use as a pie chart and how much time is remaining with each compression setting. You can also change the compression setting from this view. The detailed battery display shows the status in 10%increments as well as the maximum number of minutes remaining. These two screens are invaluable and easily accessible. The other primary controls, record, zoom,and take a snapshot, are in operated by the right hand and are placed exactly where you have come to expect them.

The HD40U supports the AVCHD and MPEG-2 recording formats. AVCHD will provide better compression, longer record times, and direct burning to DVD, while the MPEG-2 will allow for higher picture quality and easier compatibility with existing editors. You won’t be worrying about running out of space with the 120GB HDD even though at the high quality AVCHD setting you’ll have an average bit rate of 17 mbps and with MPEG-2, a whopping 26.6 mbps. This may be one of the biggest changes for people accustomed to removable media camcorders that used tapes or discs. There’s no more media to buy, ever. No tapes to change while recording and then lose later. All the footage is recorded onto the massive 120GB internal hard drive, which can hold between 10 and 50 hours of footage, depending on your compression settings. You transfer all the footage as individual clips to your PC where you can easily edit, store and share them. I know it sounds like it’s going to take up a lot of space, but with terabyte drives (1000GB) priced at ~$120 and falling, storage space will be the least of your concerns.

Before I downloaded the video, I wanted to see how it would look streaming to my 32″ 1080i WinBook LCD TV. The HD40U comes with a mini-component cable and an AV cable for standard definition TVs. There is also an HDMI port on the camera, but the HDMI cable is not included. Blowing up the image to this size makes some of the visual noise more apparent, but I’m sure I’ll also have commenters saying that if I’d used HDMI instead of the included component connector, it may have reduced some of the visual noise. Both the camcorder and the included dock have HDMI, component, and AV outputs for video streaming, as well as power, and USB. The dock also has an additional Firewire port that the camcorder does not. Keep the dock connected to your PC for easy file downloads or keep it hooked up to your home theater to quickly share the footage you’ve shot.

Stepping more towards the pro, the HD40U allows for additional accessories to be used that lower end models do not. There is an input for an external mic as well as a headphone jack to listen to recordings or to monitor the sound being recorded. It also includes an accessory shoe that allows you to mount a light or an external mic. While most consumers won’t need these kinds of accessories,it’s nice to have the option of adding a higher quality mic, a wireless mic, or an LED light bank for better quality in low light environments.

Unfortunately, the JVC software is not Mac compatible. No worries. The camcorder easily connects with iMovie, although the conversion from AVCHD to Quicktime’s .mov will take some time. Even though the camera records at 1920×1080, you have a choice to make when downloading. An hour of full HD video takes up about 40GB of space on your drive in Quicktime’s format. Additionally, some hard drives may not be fast enough to serve the information at adequate speeds for smooth playback. However, if you download it at half resolution, an hour is only 13GB.I had no problems playing the video back at full size on my Macbook Pro. Well, Idid have one problem. Full HD video is bigger than the screen resolution of the 15″ laptop, so I was viewing it at half resolution anyhow. Comparing it to footage I downloaded at half resolution, I couldn’t tell the difference. So whether you really need to save full HD files depends on what you intend to do with them. 

At the same time I was evaluating the HD40U, I was also evaluating the MG330. It’s a lower end consumer level camera that has a smaller form factor and is not HD. It’s a great camera, but I definitely gravitated towards the HD40U. While the higher resolution was a factor, the main differentiator to me was that I knew that when I turned on the HD40U and started shooting, the color would be more true to life than the MG330. It may seem like a small issue when comparing camcorders that are hundreds of dollars apart in price, but often I am trying to capture something fleeting that is happening now. I don’t have time to set things up before I start recording. That’s worth the extra money. The HD40U has an MSRP of $1299, but can be found for about 2/3 of that price.
Bottom Line: Prosumer camcorder with high resolution, lots of storage,options for output and extras.

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Pros: Small size. Sturdy. Zoom. Records to 30 GB hard drive. Affordable.
Cons: Light balance in low light a bit yellow in automatic. Not HD.

The JVC Everio GZ-MG330 is all about simple and easy. It’s not much bigger than my fist and packs in a 30 gigabytye hard drive for up to 37 hours of recording in the most compressed mode. This camcorder is so small, that on my way out the door, I’d see it on the table and just toss it in my jacket pocket. I didn’t worry about it getting banged around. It’s sturdy enough to handle it. I might stay out of the mosh pit with it, but otherwise, you’ll probably be fine. The body is entirely plastic, but the innards give it a bit of reassuring heft.

All the controls are simple and intuitive and right where your fingers expect them to be. The record button is by your thumb, and the zoom is on top along with a snapshot button for taking pictures. When you open the screen, which rotates 270 degrees, you’ll notice that there are no buttons, just indentations. You press your finger into these hollows where buttons should be and the camera responds. Works great as long as you’re not wearing gloves. There are five of these buttons along the bottom, including dedicated OK and MENU buttons as well as 3 contextual buttons whose operation changes based on the mode you are in. When they are active, their function appears on the screen above them. There is also a touch slider along the left side of the screen. As expected, it allows you to quickly scroll through options. It even has a cool blue LED underneath that shadows your finger movement. If you move your finger back and forth slowly, you can kinda get a cool Knight Rider effect, but you’ll get really strange looks if you try and demonstrate this to anyone. Trust me.

All that is great, but what really matters is the video quality. The MG330 records on a single 680k CCD sensor at standard definition 16:9 aspect ratio that produced videos with a resolution of 853×480 when downloaded. In even small amounts of daylight, the colors will be good and the autofocus will be fast. After the sun sets, you may need to make some adjustments. The default white balance or auto exposure (AE) setting was very warm, even in what I would consider well lit rooms. The footage had that yellow-orange tinge that gave us all the fake-tan look. This can be corrected by selecting from one of the other AE options in the settings menu. Also, the darker the environment, the tougher it was for the lens to focus. Once it ‘locked’ on the subject, it would usually stay focused, but sometimes it would take a moment to lock on and occasionally, it would decide to refocus unnecessarily. There is a mini LED light built into the front of the MG330 and it does help a bit, but only for subjects that are reasonably close. There is no mount for an external lamp or mic. The MG330 also has a stereo microphone. The stereo microphone differentiates the sound well, even in a noisy environment. When reviewing some party footage, I could tell which direction people off camera are coming from.

The images look very crisp when watching them on the 2.7″ widescreen LCD, but I wanted to see what it would look like when viewed on an HD TV, specifically my 32″ 1080i WinBook LCD. This monitor has a much higher resolution than the camera so I knew that it would highlight some of image deficiencies. JVC wasn’t helping here. The only video out is composite, not even s-video, which would have made a significant improvement. This added a good deal of fuzziness to what would have been a much crisper image. The downloaded files were much clearer when viewed on my 15″ MacBook Pro.
On the positive side, there is surprisingly little noise, especially in dark areas and large fields of colors. In some camcorders, dark areas are often made up of a combination of similalarly colored pixels that dance around constantly. This can be extremely distracting. With the MG330, black is black, solid black, and their isn’t any noticeable pixel activity in the background, with the exception of some slight aliasing at contrasting edges. On the critical side, as the camcorder moves to areas of different light intensity, light to dark or vice-versa, the aperture can take a moment to adjust. It’s a small lag, but noticeable.

When downloading the clips, I was at somewhat of a disadvantage. The JVC software only supports Windows and I only support Macs. Luckily, the camera connected easily and iMovie launched automatically. Files imported into iMovie very quickly, with ~40 minutes of video copying in less than 5 minutes. However, I was not able to take advantage of some of the various ways the camera can communicate with a PC. There are options to backup the files, play them on your PC, and burn a dvd directly. Selecting any of these when connected to a Mac just mount the camera as a disc in OS X and launch iMovie.

As you can see, all of my test footage was of my daughter at around a year old. I’m really glad I had this camera to capture some of those moments.

The MG330 has an MSRP of $449, but can be found for ~$100 less.

Bottom Line: If you want more features than a Flip Ultra and don’t need or want to pay for a true HD camcorder, give the JVC Everio GZ-MG330 a try. Good value for a point-and-shoot family video camera. Takes great images when the light is good.

Victor JVC Japan today announced the HP-DX700 [JP], headphones with wooden housing for better sound quality. The device, which goes in sale in Nippon in the middle of next month, weighs 380 grams. It operates in a 5Hz to 30kHz frequency.

The HP-DX700 also features 64Ω impedance, an overpressure value of 101dB/mW and supports a maximum input of 1,500mW. It’s priced at $730 and is Japan only at this point.

Seven new CD receivers, three new HD radio options, and most of their higher end receivers are getting at least bluetooth connectivity.

Of particular note is their flagship model, the KD-R900. This receiver unit has the obligatory bluetooth, but also two USB connections, and iPhone integration built in. You can actually control your iPhone from the receiver, and it also features hands free calling via a microphone built into the head unit. You can also use HD radio, satellite radio, and play MP3/WMA cd’s in it. This will be available for installation into your Honda in March with an MSRP of $269.95.

The company claims it takes 50% less material resources and 10% fewer LCD module parts to manufacture the display. There is no information about features or the model name of the screen available at this point (other that it offers full HD resolution).

The display will go on sale in Japan (and possibly outside Nippon) within this year.

Short Version: The first time you put on noise canceling headphones, you can’t believe your ears. When you flip the noise canceling circuitry on, it’s like hitting a mute button on the world (note: does not work on significant others, only constant noise. And no, your SO’s blathering does not count as a constant din.) I never realized how loud my office was until I put on these JVCs. Now it’s hard to sit at my desk without them.

These are different from the earbuds that you jam in your ear to block out the sound. These headphones listen to the ambient noise and generate sound waves that are 180 degrees out of phase with the background noise to effectively cancel it out. They can do this without effecting the sound you want to hear.

The audio quality of these headphones was very impressive. The sound was full and undistorted. The bass was prominent without being overpowering. They are also very comfortable. The foam cups are worn on your ears as opposed to completely covering them. This makes these headphones a bit smaller for travel, but also means they won’t physically block as much noise as larger headphones will. The ear cups rotate flat for storage and to enable a comfortable fit on your ears. The band holds these headphones in place without pinching my rather large head (not Sputnik sized, but close). The JVCs ship with a semi-hard case with a zip pouch for the included cable, airline plug adapter, and 1/4″ adapter. John has been using Bose for years now but these are on par and considerably cheaper.

The Bose Quiet Comfort line is probably the most well known active noise canceling headphone on the market. I was curious about how these JVCs would stand up to the Bose. My boss lent me his Quiet Comfort 3 (retails for $349) so I could compare. While there are some noticeable differences, you need to be doing a side-by-side comparison to notice them. The Bose do block out slightly more noise and has a slightly fuller mid-range. The bass is tighter in the Bose and more emphasized in the JVCs. This is more a matter of taste to me than quality. Both are very comfortable to wear.

Another smart design decision is that the cable is completely removeable from the headphones. This allows you to use the noise reduction function without connecting it to an audio source and not have the cable dangling in the way. The real benefit is that if the cable wears out or if you want a longer cord, any Radio Shack cable will do. That’s smart design.

The JVCs retail for $199 but can be had for ~$110. Given how close they are in performance, I would recommend the JVCs at a fraction of the price of the Bose.

Bottom Line: Great sound, great value.

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