JVC's new "Everio X" GZ-X900 camcorder is just what we like in a flagship device: incredible style, crazy specs, and awesome slow motion video of us slapping people. The GZ-X900 reworks the
Everio line into a new brick-like form factor that's bordering on the shape of camcorders of yore, but JVC puts a nice twist to it, and the camera is obviously very compact. JVC used some "premium materials" in the construction and it really shows, but what's more exciting is the high-end 1080p resolution, with 1000 "TV lines" to sample from (it's not upscaling from a completely bum source like many compact camcorders). The unit also works as a fast-action still camera, for 9 megapixel shots at 15 fps, and 5.3 megapixel shots at 60 fps. What we're really wild about is the 600 fps slow motion, which operates at a 640 x 72 resolution -- you can get more pixels at slower frame rates. Unfortunately, none of this good stuff comes cheap: the camera hits retail in June for an even $1000.
posted Mar 3rd 2009 4:38PM
Wait, 640x72?!
Now that is one w i d e short resolution.
Yah.
"640 x 72 resolution"
Thats horrible! ;)
I sure hope that's a typo, 72px height is just... plain useless.
Nevermind the spelling fuck up, this camera looks schweet. 1080p and 9 megapixel stills? My god, that's better than bother of cameras resolutions combined.
Me want.
yeah 640 x 72 has got to be a typo
No, it's not... It's a bandwidth issue.
If you're going to have hundreds of frames go through per second, you'll have to make them smaller and smaller as the speed increases, if you have limited bandwidth available to you...
I agree, the Sanyo HD2000 does 600fps at 192×108 and 240fps at 448×336
are those stills or screen grabs?
I like the looks of the Sanyo Xacti HD2000 much better. http://www.photographyblog.com/reviews_sanyo_xacti_hd2000.php
I don't think 640x72 is a typo it is probably just refreshing the CCD after 72 lines have had exposure allowing for a 640x 72. Rememebr 600 FPS is damn fast and cameras that film at that speed are very expensive....I don't even think RED makes that claim beyond 260FPS which is damn fast as well.
The Sanyo Xacti HD2000 does 600fps.
600fps???
Am I missing something here?? 600fps is 'slower' than 60fps??
think playback and it will make sense to you.
of course not. but it allows you to playback slow motion videos without worrying about noticing the frame skips when you slow it down (to a certain point) like you see in those youtube videos of a bottle of water being sliced or shot in slow motion
It's for slow-mo action, in order for slo-mo to look smooth when you slow it down, it needs to have a decent frame rate... that being said, I could see that comfortably being slowed 20-30 times to get a 20 or 30 frames per second.
60fps playback on 600fps recording = 10x as slow as real-time.
According the JVC website, that resolution is right.
Speed Mode Images Size Rec. Time Playback Time
600fps 640x72 Approx. 2.4sec. Approx. 24sec.
300fps 480x116 Approx. 4sec. Approx. 20sec.
120fps 480x270 Approx. 4sec. Approx. 8sec.
The design is slick but It just looks awkward to hold. Even the hand model dude can't seem to figure it out.
What part of i looks like p to you editor folk?
From the website: 1920x1080/60i Full HD AVCHD format video
Oh and AVCHD cant do 1080p, yeah that's what tipped me off. I wish you guys had learnt this crap by now.
I'm pretty sure it does 1920x1080/30p
AVCHD can do 1080p, it's speced to do it at 24p, 30 and at 720p it can do it at 24p 30p and 60p. There are plenty of cameras doing avc with 1080 now.
plenty of avchd cameras can do 1080p, it is very much an avc spec.
This camera's highest video quality is 1920x1080i 24Mbps. It records only interlaced (not progressive) video. Note that JVC traditionally use the marketing term "Full HD" to mean merely "1920x1080", irrespective of whether it is progressive or interlaced. Perhaps they'll use "Fuller HD" one day to differentiate progressive recording...
Also, note that the camera may sample from 1000 "TV lines", but it records 1080i. JVC is deliberately (and apparently successfully!) misleading the public and journalists to think it's recording 1080p. "Full HD 1920x1080", "1000 TV lines", etc. Quite clever for a marketing department...
Yeah, I saw that too: it's interlaced not progressive.
Its the best thing ever! Look at the quality of the imagery!? I definitely want one!
Sure its 1080p? or 1080i?
I'm so confused, is this a typo?
1080p at what 24 or 30fps, that's great and is about 2 megapixels of data...but "5.3 megapixel shots at 60 fps."?
What would you guys recommend as the best true 1080p camcorder currently available with image stabilization. I like the Sanyo Xacti HD2000 but without image stabilization it's a killer. I'm looking for something small /portable like the Sanyo.
Haha, you know the phrase "A picture says a thousand words," well with this gallery its so true:
1. First a sample of things you can shoot if you get this camera, like shoot slow-mo golf, wow... *yawn*.
2. Oh a pretty pic of the cam.
3. An empty day planner, since you obviously have no life if your shooting things like high speed golf, oh and some hard liquor mulling over buying this cam.
4. A nice bit of change if you bought this camera, what is that? $8.27US, and like 1 quid.