JVC busts out GZ-HM1 HD camcorder, lots of other video capturing devices

JVC's jumping in on the CES fun today with a whole slew of new camcorders, with the GZ-HM1 HD Everio leading the pack. This 1080p shooter offers up better-than-usual low light performance and camera-shake compensation. There's a 10.62 megapixel CMOS sensor within, though we imagine the $1,199.95 price tag will stun those who aren't looking for something fancy when it ships in March. The February-bound GZ-HM550 capture 1080p while offering up a 16x zoom, 32GB of internal flash memory, an SD / SDHC card slot, Bluetooth (for geotagging, naturally) and a $799.95 price tag. In case that guy is still too rich for your blood, JVC's offering up no fewer than eight other guys that range from $229.95 to $649.95, all of which should be out by next month. Peek those sources below if you're on the hunt for the nitty-gritty details.

[Freddark Posted Jan 8th 2010 6:42AM]

Japan Victor Company! This particular model performs at 10.62 megapixels, CMOS sensor enables shooting of 1920 x 1080 Full HD videos and real nine megapixel digital stills. Internal 32GB flash memory, with an SD/SDHC card slot to provide additional storage. A side from those core features, the camcorder has built in Bluetooth compatible with a users Bluetooth headset, and it has one touch to Youtube upload, the features new in creation for JVC.

[Saiko Posted Jan 8th 2010 6:56AM]

I wish the journalists at engadget (and elsewhere for that matter) would stop using 1080p whenever they see Full HD. Check the specs, nowhere does it mention 1080p. Full HD, 1920x1080, etc. do not equate to 1080p. In fact there are no consumer camcorders from any manufacturer that offer 1080p50 or 1080p60 recording. Some do conversions from 1080i to various 1080p outputs (usually 24 or 25 fps). Please don't mislead the readers. Maybe someone at CES this year will really come out with one that does it, but I doubt it.

[LloydChiro Posted Jan 8th 2010 10:43AM]

@Saiko This one does 1080i at 60f, right?

[EliC Posted Jan 8th 2010 8:44AM]

Was really hoping for more high frame rate recording devices this year. Really want to see 60-120+ fps.

[LloydChiro Posted Jan 8th 2010 10:42AM]

@EliC I believe they can do high speeds, just not at high def.

[Gib Posted Jan 8th 2010 11:32AM]

Why do they keep those AWFUL controls on the new models. The touch area is lame, they buttons are complicated/contextualized way too much, and the menu looks like it is from 1994. It's all well and good they are coming out with upgraded resolution models, but it is also time for an upgrade on the UI.

[tenazrael Posted Jan 8th 2010 12:34PM]

Yes - this camera will do 1080i60 (so 1920x1080 interlaced frames @ 60 frames per second... or maybe 59.97). It will not do 1080p60 - meaning 1080 progressive @ 60fps. The only camera that could and did 1080p60 very well was Sanyo's HD2000 and FH1.

But the Sanyo lacked optical image stabilization, and didn't give you some of the manual controls as these cams do.

So yes, it sucks that a small company like Sanyo can kick ass and provide 1080p60 but larger companies like Canon/JVC don't do something revolutionary and also offer 1080p60.

Since Sony/Panasonic are makers of AVCHD format, you can forget ever seeing 1080p60 there because AVCHD only supports 1080i60.

In other words, Sony/Panasonic are huge a$$holes. And their blu-ray spec sucks... thankfully they make blu-ray players that play mp4 content. Just make sure your blu-ray can play 1080p60.

Or you could just buy a little tiny media center (basically a computer in a box) that will play anything and everything at whatever refresh rate your video/card and monitor/tv support. :D

[techlord Posted Jan 8th 2010 2:00PM]

Just get the GH1 for about the same money.

[OG Phenix Posted Jan 8th 2010 2:16PM]

Just a technical question- isn't 1080p a display technology, not a recording one? This has been bugging me for a while. A video can be shot at 1920x1080 resoltion, but progressive and interlaced refer to how they are displayed, no?