JVC GY-HM700U ProHD Solid-State Camcorder
The JVC GY-HM700U is a unique high definition camcorder which combines the tried and true GY-HD100 series form factor with a solid-state recording system. The GY-HM700 records directly to widely accessible hot-swappable SDHC cards and boasts the fastest acquisition-to-edit workflow in the industry. Fully capable of both 1080i/p and 720p recording, the camcorder is ideal for a wide variety of production scenarios, including electronic news gathering, digital cinema, and much more. This model comes equipped with a Canon 14x lens.
- Familiar Face, Astonishing Results
- The GY-HM700 looks and feels just like JVC's previous ProHD camcorders; the shoulder-mounted ergonomics people have come to know is featured with all manual controls in their proper place. From there, JVC has raised the bar by giving hot-swappable solid-state recording to the masses in the form of SDHC recording capability. By taking advantage of either JVC's direct-to-edit Final Cut Pro format or by utilizing the well established XDCAM EX codec* the GY-HM700 is a solid performer in virtually any production environment. 1
- 3CCD High Resolution Sensors
- The 1280x720 1/3" CCDs featured in the GY-HM700 have sophisticated spatial-offset technology along with Adaptive Pixel Correlation. The result is high resolution imagery comparable to full-resolution CMOS sensors without the known problems associated CMOS, including skew and "wobble", making the camera an ideal for tool for sports, event coverage, and news gathering.
- Native File Recording to SDHC
- The GY-HM700's main method of recording is to SDHC Class 6 or Class 10 memory cards. With its 2 hot-swappable slots, the camera is capable of recording up to a maximum of 6 hours of continuous HD recording in 720p. The format can be easily edited in Final Cut Pro: simply drop files into a timeline and start editing! Bravo.
- XDCAM EX Capable
- Users have the option of connecting an SxS memory card module, transforming the system into a XDCAM EX capable camera. Take full advantage of SxS throughput and download times, while having the ability to cut naively in virtually all major NLEs, including Adobe Premiere CS4 and Apple Final Cut Pro.
- High Resolution Viewfinder
- Gone are the days of needing to use focus-assist and external monitors. Verifying focus is now as easy as looking through the viewfinder. JVC has equipped with the HM700 with a 1.22 megapixel viewfinder, allowing operators to see as much detail as possible. Have no fear, the focus assist is still there just in case you need it. Very cool.
- Retro-Cache
- The camera can be set to ensure you never miss a shot by using the "retro cache" function. This feature works by constantly recording for a few seconds even when the camera is in standby. The moment you hit the REC button, the camera saves the footage that was recording seconds prior, assuring no important footage has been missed. This feature can be critical for documentary filmmaking, where subjects can be both uncontrollable and unpredictable.
- Variable Frame Rates
- More necessary these days is a camera's variable framerate ability. This feature allows videographers to take advantage of both slow motion and fast motion cinematic effects by increasing and decreasing framerates. The dramatic impact can be useful for sports, wildlife documentaries, and high definition cinema.
- Built-In Clip Viewer
- Viewing footage is quick and easy. Just call up the clip viewer menu and review your shots instantly, which can be extremely useful on set.
- Professional Outputs
- The system comes with professional BNC video outputs, including HD-SDI uncompressed digital output.
| Signal System |
Quicktime for Final Cut Pro (Optional XDCAM EX with SxS Module) HQ mode 1920 x 1080/59.94i (.mov only), 29.97p, 23.98p 1440 x 1080/59.94i, 1280 x 720/59.94p, 29.97p, 23.98p SP mode 1440 x 1080/59.94i, 1280 x 720/59.94p, 29.97p, 23.98p |
| Image Device |
3-CCD, 1/3" 16:9 Native Aspect Chips |
| Lens |
Canon 1/3" Bayonet (14x Optical) F/1.6, f=4.4-61.6mm (35mm: 32-448mm) Filter Diameter: Lens - 72mm, Shade - 82mm |
| Signal-to-Noise Ratio | Not Specified By Manufacturer |
| Horizontal Resolution | 1080 Lines |
| Sensitivity | Not Specified By Manufacturer |
| Minimum Illumination | Not Specified By Manufacturer |
| Vertical Smear | Not Specified By Manufacturer |
| Built-in Filters | 1/4 ND, 1/16 ND |
| LCD Monitor | 4.3" |
| Viewfinder | Color LCOS (1.22 MegaPixel) |
| Scan Matching |
Yes Different Ranges for Different Record Modes |
| Memory Card Slot |
SDHC/SDXC Hotswappable Recording Optional SxS Module |
| Shutter Speed Range | 1/4-1/10000 |
| Gain Selection | 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18 dB ALC |
| Maximum Recording Time | 6 Hours (64GB SDXC Cards, 19Mbps 720p Mode) |
| Audio | |
|---|---|
| Audio Dynamic Range | Not Specified By Manufacturer |
| Audio Signal Format | LPCM, 2-Channel, 48kHz, 16-bit |
| Audio Frequency Response | 20Hz to 20kHz |
| Signal to Noise Ratio | Not Specified By Manufacturer |
| General | |
|---|---|
| Input and Output Connectors |
Component: BNCx3 (x1 Output) Composite: BNC (x1 Output) HD/SD-SDI: BNC (x1 Output) FireWire: 4-Pin USB 2.0: MiniB Audio: XLR (x2 Input) Audio: RCA (x2 Output) Headphone: 3.5mm Minijack |
| Power Requirements | 11-17VDC |
| Power Consumption | 22W |
| Operating Temperature | 32-104°F (0-40°C) |
| Dimensions (WxHxD) | 8.8 x 15.9 x 9.5" (22.4 x 40.4 x 24.3cm) |
| Weight | 8 lbs (3.6kg) |
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviews(based on 19 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
83%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Pros
- Zoom range/performance (15)
- Great picture quality (14)
- Easy to use (12)
- Large clear LCD (12)
- Comfortable to operate (8)
Cons
- Poor in low light (5)
- Poor sound (3)
Best Uses
- Documentaries (16)
- HD shooting (14)
- Movies/short films (11)
- Weddings (8)
- Travel (7)
- Reviewer Profile:
- Pro videographer (16)
- Was this a gift?:
- No (3)
Most Liked Positive Review
Nicely Done
Been using a demo unit for a variety of tasks and I've been very happy with it. I come from a background using full size cameras and I felt right at home on this unit...Read complete review
Been using a demo unit for a variety of tasks and I've been very happy with it. I come from a background using full size cameras and I felt right at home on this unit. All switches and adjustments were very nicely laid out and exactly where I expected them to be. The menu-driven camera options are useful, plentiful, and make sense. The picture looks great in full daylight, but can be a little grainy in low light. The viewfinder is pristine along with the flip-out screen. No Issues with using the SD cards. Copied to my FCP edit system and was good to go. Got about 1 hour per 16GB card. Stock lens is pretty decent, although if the budget is available, would recommend something wider with a doubler for a greater range.
Everything that I wondered if this camera was capable of doing, it could, and better than expected. For instance, It has HD-SDI, SD-SDI, Component and Analog out. Within those you can choose between 16x9, Letter Box 4x3 or Center Cut 4x3. Very nice feature.
Interesting note: shooting in full day light, running a 1/64ND filter, I was still at a f16. Doesn't leave much room for adjustments.
Pros:
Light Weight
A Real Lens with manual iris adjustments and servo zoom!
Adjustable Zebra
Spot Meter
Nicely Laid Out
Adjustable Eye piece (left/right, front/back)
Comfortable and adjustable shoulder Pad
Great Quality Viewfinder and Flip Out Screen
Good Battery life
Built in Speaker
Cons:
Low Light sensitivity is not the greatest (small chips)
Bit grainy in Low light
No Record light in Eye Piece
Camera microphone takes up one of the XLR inputs.
Could use a 12v out on camera
Overall Impression - For the price, it can't be beat!
VS
Most Liked Negative Review
Good camera ruined by poor optics
What should be a good camera is ruined by what the manufacturer calls "slight chromatic aberration". We bought 12 of these, they all seem to have the same purple or green frin...Read complete review
What should be a good camera is ruined by what the manufacturer calls "slight chromatic aberration". We bought 12 of these, they all seem to have the same purple or green fringing that you'll find on the web. After 20 years in the business I think I know what I'm doing but have been treated poorly by the manufacturer with the after sales support. It took 4 weeks to finally get told this is what it is deal with it. Lens is the Fujinon 17x, but others seem to still have the same problem which points to the camera.
REVIEWS
Reviewed by 19 customers
Sort by
Displaying reviews 1-19
Pros
- Easy to Use
- Great form factor
- Great Work Flow
- Large Clear LCD
- Zoom range/performance
Cons
- Chromatic Aberration
- No image stabilization
- Poor Image Quality
- Poor Sound
Best Uses
- Documentaries
- HD Shooting
- Weddings/Events
Comments about JVC GY-HM700U ProHD Solid-State Camcorder:
I bought this camera just as JVC was shipping them with the Canon 14x lens back in 2009. Since then I've tumbled through a series of build quality issues and frustrating optical problems. I use the camera mainly for documentary work.
The chromatic aberration that another purchaser mentioned in his review is hard to ignore. It's not apparent in all situations, but I've learned that I'll never be able to eliminate it fully, no matter how hard I work to avoid it. I'm not at all convinced that this problem stems from the lens alone (I actually really love the Canon lens) Other issues included a faulty viewfinder (which JVC fixed at no charge) and poor audio quality from the provided mic (picks up tons of noise from the camera).
On the other hand I've found this camera to be extremely agreeable on long days of shooting over the shoulder. The much bandied about work flow is also pretty great. I was shooting in Austin, TX just a few days ago on the street and I felt as though the camera had just become part of me. Walking and shooting simultaneously feels natural and easy. Low light issues are pretty normal given that this is a 1/3" chip (get used to using lights, people).
In other words, if JVC could just fix that awful chromatic aberration this would be a good camera. I could excuse the audio issue and a few defects (JVC has been very good with fixing defects) if the camera at least gave me acceptable image quality.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy to Use
- Good in Low Light
- Great Picture Quality
- Great Sound
- Great Zoom
- Large Clear LCD
- Zoom range/performance
Cons
Best Uses
- Documentaries
- HD Shooting
- Travel
- Weddings/Events
Comments about JVC GY-HM700U ProHD Solid-State Camcorder:
Though I've not had much time to work with this camera yet, the little bit I've been able to do has been wonderful. I love the ability to record to digital clips rather than the whole log and capture process of tape.
The form-factor is wonderful--very easy and comfortable to hold for a long time. Easy to operate controls in the usual professional spots.
Great camera!
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Large Clear LCD
Cons
- Poor Image Quality
Best Uses
- None
Comments about JVC GY-HM700U ProHD Solid-State Camcorder:
What should be a good camera is ruined by what the manufacturer calls "slight chromatic aberration". We bought 12 of these, they all seem to have the same purple or green fringing that you'll find on the web. After 20 years in the business I think I know what I'm doing but have been treated poorly by the manufacturer with the after sales support. It took 4 weeks to finally get told this is what it is deal with it. Lens is the Fujinon 17x, but others seem to still have the same problem which points to the camera.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy to Use
- Good Image Stabilization
- Good in Low Light
- Great Picture Quality
- Great Zoom
- Large Clear LCD
- Zoom range/performance
Cons
- Poor Sound
Best Uses
- Documentaries
- HD Shooting
- Indoors/Low Light
- Movies/Short Films
- Weddings/Events
Comments about JVC GY-HM700U ProHD Solid-State Camcorder:
Currently I do weddings and event videos along with indie produced short films. Here are the great things.- amazing form factor- easy menus- great lens with little to no breathing- good size LCD- great codecThe Ugly- included microphone- stock settings- in included tripod plate. At [$] te tripod plate needs to be in the box
Pros
- Easy to Use
- Good Image Stabilization
- Great Picture Quality
- Great Sound
- Great Zoom
Cons
Best Uses
- Documentaries
- HD Shooting
- Movies/Short Films
Comments about JVC GY-HM700U ProHD Solid-State Camcorder:
Camera is mainly used in music video and documentary applications. High definition video attracts many clients for my business. [...]
Pros
- Easy to Use
- Great Picture Quality
- Large Clear LCD
Cons
Best Uses
- Documentaries
- HD Shooting
- Movies/Short Films
- Travel
- Weddings/Events
Comments about JVC GY-HM700U ProHD Solid-State Camcorder:
After shooting on a DSR 500 the last several years we finally pulled the trigger and purchased the GY-HM700. The day after receiving it, we were already shooting breaking news (forest fires). Could not be happier with:
Image quality - Simply stunning
Form Factor - Felt good right off the bat
Weight - What a relief during run and gun news work. This entire camera w bat and lens weighs less than two of my old batteries.
SDHC Cards - purchased 2 32GB cards for $89 ea. You'll end up wanting several on hand.
Not so good - There is a longer pause after punching record before it is actually recording than I would like. There is a "pre-record" option I'll be turning on to avoid that. It was frustrating trying to shoot fast moving low flying slurry bombers and missing the first second or so.
Highly recommend this camera to anyone that has yet to make the move to HD.
Pros
- Easy to Use
- Great Picture Quality
- Great Zoom
- Large Clear LCD
Cons
- Poor In Low Light
Best Uses
- Documentaries
- HD Shooting
- Movies/Short Films
Comments about JVC GY-HM700U ProHD Solid-State Camcorder:
I was amazed on how good the images was for a camera in this price range. and the work-flow is actually a breeze, the JVS software (comes with the camera)can come off a bit clunky, but after the 2nd try it was also a breeze. It is very difficult to go back to tape now that I am working in the(SSD) medium I plan on purchasing another one to complement my more complex shoots. THUMBS WAY UP!
Pros
- Easy to Use
- Great Picture Quality
- Great Sound
- Large Clear LCD
Cons
- Limited Zoom
Best Uses
- Documentaries
- HD Shooting
- Movies/Short Films
Comments about JVC GY-HM700U ProHD Solid-State Camcorder:
I am a freelance videographer. This camera is great for documentaries and indy films. The lens is great I don't know how JVC can afford to sell the camera at the price they. I feel like I bought a lens and got a camera for free.
The built in earphone is not placed well and is sort of useless. I was a little worried about going tapeless but know I don't give it a second thought.
I highly recommend this camera.
Pros
- Easy to Use
- Great Picture Quality
- Large Clear LCD
- Zoom range/performance
Cons
Best Uses
- Commercials
- Documentaries
- Movies/Short Films
- Weddings/Events
Comments about JVC GY-HM700U ProHD Solid-State Camcorder:
I made the switch from tape to tapeless recording with this camera and the quality of the pictures and the craftsmanship of this camera are awesome. I use Betacam/SX through work and when I brought in my new JVC GY HM 700u Everyone was impressed. To say that I'm very happy would be an understatement
Pros
- Easy to Use
- Great Picture Quality
- Great weightno bulk
- Great Zoom
- Large Clear LCD
- Nice form factor
- Zoom range/performance
Cons
- Zoom clicks at topbottom
Best Uses
- Documentaries
- HD Shooting
- Indoors/Low Light
- Movies/Short Films
- Travel
- Weddings/Events
Comments about JVC GY-HM700U ProHD Solid-State Camcorder:
The camera is no doubt one of the best on the market. I just wish I would have known that when you buy this package [...] that it does not come with a battery or a plug in to use it. You have to submit the rebate form for an IDX battery system. That's all well and good but it takes 6-8 WEEKS to get it back in the mail! So now I have a camera and no battery, no charger and no way to use it. Lame.
Pros
- Comfortable to Operate
- Easy to Use
- Good in Low Light
- Great Picture Quality
- Zoom range/performance
Cons
Best Uses
- Documentaries
- Indoors/Low Light
- Movies/Short Films
Comments about JVC GY-HM700U ProHD Solid-State Camcorder:
Will be using this camera on documentaries and is great for its size, weight, versatility, and quality of image!
Pros
- Comfortable to Operate
- Great Picture Quality
- Great Zoom
- Large Clear LCD
- Zoom range/performance
Cons
- Poor In Low Light
Best Uses
- Documentaries
- HD Shooting
- Home Movies
- Movies/Short Films
- Weddings/Events
Comments about JVC GY-HM700U ProHD Solid-State Camcorder:
Great Camera, well worth the price
Pros
- Comfortable to Operate
- Easy to Use
- Great Picture Quality
- Great Sound
- Great Zoom
- Large Clear LCD
Cons
- No image stabilization
Best Uses
- Documentaries
- HD Shooting
Comments about JVC GY-HM700U ProHD Solid-State Camcorder:
I use the camera for shooting documentaries and general freelance camerawork. So far the tapeless workflow is flawless with Final Cut and the image is astounding. The canon lens is pinsharp. I also have an HM100U and together they are a great combo.
The battery life does not seem to be the best however and some of the controls like the ND filters do not feel very robust. But otherwise I am very happy with the buy.
Pros
- Comfortable to Operate
- Easy to Use
- Great Sound
- Great Zoom
- Large Clear LCD
Cons
- Limited Zoom
Best Uses
- Documentaries
- HD Shooting
- Industrials
- Travel
- Weddings/Events
Comments about JVC GY-HM700U ProHD Solid-State Camcorder:
It's always a bit unnerving to spend thousands of dollars online for a piece of A/V that you can't actually handle before buying! That's why the first thing I tested with this JVC when it came out of the box was the zoom...and I was quite relieved. I found it to be smooth, steady, and capable of even very gradual zooming.
I do concur with other users who note that extreme low-light performance is a little weak with the gain kicked in, but we do most of our shooting under brighter conditions, and I think it delivers a very nice picture in more conventional settings.
Generous screen size is a plus (I don't feel like I always have to lug a field monitor everywhere now), and menus are readable and intuitive.
Having shot on tape for more than 20 years, it's a real luxury to finally go tapeless, and be able to swap out the cards on the fly (although in the limited shooting we've done so far, it seems to drop a frame or two when it transitions between the two cards). One other minor caution is that it does not accommodate the very common SDHC Class 4 cards: you gotta spring for Class 6 or 10.
Other very minor gripes are that I wish it had a little more powerful zoom, and one more XLR input. But so far, we have no "buyer's remorse" on this camera whatsoever!
Pros
- Comfortable to Operate
Cons
- Poor In Low Light
- Poor Sound
Best Uses
- Home Movies
- Travel
Comments about JVC GY-HM700U ProHD Solid-State Camcorder:
I'm a 30 year professional shooter.
Its very poor in low light and the camera mic
noise isolation is terrible.
Pros
- Comfortable to Operate
- Durable
- Great Features
- Great Lens
- Great Picture Quality
- Versatile
Cons
- Poor Battery Life
- Poor low-light video
Best Uses
- Documentaries
- Editing
- HD Shooting
- Movies/Short Films
- Sports
- Travel
Comments about JVC GY-HM700U ProHD Solid-State Camcorder:
Great camera...I would say it offers the most for the price.Cannon lens gives you plenty of control, camera body is well design. the SDHC cards are not to be underestimated, they are high quality, reliable, and economic media cards. The camera has plenty of options, formats, and frame rates. Great picture quality, specially out doors during daylight, however it is not very good under low light environments...Awesome camera!It's the way to go, Totally worth it...[...]
Pros
- Comfortable to Operate
- Durable
- Great Features
- Great Picture Quality
- Great Sound
- Simple Controls
- Versatile
Cons
- Complicated To Operate
- Low-Quality Recordings
Best Uses
- Documentaries
- Editing
- HD Shooting
- Home Movies
- Movies/Short Films
- Travel
Comments about JVC GY-HM700U ProHD Solid-State Camcorder:
Comfortable to Operate, Durable, Great Features, Great Picture Quality, Great Sound, Simple Controls, Versatile
This camera is great is low lights, I get great details in dark areas and shadow, as well as in Highlight. With Picture Profiles I can tweak the heck out of the images that I want to shoot. A High-end Camera perfect As a Feature Filmmaker, Broadcast Television Producer and Events Shooter, It get me everything I could want to do an excellent job. I have done extensive resource before buying the JVC GY-700U, and I have found it to be the best, most versatile camera on the market at its price point. And I have use just about them all.
Pros
- Comfortable to Operate
- Durable
- Great Features
- Great Picture Quality
- Great Sound
- Simple Controls
- Versatile
Cons
- Low Light Grainy
Best Uses
- Broadcast
- Documentaries
- HD Shooting
Comments about JVC GY-HM700U ProHD Solid-State Camcorder:
Been using a demo unit for a variety of tasks and I've been very happy with it. I come from a background using full size cameras and I felt right at home on this unit. All switches and adjustments were very nicely laid out and exactly where I expected them to be. The menu-driven camera options are useful, plentiful, and make sense. The picture looks great in full daylight, but can be a little grainy in low light. The viewfinder is pristine along with the flip-out screen. No Issues with using the SD cards. Copied to my FCP edit system and was good to go. Got about 1 hour per 16GB card. Stock lens is pretty decent, although if the budget is available, would recommend something wider with a doubler for a greater range.
Everything that I wondered if this camera was capable of doing, it could, and better than expected. For instance, It has HD-SDI, SD-SDI, Component and Analog out. Within those you can choose between 16x9, Letter Box 4x3 or Center Cut 4x3. Very nice feature.
Interesting note: shooting in full day light, running a 1/64ND filter, I was still at a f16. Doesn't leave much room for adjustments.
Pros:
Light Weight
A Real Lens with manual iris adjustments and servo zoom!
Adjustable Zebra
Spot Meter
Nicely Laid Out
Adjustable Eye piece (left/right, front/back)
Comfortable and adjustable shoulder Pad
Great Quality Viewfinder and Flip Out Screen
Good Battery life
Built in Speaker
Cons:
Low Light sensitivity is not the greatest (small chips)
Bit grainy in Low light
No Record light in Eye Piece
Camera microphone takes up one of the XLR inputs.
Could use a 12v out on camera
Overall Impression - For the price, it can't be beat!
Pros
- MOV direct to edit in FCP
- Uses Inexpensive SDHC
Cons
- none
Best Uses
- Shoot anything anywhere
Comments about JVC GY-HM700U ProHD Solid-State Camcorder:
First time Pro Camera user. Meets every expectation and was well worth the wait. Fantastic HD video in a small compact size.
Canon lens is a must. Pass it up, and you pass up on better quality HD.
Steve
Bethlehem, Pa.
Displaying reviews 1-19
Batteries & Power Adapters
Required item: Batteries are not included. Keep plenty of batteries handy so you won't get caught without power.
- Price: $299.00
Media
Recording media is not included. Be prepared-always carry extra media.
- Price: $54.95
Lenses & Lens Adapters
Capture your desired angle of view with a quality conversion lens.
- Price: $797.50
This is a special order item. Est. arrival at B&H is 2-4 weeks (subject to availability). Your order will be charged at the time of shipment.
External Microphones
Focus your sound with a high-quality microphone. Audio quality can make or break your video.
- Price: $176.90
Create a more snug fit and vibration isolation for a shotgun mic when it is mounted in the camcorder's mic clip. (B&H # SAROCS)
Bags & Cases
Carry, organize and protect your investment with quick access to your gear.
- Price: $179.95
Tripod & Stationary Supports
Stabilize the your footage and eliminate handheld fatigue with the support you need.
- Price: $718.00
- Price: $299.95
Allows for quick tripod mounting and unmounting.
What's in the Box
- Canon 14x Lens
- Microphone
- 1-Year Parts and Labor Warranty
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