4K is no longer reserved for theatrical cinema presentation; it is in demand at all levels of production. With Ultra HD recording, the GY-HM170UA 4KCAM Compact Professional Camcorder with Top Handle Audio Unit from JVC is designed to fulfill the requirement for professional functionality. It offers ND filters, custom-assign buttons, and professional audio inputs with manual gain control in a form-factor closer to a consumer camcorder. The camera records 3840 x 2180 UHD 4K in 24 or 30p, at a bit rate of 150 Mb/s, encoding the file in an .MOV-wrapped H.264 codec. With two SDHC/SDXC card slots, the camera supports dual, backup, and continuous recording. Besides 4K, it can also record 1080p at up to 60 fps in an 8-bit 4:2:2 50 Mb/s .MOV file, or in AVCHD for compatibility with consumer editing software.

For monitoring, there is a flip-out LCD screen with a 920,000-pixel panel, plus a 0.24" viewfinder with 1.56-megapixel resolution—the latter being especially helpful when working in bright daylight. For an external monitor, connecting to a live switcher, or recording video externally, there is an HDMI port with live 4K output. The included top handle audio unit features two XLR audio inputs for use with external microphones, offering switchable Mic/Line/Mic +48 inputs with independent gain control. It attaches to your camera's accessory shoe and secures with a slotted thumbscrew. It features electrical contacts on its foot that enable audio signal transmission to the camera without any cable required. An accessory shoe and shotgun mic clamp are available on top.