JVC's disk-based Everio lineup of HD camcorders are being met by a trio of newcomers this morning. The 120GB GD-HD40 ($1,300) and 80GB GZ-HD30 ($1,000) offer 10- and 6-hours of full 1,920 x 1,080 / 17Mbps AVCHD recordings, respectively, from a 1/3-inch, 2.68 megapixel CMOS sensor -- a first for the previously all-CCD based family. They can also record in an editing software-friendly 27Mbps MPEG-2 TS format if desired. The AVCHD-only GZ-HD10 ($800) model scales back the disk to 40GB, the lens, LCD, and sensor to achieve the lower price tag. All three offer 10x, Konica Minolta HD optical zoom lenses, an accessory shoe, up-converted 1080/60p HDMI out, and a microSDHC slot. Available in August, that's when.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
David Hildreth @ Jun 16th 2008 8:13AM
I don' t understand how MPEG-2 is more editor friendly. Any decent editor is going to transcode the footage on capture just like AVCHD.
They both suffer from the same problems of any long GOP codec.
DVD4ME @ Jun 16th 2008 8:29AM
I hope this is better than the previous model. I own it and it is a POS, only any good outside in full sunshine, inside day or night the PQ drops so drammatically that I dont even use it anymore, used it twice and threw it in the draw!
Vic @ Aug 17th 2008 12:45PM
MPEG is is infinitely easier to edit than AVCHD--case in point: I've got a powerPC Mac (dual 2.5) and the older version of Final Cut studio. I've loaded video shot from the GZ-HD7 and all I had to do was import it into Quicktime and then export to DV format to use in Final Cut Studio. With the AVCHD format, I can only make it work if I purchase a $3,000 Mac and upgrade to the latest version of Final Cut Studio ($500). So to make AVCHD work now, I have to purchase the AVCHD camera and then spend another 3,500--doesn't make sense when all I have to do is purchase an MPEG2 camera and use it out of the box.