JVC Launches Digital Media Cameras In Japan

JVC has announced the Japanese launch of two palm-sized digital media cameras that record high-resolution still images and video onto a 4GB Microdrive.

From JVC’s press release:

Victor Company of Japan, Limited (JVC) announced today the Japanese launch of two new palm-size digital media cameras that shoot 60 minutes of DVD-quality video or thousands of high resolution stills using a high capacity 4GB Microdrive card that contains a one inch removable hard disk drive.

JVC’s new Everio line offers an unprecedented combination of convenience and quality, recording both video and still images on a single digital medium that offers high capacity and high quality on a card that can slip into a wallet. It’s the same storage device used in some of today’s most popular portable digital music players. Both ultra-compact JVC Everio cameras shoot up to 60 minutes of DVD-quality MPEG-2 video or over 5.5 thousand 1600×1200 UXGA-size digital stills on the included 4GB Microdrive card. Both also allow quick transfer of material to a PC and easy saving to DVD.

JVC’s Everio digital media cameras mark the leading edge for video products adopting new types of digital media, a trend that began in audio. With Everio, JVC establishes a new benchmark with a format that combines convenience with the high storage capacity required to meet real world needs. The result is a pair of ultra-compact camcorders that offer video and still image capabilities, mobility, high image quality, extended shooting time, and ease of use.

Everio comes in two styles, the GZ-MC200 with a rotating grip and the vertical GZ-MC100 that’s about the size of an electric razor. Both cameras offer the same high performance and features, while offering two design alternatives to suit users’ personal preferences.

Both Everio models feature a 1/3.6″ 2.12 megapixel CCD having a total of 2.12 million pixels (effective: 1.23 million for moving pictures, 2 million for still pictures) to offer the high resolution capabilities needed for high quality digital videography and photography.

To fully utilize the 2.12 megapixel CCD’s picture performance, the cameras use JVC’s Megabrid Imaging Engine that separately processes video and still signals, providing optimal processing for each. Megabrid technology assures high sensitivity and a high signal-to-noise ratio for moving pictures and clear, high resolution progressive still images.

The GZ-MC200 and GZ-MC100 also feature a Super Hi-Resolution Lens specifically matched for 2.12 megapixel CCD performance. This newly developed 9-group 11-element structured lens, which offers a high-precision 10x optical zoom, includes a glass-molded aspherical lens for the best possible picture quality. There is also a 200x digital zoom.

In the video camera mode both Everio models shoot up to 60 minutes of high quality MPEG-2 video clips on the supplied 4GB Microdrive card. A choice of four recording modes lets users choose between more shooting time or higher quality, depending on their needs. The highest quality Ultra Fine mode records at a fixed data rate of 8.88 Mbps including AC 3 audio (8.5 Mbps video plus 384 kbps AC3) – comparable to the DVD (average 4 Mbps video/9.8 Mbps maximum) data rate – for essentially DVD-level quality in the same video and audio format as a movie DVD. As a result, Everio images can be enjoyed on a large screen display, including plasma, LCD and rear projection TVs, without the quality loss suffered by other formats when presented on a large display. A convenient multi-connector AV/S-Video cable is included for direct connection.

Video recording capacity per 4GB Microdrive

Up to UXGA Size Digital Still Images

The digital still camera mode shoots JPEG digital stills at up to UXGA (1600 x 1200 pixels) size, for excellent quality even for large A4 size prints. Users select picture quality and image size to match their needs, whether for printing, documents or e-mail. With the Microdrive^®‘s large storage capacity, thousands of pictures can be shot.

Still shooting capacity per 4GB Microdrive

Multiple Advanced Interfaces

The cameras store images and video on the standard 4GB Microdrive card. The same CF slot can accommodate user supplied CompactFlash cards. There is a separate SD Memory Card slot. Microdrive is a hard disk drive that’s the same size as a CompactFlash card, but with much greater capacity. It can be removed, just like a CompactFlash or SD Memory Card, and data loaded into a PC using an optional card adapter.

For quick downloading to a PC, simply connect the camera via its USB2.0/1.1 interface. All transfer is digital-to-digital, so there is no quality lost in the process. And since the cameras support PictBridge, the camera can be connected via the USB terminal to a compatible printer to easily print stills directly from the camera. Also, DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) support allows the menus on the camera screen to be used to conveniently select images and quantity before giving removable media to a printing service.

Make Full-length DVDs Easily

The CyberLink DVD Solution bundled with both cameras comprises three applications that make it easy to make and watch full-length DVD movies. A standard 4.7GB single-layer DVD-R/RW disc holds over one hour of an Ultra Fine mode movie, and over one hour 30 minutes of a Fine mode movie.

PowerProducer offers easy saving and authoring video clips in any order to DVD, even right from a USB-connected camera, so users can share original DVDs with anybody who owns a DVD player. Saving to DVD requires only a PC with 128 MB RAM, 700 MHz or above Pentium III, USB 2.0/1.1 terminal and a DVD burner.

PowerDirector Express offers feature-rich non-linear editing so users can flex their creative muscle with titles and even mix stills with videos. PowerDirector Express also converts movies to a variety of file formats to send via the Web or e-mail. Supported formats include DV-AVI, Windows-AVI, MPEG-1 and MPEG-2, as well as Windows Media Video and RealVideo that can be streamed over the Internet.

PowerDVD conveniently plays back video clips and DVDs with AC 3 audio.

Visit JVC’s website for more information.