JVC Intros 3 CCD GZ-HD3 Hard Disk Camcorder

JVC has announced its hard disk-based, 3 CCD GZ-HD3 camcorder, capable of capturing high definition 1,440 by 1,080 video to an internal 60 GB drive.

Electronics maker JVC has announced its new HD Everio GZ-HD3 high definition consumer camcorder, offering a 3 CCD image sensor and the capability to record 1,440 by 1080 video to a 60GB internal hard disk—all in a compact unit which easily sits in one hand. The GZ-HD3 is a followup to the company’s Everio GZ-HD7 camcorder (reviewed here on Digital Trends), offering a good subset of the GZ-HD7’s features—and a bit lower video resolution—in a package that’s 27 percent smaller.

The GZ-HD3 uses a 3 CCD system for recording high-definition video at 1,440 by 1,080 pixels, driven by JVC’s proprietary HD Gigabrid Engine, which applies five different noise reduction technologies to images from each of the three CCDs, while maintaining native resolution. The HD3 also uses a Konica Minolta lens with an “ultra-compact hybrid aspherical lens system” which reduces dispersion and aberrations to offer high-resolution capture while maintaining the camera’s tiny size. The camera also sports digital image stabilization, a joystick control for easy configuration, an SD card slot for storing stills and video, and a 2.8-inch swing-out LCD monitor.

JVC says the internal 60 GB hard drive offers up to 7 hours of video recording in its SP mode, which peaks out at a maximum bit rate of 22Mbps, although users can opt for a 30 Mbps XP mode which reduced total available recording time to about 5 hours. The camera also offers a 1440CBR mode which is handy for folks who want to edit their video using HDV-compatible editing software.

The GZ-HD3 sports HDMI and component outputs, a standard S-Video out (which outputs a down-converted signal for display on standard TVs), along with USB and iLink connectors. JVC is also offering an optional CU-VD40 HD Everio Share Station, which connects to the camera via USB and enables users to burn their HD footage to DVD disc without using a computer: a dual layer 8.5 GB DVD can hold about 55 minutes of SP-mode video.

The JVC HD Everio GZ-HD3 should be available at retailers in September for about $1,300.