Las Vegas – JVC plans to market what is expected to be the world’s first consumer-level high-definition camcorder.
During International CES, held here earlier this month, JVC showed its dealers the product, which the company said is still in development. a model number, price and delivery date were not announced, but JVC executives expected it to sell for under $3,000.
The new camcorder uses MPEG digital compression to record in up to 720p HDTV resolution, and 480p enhanced definition formats. It will also record images in standard definition 480i format using standard DV compression. Using MPEG 2 compression, JVC’s camcorder will record approximately the same amount of HD content on a miniDV tape as standard definition content, using the non-compressed DV system.
Put another way, a 60-minute miniDV cassette will hold 60 minutes of HD content from JVC’s camcorder or 60 minutes of standard definition video.
JVC officials said the plan is to have the camcorder connect with both regular televisions and today’s class of DTV sets and monitors. This will likely result in the inclusion of IEEE-1394 digital outputs, as well as broadband component video output.
The 720p HD images recorded by the camcorder would be upconverted to the 1080i HD format for those sets and monitors that require it, JVC said.
