Just as we predicted, JVC have just announced their first high definition Everio camcorder. The first of its kind, the hard drive camcorder records in full HD 1920x1080i video quality straight onto the built-in 60GB hard disk, which can hold up to five hours of full HD 1920x1080i MPEG2 Transport Stream video with MPEG 1 Layer 2 audio, seven hours in the SP mode with a resolution of 1440x1080i, or five hours in the 1440CBR mode with a resolution of 1440x1080i. Software is also provided to transfer this onto Blu-ray disks (if you have a HD recorder).
There are also a lot more interesting features, many of them borrowed from professional camcorders, but basically all you need to know is that this is a serious piece of kit for amazing quality HD video recording at a consumer level. The HD Everio HD Hard Disk Camcorder GZ-HD7 hits the shelves in April for $1,799.95. An optional Share Station (essentially a DVD burner) is also available for $399.95.
This is a big step forward for JVC, but they have a long way to go to catch up on Sony's coat tails in terms of HD camcorders. Will we see Sony biting back with their first full HD camera this afternoon? And will it have a hard disk?
From: Sony to double BRAVIA LCD TV production for growing European demand