JVC GY-DV500 Professional MiniDV Camcorder.

---

---

Some months later I had the opportunity to see the low light peformance of the unit at my local Pierce Phelps branch. I was absolutely floored. At +9db Gain this camera was picking out detail I had trouble seeing with my eyes. The sole illumination was a 25 watt flourescent lamp pointed away from the subject. The camera even picked up excellent color information. I immediately started regretting the purchase of the XL-1 despite its much lower price.

Time went by and I mostly forgot my chagrin on meeting this camera. Then I went on a day shoot with a local news photographer. My local ABC station uses BetaCam SP camcorders. My guide for the day was using a BVW400 with a Canon lens. In many ways my XL-1 outperformed, his camera, but the main problem I had is the lack of configurability. I began yearning for the JVC again.

Later, I was shooting a very competitive figure skating competition. The young ladies I was taping were very fast...I had trouble dealing with contolling the framing and focus...I needed a professional lens.

Finally I went to GV Expo in D.C., and I met the JVC DV500 once again. I was blown away the first time by something exceptional the camera could do. This time I was impressed by all the ordinary things it could do. Things that you get in every ENG/EFP configured professional camera. Gamma control, control over the zebras, setting knee point, white clipping..white and black presets. I yearned for what is standard, professional standard.

There have been complaints about the Fujinon "freebie" lens that JVC is packaging with the camera. For a freebie it is an exceptional device. The only problem I have with it is that the reach isn't quite long enough. In any case...it is a freebie.

The 90% of the time I am shooting under well lit conditions ideal for videography, this camera isn't really much better than my XL-1. The other 10%, it is a whole world of difference. The JVC GY-DV500 is a highly capable and flexble camera. It is my current recommendation for most video productions. If I was making my camera purchase again, this is the camera I would buy into first. The only camera threatening this choice is the Panasonic AG-DVC200 DV camera, which has not been released as of yet.

Variants

The DV500 has two major variants which I was able to play with a bit at GV Expo. The DV550 and the DV700. The DV550 is a DV500 modified to use a studio type remote hookup.

The DV700 is by far more interesting. It is a true 16:9 switchable camera. It uses 2/3" CCD's, and lenses, to acheive this. I have recieved no comment about its relative light sensitivity. Having 2/3" lenses is in itself an advantage in flexibility. There are simply more 2/3" lenses available. The viewfinder switched to 16:9 and 4:3 dynamically as I switched modes. I was able to use the viewfinder for critical focus in all these situations. I was not able to test the low light performance, there was too much light in the area, and no concealed nooks and crannies near the JVC booth. Still, it is reasonable to expect performance similiar to the DV500. I will say that I was using the same iris and shutter settings, and I got a slightly birighter image with the 700, but this was under ordinary lighting situations.

If budget permits you should seriously consider the JVC GY-DV700 as an alternative to the DV500.