Micro Four Thirds Mount With A S35 Sensor? Yes! JVC GY-LS300 4KCAM Camcorder

Looks like JVC has been hard at work creating new cameras and listening to users on features they would like. That info helped create the JVC GY-LS300 4KCAM. Specs aside the foundation the camera is built on is unique. The GY-LS300 has a S35 sensor and a Micro Four Thirds mount. Yes Thats not a typo! JVC states that the sensor clears the mount so you can with an adapter put full frame lenses and APS-C ones too and take full advantage of the S35 sensor. Have PL lenses? Get a PL to MFT and you are set.

If anything I find this very cool and I like the innovation. MFT mount is the most  versatile mount I have ever used. Practically any lens with an adapter will work and more smart adapters are coming to market like the Canon EF to MFT Speedbooster and smart adapter from Metabones.

My first impression was. JVC just made the 4K S35 AF-200 I wanted. Okay well maybe thats a stretch…

The GY-LS300CHE features a JVCKENWOOD AltaSens 4K CMOS Super 35mm image sensor. When the camera is used with MFT, Super 16 and other size lenses, JVC’s proprietary Variable Scan Mapping feature will maintain the lens’s native angle of view. This gives filmmakers the flexibility of using widely available MFT lenses as well as high end cinema lenses. The unique combination of the MFT mount, the larger Super 35mm image sensor and Variable Scan Mapping give the camera nearly limitless lens options.

How this works in the real world is the big question. Being able to shoot with native MFT lenses too and have the same field of view as a GH4 is crazy. Something I have to see. I’m also interested in the viewfinder and LCD screens. Yeah thats important too right? Have to see what your shooting.

Advanced IP Network Communication and Streaming

The GY-LS300CHE features JVC’s latest IP communications engine giving you remote control and monitoring of vital camera functions from a tablet, smartphone, or computer anywhere in the world. Live streaming is possible in HD or lower resolutions, depending on available bandwidth. JVC’s Advanced Streaming Technology (AST) includes Zixi powered Forward Error Correction with ARQ, delivering high quality streams even under challenging conditions. And now RTMP protocol makes it easier than ever to deliver your live streams to content delivery networks such as USTREAM and YouTube. Just press one button and you’re streaming to the world!

These streaming features could come in handy too.

Check out the handle. Reminds me of a Cinema EOS. It’s removable and the body looks like a small FS700. The JVC GY-LS300 has some features that the big boys have like built in ND filters but hey what’s the deal! Get to the codecs and frame rates already!

• Newly developed 4K Super 35mm CMOS image sensor
• Micro Four Thirds System Lens Mount
• Variable Scan Mapping maintains native angle of view for a variety of lenses including Super 35, MFT and Super 16.
• Adapters available for PL and EF mount lenses
• 4K Ultra HD recording (150 Mbps, 24p/30p) to SDXC(UHS-I Speed class3) card
• 4:2:2 Full HD recording at 50Mbps (24p-60p)
• 3 position ND filter (1/4, 1/16 and 1/64)
• HD-SDI (3G) and HDMI outputs (4K output via HDMI only)
• 2-channel XLR audio inputs with phantom power
• Shotgun microphone included
• Dual SDHC/SDXC slots enable Dual, Backup and Continuous recording
• Advanced JVC streaming engine compatible with USTREAM, Zixi and Wowza Streaming Engine
• IP Network Remote Control, Remote Viewing, Metadata editing, FTP clips (requires appropriate network connection and adapter)
• 3.5-inch colour LCD display (920K pixel) with smart focus assist function
• 0.24-inch colour viewfinder (1.56M pixel) with smart focus assist function
• Wired remote control supported
• 10 user button assignable functions
• Includes handle unit, SSL-JVC50 7.4V battery, AC Adapter and shotgun microphone
• – See more at: http://jvcpro.eu/product/581/gy-ls300e-super-35mm-camcorder/#sthash.70QzwCn9.dpuf

Recording Media

2x SDHC/SDXC memory card (4K:UHS-1 U3 HD:50Mbps Class10, MOV HDClass 6 AVCHD Class4)

Video recording

Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 (4K/HD) ,AVCHD(HD/SD) 

File format : MOV(H.264), MTS(AVCHD)

4K(H.264) NTSC setting: 3840 x 2160/29.97p, 23.98p 4K Ultra HD recording (150 Mbps, 24p/30p) to SDXC(UHS-I Speed class3) card

PAL setting: 3840 x 2160/25p

HD(H.264) NTSC setting:

XHQ 422 mode:1920 x1080/59.94p.29.97p,23.98p(50Mbps), – I like this! 4:2:2 and 60p. Finally but it took 4K to give it up.

XHQ mode: 1920×1080/59.94p,29.97p,23.98p(50Mbps),1920×1080/59.94i,29.97p, 23.98p(35Mbps) 1280×720/59.94p(35Mbps)

PAL setting: XHQ mode:1920 x 1080/50p(50Mbps)

XHQ mode:1920×1080/50p,50i,25p(50Mbps),1920×1080/50i,25p(35Mbps), 1280×720/50p(35Mbps)

AVCHD

NTSC setting: Progressive mode(Max 28Mbps):1920 x 1080/59.94p,

HQ mode(24Mbps):1920 x 1080/59.94i, SP mode(17Mbps):1920 x1080/59.94i

LP mode(9Mbps):1440 x 1080/59.94i, EP mode(5Mbps):1440 x1080/59.94i

PAL setting: Progressive mode(Max 28Mbps):1920 x 1080/50p,

HQ mode(24Mbps):1920 x 1080/50i, SP mode(17Mbps):1920 x1080/50i

LP mode(9Mbps):1440 x 1080/50i, EP mode(5Mbps):1440 x1080/50i

SD(AVCHD)

NTSC setting: 720 x 480/59.94i

SD(H.264)

NTSC setting: 720 x 480/59.94i

Proxy(H.264)

NTSC setting: HQ mode(3Mbps):960 x 540/29.97p, 23.98p, LP mode(1.2Mbps):480 x 270/29.97p, 23.98p

PAL setting: HQ mode(3Mbps):960 x 540/25p, LP mode(1.2Mbps):480 x 270/25p

Audio recording

LPCM 2ch, 48kHz/16-bit(4k/HD/SD MOV)), AC3 2ch(AVCHD), μlow 2ch(Proxy)

Video output

AV output (3.5mm mini jack x1)

SDI output (BNC x1)

HDMI output x1 (HDMI 2.0)

Audio input

XLR x2 (MIC,+48V/LINE), 3.5mm mini jack x1

Audio output

AV output (3.5mm mini jack x1)

Headphone

3.5mm mini jack x1

Remote

2.5mm mini jack x1

USB

HOST x1(Network Connection) , DEVICEx1(Mass storage)

It even comes with that shotgun mic. All for $4,450.00. Not bad but the only thing missing is what does the image look like. We shall see. If I find some footy I’ll update this post.

In HD the camera is capable of 4:2:2 at 50Mbps.

XHQ 422 mode:1920 x1080/59.94p.29.97p,23.98p(50Mbps) and 4K Ultra HD recording (150 Mbps, 24p/30p) to SDXC(UHS-I Speed class3) card. It does have HDMI 2.0 for 4K out but again I don’t know if it’s uncompressed or not and one 3G-SDI: 1 x BNC out.

The GY-LS300 is a cool camera and one I would like to try out. JVC has been in the local broadcast market for some time and with this camera it brings in interesting features both filmmakers and newsmakers like. The price is pretty good for a 4K video camera with a large sensor but will it perform? For only a grand more could a guy who doesn’t need 4K be better off with a Canon C100 MKII? Maybe but again we need to see some samples. Another camera this moves in on is the GH4 with YAGH. I say with YAGH since the GY-LS300 has XLR inputs and SDI / HDMI outs. The GH4 is a fantastic camera but it is a hybrid and using a hybrid for video can be a pain. This is a good entry for JVC and I hope it’s a good one. Lets see some footy!

More info on the GY-LS300.

GY-LS300 4KCAM S35mm Camcorder
The GY-LS300 records to non-proprietary SDHC and SDXC media cards in a variety of image formats including 4K Ultra HD, Full HD with 4:2:2 sampling, SD, and Web-friendly proxy formats. It features JVC’s 4K Super 35mm CMOS sensor combined with an industry standard Micro Four Thirds (MFT) lens mount. JVC’s unique Variable Scan Mapping technology maintains the native angle of view for a variety of lenses, including Super35, MFT, and Super16. As a result, lens options for the camera are almost limitless.
“ The combination of a Super 35 sensor and MFT mount is a brilliant solution to accommodate the largest variety of lenses and adapters without compromising image quality and lens characteristics,” said Edgar Shane, general manager of engineering, JVC Professional Products. “It gives filmmakers flexibility to use high-end cinema lenses or affordable glass to capture 4K/HD footage.”

Follow me on Twitter @eriknaso and check out my page on Facebook.

Thanks for coming by! Please help support my site by using the links on this page or bookmark these from my favorite retailers, B&H, Adorama, Zacuto, Amazon.com & Think Tank Photo. Using the links cost you nothing extra, but it helps offset the cost of running my blog. Thanks again for coming by eriknaso.com!

Filed in: 4K • AF-100 • Camera News • Featured Post • GH4 • JVC • Micro Four Third Lenses • Micro Four Thirds • New Release • PL Lens
Tagged with: JVC • JVC GY-LS300