JVC launched what it described as “the world’s first handheld 4K camcorder” at CES today.

The GY-HMQ10, which was on show as a concept model at IBC last year, has a list price of £5,090 and is expected to ship in March.

JVC product manager Gustav Emrich described the GY-HMQ10 as “a breakthrough product”.

“We’re witnessing the birth of what is destined to become a broad market for full 4K end-to-end production,” he said.

“It’s part of a larger move at JVC to bring 4K technology to a wide range of customers.”

Using MPEG-4 technology and a variable bit rate H.264 codec operating at up to 144 Mbps, the camcorder records up to two hours of 4K video to SDHC or SDXC memory cards.

Its Falconbrid large-scale integration chip takes image data from the camera’s CMOS device and debayers in real time.

JVC said the camera, which is similar in size to the manufacturer’s GY-HM150, can output 4K images to a monitor or projection system “with virtually no latency”.

Images can be cropped from 4K to HD via the camcorder’s touchscreen LCD display.

Features include:

  • 3840 x 2160 footage at 24p and 50p
  • 1/2-inch, 8.3 megapixel CMOS image sensor
  • Four HDMI terminals
  • Built-in F2.8 10x zoom lens with optical image stabiliser
  • Colour viewfinder and 3.5-inch touch LCD monitor
  • Manual level controls for audio, with audio metering in the LCD and viewfinder displays
  • A microphone holder and two balanced XLR connectors with phantom power located on the handle
  • Built-in stereo mic for ambient sound pickup

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