NewsTeam Class

JVC GY-HM100U 

Camcorder 

Operating Instructions

This camera supports the HD video recording formats, generating Quicktime files that are supported by Apple’s Final Cut Pro. The recorded clips can be downloaded and edited immediately. Don’t be deceived by the small size – this camera is a fully-capable professional camcorder.

To use this camera, you must first purchase an SD card for recording. The camera uses two SD cards to enable for continuous recording between the slots.  

SD Card Estimated Recording Time (using HQ 1080i/720p)

• 4GB – 12 minutes
• 8GB – 25 minutes
• 16GB – 50 minutes
• 32GB – 1 hr. 40 m 

When the card is inserted and the camera is powered up, the access lamp of the selected slot will light up. When the card is being accessed, during recordings or playbacks, the access lamp blinks.

Removing the SD Card

• Turn off the power
• Open the access door
• Push the SD card to release and remove from slot
• Close the door

Caution: do not touch the metal part of the SD card when inserting or removing the SD card.

With new cards, or cards you already have, but want to erase, you need to format.

Deleting Files on the SD Card

Press the CAM/MEDIA button to switch from Camera to Playback mode. The playback mode displays your files.

Then press MENU to show the DELETE functions. Using the Set Lever, select DELETE. You have the choice to delete the Current file, or you can select a file, or Delete All.

Inserting the Battery

• Make sure the camera is not switched on
• Attach the battery by sliding it in the direction of the arrow
• You should hear it click when properly inserted

Removing the Battery

• Turn off the power
• Press the battery lock release button and slide the battery to the right

Checking the Battery Power and Remaining Recording Time

• Set the Power/Mode Switch to ON
• Open the viewfinder display and Press Index – pressing the button a few times will cycle you through the remaining recordable tie and battery power.
• The remaining recordable time and battery power are displayed for about 3 seconds.

Open the Lens

Switch the button directly behind the lens cover to open the lens.

There are two types of shooting mode: Video and Still

• Power up the camera by pressing the blue release button and turning the switch to STANDBY/ON
• Turning the Power switch to MODE will allow you to switch between Video and Still recording modes. The recording modes are indicated in the LCD screen. There is also an activation lamp on the rear of the camera that lights up depending on which recording mode is selected.

For the novice, the AUTO mode of the camera is a good place to begin. When in AUTO mode, the camera will give you good results. But there are advantages using MANUAL mode. In AUTO, you risk exposure shifts. For example, if you pan from a well-lit shot to one that is in the shadow, the camera will automatically adjust the exposure. The resulting exposure shift can actually ruin the shot. If you shoot in AUTO, then try not to move the camera. To get the best possible shots, then you need to use MANUAL.

Make sure that you always use MF (Manual Focus). AF (Auto Focus) will not always keep what you want in focus. Use AF only in situations where MF cannot be applied easily.

• Press the AF/MF button, located behind the lens
• You will see the change in the upper left corner of the LCD screen. AF or MF.
• Turn the focus ring on the lens until the subject is in sharp focus.

Use Manual Mode when you are recording

Manual allows you control over the aperture, shutter speeds and gain to get the best possible picture. Automatic Mode is fine only in situations where the lighting changes constantly.

• Press the FULL AUTO button, located behind the lens. This button will toggle between AUTO and MANUAL modes.
• On the LCD screen you will see the camera setting switch between AUTO and MANUAL. Make sure that it is set to MANUAL.

NOTE: Aperture and Shutter Speed are still set to Auto unless you use the IRIS or SUTTER buttons, located at the rear of the camera.

The Neutral Density Filter is used only in bright lighting conditions, such as sunlight. ND reduces the intensity of bright light, giving you a greater range of exposure settings.

• Switch the ND FILTER button, located immediately behind the lens
• ON for sunlight or very bright conditions
• OFF when indoors, or for low-light conditions

Gain electronically boosts the light sensitivity of the video signal when there is not enough illumination. Apply Gain only under low light conditions. Otherwise, leave it at 0dB. The downside is that boosting the gain high enough will introduce noise to the image, causing it to look grainy.

There are three Gain settings:

L – (0dB - no boosting is applied)

M – (9dB -boosts sensitivity about 3 times)

H – (18dB – boosts sensitivity about 8 times)

• Switch the Gain, located immediately behind the lens, to the desired setting.
• The Gain value will be displayed in the LCD screen.

NOTE: When outdoors under sunny conditions, make sure no boosting is applied to the Gain.

The shutter speed is a value used according to the user’s preference.

• Press the SHUTTER button, located on the rear side of the camera. The shutter speed values will be highlighted in black on the LCD screen.
• Turn the ADJ./VOL/ knob up or down to adjust the desired speed.
• Press the ADJ./VOL. knob to set the shutter speed. The shutter speed is set in white.

NOTE: Higher shutter speeds requires more light to enter the lens. Shutter speeds lower than 1/60^th will cause motion blur in the image. For most shoots, shutter speeds can set between 1/60^th and 1/100^th of a second.

To set the Shutter Speed to Auto, press the SHUTTER button twice to clear the display in the LCD. 

Adjusting the Aperture (Iris)

The Aperture is the opening in the lens that allows light to enter. The size of the aperture can be expressed as F-stop values. The smaller the f-stop number, the larger the aperture, and vice versa.

• Press the IRIS button, located to the rear of the camera. The current F-stop number is highlighted in black on the LCD screen.
• At the back of the camera, turn the ADJ./VOL. knob up or down to select a desired F-number.
• Press the ADJ./VOL. knob to confirm the F-number.

NOTE: Use your best judgement when adjusting the exposure. Compare what you see in the LCD screen with what the image actually looks like with the eye.  

To set the Aperture to Auto, press the IRIS button twice to clear the display in the LCD. 

White Balance tells the camera what white looks like under different colour temperatures. Select the White Balance type, located on the left side of the camera behind the lens

B – switches to the white balance position that is saved to Position B

A – switches to the white balance position that is save to Position A

PRST (PRESET) – switches to the white balance setting (3200K or 5600K) in (PRESET TEMP) of the CAMERA PROCESS menu.

You can also assign the FAW (FULL AUTOMATIC WHITE BALANCE) mode.

• Set the ND filter according to lighting
• Set the WHT.BAL. switch to A or B.
• Locate a place with similar lighting conditions as the subject, place a white object near the centre of the screen and zoom in to fill the screen with white.
• Press the AWB (AUTO WHITE BALANCE) button, located on the front of the camera just below the lens.
• When the correct white balance is obtained, AUTO WHITE A(B) OK is displayed on the LCD screen for about 5 seconds.

There are 3 ways to input sound

• Built-in microphone (used for general ambience)
• MIC terminal – can be used to plug in accessory microphone.
• INPUT 1 terminal/INPUT 2 terminal

NOTE: The built-in microphone is no longer in use when the Audio Unit (for INPUT 1 AND INPUT 2) is plugged in. To use the built-in microphone, the Audio Unit Cable must be disconnected.

ALWAYS WEAR HEADPHONES TO MONITOR THE QUALITY OF THE AUDIO.

• Plug the headphones into the headphone jack, located on the right side of the camera behind the lens.
• Adjust the headphone’s audio level by turning the ADJ./VOL. knob at the rear of the camera.

When using the On-board External Microphone

• Set the Ch. 2 INPUT to INPUT 1
• For the AUDIO INPUT, set INPUT 1 to MIC +48V *
• For the AUDIO SELECT, set the AUTO MANUAL switch to MANUAL for both the audio channels. Then turn the CH 1 and CH 2 wheel.
• Watching the audio meter displayed on the LCD screen, adjust the audio levels making sure that the sound doesn’t enter into the red end of the meter.

* The External Microphone is a +48V phantom power microphone, which means it draws its power from the camera.

• Plug the microphone into the INPUT 2 terminal
• Set the Ch. 2 INPUT to INPUT 2
• For the AUDIO INPUT, set INPUT 2 to MIC (the stick mic records audio only on Ch. 2)
• Adjust the audio levels by turning the Ch. 2 wheel

NOTE: When CH.2 INPUT is selected to INPUT 1, channel 1 audio will be fed to both Channel 1 and Channel 2. When using INPUT 2, then channel 1 will go only to 1, and channel 2 will go only to 2.

To remove the stick mic from the input terminals, press the silver release button above the connection.

Playing Back Videos on the SD Card

• Inside the flip open viewfinder compartment, press the CAM/MEDIA button to toggle between camera and media files (playback) mode
• Use the Set Lever, located on the edge of the flip open viewfinder, to select files for playback.

See the video below for a review of the JCV GY-HM100