Sometimes I think, why doesn't JVC release a firmware update for the JVC GY LS300 to record Raw or Prores video external to HDMI, like Sony did with the Sony FS700R???... If this camera has the potential to become the best camera of the market even in 2024
This camera is like a budget FS5. The MFT mount is perfectly suited to creative lens choices. I love that an f0.95 prime lens can become a parfocal zoom at 0.95. This opens a lot of possibilities for working with a GH5s to get that Super 35 look and prime zooming. Amazing that the camera is 5 years old and still selling. Shows how far ahead of its time it was in 2015.
A great and balanced reviewer! I bought one last week from B&H, and love it. One pleasant surprise to me was that my Olympus 1.7mm F1.8, 25mm F1.2, 45mm F1.2, 60mm F2.8 Macro, 40-150mm F2.8 cover the Super 35 sensor 100%! The only lens from mine which I need to apply a 84% VSM (Variable Scan Mapping) is 12-100mm F4. I used to think that I would have to apply about 84% VSM for all of my mFT lenses. By the way, the price of the camera at B&H was increased to $2700 from previous $1900-$2000 a few days ago. Thanks, Edward
Thanks I am glad you enjoyed the review. I just checked and the price form B&H is still listed at $1995! I had one in my possession for a while and fell in love with it. So I purchased one used from B&H for $1695. They only had two and the other had a spot on the sensor. The one I received didn't have a scratch on it and so far is performing flawlessly. Do any of your lenses you mentioned have auto functionality? I shoot primarily in J-Log which really is where this camera shines in my opinion. Needing only a few small tweaks in the color inspector in FCPX, I have saved a preset so for most instances it s a one-click adjustment!
@@Csnumber1 Thank you for your quick response. I just checked and discovered that the price at B&H for LS300 has reversed back to $1995. It was $2695 yesterday. The AF on my both prime and zoom lenses work well but very very slow comparing the same lens on mFT bodies. I most likely will just use MF when I shoot videos. I have not tried J-Log yet. Planned to learn how to use it. On Saturday, I planned to shoot a piano recital for my son, this would be the last recital before he goes to college in the fall - it was the main reason why I bought this camera, so I could use two external Audio-Technica microphones via XLR for better audio - I was unhappy with the audio quality from those internal built-in microphones.
@@Csnumber1 I sold my 12-40 F2.9 after I bought my 12-100 F4.0 which has a better reach and it is even sharper than 12-40 F2.8. For larger aperture, I used my F1.2 primes. All my mFT lenses on my mFT bodies (PEN-F and E-M1.2) are very fast.
Craig I enjoyed that. I do think this camera is undervalued but that actually helped me pick one up a few years ago, used, at a great price here in the UK. And it has been a great little workhorse during lots of corporate jobs. And during Lockdown, with the streaming explosion, it has been given a second lease of life with its built-in encoder. If you have this camera you can stream directly to Microsoft Teams Live Event, which can be set to private access (i.e. only company employees can watch). So this is a very useful option for a simple corporate livestream production. This clip discusses the workflow in detail if interested. ruclips.net/video/3J0oAylA00k/видео.html
That’s a double edged question. So yes and no, would be the answer. The reality is this Camera absolutely shines when shooting in J-Log regarding the actual footage. The “709” is horrid, and the Cinema setting is a bit better, but fickle to grade. The J-Log is simply beautiful. But you do lose most of your auto-functionality. It also only shoots in 8 Bit, but again even so, in LOG the footage is great. The shooters and that will get the most out of this Camera are those who take the time to use it and learn how to tweak and mate it with the right lenses. As far as form factor I much prefer this “style” over the Canon Cinema and Black Magic style... and as much as the new C70 looks like a nice package, I really don’t like it’s form. I can’t imagine JVC discontinuing what is just a few improvements from being a “standard” setter! And yes the streaming functionality is another plus that cannot be ignored during these very trying times. Cheers!!
How do you disable the "STBY" status display at the top center of the HDMI and SDI outputs? Even when you use the Display button to hide the settings display on the LCD, the "STBY" status is still visible.
So, for me, this has been a life saver, because I never have to wonder if the Camera is recording... or not!! It's always on and cannot be disabled, not sure why you'd want it to be. However, by holding down the display button, you can totally turn the LCD screen off.
@@Csnumber1 - Figured out the problem, the STBY status only persists (on the external outputs) when you plug a Blackmagic Video Assist into the LS300's HDMI output. With either an Atomos Ninja V or nothing plugged into HDMI, you get a clean video-only output. I guess JVC's collaboration with Atomos had some teeth...
Does anyone know which MFT photo lenses allow for power optical zoom, and is there such thing as a photo zoom that doesn't "turret out" so I can put a matte box in front of it?
i've seen people apply gear rings to lenses, and use a follow focus motor. there are a few MFT lenses that are internal zoom, not trumpet. And with a speedbooster, you can mount full frame and apc lenses from Canon, Nikon etc. another possible lens is an olympus 12-50 motorized zoom, its got good optics, sharp, inexpensive. I use vintage Nikon glass on my Gh5 w/ speedbooster. great look.
Thank you!! But isn't that the million dollar question? What is a Cinema Camera? Isn't a Camcorder a Camera? Ok so thats out of the way because it is. So first I will let you tell me what you think a Cinema Camera is...and please don't say its one that doesn't have this form factor. DSLR's shoot Cinema Quality Footage and many are considered just that..Cinema Cameras, eventhough they may not be 'officially' called one. So I will what for your answer then hit you back ok??
@@Csnumber1 😅He chickened out because he knows you are right. This is 100% a cinema camera when used in the hands of a professional for this purpose, or an amateur who knows what he/she is doing, and I've seen some amazing cinematic short films that were shot using this camera. Thanks for the excellent review! 👍🏾👍🏾
A Camcorder can be Cinema by specs. Is the specs in a cam that makes it cinema irrespective of its form factor. That is why your tiny OG BMPCC was called cinema in-spite of its tiny pocket-size. Please, know before you talk.
Sometimes I think, why doesn't JVC release a firmware update for the JVC GY LS300 to record Raw or Prores video external to HDMI, like Sony did with the Sony FS700R???... If this camera has the potential to become the best camera of the market even in 2024
This camera is like a budget FS5. The MFT mount is perfectly suited to creative lens choices. I love that an f0.95 prime lens can become a parfocal zoom at 0.95. This opens a lot of possibilities for working with a GH5s to get that Super 35 look and prime zooming. Amazing that the camera is 5 years old and still selling. Shows how far ahead of its time it was in 2015.
A great and balanced reviewer! I bought one last week from B&H, and love it. One pleasant surprise to me was that my Olympus 1.7mm F1.8, 25mm F1.2, 45mm F1.2, 60mm F2.8 Macro, 40-150mm F2.8 cover the Super 35 sensor 100%! The only lens from mine which I need to apply a 84% VSM (Variable Scan Mapping) is 12-100mm F4. I used to think that I would have to apply about 84% VSM for all of my mFT lenses.
By the way, the price of the camera at B&H was increased to $2700 from previous $1900-$2000 a few days ago. Thanks, Edward
Thanks I am glad you enjoyed the review. I just checked and the price form B&H is still listed at $1995! I had one in my possession for a while and fell in love with it. So I purchased one used from B&H for $1695. They only had two and the other had a spot on the sensor. The one I received didn't have a scratch on it and so far is performing flawlessly. Do any of your lenses you mentioned have auto functionality? I shoot primarily in J-Log which really is where this camera shines in my opinion. Needing only a few small tweaks in the color inspector in FCPX, I have saved a preset so for most instances it s a one-click adjustment!
I have my eyes on the 12-40 Olym' 2.8. Looks like a great all around lens. Let me know how the auto focus and face detection works with your lenses.
@@Csnumber1 Thank you for your quick response. I just checked and discovered that the price at B&H for LS300 has reversed back to $1995. It was $2695 yesterday.
The AF on my both prime and zoom lenses work well but very very slow comparing the same lens on mFT bodies. I most likely will just use MF when I shoot videos.
I have not tried J-Log yet. Planned to learn how to use it.
On Saturday, I planned to shoot a piano recital for my son, this would be the last recital before he goes to college in the fall - it was the main reason why I bought this camera, so I could use two external Audio-Technica microphones via XLR for better audio - I was unhappy with the audio quality from those internal built-in microphones.
@@Csnumber1 I sold my 12-40 F2.9 after I bought my 12-100 F4.0 which has a better reach and it is even sharper than 12-40 F2.8. For larger aperture, I used my F1.2 primes. All my mFT lenses on my mFT bodies (PEN-F and E-M1.2) are very fast.
I just got one too! Do you have any links for the lenses that do fully cover the super 35 sensor?
Craig I enjoyed that. I do think this camera is undervalued but that actually helped me pick one up a few years ago, used, at a great price here in the UK. And it has been a great little workhorse during lots of corporate jobs. And during Lockdown, with the streaming explosion, it has been given a second lease of life with its built-in encoder. If you have this camera you can stream directly to Microsoft Teams Live Event, which can be set to private access (i.e. only company employees can watch). So this is a very useful option for a simple corporate livestream production. This clip discusses the workflow in detail if interested. ruclips.net/video/3J0oAylA00k/видео.html
That’s a double edged question. So yes and no, would be the answer. The reality is this Camera absolutely shines when shooting in J-Log regarding the actual footage. The “709” is horrid, and the Cinema setting is a bit better, but fickle to grade. The J-Log is simply beautiful. But you do lose most of your auto-functionality. It also only shoots in 8 Bit, but again even so, in LOG the footage is great. The shooters and that will get the most out of this Camera are those who take the time to use it and learn how to tweak and mate it with the right lenses. As far as form factor I much prefer this “style” over the Canon Cinema and Black Magic style... and as much as the new C70 looks like a nice package, I really don’t like it’s form. I can’t imagine JVC discontinuing what is just a few improvements from being a “standard” setter! And yes the streaming functionality is another plus that cannot be ignored during these very trying times. Cheers!!
How do you disable the "STBY" status display at the top center of the HDMI and SDI outputs? Even when you use the Display button to hide the settings display on the LCD, the "STBY" status is still visible.
So, for me, this has been a life saver, because I never have to wonder if the Camera is recording... or not!! It's always on and cannot be disabled, not sure why you'd want it to be. However, by holding down the display button, you can totally turn the LCD screen off.
@@Csnumber1 - Figured out the problem, the STBY status only persists (on the external outputs) when you plug a Blackmagic Video Assist into the LS300's HDMI output. With either an Atomos Ninja V or nothing plugged into HDMI, you get a clean video-only output. I guess JVC's collaboration with Atomos had some teeth...
I would love to buy that camcorder but I need at least 60p at 2k.
It does with an external recorder.
Does anyone know which MFT photo lenses allow for power optical zoom, and is there such thing as a photo zoom that doesn't "turret out" so I can put a matte box in front of it?
i've seen people apply gear rings to lenses, and use a follow focus motor. there are a few MFT lenses that are internal zoom, not trumpet. And with a speedbooster, you can mount full frame and apc lenses from Canon, Nikon etc. another possible lens is an olympus 12-50 motorized zoom, its got good optics, sharp, inexpensive. I use vintage Nikon glass on my Gh5 w/ speedbooster. great look.
Look for the Panasonic one!! It’s supposed to be quite good.
Power zoom MFT lenses that don't change length when zooming or focusing:
Olympus 12-50mm
Panasonic 45-175mm
nice review, and the camera really seems amazing, but it's a camcorder, not a cinema camera
Thank you!! But isn't that the million dollar question? What is a Cinema Camera? Isn't a Camcorder a Camera? Ok so thats out of the way because it is. So first I will let you tell me what you think a Cinema Camera is...and please don't say its one that doesn't have this form factor. DSLR's shoot Cinema Quality Footage and many are considered just that..Cinema Cameras, eventhough they may not be 'officially' called one. So I will what for your answer then hit you back ok??
@@Csnumber1 😅He chickened out because he knows you are right. This is 100% a cinema camera when used in the hands of a professional for this purpose, or an amateur who knows what he/she is doing, and I've seen some amazing cinematic short films that were shot using this camera. Thanks for the excellent review! 👍🏾👍🏾
A Camcorder can be Cinema by specs. Is the specs in a cam that makes it cinema irrespective of its form factor. That is why your tiny OG BMPCC was called cinema in-spite of its tiny pocket-size. Please, know before you talk.
No
Yes