JVC Introduces Digital DualCam— The World's Smallest Digital Video Camera With Extensive Multimedia Capabilities Including Removable MMC and IrDA Transfer

Business Wire, Feb 23, 1999

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 23, 1999--PMA, February 18-21, 1999--JVC, a leading innovator in digital video and personal multimedia systems, introduces two new digital video cameras, the GR-DVM70 and GR-DVM50. Both are the world's smallest, under 1 pound (approx. 435g), and are equipped with a rich array of special effects, 2.5" color LCD monitor, and DV input/output (i.Link/Firewire, IEEE1394 compliant) for digital multimedia system integration.

As if this weren't enough, the GR-DVM70 takes multimedia versatility into the millenium - equipped with removable MultiMedia card (4MB) for digital still shooting. The GR-DVM70 "Digital DualCam" offers the best of both worlds - high resolution DV moving images, and excellent quality digital stills on memory card - plus valuable extras like a built-in Auto Flash with red-eye reduction, all in a pocket-sized, featherweight package.

Extensive Multimedia Interfacing Capabilities

The GR-DVM70 offers a wide, unprecedented variety of multimedia interfacing capabilities including a DV input/output (i.Link/Firewire, IEEE 1394 compliant) terminal on the main unit, for digital-to-digital image transfer to a computer or dubbing to another DV apparatus. The DVM70 also offers wireless image data transfer via IrDA (IrTran-P protocol compliant) for simple, on-the-spot output on printers such as JVC's GV-DT3 Multimedia Printer.

However, the ability that truly sets the GR-DVM70 apart from the rest and contributes to the name "Digital DualCam" is its built-in Digital Still Camera facility - or namely the HG Pro-Snapshot function and MultiMedia Card (MMC) compatibility. HG Pro-Snapshots, which are extremely high quality digital stills, can be stored on a DV cassette or on a removable MultiMedia Card, which in turn can be used to simply upload those stills to a PC (via PC Card Adapter to be made available at a later date). One 4MB MultiMedia Card comes supplied with the unit, and anywhere from 30 to 100 shots (depending on the resolution setting that's chosen) can be stored on it. As an added advantage of the Digital DualCam's 2-in-1 (video still) design is the ability to internally copy HG Pro-Snapshots from the MultiMedia card to a DV tape, or from a DV tape onto MultiMedia Card. This versatility and simplicity makes the DVM70 an ideal partner for mobile computing and image acquisition.

In addition, the supplied docking station is equipped with a Serial Port Connection enabling wired transfer of digital stills to virtually any PC, while providing computer-control of image transfer and edit operations using JLIP compatible software. Then to cover all bases, JVC even provides a J-Terminal on the docking station to route JLIP control signals through it (like a junction box) for computerized control of multiple JLIP compatible video units or peripherals as an integrated system. And, needless to say, there are Video/S-Video terminals for simple viewing on any TV or dubbing to a VHS deck.

This wide variety of interfacing capabilities undoubtedly makes the GR-DVM70 Digital DualCam one of the most versatile image gathering sources ever made available to consumers. While the GR-DVM50 doesn't incorporate the removable MMC card, it is still able to offer substantial connectability with DV input/output, Digital still output, Video/S-Video and J-Terminal interfaces, in a simple and user-friendly package.

HG Pro-Snapshot (GR-DVM70)

The HG Pro-Snapshot function is able to deliver high resolution still pictures by virtue of a high-speed shutter that captures highly detailed full frame stills that contain approximately twice the visual information of conventional field stills. Using a high resolution 680,000-pixel CCD, this function essentially emulates the operation of a progressive-scan CCD to enable moving subjects to be captured for non-jittery high quality stills. Since the quality of the original image is what really counts, whether users wish to crop, edit, or add some full-fledged special effects to it, these high quality still images are ideal for anybody who wishes to manipulate them on a PC or make prints from them.

These HG Pro-Snapshots can be taken in a wide variety of styles such as Full-screen, Pin-up, 4- and 9-frame multi-picture, and rapid Motor Drive shooting of consecutive shots - stored on the MultiMedia Card and recorded on video tape simultaneously. When recorded on tape, a shutter-like "click" sound effect is added to the recording, spicing up any scene both visually and aurally. On the GR-DVM50, the user can enjoy the Snapshot mode which records digital stills on videotape.

High Value Bundled Software

To get still and moving images from the digital video camera to a PC, and to allow extensive processing of those images in a variety of ways, both models come with a high value selection of bundled software - 5 applications for the GR-DVM50 and 6 applications for the DVM70. This software package has a retail value of over $180. -0-

Bundled Software Titles

MultimediaNavigator    JLIP Video Capture for
                       digital-to-digital capture of images
                       from DV recordings onto a PC where they
                       can be saved as BMP or JPEG data.


                       JLIP Video Producer for
                       computer-controlled playback and linear
                       video editing of up to 99 scenes, while
                       adding digital special effects and
                       transitions.


                       Picture Navigator for digital still
                       image transfer from Digital DualCam to
                       PC, or PC to Digital DualCam, as well as
                       basic image cataloging. (GR-DVM70 only)


Mr.Photo Gold Edition  Presto!  Mr. Photo for image  cataloging,
                       viewing and  automatic  Web page creation
                       (HTML output).


                       Presto!  PhotoAlbum for decorating  photos with
                       various  templates such as calendars and
                       greeting cards.


                       Presto!  ImageFolio with pro-style retouching
                       with multi-layer mask support, custom layouts,
                       and advanced special effects.