JVC yesterday retracted their pricing of 13x HD lens. Initially, it was announced for $6,995, now it is $12,995. That changes the whole equation. Bummer!

The main attraction of JVC HD-100 was its inter’changeable’ HD lens system. Which begs the question - change to what ? There are not many HD lenses which sell for under 3 zeros, most of them have four zeros ($20,000+), this 13x wide angle was announced as a high quality $6k lens. So the only option left is to rent these HD lenses. That would make sense, if… a big if, the camera delivers great quality+ future proof featureset- but on paper, Panasonic HVX200 (see table below) has better specs. It has 4:2:2 color sampling, variable frame rates from 4-60fps, low compression and shoots 1080/24p - so JVC is not in the same legue. They had one advantage “interchangeable lens system” now they have lost it. Lost it by pricing out the optional lenses.

So what now ?

Back to HVX200, and live with its fixed lens - and just hope that Century Optics makes a great WA adapter for HVX lens. It just goes on to show that each camera is a compromise or that cousins are looking out for each other. What cousins ? If you trace up the family tree, it would lead to common parent Matsushita.

JVC or Victor company as its called in Japan, is owned by Matsushita. And who does Matsushita also own ? Panasonic! So why is the same company fighting in the same marketplace with competing products ? Maybe thats the way Japs work.