Web Camera

What do you get when you cross a Web server with a broadcast-quality television camera? You get the JVC Streamcorder GY-DV300U, the first 3-CCD digital video camera that can be remotely controlled over the Web through a standard browser.

Designed as a professional-quality video camera with the capacity to stream MPEG-4, the Streamcorder is a solid performer that holds its own against competition such as the Canon XL-1 in the prosumer video arena. The Streamcorder delivers 750 lines of resolution via 1/3-inch chips in an easy-to-handle 3.1-pound package.

JVC has designed the Streamcorder with the connections and controls professionals prefer, such as XLR audio inputs and real-time manual exposure control, in contrast to the more automated exposure controls common in cameras in the same price range.

A JVC Web Adapter KA-DV- 300U ($1,299 list) interface lets you connect the camera to your network via an Ethernet cable. The module contains its own Linux server for sending a streamed MPEG-4 image out to the Web. The module employs a standard PCMCIA interface to connect to a JVC-approved, off-the-shelf Ethernet card, an 802.11 wireless card, or a CompactFlash memory card for storing MPEG-4 files created by the camera.

You can control the Streamcorder's zoom, shutter, and iris remotely through a simple Web interface. You can even start and stop the MiniDV tape transport remotely for situations where you need to wait a while to capture a few minutes of crucial footage.

On our tests, the Streamcorder consistently delivered excellent picture quality, but as with many professional cameras, you have to adjust for lighting changes more than you would with a typical consumer camera. The unit also features a 2.5-inch foldout LCD screen that was bright enough to compose a good shot in nearly any light.

Generally, the Streamcorder's video quality would more than satisfy most mobile broadcast-video requirements, with its 14X zoom lens, optical stabilization, FireWire connection, and on-board microphone.

The Streamcorder doesn't let you change lenses, though, a fact that may be a deal-breaker for those with cinematic ambitions. But for those on deadline, the Streamcorder could be a real productivity booster.

Copyright © 2004 Ziff Davis Media Inc. All Rights Reserved. Originally appearing in PC Magazine.

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