Canon HV20 3MP High Definition MiniDV Camcorder with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom
by Canon
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Canon HV20 3MP High Definition MiniDV Camcorder with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom
Customer Review: Outstanding little Camera will change the game
Summary: 5 Stars
This is the first 5 star rating I have ever given on Amazon!
I chose the HV20 in preparation for a week long shoot in North and South India. I was ready to purchase the new Panasonic HVX200 (for approximately $5,000); but the $1,100 HV20 camera actually has some major advantages that convinced me it was a better choice for my project.
The biggest factor in my choice of the HV20 is editing capability. The HV20's HDV format is compatible with editing packages like Adobe Premier Pro, whereas the formats recorded (i.e. AVHCD or HD50) by other products from Panasonic and Sony are not very compatible with editing packages and may be impossible or require extra steps for post processing.
Regarding image quality, the camera earns a WOW! I think this camera is currently the very best option for a solo shoot on the go. Other reviews say it all regarding image quality, color, etc. External and hot shoe audio are also a big deal for high quality shooting. The LCD screen is sharp and the feature to impose a horizontal line or grid on the screen (but not recorded) is very handy to maintain level shots.
The camera is not tiny, but is small enough to be slipped into a very large trouser pocket; this allowed access to more spontaneous shooting opportunities than larger HD camera options. With a large fanny pack, I kept the camera (with extra tapes, batteries, monopod, and DM50 microphone) with me at all times and was ready for anything. This portability factor transcends price point.
Regarding storage, the HV20 records HDV directly to DV tape. The much more expensive HVX200 will record HD50 format (which is an equivalent or possibly superior format) but will only record SD (not HD) to tape; with the HXV200, proprietary P2 cards are required for HD recording (and an 8GB P2 card costs approximately $1,100). I bought this camera for the price of one 8GB P2 card!
Recording to tape seemed like a disadvantage at first, but the advantage in India was huge - I did not need to transfer anything to my PC or need a PC) until I was good and ready (so I could maximize shooting time on site and deal with all post production later); in addition, archival is handled up front with less compression and no spaces constraints - that more tapes could not solve; after shooting 10 tapes, I realized this is also a significant advantage. I also took over 1,000 3.1 Megapixel still shots with the camera on a 2GB card.
The camera layout is quite good. The tape and battery can be swapped out without removing from tripod or monopod mount. In unplanned situations, this was a major advantage.
A few ways the camera could be improved:
1) the lens width varies when switching between video and still modes, so I expect editing stills into my video will take extra time
2) with an after market wide angle lens, a wide shot shows the black edges of the lens, a settable zoom stop would help when zooming back to wide.
3) the manual focus is not intuitive, more feedback on the dial would help
4) switching from auto to programmable mode would be better if some auto functions could set to stay on
5) an auto backlight feature would be handy
6) the miniSD card was a strange and inconvenient choice for still photo storage, since I could not reuse SD cards I already own (note that no memory card is included with the camera)
7) video input (like the Samsung product), so that I could keep the camera in my pocket and shoot with a lipstick cam when necessary (to avoid looking like the typical American tourist or for action/sports applications)
8) battery life was shorter than expected, I got 1 hour from each battery.
Net net, this camera is fantastic and I believe the video quality is sufficent to qualify my project for my first film festival submission.
Customer Review: Spectacular High Definition Camcorder
Summary: 5 Stars
I purchased this camcorder almost 6 months ago, for both personal and professional uses. I made my decision because of the overwhelmingly positive professional reviews. You cannot go wrong with either a Canon HV20 or a Sony HC7, they have very similar characteristics. One thing that the Canon has is the true 24p mode which is important for indy filmmakers and also improves low light performance indoors and out.
I can attest to the durability of this unit as I put it through a limited torture test over 6 months. Its been to Hawaii which actually has many different environments. Dry, hot, wet, humid, and rain. Yes, there were shots that I had to get of waterfalls that got the camcorder sprinkled with a light mist. The camcorder performed perfectly. I quickly wiped off any moisture after I got the shot. Its been on a boat and down hiking trails.
The video in good lighting is spectacular. Lighting is the most important aspect of good video making. Even the best camcorder will perform poorly if the lighting is not good. The best time to video for the most spectacular results is either overcast days or where the sun is not visible. A sunny day is not the best for video, since you get extremes in contrast. Of course a dark environment is also not the best for video making. Canon's 24p mode is a great addition to help in the low light department, but I recommend a strong video light for very dark areas. The HV20 is the cheapest true 24p camcorder.
I also had the opportunity to take video in standard definition (this camcorder will do both High Def, and standard. I needed to take some video of a professional sports team, and interview. The requirements were standard definition. The outdoor shot were the best I have ever seen from a camcorder in standard definition. I put it on a standard DVD and played it in the home player and it was excellent. So you can shoot either way. Standard def can be put directly to regular DVD today.
Sound is very good, but I recommend that you get a wireless microphone for any interviews. I bought the Audio Technica wireless lavelier microphone. It can go up to 100 feet away and sounded very good.
Still pictures were good. Its nice to have if you don't want to lug around a still camera. But as with any camcorder, you will get your best shots from a dedicated still camera.
Overall this is a great camcorder. If you are doing editing, your best bet is to use a tape based HDV camcorder. They are less compressed (better quality) video than Hard Disk or memory card based camcorders. At least for now.
Some more tips for this camcorder: use the sony high definition tapes (available here at amazon), if you want, you can get a wide angle adapter lens, get a good case that can hold your camcorder and accessories and get at least 1 extra battery. I also recommend that you get a clear filter and lens cap if you are going to be in conditions where the lens could get dust, dirt or water. Its much easier to clean the filter than to clean the primary lens. This camcorder does have an automatic lens cover, but since I was in rainy conditions I found the filter to be very useful.
When in a car, you will many times see a reflection from the dash on the windshield. If you have ever worn polarized sunglasses you know that that will get rid of that glare. The same is true for the camcorder. Get a polarized lens if you plan to do filming in a car during the day, or are going to be outdoors in bright light, especially near the glare that comes off the ocean.
Customer Review: Best of class camcorder
Summary: 5 Stars
This is an incredible little performer of a camcorder. I have my share of camcorders, Canon hi8 ES4000, Canon Optura Pi, Sony PD 150 (VX2000 pro version) Canon XH A1 and the Canon HV20. What sets the HV20 apart from other camcorders is that its image quality is as good as any sub $10,000 camcorder with adaquate light. I've used my HV20 beside my XH A1 and cut the footage together! It's that good. With the various settings, it is easy to get fabulous video every time. The Sony PD150/170 (VX2000-2100) is still considered the king of low-light video and still used by professional wedding videographers and news agencies around the world. The HV20 hasn't stolen the low-light crown but for a small camcorder, it is the best I have ever seen. The 10x optical image stabilized zoom is the best in the business. Canon is known for their image stabilization systems.
There are other features that make the HV20 a "must buy" camcorder. Manual overrides. I paid as much for my hi8 cam and Optura Pi but didn't get the flexibility the HV20 has to offer. You can override the automatic settings to dial in just what you want, from shutter speed, focus and exposure to manual white balance, manual audio gain and 24 fps. Going to Europe this summer? Better use 24 fps or you will see strange video patterns from fluorescent lights because they flicker slower than in the U.S. (50hz instead of 60hz) (Issue only with CMOS sensors and not CCDs). The manual white balance is a must have for families. Ever go see the kids at an activity in the school gym with orange lighs? The manual white balance corrects for the orange lights so the kids look human again! Most camcorders don't have full manual white balance. Do not settle for anything less.
The Canon HV20 is able to extend its functionality like no other small camcorder. It has an accesory shoe for flashes, video lights and microphones. Some would say the on-board mic on the HV20 is too sensitive and picks up motor noise. Unfortunately for those with good hearing, all camcorders have bad built-in mics. Unlike many camcorders, the HV20 has an external microphone input so you can mount a better mic on the shoe mount. Therefore, I can't lower the rating based on a poor internal mic. Other essentials include a headphone jack, composite video, component video, HDMI and IEEE1394 (Firewire or iLink).
Finally, the HV20 is easy to use and hold in your hand. If you mount it to a tripod or monopod while traveling, the tape door opens on top for easy access. There aren't a bunch of buttons hiding behind the LCD door when it is closed. The design engineers did it right! Another awesome feature is that the record head will spin down when the cam has been left on while waiting to record. I have only seen this feature on professional camcorders in the past and will save the record drum head from needless wear and extend the life of the camcorder.
The only negatives on this cam are minor. There isn't an IR port on the rear of the cam for using the remote control from behind. It also lacks LanC support, which is a first for the high end Canon consumer camcorder. My other Canon camcorder have LanC support.
What camcorder would you take on a big trip? I'm going to Europe next week with my Canon HV20 instead of my Canon XH A1. The HV20 has what it takes to shoot incredible video.
Customer Review: Windows Vista Certified
Summary: 5 Stars
This is my fourth camcorder and the second digital one. My first one, a Panasonic in 1981 weighed 20 kg including its charger - my entire baggage allowance when I bought it in Singapore, only to find, upon arrival in India, that it was faulty.
Like most palm-sized cameras, the Canon HV20 is light-weight and, thankfully, assisted with a super-range optical image stabiliser (OIS). "Super range" means it also compensates for the small tremors caused by breathing and swaying hands.
For future-proofing, I now look for the "Certified for Windows Vista" logo on anything that could be associated with my computers. The shipping carton mentions Windows XP, so I had to ask around to be sure - yes, the HV20 is well and truly Vista-certified.
Vista users can transfer, edit and publish high-definition video without the need for special software - Windows Movie Maker (WMM) works fine for the home user. My unit shipped with a pre-Vista version of Canon's ZoomBrowser EX software, so I had to get the Vista updater (5.8b at the time of writing).
Windows Movie Maker makes it easy to edit video from the Canon HV20. The supplied Canon Zoombrowser EX software enables further modification to the video and many other features that apply to Canon's still cameras.
You can shoot in high definition Cinema Mode with 24 fps progressive (24p) or just HDV 16:9 widescreen mode. You can also shoot in standard definition, 16:9 or 4:3 modes. If you are stuck with your last tape, you can use Long Play and get an extra 50% recording capacity.
You can take still photos at 3.1 MP, which is fine for small prints, or at 2 MP while shooting video. A built-in flash helps in poor light. The accessory shoe suits external microphones or lighting to be mounted there and powered through the battery (or charger).
Belkin F3N401-06-ICE IEEE 1394 4-Pin/6-Pin 400 Mbps FireWire Cable (6 Feet)
You will need to buy a FireWire cable to transfer video to your PC. I like to use the viewfinder more than the LCD panel (which is incredibly sharp), so the dioptic adjustment was appreciated. The LCD also does the usual job of displaying various settings or acting as the viewfinder. I also like the fact that it uses DV tape and not a hard drive, which would need to be emptied once it filled up. That would entail carrying a laptop computer, or one of those storage devices made for that purpose when away from home.
When my children were born (1988/1991), I had analogue camcorders and so those early taped memories are as fuzzy as the 8 mm home movies of my parents' generation. My first digital camera gave me the power to edit my family travels on my PC and they are quite sharp when they aren't shaky. We have a high-definition home theatre setup and digital TV/satellite TV, so the home-made videos look shocking on a 9-foot screen.
The Canon DV20 now solves that problem. The kids are still at home and our next family videos will capture their memories in high definition. I am very pleased with this camera, which will get fully exercised on a round-the-world trip I am making shortly.
Customer Review: Indie Film maker's dream... with a catch
Summary: 5 Stars
I did a lot of researching on HDV cameras. I looked high and low for a camera that could do the pro features on a not-pro budget. For most people who want a great HD camcorder for home movies, i would recommend it without hesitation. For serious film students who want the look of 24p (film style) read on...
There is a small catch that people need to be aware of if they need the raw 24 progressive frames.
The HV20 DOES capture 24p, but in what is known as 1080pA. The 1080pA means it's really recording at standard 60i and when you capture it onto your computer, the footage is not technically in 24 frames per second (yet). It is in 30. There are (5) progressive frames and then one interlaced frame. What you will need to do is called 2:3:3:2 pull down. The reverse technique of putting film onto video. And as of right now, no editing software can do this pulldown method for the HV20. Sony Vegas can do it for the Sony HDV camera with 1080pA. But Canon did not include a "tag" on the video to tell the few editing softwares out there how to get the 24 frames out without messing with the footage. It seems because this is a "consumer grade" camera, they never thought it important.
This isn't much of a problem if you're going to dvd, because you'll never notice this while the video plays. It'll be great footage regardless. But if you're like me, and you have a need to use the direct 24 progressive images (in my case it's to put graphics and animation on top of the video) you need to be aware that as of right now, there are few solutions out there to get the footage.
The best way has been solved by some folks on www.hv20.com forum. All discussions for this camera. These brilliant folks have come up with a way to use a few free shareware programs to do the work for you. It's free. And there's lots of people there to help you out. I was able to get it up and running in just a few minutes after reading the great directions available.
Other thoughts:
Dark shooting - Cinemode works great. Took it to SeaWorld and Shamu night show was awesome!! Fireworks also looked great.
You'll need LARGE hard drives. I'd recommend an external Firewire or USB 2 drive. I have a Lacie 1 terabyte drive for all of my work. They work very well and are not that expensive considering.
Sony Vegas seems to be the software of choice from most of the users I've talked to. Vegas movie studio is only $120 or so. Apple's Final Cut software is also a favorite among mac users. But be sure you get a good HD editing program. The HV20 does not come with any software other than a disk to let you get the still images off the camera.
HD is heavy duty files on a computer. Be sure your computer is fast enough to handle capturing footage, editing video, and playing back HD video.
If you buy this camera, be sure to join the HV20.com folks. They've been a huge help to me, and I know they will help you too.
Good luck!!