Canon HV20 Review

After a first Full HD camcorder (HV10), Canon recidivism with the HV20. In a more traditional format, it takes wort characteristics of its big brothers professionals.

Verdict
With the HV10, Canon was the general public access to high definition. But competitors have emerged since apparatus equivalent bill. Canon takes a little advance through the HV20. It uses technology previously reserved for professional appliances. The home video into cinema. The viewfinder fixed or poor management, lack of light hinder some amateur videographers for certain shots.

Canon HV20 Review

A few months after leaving the HV10 – the first camcorder general public to register to 1920×1080 pixels-Canon unveils another device for amateurs. While the HV10 targeted discretion and a compact vertical design, the HV20 is a horizontal camcorder larger and heavier (535 g), but also more sophisticated. Unlike other HD camcorders, Canon is still cautious on the recording on digital media and focus on mini-DV cassette tested rather than the hard disk as on the latest Sony HDR-HC7 or memory card as on the Panasonic HDC-SD 1. The mini-DV has the advantage of being a removable medium, cheap and compatible with conventional assembly benches.

As with any camcorder, we find the connectivity classic videos. Taking mini-FireWire (commonly known as DV) cottoie the inevitable mini-HDMI connector. To exploit the high definition video on a TV HD Ready or Full HD, it will need to acquire a cable option. To transfer or printing (PictBridge) pictures, USB 2.0 is also available. If the headlamp (less powerful) or micro stereo are not enough, a shoe accessory is hidden at the top of HV20 and an external microphone input exists. All the buttons (zoom, recording, manual focus…) are well positioned for easy access, even in darkness. It regrets, however, it does not relieve an impression of strength as on most camcorders high-end Canon.

Canon has chosen not touch screen to navigate through menus. Navigating with the tiny joystick, not far thumb ensures a rapid customization tweaks (unless the equivalent Sony or Panasonic, however). The screen 16:9 by 2.7 inches (6.9 cm for approximately 211,000 pixels) with buttons succinct (reading, recording, zoom / fast forward front / rear) is pleasant to control the shooting but reveals sometimes too dark to distinguish details in low light conditions. Some amenities exist as displaying a gauge for evaluating the audio recording. In addition, it is regrettable that the eye on the Canon HV20 is fixed unlike the Sony HDR-HC7 or Panasonic HDC-SD1. The eye becomes useless even if one uses a battery of higher capacity because it will outstrip the hull of the camera away and therefore the eye of this monitoring device. The use of the screen becomes compulsory and consumes more battery. The autonomy is about an hour with the standard battery. 

With its CMOS sensor Canon HD 2.96 million pixels, the HV 20 is capable of recording a native resolution panoramic (16:9) 1920×1080 pixels, ideal for flat screens. By default, the images are interlaced at 50 frames per second, but it is possible to change settings to get a film made. " In place of the 24 fps film camera, camcorder converts 1920×1080 interlaced at 50 fps to 25 fps progressive. The record is very pleasant and gives the impression of seeing a real movie. This impression is even more striking with the movie mode that adjusts color, contrast, brightness… for a result "realistic cinema" like camcorders pro XH. This type of reporting was previously reserved for professional cameras (very expensive) or required treatment post production. If the responsiveness of its sensor is ultra-fast, to adapt to differences in brightness or make the development, the darkness is not its strong. A difference is the way "Super Night Shot" a Sony camcorder, the Canon HV20 is limited to 0.2 lux with rendering very noisy in low light.

With a sensor of 2.76 million pixels photo, you would think that the HV20 finally hoisted the photo quality digital camcorders at the height of digital cameras. But it appears that the shots did nothing extraordinary. The photos have the same record that some cameras on mobile phones… In addition, the optical zoom is limited to 10x against 12x on the Panasonic HDC-SD1, but it has the merit of being fast. The electronic board (DIGIC DV II processor and optical stabilizer in particular) makes particularly effective, however, the HV20 since these components are virtually the same as the professional models.

Canon HV20 Review at PhotoOver.com

Filed under Canon, Video Cameras |

• Canon XH A1 (and XH G1) Review
• Canon HG10 Review
• Canon MV960 Review
• Canon HV10 Review
• Canon HF10 Review

Comments are closed.