theuerkorn's Full Review: Canon HV20 High Definition Camcorder
Just as we've come to accept the marginal quality of standard TV standards like PAL and especially NTSC, High Definition television finally is ready for the mass market. The vastly superior resolution (2 MPx) of HD-TV is a stark reminder that the 0.3 MPx standard tv was a mere compromise of state of technology and associated bandwidth.
Canon's first attempt, the HV10, was a respectable but flawed design with an odd form factor and weakness in low light conditions. Frankly I liked the design of the Sony better anyway ... but then there was the announcement of the Canon HV20 in early 2007. Finally available in April, it not only sports a lower price tag than the competition but also a well rounded package for serious amateurs. So what else do you need to know?
IN A NUTSHELL
Along with Sony and Panasonic, the Canon HV20 is a great choice for enthusiasts that need a High Definition camcorder right now. Shortcomings are outnumbered by the qualities the HV20 brings to the table (gaining it the top ranking on www.camcorderinfo.com in April 2007). Striking a perfect balance between usability, quality and price; the HV20 offers not only an excellent camera, but also breaks with the vendor lock on accessories as it's all too typical for Sony.
Handling is good mostly based on user interface and quick access to a lot of functions that otherwise require deep diving into menus (as many Sony do). Ergonomics on the other hand are lacking mostly due to the button placement not agreeing with the "natural" placement of my fingers.
The HV20 is great for users that don't need much manual control but insist on a good selection of program options and situation specific changes. Especially in bright light, the fast autofocus and sharp picture quality result in excellent video quality which can be processed in virtually any recent editing software.
Durability is handicapped by the chosen recording format which limits resolution and the tape mechanism is not only slow (in comparison to alternative technology) but also contributes to power consumption and adds its fair share of unwanted noise to the audio.
One problem is very specific and arises from my international family where one part lives in Germany (PAL video norm) and the other part in America (NTSC video norm). In that case it really would be helpful if I could switch between standards (at least for video playback on tv). However, the HV20 is region locked and does not support such ambitions. The only way to get around that is video conversion on the computer, but it's obviously less applicable when on a trip.
DETAILS
Design: [****-] - In all honesty, I am getting tired of Silver(-ish) looking plastic. The Canon HV20 makes minor attempts to save the image by adding a dark Grey and actual metal front end as well as some metalized buttons. However, overall it looks very functional with an attempt to wrap style around it by using transition for a more organic design. The end result is a rather average looking camcorder that's almost a camouflage for the high-tech hidden inside. So, while the HV20 doesn't have the classy looks of the HV10, it's very much average and that makes it also very approachable if you happen to upgrade from a standard DV recorder to the HV20.
Ergonomics: [***--] - Despite the familiar form factor, the HV20 still manages to fall short in handling. Aside from "unavoidable" exclusion of left-handed use, the housing has a strong resemblance of a rounded pebble without particular provisions for the user's hand. The design is more functional (encasing the electronics) than ergonomic (which is immediately noticeable when holding the camcorder for the first time). The low weight makes it easy to carry for a long time but also harder to stabilize. More important is that the HV20 does not mold to your hand and some buttons require finger artistics like the mode switch, the function button and most surprisingly the start/stop button. Even considering smaller hands, the placement still doesn't work out. The zoom lever fights for attention of my index finger and the one right next to it. If positioning my hand to use the index for zooming, the thumb sure has to fold up more in order to reach even the start/stop button. Further, there are no guiding features for a secure fit that reference fingers or the balm of my hand. That in return prompts me to hold it tighter and that of course essentially turns into discomfort.
Media: [***--] - The popular miniDV cassette is a cost effective way to store even High Definition, but Canon and other manufacturers carefully avoid to mention the associated caveat of the needed HDV compression. Due to available 25 Mbps bandwidth and interframe compression, HDV is an anamorphic format which stretches pixels from 1440x1080 to 1920x1080 and essentially provides less resolution than one would expect (from an advertised "True HD CMOS Sensor (1920 x 1080)"). While the sensor is correct, the HDV format is in the way of recording the full experience. (You may be be surprised when importing the video into software like Pinnacle's Studio which then will claim correctly that the picture is 1440x1080 but still look like the full HD due to the stretched pixels in the y-axis (1.3x). Another disadvantage for cassette based recording is the associated noise of the mechanism which despite being very quiet still manages to be recorded via the built-in microphones. Further, by nature of the tape, it's also limited to normal speed when transferring to the computer (30 minute footage takes 30 minutes to play and record). Of course, similar limitations apply to finding a particular section.
Functionality: [*****] - Despite being reduced to fit the consumer market, the list of features is still impressive and too log to be covered in detail. Optical stabilization is effective but still requires a relatively steady hand. HDV 24p recording allows to match professional format (but is still recorded on tape as 60i and converted to 24p by the camera). White balance is within expectations and AWB fits many standard applications, while in program mode (P) the user can even pick a scene to determine the light color and set the custom WB. This is a fairly accurate method if you find a neutral object (white or grey). Digital effects like blend-in or curtain are nice, but only useful if you don't plan to process the video in DV software which typically offers a lot more options anyway. Manual access to focus, exposure and audio level add to the feature list for times when automation is just not right.
Connectivity: [*****] - One of the main draws to the HV20 is the provided interface to virtually any accessory out there -- made by Canon or not. Unlike Sony's restriction to a proprietary accessory shoe, the HV20 also provides standard jacks for a microphone and headphones as well as hdmi output and analog video input. Yes, you can use the HV20 as a converter to transfer your VCR or old camcorder content to digital media (i.e. computer). The accessory shoe can hold compatible video lights, flash or an external microphone like the Canon DM-50. Accessories are automatically configured and easy to use. The video output is unfortunately limited to NTSC (or PAL in most countries). With exception of the power terminal, all connectors are hidden by either doors or the swivel display. The fit of the elastomer doors is excellent and still easy to remove. Most doors are tethered to avoid loosing them. The only exception to that rule the the cover for the accessory shoe which strangely is a separate piece that can be easily lost (if you're frequently using accessories).
Optics: [****-] - Canon makes a point in even calling the lens a HD Video Lens, which basically just reflects the needs of a higher resolution and therefor better contrast and less distortion. With that, the HV20 mostly succeeds and despite a 10x zoom range (6.1mm to 61mm) the distortion is kept to a refreshingly low level. Of course one could argue that 2 or 3 MPx are really not that difficult anymore, but it also reflects the integration of better optics to take advantage of the HD feature. Aperture is great regarding largest setting at f1.8 but seemingly suffers in the smallest setting of f8 which implies the lack of infinite depth of focus. However, considering the small chip and short focal length, f8 still converts into virtually infinite DOF and f1.8 isn't by far as shallow (i.e. for portraits) as the "speed" would suggest. But it's good enough to separate the background for standard family activities. The optical zoom covers a 10x range combined with a large* 1/2.7" sensor (9.4 mm or a crop factor compared to 35 mm SLR of roughly 3.7x). The conversion allows photographers to compare viewing angles (perspective) and 6.1 mm here equate to roughly 22 mm comparative wide angle -- not bad for tight quarters. Ultimately the zoom range translates into 22 mm - 220 mm (in 35mm terms). Again, not a bad range! Image stabilization is in the lens and relatively effective though still requires a fairly steady hand in telephoto setting (61 mm). Comparing it to my EF 70-300mm USM IS DO lens, the HV20 is clearly less effective in stabilizing the image from that uncontrolled hand motion.
* ... compared to the standard camcorder
Video Quality: [****-] - It's "full High-Definition", so what's not to like about it? Interframe compression of the HDV format allows for less pixelation while having slight draw-backs in the smoothness of the video content. Generally speaking the HV20 knows to impress with crisp video quality in bright light and decent quality under less ideal conditions. Fast moving objects naturally loose detail and appear choppy. Low light recording is also handicapped by sensor noise and applied noise reduction. Video download requires an optional IEEE1394 (a.k.a. Firewire or i.Link) cable. (Expect to spend another $25 - $80 for the cable.) A nice feature is the display of a Zebra pattern which can be configured to show overexposure warning at either 70% or 100% or the available range. That makes it easier to quickly check for wash-out areas in high contrast situations. Color rendering appears to be similar to standard DV 3CCD cameras and look vivid. Of course that can be changed to a number of presets including sepia and black-n-white. Sharpness appears excellent in bright conditions and okay for low light recording.
Audio: [****-] - The integrated microphones are of surprising quality, but cannot beat design inherent flaws either. Canon tries to beat wind noise with electronics wizardry and even somewhat succeeds, but an external microphone like the Canon DM-50 is still recommended to eliminate (or at least reduce) the noise from the tape mechanism and plain body acoustics (like rubbing on the housing). An auto level function amplifies the signal automatically to match the environment, and for very noisy locations the signal can be manually attenuated in case it exceeds the normal dynamic range. The auto level is very sensitive and can in quiet environments amplify the signal so much to noticeably record the relatively quiet tape noise and even pushing buttons or rubbing on the housing. If the audio is less dynamic, it's probably best to rely on a manual setting (best when in combination with an external microphone).
Still pictures: [***--] - At 3 Mpx the included photo option is a welcome backup in case you forgot your real camera. However, high compression and especially low light grain make it less universal than most available consumer cameras and of course no match for today's SLRs. The recording requires an optional miniSD card to store the photos, and is disabled when no card is present. Unfortunately there is no card included, especially since 512 MB is enough to store more than 300 pictures and really wouldn't cost Canon much to include a 256 MB card to get you started. Still pictures can be downloaded via included USB cable from the camera or obviously in an external card reader that accepts miniSD (or via SD adapter).
Durability: [n/a] - Not surprisingly, the housing is mostly plastics and that's not a bad thing since it keeps weight down and allows for cost-effective production. Overall, the housing is sturdy enough for normal use, but the cassette door certainly feels a little on the light side. As virtually in all camcorders, the lens cover is for dust protection only and intrusion of heavier objects (i.e. pen in the same pocket) cannot be effectively prevented. I would recommend to add a 43mm lens cap (as for SLRs) to the front end when storing in less ideal environment or at least add a UV filter (43mm mount) for the same purpose. With only a few weeks of usage, I don't have much data yet how well the HV20 is holding up, but will update if new findings develop.
Battery Life: [***--] - The included BP-2L13 battery pack is rated at 1200 mAh and basically is just enough to fill one standard cassette (63 min.) with minor reviewing. The larger optional BP-2L14 yields slightly more usage (up to 30%), but at $80 it may not be a critical upgrade. Energy consumption varies by lighting condition and the chosen recording format. Recording standard DV is slightly (10%) more energy efficient than HDV and naturally a bright LCD uses more energy than in the "normal" setting. With up to two hours of straight recording and typically slightly more than one hour for mixed usage, the HV20 appears to be well within reach of the best considering the small battery pack, but that still means that a charger is unavoidable for anything more than a short event. (Of course a spare battery BP-2L14 along with an external charger CB-2LW would be an ideal accessory.)
Value: [*****] - It's unrealistic to expect great bargains from an emerging technology that's only a few months in the market. Despite that, I got lucky and snatched my copy from ecost.com for only $855 which is nearly $250 below MSRP. Granted, this was the exception and is not available anymore (as of April 2007), the trend is obvious to get HDV below the magic $1000. That isn't too bad of a deal considering that high-end standard DV camcorders are not that much less (especially with HDD recording etc.). In the current market, even the MSRP of 1099 for the HV20 is an excellent offer which allows consumers to produce high quality content without breaking the bank. Nevertheless, early adopters may soon find that the current status quo (HDV cassette) may soon be replaced by solid-state media which ultimately may offer better value in the near future.
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
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