Review: Canon HV20 HDV/DV Camcorder


It records and plays back HDV and DV video. It has loads of inputs and outputs and accomodates a mini-SD card too. In fact, is this just about the most perfect consumer HDV camcorder out there?


Canon's HV20 HDV Camcorder
Just when you were having a go at the camcorder makers for producing camcorders that have fewer and fewer features and facilities of the sort you expect on medium-priced models, along comes a fab new cam from Canon that does everything you could want it to do and more. OK - so it doesn't make toast.

And as they cut back on features that are considered superfluous in order to minimise costs (and, therefore, retail prices), it’s good to see Canon coming up with a fully-featured model that can not only shoot and export full-specification HDV 1080i video, but can record and playback standard DV as well. Even better, it’s possible to record as HDV and export to your PC, Mac or standalone HDD/DVD recorder as standard DV via FireWire using the cam's inbuilt downsampling feature. That means that you can edit projects as DV whilst retaining the HDV master tapes for future use. And if that’s not enough, the HV20 can also be used to re-record analogue material from VHS, Video-8, Hi-8, and so on thanks to its AV-DV input conversion feature.

So, it all looks very promising - especially if you're looking for a new feature-rich camcorder that offers not only true high definition recording but which is also backwards-compatible with existing digital and even analogue tape-based assets.

First impressions


The first thing you notice when you take it out of the box is just how heavy and bulky it is. However, those of you familiar with the SimplyDV style will know that we welcome sturdy camcorders simply because they aid stability when shooting hand-held - so the HV20's bodywork is welcomed. It's also great to handle - whether hand-held or on a decent tripod, and a quick look around the body reveals buttons seemingly everywhere. In other words, it promises much in terms of features and functionality - another good sign.

Features


The Canon HV20 uses the newer CMOS imaging technology, rather than the more traditional CCD, to generate its 1920 x 1080 pixel widescreen images. Thanks to a 1/2.7” CMOS chip that produces 2.07 megapixels (effective) 16:9 widescreen video images and up to 2.76 megapixels for JPG images stored to a miniSD card, pictures are impressive both outdoors in optimum light and also indoors in underlit circumstances. What’s more, picture quality is excellent whether shooting in HDV or standard definition Mini DV, 16:9 widescreen or standard 4:3.

Cinema-style 25P shooting


Recording 1080/50i movies, the HV20 is Canon's first HD camcorder designed for home moviemaking that also features switchable frame rates for videos requiring a cinematic feel. True 25P progressive shooting is possible using the HDV PF25 mode, whilst the dedicated CINE image mode also helps to reproduce the look and feel of film.

Where the HV20 stands head and shoulders above comparable camcorders is the degree to which it offers fully manual operation in addition to its Auto modes. Switching the cam to its “P” mode gives the user access to all manual operating parameters – from Focus, to White Balance (including lots of preset filter modes), Exposure, Shutter Speeds and Image Effects. Menu navigation and selections are made using a mini joystick mounted at the rear, with tape record and playback controls provided on the LCD frame.

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Thanks to comprehensive manual and auto options, it’s very easy to make a quick manual adjustment even whilst recording. A dedicated thumbwheel is provided for manual focus adjustment, whilst other adjustments are made using the joystick and on-screen graphic displays.

Canon has included other positive features, such as a good 10x optical variable speed zoom lens - with digital zooming options limited to 40x and a not so excessive 200x top-end ratio - LED movie light/flash, very effective OIS (optical image stabilisation) and an intelligent accessory shoe that sits under a removable flap on the upper rear of the body. Unfortunately, the flap isn’t attached to the body in any way and will inevitably get lost.

Microphone input and Headphone output, too!


The microphone input socket and combined (switchable) AV and headphone output socket will be welcomed by many - especially those with more serious video making uses in mind - given that these features are increasingly being excluded from many new camcorders. Audio input level can be monitored within the LCD screen display as well as in the small fixed colour viewfinder. The latter isn't such an asset when recording due to its smallness of size and the fact that it cannot be adjusted in any way. Even using it whilst recording isn't very comfortable.

Other “assist” functions include a zebra pattern generator, a feature more associated with professional-grade cameras and camcorders and which is very useful for monitoring exposure peaking, at 70% and 100% values.

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Performance


The HV20 is lovely camcorder to use. Access to manual controls is pretty good all round, although focus adjustment can be a bit of a fiddle. Making changes to other functions - such as exposure, white balance and shutter speeds - are relatively easy using the mini-joystick. The inclusion of Shutter Priority and Aperture Priority (adjusting one automatically adjusts the other in a linked relationship) has been a feature of Canon camcorders for the best part of 10 years and is welcome here.

Playing back standard 4:3 DV footage on a CRT monitor produced more than acceptable results, with well-resolved images and faithful colour. Widescreen HDV images on a Sony Bravia LCD screen were very impressive, especially when clips were carefully exposed in manual mode. The placement of the stereo microphone on the top of the body is somewhat questionable, but the ambient sound when shooting outside was impressive and didn't suffer too heavily from light wind buffering as is common with some of the low-cost camcorders.

Connecting the cam via FireWire to an Apple Mac and importing both HDV and DV footage into iMovie HD and then Final Cut Express HD was faultless - although it's worth noting that a high-powered processor is required to handle the HDV footage. On our PPC machine it captured at 0.5 speed, which is confusing to say the least. The operation was similarly faultless when capturing to Adobe Premiere Elements 3.0 and also to Pinnacle Studio Plus Version 11 on a Windows XP computer, also.

Conclusion


Let's cut straight to the chase. This is a very, very good camcorder! There's nothing at all missing from the feature list and the comprehensive connectivity really is something to write home about. Not only is its HDV/DV recording capability a boon, but its ability to handle either format in either direction via FireWire is also a big plus. Having a mic input and also a headphone output (actually switchable on the single AV connector socket) is another feather in the cap.

In fact, the HV20 is - at its price point - quite possibly the best consumer video camcorder ever reviewed here on SimplyDV. And that's saying something. Most impressive, and if you're wavering over whether or not to buy a DV camcorder or a new feature-rich HDV model then waver no more. With the HV20 you have the best of both worlds at a great price. Well done Canon.

Reviewed by: CB. March 2007.

Editor's note: Please note that the Canon HV20 has been superceded by the Canon HG30 (April 2008).

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