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  • Canon HV20 3MP High Definition MiniDV Camcorder with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom

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    Canon HV20 3MP High Definition MiniDV Camcorder with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom
     
    Manufacturer: Canon
    Customer Rating:
     
    List Price: Varies based on product options
    Sale Price: $1,399.00
    Availibility: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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    Product Description
    Integrating Canon's renowned optics and imaging technology, including a 10x HD video zoom lens with Super Range Optical Image Stabilization and a Canon True HD 1920 x 1080 CMOS Image Sensor, the HV20 HD Camcorder records true 1080 high definition video, making it an ideal companion to today's HD televisions. In fact, both aspiring filmmakers and home movie shooters can give their video a truly cinematic look and feel with the addition of a 24p Cinema Mode.

    Product Details
    • HDV camcorder with 1/2.7-inch CMOS image sensor; 24p Cinema Mode
    • High-definition 10x optical zoom lens; super-range optical image stabilizer
    • Advanced photo features: up to 3-megapixel stills, histogram display, built-in flash, and more
    • 2.7-inch color widescreen LCD; color viewfinder
    • HDMI terminal; advanced accessory shoe

    Video Reviews
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    Customer Reviews
    Awesome camera for the price!
     
    Review Date: June 1, 2010
    Reviewer: 1060creative, Charlotte, NC
    I ordered the camera standard shipping, and Amazon told me it would take 10 days to get the camera. But I emailed the seller, and my camera came in roughly 3 days! Awesome experience, and awesome seller! I've been very happy with the camera.
    A little old now, but still worth buying.
     
    Review Date: May 9, 2010
    Reviewer: Michael Scott, Florida
    So if you want to get into the HD video camera game but you're only shooting family gatherings or anything like that, this is the way to go. Cheap, portable and the quality is great. There are newer models now that have Hard Drives but this isn't a bad way to go. I use DSLRs now but I would always recommend this camera to anyone. If you're looking to get into the HD Indie business there are adaptors for lenses and things like that. A lot of add ons for this camera and it the picture quality is great.
    Worth The $
     
    Review Date: April 10, 2010
    Reviewer: Nicholas C. Moore, Plattsburgh, NY
    This bad boy is worth the $. You can save yourself some cash by going w/ this one as opposed to the newer HV30 and HV40. I film concerts w/ it, and the results have been phenomenal. Also includes an external microphone jack, which is critical when filming at loud events. Worth the $$!!
    Canon HV20: groundbreaking HD cam in 2007, but a little dated now
     
    Review Date: April 2, 2010
    Reviewer: John M, New York,
    I bought my Canon HV20 from Amazon three years ago (2007), but I am only now posting a review. In 2007, the HV20 was revolutionary because it was the first serious affordable HDV camcorder you could get for just under $1,000. The key word is serious, because the predecessor of the HV20 was the Canon HV10, which offered great performance, but fell short in features necessary for serious videography/movie making work. Even three years later, the HV20 is still popular among many indie moviemakers.

    I did not own the HV10, but I read the reviews. According to the reviews, the HV10 had about the same picture quality as the HV20, since they used the same sensor. Three years ago, the nearly 3 MP CMOS sensor was about the highest resolution available in consumer camcorders at the time.

    For me, the biggest weakness of the HV10 was the lack of an external microphone input. For me, that feature is a must, because I almost always use an external microphone. Not only does an external microphone offer inherent superior audio quality, it is infinitely more versatile than the internal mic. For one thing, the only way to get halfway decent audio with an internal mic is to be up close to the subject (person) on camera, because the farther away you are, the lower the audio clarity of the desired sound and the higher amount of extraneous and unwanted sound that is recorded. But it is not always feasible to get up close; thus, in those situations, the audio quality of an internal camcorder microphone suffers. Also, having an external microphone input permits you to use just about any kind of microphone you wish to use, whether a handheld mic, shotgun mic, wireless mic, etc.

    Fortunately, the HV20 has a mini stereo microphone input, which is usually only available on higher end camcorders. Another thing I didn't like about the HV10 was its shape. I like the form factor and ergonomics of the HV20, which I think is just right for a compact camcorder.

    About the only thing I hate about the HV20 is the zoom toggle switch. I am accustomed to the zoom rocker you find on pro camcorders. Not only do they offer more precise zoom control, I find them much more comfortable and natural to use. The toggle switch on the HV20 irritates my finger after I use it awhile, which was never a problem for me before on my other camcorders, which used the superior zoom rocker. That is my only real complaint, but the other advantages of the HV20 outweigh the drawbacks.

    As I write this review, the HV20 was succeeded by the HV30 and HV40, which are very similar to the HV20, but they offer more frame rate options. From what I have read, the HV40 offers native 24 fps progressive (24p) recording instead of the HV20's 24p in a 60i "container." The latter method requires a "pulldown" step in post-production. I have no experience using 24p, but I have read about issues associated with non-native 24p that the HV40 resolves with its native 24p mode. I only use the 60i (60 fps interlaced) mode and was not interested in its 24p mode anyway. But if 24p is important to you, the HV20 has it, but the HV40 would be even better.

    Another advantage of the HV20 versus some other HD camcorders is that you can select standard definition (480i) output, in which the HDV stream is converted to DV format. Before I bought my HV20, I was not sure if it would preserve or discard the date/time data when down-converting to DV. The date and time data embedded in the video is important to me and I would hate it if that data would be discarded in the down-conversion. Fortunately, the HV20 preserves that data and outputs the video as if you shot it in standard DV, if you need to convert it to standard defintion. I raise this issue, because some camcorder users need options for standard definition, whether to transfer the HD footage to standard DVD or import it into editing software if you require it be in standard definition. Since this camcorder easily converts footage to standard definition, I see absolutely no reason not to shoot in HD all the time and get the maximum resolution it produces.

    Before I bought my HV20, I was looking to invest in an AVCHD camcorder and pass on the HDV format. But, in 2007, AVCHD camcorders did not match the quality of HDV yet and they were considerably more expensive.

    Today, however, the best AVCHD camcorders have surpassed the performance of the HV20 and comparable HDV camcorders. That is why I gave the HV20 four stars instead of five. Also, they offer much greater recording time than HDV, which mostly use mini-DV tapes, which typically offer about one hour recording time. The industry is moving away from videotape and flash memory is displacing tape as a recording medium.

    Still, there are some advantages of tape over flash media. For example, most mini-DV tapes are much less expensive than flash memory. Also, if you transfer your HDV footage to a hard drive, your tape becomes an archive backup to your hard drive. Despite the shortcomings of tape, such as signal loss, tape particle dropouts and a mechanical tape transport mechanism that wears out, tape has proven to be pretty reliable over the decades.

    Even though the technology of the HV20/HV30/HV40 is now dated, they are still great camcorders and that is why they still have a loyal following.
    Canon HV20
     
    Review Date: January 9, 2010
    Reviewer: M. Antonino,
    Great HD camera. This is my first camcorder I have ever owned and I love being creative with the HV20. When I first noticed the quality when I plugged the camcorder into an HD TV I was amazed..we all were! It can be crystal clear. Outside footage definitely looks the best. It captures great detail. The footage is rarely shaky compared to other cameras. I got this camera at a great price too so it has been worth every penny so far. The zoom is nice mostly smooth. It fits good in the hand. Very easy menu to customize your settings. The 24 fps is really cool everything you shoot has the ability to look like a film! pretty cool. I wanted a camera to make short films and so far I have had great success. I would recommend this camera to anyone looking to spend around $500-$800.

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    Published on November 7, 2009 · Filed under: Canon, Digital Camcorder Brands, Digital Camcorder Views; Tagged as: , , , , , , , , , ,
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