Canon HV20 Review
From high definition DVD's to next-gen game consoles, high-definition has become a big deal for consumers. Now you can create your own high-definition movies at home with the Canon HV20. I used the HV20 for over two months and it is a great camera, but is it missing anything? Read on for more.
The HV20 is probably the best consumer HD camcorder around if you can afford it, and has some great features. It has a Canon True HD CMOS sensor, which is used in Canon's professional EOS digital SLRs and makes for stunning 1920 x 1080 resolution full HD video recorded onto regular MiniDV tape. Still images are recorded at 1920 x 1440 resolution in 4:3 mode and 1920 x 1080 in 16:9 mode. The DIGIC DV II image processor also processes your images and improves color reproduction and optimized image quality. Size is not an issue either, the HV20 fits in the palm of your hand and isn't too bulky to carry around on a long vacation. The camera also has Canon's SuperRange Optical Image Stabilization so you don't have to get motion sick while watching on a big screen.
On the back of the HV20 are conveniently located controls for recording video, zooming, and a joystick for navigating through menu items. On the side are controls for focus, and a handy video light. The HV20 also has a very nice 2.7-inch widescreen LCD and a color viewfinder for saving battery life. The HV20 can take up to 3-megapixel still images with it's 10x optical zoom. Canon tried to bridge the gap between consumer and professional camcorders by providing users with the option of shooting in 24p, to give a "film look". You can also turn on Cinema Mode which changes the color and tonal characteristics, to make it feel like you're actually watching a movie in a theater. Want to hook up the HV20 to an HDTV for sharing it with friends and family? No problem, the HV20 has an HDMI port for connecting to your HDTV.
If you want to hook up a pro microphone, you're out of luck - the HV20 uses a minijack for connecting microphones. You can however use an XLR adapter such as the Beachtek DXA-2s. Canon does sell a shotgun microphone, which should work just fine atop the accessory shoe above the lens.
Video quality was simply amazing, we tested the HV20 both in indoor and outdoor settings in the Sacramento and San Francisco, CA area. Video had very little noise, colors were saturated and the images were sharp. The HV20 does show a little bit of graniness in low light conditions though, and Canon's night mode doesn't really help. The still images are good, but you probably don't want to use a camcorder as a digital camera anyway.
Canon has already introduced their HV30 product, which has nearly identical specs besides the ability to shoot in 30p and support for the Canon expanded battery pack. The Canon HV20 is available today from Amazon for just under $700. A great deal for a camcorder that will last a lifetime.
Pros
- Stunning HD video quality.
- Small and compact body.
- Conveniently located controls.
- Large 2.7-inch LCD.
- 24p Cinema Mode.
- HDMI output.
- Accessory shoe.
Cons
- Night mode makes low-light conditions worse.
Final Verdict
4.5 out of 5 stars.
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