Canon HV20

Canon HV20

HV20 Review, by Alan Stafford June 25, 2007

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• Latest User Reviews 1 review
• Reviewed by: gerrywhite

  Duration of ownership: 2 Months

  Strengths: HDMI output is a major plus Video under low-light levels is very good Video in daylight in HD is incredible Easy to handle once you get used to it

  Weaknesses: Zoom button is a bit small Cover for hot shoe does not have connector -- so it could be easily lost Mea culpa -- can't figure out how to adjust speaker volume

  Overall: I already had a miniDV camcorder (Panasonic GS59) when I decided to buy this one. While my GS59 does a great job, doing video with HD was something I could not resist. Thank goodness for 2-year no-interest payment plans! This camera is easy to handle and it comes with a hi-capacity battery. Some of the accessories I had to get included: - a car-adapter charger and an extra battery - shoulder strap - cushioned camera bag My next purchases will be a wide-angle adapter (43mm) and a polarizing filter. Keep those in mind if you get this camera. The salesperson at Circuit City almost had me talked out of it when she mentioned I'd need a Blu-Ray or HD-DVD recorder to make DVDs for my friend -- none of whom have those units either. Then I realized I can create HD videos on my laptop or desktop and just put them on my website. No sweat! Overall, I am VERY impressed with the HV-20.

• Reviewed by: cb2561

  Strengths: Image Quality in normal lighting is beyond anything I have ever seen in HDTV! Plenty of PortsUses Mini DV CassettesGood Image Stabilization24P modeImage quality is absolutely amazing!!!!!

  Weaknesses: Moderate to poor footage in low light situationsSomewhat awkward handling when using zoom.

  Overall: This is camcorder of the year 2008 according to camcorder info. This little camera packs quite a punch. The Image quality is absolutely amazing, beyond anything I have ever seen in HDTV. The only drawback is poor to moderate low light performance < 30 lux and the zoom button feels awkward. I give it 4 1/2 stars. For this price $710 with a 4yr warranty it is by far the best deal out there.

• Reviewed by: nyc2sd

  Strengths: Clarity and quality of picture is excellent; good basic functions; miniSD & miniDV formats

  Weaknesses: feels cheap, thumb menu functions difficult to use with one hand

  Overall: I had demo different HD camcorders and this HD camcorder is a great value when compared to it's competitors. The quality was just as good if not better. The cheaper feel to the case and buttons keeps the weight down but would be doomed it is dropped. The glass lens has an automatic cover which is a nice feature to keep it clean. The various ways to export video/picture is a big plus. There is HDMI to the HD TV and minSD card, USB, HD/DV terminal to computer or printer. Even though the light source for video or flash is weak, it is better than none compared to its competitors. Overall I am very satisfied.

• Reviewed by: corkypa

  Strengths: Good HD pictures, very easy to use.

  Weaknesses: Occasionally awkward going through the menus.I wish manual focus was easier.

  Overall: Although bigger than the pocket camcorder I had been using, this takes excellent pictures and has generally been a pleasure to us. Pictures in low light have been pretty good, too.

• Reviewed by: mylovelyyuchen

  Strengths: 24p, ture HD sensor, amzing image quality

  Weaknesses: tape noise

  Overall: I love my new HV20 from Circuit City. This camera offers amazing resolution, with a sensor picking up a full 1920x1080 lines of resolution. Because it uses optical image stabilization (OIS) instead of digital manipulation, there is no degradation in picture quality when shooting hand-held. The output on my 1080i HDTV (which can be done via component or HDMI) is stunning. It?s also capable of recording in 1080p using the 24p mode. 24p has never before been available on a camcorder anywhere near this price point! For the serious user, 24p allows for a true film-like effect. For the more casual user, 24p allows for some amazing shooting in low light. The HV20 has the manual controls and features of a camera typically costing several times as much. Although the auto settings and pre-programmed scenes allow an amateur user to begin shooting great-looking footage right out of the box, you can spend months mastering the various manual controls to get the most out of this camcorder. It's a very popularcamera, so its not too hard to get a great deal - just don't spend too much timing shopping around, since that's less quality time with the HV20.

• Reviewed by: Schnabe

  Strengths: Excellent image quality, manual controls, good color reproduction, HDMI and firewire connections.

  Weaknesses: Cheap feel. A bit pricy. Loose fitting tape door.

  Overall: Overall, I am very happy with this camcorder. I love the HD output, especially when played back while the camcorder is connected to a HDTV using the HDMI output. Alot sharper than my standard def DV camcorder. There are also alot of manual settings available, which I am still learning. I also liked how I was able to use my battery from my Rebel XTi camera as an emergency backup. I am disappointed with the build quality. The camcorder looks like it is just another $400 cheapie. The design is nothing special at all, especially for the price. The tape door is loose, and if you are not careful, it will rattle, and may be picked up while recording. Even with the disappointing build quality, I don't regret purchasing this camcorder.