Canon HV 20 there are some questions to users...

[Denny]

Hello from Russia Moscow
At us in city have tested the HV20 and the following was found out:

The tape drive mechanism works is noisy -33dB

The cover of the cartridge has a small crack

Whether also there is a basic difference between PAL and NTSC versions?

Who what has an opinion on noisy work of the camera...??
Forgive for my bad English...

[Mal]

Hello Denny,
yes, the drive is quite noisy, but I din't think it was noisier than other similar size camcorders.

There's no difference between the PAL and NTSC version that I know, other than the difference in the format the video is recorded to (PAL vs. NTSC).

Well the manual is different also, and the plug that is supplied for the power supply as well.

[Denny]

And as then to understand that the user writes at a forum
I quote

Note that this is PAL-version, so where shot in 50i you have 20 % more bits per frame (20 % less frames/sec), and where 25p (any?) you have 15 % more bits (20 % boost due to absent hard-telecine, 1 frame more resulting in 5 % less bits). "

Yes tell a sound of the mechanism does not record on tape?

I can on NTSC recode to the chamber old cassette VHS (PAL) on the through channel?

[Mal]

Yes, the tape mechanism sound DOES record onto the tape with the BUILT-IN microphones. If you want GREAT audio, you will need an EXTERNAL microphone. That would be a good thing anyway, as it will be more directional (pointing forward) than the built-in microphones.

You CAN record from your old VHS tapes through your Videorecorder onto the HV20, as it has that feature. Only in DV quality of course; you can't record/upconvert to analog-in to HDV.
BUT: you can't CONVERT PAL to NTSC or NTSC to PAL; so your HV20 HAS to be the same standard (PAL or NTSC) as your VHS tapes.

[duzzit_madder]

If you want GREAT audio, you will need an EXTERNAL microphone.

Just an FYI, this is true for any camera.

[Denny]

How you think if to buy HV20 NTSC collected for Japan - quality of assembly will be better than HV20 PAL for the Europe?
I had in view of basic distinction as shooting between PAL and NTSC - At you what HV20 using?

[Mal]

Quality of assembly would be IDENTICAL --> no difference between PAL and NTSC.

If you are in PAL land, you REALLY should get the PAL version.
It will be MUCH easier for you.

I have NTSC here.

If I had the choice and it was completely irrelevant what system I needed; I would choose PAL....ALWAYS!

PAL is better and easier to use than NTSC! (in my opinion)

[Denny]

Quality of assembly would be IDENTICAL --> no difference

PAL is better and easier to use than NTSC! (in my opinion)


Thanks for answers
And why it is easier to use PAL than NTSC?

[Mal]

PAL is easier because it has 25p which is 25 progressive frames per second.

The NTSC standard is all wonky and is 24p, but not really; it's 23.970 frames per second, and requires all sorts of funny stuff to get it......oh, I have a headache again.

PAL version = simple
NTSC version = complicated

:)

[Denny]

Tell I has found some responses of users HV20 they write that there are problems different with the camera at whom does not write down at whom else that... Really it is so much a lot of defect at Canon HV20... The quantity of defect PAL and NTSC versions Interests
Thanks

[Mal]

Unfortunately I can't understand your message this time, but rest assured that there aren't unusual amounts of HV20s that are defect, at least as far as I know.

I think a high % of returns would have more to do with the operator not knowing how this camcorder works...

[Worley]

I think the message possibly refers to the suggestion that the PAL version suffered a greater problem with 'wobble' (rolling shutter) than the NTSC version.

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Techno-babble:

In the days of black and white broadcasts there was no PAL, SECAM or (I think I'm right with this) NTSC. There were different broadcast standards - 30 fps, 525 lines, etc - but nothing else. It was quite simple.

In the days of black and white television, the NTSC signal was truly 30 frames per second (or 60 fields, 2 interlaced fields making up a frame).

Then colour came along. Now, the colour information has to be squeezed into the same bandwidth as the standard b&w signal, and engineers found that with the NTSC system, there were two problems. The highest possible colour subcarrier frequency interfered with the sound, so they tried shifting it. But then the colour interfered with the black and white picture, so that was no good, either. The only solution was to change the frequency of the broadcast signal from 30 fps to 29.997 (approx).

No such problems with PAL, and no problems with SECAM.

It's important to remember that PAL, NTSC and SECAM are methods of broadcast, not methods of recording video. Nevertheless, we use PAL and NTSC (incorrectly) to refer to the recorded medium, too.
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Worley