HV20 First impressions!

[angryofmayfair]

Had my HV20 for 10 days now, it's replaced a Sony HC3 HDV cam.
Love it in general - noticably better PQ than the HC3, also the OIS works better than the Sony's EIS.
Don't like the chromatic abberation either - it's quite noticable on some shots.
Actually the crummy little zoom lever works quite well if you have a steady hand/finger - you can get some really slow crawls - around 25sec for full zoom - that's nice - the HC3's zoom lever is much worse than the HV20 - totally uncontrollable and only 12 secs slowest full zoom.
Oh and the audio - the built in mics are not too bad at all - good top end and separation - no good on a windy day even with the wind filter on but lots clearer than the HC3 which sounds very muffled in comparison...

A great little cam all round - but my ideal cam would be a (non-existant) HV30 - the HDV version of a GL2 - a bit bigger with more buttons/manual control and a 20x zoom - wonder when this will happen?

[sajid]

First impressions:

(1) Its small!
(2) Image looks fantastic. (bright, even though not well-lit)
(3) Great dynamic range (for a camera its size and price)

[iondot]

I have also just moved to this camera from the HC3 and it is really a significant step up in quality. The low light is better, but the thing that has really blown me away is the HV20's color rendition and sharpness.

I know there is a lot of talk about getting a film look and I think this camera does an amazing job of doing that for $1,000. I'm really curious to see how this camera performs with a proper cinematic lighting set up.

Very pleased and it has returned my love/hate relationship with Canon to the positive again.

[Lucasberg]

Hi guys this is my 1st post here. I just got my HV20 on Friday . I love some of the features coming from a HDR-HC3.

Pro's
I can charge the battery with my XTI charger and use the batterys too
Menu is non touchscreen and a 1 hand operation.
OIS much better
And the best feature of all is the Instant AF !!! Oh man is this awesome.
With my HC3 50% of the time if I zoomed in at all it would focus on the background.

Cons
To me the color seems a lot less vivid.
I need to learn the exposure set up to get better low light video.
On my HC3 I knew how many clicks back to lower the gain and I have to relearn it on the HV20.

Awesome camera so far ,I mainly bought one for the Instant AF and keep my HC3 for my water cam with the SPK-HCB.

Joey

[Gocycle@optonline.net]

Punch up colors via the VIVID mode or go to CUSTOM settings and raise the color saturation.

Hi guys this is my 1st post here. I just got my HV20 on Friday . I love some of the features coming from a HDR-HC3.

Pro's
I can charge the battery with my XTI charger and use the batterys too
Menu is non touchscreen and a 1 hand operation.
OIS much better
And the best feature of all is the Instant AF !!! Oh man is this awesome.
With my HC3 50% of the time if I zoomed in at all it would focus on the background.

Cons
To me the color seems a lot less vivid.
I need to learn the exposure set up to get better low light video.
On my HC3 I knew how many clicks back to lower the gain and I have to relearn it on the HV20.

Awesome camera so far ,I mainly bought one for the Instant AF and keep my HC3 for my water cam with the SPK-HCB.

Joey

[Peter Galbavy]

Took the HV20 out into the dark last night, clubbing. Given this thread is entitled "first impressions" then I base it purely on what I say in play back out the HDMI...

I went with 24p, and mostly TV 1/24th or 1/6th for some dark but bouncy scenes. Overall, when there is enough light the picture is lovely but when there isn't, the noise is clear and also seems to be a very fixed template. I am suprised that Canon have not gone with some sort of dark-frame subtraction method of cutting noise, since the pattern feels fixed to the sensor and not random like film. Using 1/6th shutter worked nicely with the music for some scenes, but if there was enough light for 1/24th or even 1/48th then the same effect could easily be achieved in post.

I used the little VL-3 light quite a bit and it is excellent for illuminating people near the camera while retaining the background colours. Shame I couldn't use the DM-50 mic at the same time.

Onto sound. Hmm. Using the builtin mic; Yuck. Next time I will try the DM50 and refrain from lighting with the little toy VL-3.

Overall, nice when there is enough light but once you drop to the point that the camera ups the auto-gain then forget it.

[geldorf9]

I've moved from Hi 8 - to DV SD to HD. I came back from Italy and used the HV20 out of the box. Very portable, the built-in lens cap is really handy especially when travelling. Used all features out of the box, didn't shoot progressive. Don't even have an HD capable monitor. Walked down to my friend who has a 42" Panasonic plasmsa HD monitor, hooked up the hdmi cable and ....

The visual fidelity completely blew me away. Espcially with subjects who mean something to me. Great colour, real good available light adaptation ( opens up when in a chruch and then narrows as I zoom into the stained glass ) even in harsh light noon hour exposures. the OIS was fabulous since I did a lot of zooming and most handshaking was magically dampened.

Out of the box with standard settings with no geek tweaking I have to say that I am hooked on HD and the Canon is simply a remarkable little consumer HD ( mirabile dictu ) cam.

[yksratnak]

A newbie on the site, but an oldtimer.

HV20 is a beauty regardless of the imperfections. Imagine when one started
with a reg. 8mm film, hand developed. The quality is beyond anything I
have expected.

[darosk]

I got my HV20 a month or so ago - and I am dumbfounded by the quality of the video this little package has to offer. I have not had quite enough time or opportunities to test it as much as I'd like - but I'm well impressed with it so far. I intend to shoot a documentary over the course of the next year - and I'm excited to get started.

[sine]

Got the PAL HV20 for 2 weeks now. It's my first Canon. I had in the past upgraded from SONY Hi8 to Panasonic camcorders. Panasonic impressed me most and ever since got two of them PVGS70 and PVGS500. I also got Panasonic Lumix Digicam FZ20 so you could say I'm a panasonic guy. Recommended many many people to Panasonic. Waited and waited for Panasonic to deliver HighDef but it never came. When it did, the AVCHD cams felt like toys!
Too small for the hand and AVCHD is a *$&^# to edit. I was so so dissapointed with panasonic.

Hungry for high def I looked to Sony but just cannot come to terms with the touchscreen. Then came the HV20. Ahh!!!! What a life saver! Fantastic quality especially the 25P lowlight capability. It's awesome.

Took it to Tioman last weekend. Recorded 3 tapes worth of pristine video. I read of the dreaded rolling shutter problem but it's hardly visible. Shot only in 1/50 shutter speed, 25P cinemode and played back through HDMI on 50" plasma. Everyone who viewed the footages never saw the rolling shutter problem. There were lots of verticals (chalets pillars, palm trees) and even aerial shots from the airplane over Kuala Lumpur city showing lots of vertical buildings. Nope no jello buildings or trees. The only hint of the effect was when I was shooting on a fishing boat in very choppy waters. I had it on auto and was panning a shot with sudden jerky movements rendered some vertical poles on the boat to bend a little. It was very noticeable when you look at it scaled down on the edit preview but when viewed on large screen it was less prominent. Certainly no one else noticed it. When told of it, no one found it very objectional.

The lowlight performance is amazing. I know pros say that nothing beats good lighting but us casual shooters have no choice in lighting but when a group of musicians came to serenade you at the warm dinner lights, you cannot stop them to take out your video lights or whatever. You just whip out your camera and shoot and I was really pleased with the shots. Sure beats the panasonics.

Only grouse I have with this gem is the build quality. The tape mechanism of the panasonic is robust compared to this Canon which looked like it might dent easily. And also the dreaded Canon tape transport noise. Charging the battery in-camera is a new experience for me so I got an external charger and spare battery. The built-in lens cap is a bit of a mix blessing to me. With this mechanism, the lens is set back a bit from the filter threads. So certain lighting will cause the filter (UV, ND or polarizing) to reflect the lens. EVF is not as flexible as the panasonic but I can live with that. (Adjusting the diopte is a real pain.)

Overall, I very happy with it. Kudos to Canon. You made me feel confident in shooting video without a Panasonic.

[Krane]

The last camera I had was a JVC S-VHS with no LCD, all I could do is basically zoom and focus. As far as features go the HV20 is fantastic. This camera has great picture quality and can virtually operate itself! However, when it come to construction the structure of this camera leaves much to be desired.

For one, the controls are just too small darn small. One unfortunate side effects to smaller cameras. I also can't activate any of the features without using both hands one to support the camera and one to activate the controls. Most of the time I've got to stop and look at the controls to make sure they've been activated. Also there is no beep, click, flash or glow to let you know when things are off or on.

In addition, the body appears especialy fragile. My heart rate increases everytime I handle it in fear I'm going to break something. I just wish they could somehow molded these cameras out of a heavier piece of plastic. When I'd use the wrist strap the whole camera flexes. I could imagin wrapping it with a rubber band to give it additional structural rigidity.

The worst part of my whole experience is when my camera was only a few months old. It stopped working completely. I'm currently preparing to send it back to the company and can only hope it's nothing serious.

One more thing, the internal lens cover may have seemed a good idea at first, but I have a feeling this will become a mixed blessing in the end. I can imagine it jamming shut just when you need it most. I wish there was an overide to manually open it.

[overthebars]

Took the HV20 out today for the first time. Shot for about 2 hours total during both of my boys' football games. The camera felt fine in my rather large hands, and after a few minutes of fumbling around for the controls, I am use to the placement and find it's button layout to be just fine.

It was windy outside, so I didn't chance the built-in microphone and opted for my old JVC boom-style mic. It fit perfectly into the boot, but the placement of the plug-in for the stereo connector is almost too close to my pinky finger while holding the camcorder, and the cover for the mic plug just kind of hangs there and gets in the way.

I just chose the 'sports' mode, and let the camera do the rest.... very easy operation.

Once I got home and plugged the camera into my Plasma TV via the HDMI connection, I almost fell on the floor when I saw the picture quality. As everyone else has said, this camcorder has phenominal HD quality.

I should have shot some footage with the on-board mic, so I could do some comparisons, but that can come at a later date...

Put me in the "happy camper" category after buying this camcorder. I had a hard time spending the $900, but after what I have seen today it is well worth it.

[Editeer]

Hi Krane,

My HV20 stopped working after one day! I simply returned it to where I purchased it and I got a new one. I was using the camera, and then heard this "pop"... then it would not really turn on. However, I was using an after market battery - and maybe it didn't like the voltage (which was the same). I don't think it was the battery - even though I have stopped using it and will only use the Canon extended battery now. I thikn there is something up with the power plant on some of these. But, my replacement works flawlessly! I really love this camera.

[tonyprince]

I have had the HV20 for a few days, it replaces a (wonderful) Sony TRV950.

I am (very) disappointed over the battery shake and noise from the tape mechanism. Sound from the integral microphone is poor/noisy; the Rode Videomic is a vast improvement in terms of noise level (huge difference when observing the waveform using Adobe Audition)

The HD picture quality is great when plugged directly via hdmi to my hd ready 50" plasma. I am having a problem getting 1080i via hdmi/dvi cable to my Lumagen scaler; for some reason it is downgrading the video to 576.

I have successfully captured & edited HD footage using Adobe PP3/Encore on my new Vista Intel quad PC - but only a few minutes worth.

I have ordered a lens hood from Fotodiox (recommended on this forum) and hope that it will fit on the Hoya HMC 43mm UV filter. I thought of ordering the wide angle lens but only because it makes the cam look so much better

I will now dispense with my much loved & trusted Sony albeit that the build quality of the Canon HV20 appears far inferior.

I have just got to film in HD and hope that HD burners/players come down to a sensible price asap. Am hopeing blue ray wins as Adobe don't currently support HD DVD

[accelv]

I just got my lil gem and am awed by the image performance. Tack sharp, vivid images from one chip - amazing. Pretty good low light performance. It's hard to get smooth handheld shots because of the size, although the image stabilizer works well, as does the auto fucus. I will have to get some sort of shoulder mount or monopod for handheld shots. Any suggestions?

Zoom rocker should be bigger because it takes a feather touch. I like the pro features like zebra, 24p, and mic input. Lack of dynamic range is an issue, as the image easily blows out with on-camera lighting. I would also like to access menu items without having to open up the flip-out monitor.

Overall, GEEZ! What an awesome camcorder for the money ($800.)!

[tgiffilms]

first reactions...

1. YES, its here
2. Looks nice, smaller than expected
3. How the hell do I operate this thing!
4. Shit I can't edit a thing, need a firewire cable and more RAM
5. HOLY SHIT, the quality on this IS amazing!

[JonnyThrash]

wow I love this lil beast.

[Alexander]

Hi to all...
This is my very first post.
Today i got my Hv20 and im very happy.
I have not examined her yet but there is something that i wanna ask.
After i charged the battery , i didnt remove the battery pack for 3 hours.
I hadnt read that you have to remove it.
Do you think that there will be any problem?
Thanks,

[bluegrass]

That's never been a problem with me. When my camera is at home with me, most of the time the battery is in and I have the DC adaptor/charger plugged in all the time.

When I take my camera to the field, the battery is always installed until I need to replace it. If you haven't already done so, you will find you'll want to pick up at least one spare (I have about 5) along with an external charger (I generally keep two with me all the time).

[Alexander]

Thanx a lot .

[retrovertigo]

Hi to all from Italy!,

i got my Hv20, the general quality is good but i have problem with indoor setting, can you suggest me good indoor settings to have clean images (and no video rumor/gain) when i shoot in places with normal artificial light?...

thanks

[nzo]

The last camera I used (many years ago) was a shoulder-mounted Hitachi S-VHS/VHS cam, which I finally sent back to the president of Hitachi in Japan for cremation/burial, after smoke came out of the cam body in the middle of a shoot. This was the climax of a series of dull-booted service attempts by the NZ agents. Not a good memory.

I confess to feeling some apprehension on switching on the HV20 for the first time.

Firewire telepathy between the HV20 and my video PC was simple and flawless, and I quickly captured the 60 seconds of first footage (a tree outside my window) into Vegas.

My disappointment was palpable when the monitor showed a somewhat blurred clip that reminded me of those VHS days. In my fumbling I had not chosen the correct HDV PAL working space.

When I corrected this, I was simply astounded! The clarity and tack-sharpness was breathtaking. I spent the next few hours looping that poor 60 seconds of tree and fluttering leaves, just looking in rapture at the full screen clip.


All I can say is WOW! I'm so glad I found this forum to help me do my homework.

John

[Michael Davis]

I had a similar experience nzo where the first usage of the camera I felt, "I've watched sample vidoes of this camera on the internet for two weeks now, why am I not getting the same results," then when I got it into my NLE, my jaw hit the floor.

[Philafront]

ive been on this forum for a few months now, and have shot and edited several projects with the hv20....and i always thought the quality was good.

today i took the camera to my uncles house for thanksgiving and hooked it up to an HDTV for the first time ever and WOW..... it looked better than several of the HD channels he gets.... i mean i know it says that everywhere on this site, but when u first see the quality this camera really gives... i mean WOW>>>>>HOLY CRAP

[Sunburned Goose]

We're happy with it.

My wife and I just had our first child and we were using a JVC Everio HDD camcorder that was able to capture anamorphic widescreen video. It was a pretty good camera but its low light capabilities were just terrible so over time, we became frusterated with it. What broke the camels back though was trying to take video of our daughter in the house. So the search began for a new camcorder.

Luckily, we saw that Circuit City had them on sale for ~675 this week online and we couldn't turn away! We raced home with our new toy and plugged it into our Sony 46" Bravia II and OMG... It is just stunning. 1080i output in the palm of your hand and the image was fantastic. The Cine setting w/ HDV was perfect and we enjoyed playing around with our baby and trying out features for a few hours last night.

I plugged it into my laptop and saved the video onto my desktop using Premier. Sooo much easier that trying to deal with the MOD format that was on the JVC HDD. Soooo much easier.

Well, I can't say enough. I look forward to using this camcorder for a few years and I'm happy with the Canon brand. I certainly loved my Canon SD550 Elph camera for the past two years... Now only if I've had this camcorder on my Italian vacation this year. Sniff.
Goose.