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Colin
Joined: 13 Apr 2007
Posts: 117
Location: Milton Keynes, UK
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 Posted: Fri May 11, 2007 11:22 pm Post subject: The Canon HV20 HDV/DV camcorder...... |
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..... is very, very good indeed! I love it.
http://www.simplydv.co.uk/Reviews/canon_hv20.html
Colin
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Robind-r
Joined: 02 Apr 2007
Posts: 28
Location: Gwaelod-y-garth, Cymru / Wales
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| Posted: Sat May 12, 2007 9:43 am Post subject: |
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The spec looks very good indeed.
I need to buy something like this for my lad Siôn, who seems destined to follow in my footsteps 
He's off to Costa Rica on a school project for a month later next year and wants to make a doc of his visit.
Only thing I might hang out for though is a similar camera that will record to solid-state - much like what Sony is bringing out at the present with their XDCam range (only a smaller consumer version)
The jungle will be very humid and tapes can jam, as well as using a lot of battery power...
Robin |
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Colin
Joined: 13 Apr 2007
Posts: 117
Location: Milton Keynes, UK
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| Posted: Sat May 12, 2007 10:19 am Post subject: |
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Robin - the most appropriate model (although a tad expensive) is the Panasonic HDC-SD1 which I've reviewed on the site. It uses SDHC cards and I really like it. It does, of course, record AVCHD which you'll need to upconvert to something you can use when back home, but I've been editing my AVCHD footage in Premiere Elements and also the new Pinnacle Studio 11 and it looks pretty good as AVI.
The current drawback of SDHC cards is that they're still pretty expensive; you do get a 4GB card with the cam and even 8GB cards are now coming down in price, but it would be useful to a have a laptop or palmtop to lay the files off to on location.
The SD1 is the best solid-state consumer camcorder out there at the moment, in my opinion - and it's 3CCD!
Colin
PS: There's a rumour that the SD1, and its DVD sister product the DX1, are to be superceded in the Autumn (new models have been shown in Japan) so prices might start dropping soon.
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Look out for some great digital video-making features in "Digital Video" (Issue 0232), "Computer Buyer" (Issue 195) and "Computer Shopper" (Issue 235) magazines. And others I can't remember!!! |
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Robind-r
Joined: 02 Apr 2007
Posts: 28
Location: Gwaelod-y-garth, Cymru / Wales
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| Posted: Sat May 12, 2007 10:25 am Post subject: |
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| Colin wrote: |
There's a rumour that the SD1, and its DVD sister product the DX1, are to be superceded in the Autumn (new models have been shown in Japan) so prices might start dropping soon. |
That's what I thought; since he's not going until July next year, I'm not going to rush into buying anything now. There's bound to be a model that will suit his needs available before then 
Robin |
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Colin
Joined: 13 Apr 2007
Posts: 117
Location: Milton Keynes, UK
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| Posted: Sat May 12, 2007 10:31 am Post subject: |
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| Robind-r wrote: | | That's what I thought; since he's not going until July next year, I'm not going to rush into buying anything now. There's bound to be a model that will suit his needs available before then |
For sure. I'm putting my money on mobile phones/pdas having HD capability on them within a year or two. I'm currently evaluating a Nokia N93i and the 640 x 480 MPEG4 clips are surprisingly good - all things considered.
Give it a year or so.....
Colin
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Look out for some great digital video-making features in "Digital Video" (Issue 0232), "Computer Buyer" (Issue 195) and "Computer Shopper" (Issue 235) magazines. And others I can't remember!!! |
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fiona-w
Joined: 02 Apr 2007
Posts: 48
Location: Swansea,UK
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| Posted: Tue May 15, 2007 9:10 pm Post subject: |
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Colin's review was the final push I needed and today I became the (hopefully) proud owner of an HV20  . I'm just charging the battery and can't wait to try it out. Hope it's a long and happy relationship.
Fiona |
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flyfisher
Joined: 02 Apr 2007
Posts: 133
Location: Hertford, UK
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| Posted: Tue May 15, 2007 11:00 pm Post subject: |
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You realise, of course, that we'll be bugging you for a user review
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A SimplyDV refugee - no longer wandering aimlessly through cyberspace |
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fiona-w
Joined: 02 Apr 2007
Posts: 48
Location: Swansea,UK
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| Posted: Tue May 15, 2007 11:21 pm Post subject: |
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No problem - it'll be in short words and I'll probably use coloured pencils.
Fiona |
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Colin
Joined: 13 Apr 2007
Posts: 117
Location: Milton Keynes, UK
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| Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 3:13 pm Post subject: |
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| flyfisher wrote: | | You realise, of course, that we'll be bugging you for a user review |
No doubt Fiona will love her new baby like a good mum should. I have every confidence that she'll sing nothing but its praises - it really is a lovely new baby! (Perhaps the best consumer camcorder I've reviewed on SimplyDV).
By the way, the JVC Everio GZ-HD7 "Full HD" HDD cam arrived this morning. I haven't had time to look at it yet due to other deadlines and also an interesting visit to Panasonic's UK HQ over lunch.
However - the HV20 is superb. Unfortunately - unlike Fiona's new "baby" - I'm only child-minding mine! It has to go back to Canon on Monday!
Colin
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Look out for some great digital video-making features in "Digital Video" (Issue 0232), "Computer Buyer" (Issue 195) and "Computer Shopper" (Issue 235) magazines. And others I can't remember!!! |
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AndyB01
Joined: 02 Apr 2007
Posts: 76
Location: Shropshire
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| Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 5:31 pm Post subject: |
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Nice review Colin!
It's a Canon so I have to ask the question - tape transport noise?
Andy
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rogs
Joined: 03 Apr 2007
Posts: 50
Location: Bournemouth UK
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| Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 6:14 pm Post subject: |
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| AndyB01 wrote: |
It's a Canon so I have to ask the question - tape transport noise?
Andy |
That would be my first question too!
Although after listening to the soundtrack on Robind-r's "Arthur" project, on which he largely used the XM2 camera mics, I have to acknowledge that not all Canons have motor noise!  |
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Colin
Joined: 13 Apr 2007
Posts: 117
Location: Milton Keynes, UK
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| Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 10:31 pm Post subject: |
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| AndyB01 wrote: | Nice review Colin!
It's a Canon so I have to ask the question - tape transport noise?
Andy |
Tape transport was only ever a problem with the lighter-bodied MV400/500/600/700/800 series due to their construction. The HV20 is a different kettle of fish in that it's solidly built and very robust.
Colin
_________________
Look out for some great digital video-making features in "Digital Video" (Issue 0232), "Computer Buyer" (Issue 195) and "Computer Shopper" (Issue 235) magazines. And others I can't remember!!! |
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AndyB01
Joined: 02 Apr 2007
Posts: 76
Location: Shropshire
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| Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 5:03 pm Post subject: |
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| Colin wrote: | Tape transport was only ever a problem with the lighter-bodied MV400/500/600/700/800 series due to their construction. The HV20 is a different kettle of fish in that it's solidly built and very robust.
Colin |
I believe you for the HV20 and am pleased to hear it but have to report that the MVX series was similarly afflicted - although not to the same degree.
However a quiet scene recorded with my 250i is still affected to the extent that some backing music is an absolute necessity.
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fiona-w
Joined: 02 Apr 2007
Posts: 48
Location: Swansea,UK
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| Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 11:13 am Post subject: |
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I've had the HV20 for 3 or 4 days and finally had the chance to start to play with it properly last night. So, very limited first impressions:-
beautiful picture (rich (but not over-saturated) colours; subtle shading; high level of detail - gorgeous!) I love the in-built lens cap and the push button LCD playback controls. I was never a fan of the Sony touch screen/pointer stick thing and the Canon joy-stick is easy and much more instinctive to use than the Sony menus. Not sure about wide-screen yet especially as I rotate the camcorder to portrait mode more than I film horizontally. I haven't worked out what I'll do about that yet.
I sent for a mini-SD card for stills but frustratingly, haven't received it yet. I'm sure that stills from this will be excellent quality, though. I know motor noise is a traditional problem with Canon cams but I haven't had time to draw a conclusion on this yet. Thankfully, Colin says the HV20 isn't cursed as other models have been.
I'm stuck at the moment with a PC upload problem. I downloaded the trial version of Ulead Videostudio 11 but I'm getting the following error message when I try to upload any HDV footage:-
'Unable to switch to capture mode. Check if your capture driver is working properly. [15023:4:2]'.
I can capture DV recorded footage fine and I can control the HV20 via VS11 but can't find a way to capture HDV stuff. Any advice anyone? I'm not sure what my 'video capture driver' is and I don't know how to check it.
Teething problems with upload apart, though, I'm very impressed and this little beauty'll be going lots of places with me from now on. It's a bit too chunky to fit in anything other than a big pocket but it's lighter and smaller than my TRV80 which is another big plus for me.
So, verdict so far:-
Fiona |
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Ben
Joined: 02 Apr 2007
Posts: 98
Location: London, UK
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| Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 10:59 pm Post subject: |
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| fiona-w wrote: | | I can capture DV recorded footage fine and I can control the HV20 via VS11 but can't find a way to capture HDV stuff. Any advice anyone? I'm not sure what my 'video capture driver' is and I don't know how to check it. |
have you checked through the menu settings on the cam in the manual?
if you stay stuck post again and i'll put the question elsewhere, as i know a couple of people are using studio for hdv and should able to answer that. other than that my suggestion would be to use Premier Elements instead.
interesting the 'problem' of widescreen for you - i guess you just have to crop in post and frame accordingly when shooting - maybe tippex a mark on your viewfinder? widescreen wide is beautiful, but i can see it's too chimney-ish for stills the other way.
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