Canon HV20 Camcorder

Last update: Review by PCPro (added on 19/08/07)

The Canon HV20 is a HDV camcorder with 1/2.7-inch CMOS image sensor; 24p Cinema Mode, 10x optical zoom lens, super-range optical image stabilizer, photo features: up to 3-megapixel stills, histogram display, built-in flash, HDMI terminal and a 2.7″ widescreen LCD. The camcorder is measuring in at 3.5 x 3.2 x 5.4 in and weighing 1.2 lbs.

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Canon HV20 Reviews

PCPro reviews the Canon HV20 Camcorder and writes;

“Despite its virtually identical electronics, the HV20 surpassed its HV10 sibling in our image-quality testing. Both camcorders produce excellent results in well-lit outdoor conditions, but the HV20 offers a brighter image in low light, albeit noisily.”
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TrustedReviews reviews the Canon HV20 Camcorder and writes;

“The HV20 is similarly good in sunny conditions, and in fact showed slightly less noise than the HV10. But in low light it was more noticeably improved… The HV20 may not have every feature the semi-professional might want, but it has the most important ones on offer, with excellent image quality to match.”
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PCWorld reviews the Canon HV20 Camcorder and writes;

“We conduct lab tests with ambient lighting, which often proves pretty challenging for camcorders. The HV20 came in third out of four high-definition models we tested at the same time, but it wasn’t far behind the second-place Sony HDR-SR1 (which also records HDV to MiniDV tapes). Nothing stood out in the HV20’s output as a serious failing, but its performance in low light (where we dim the lights to simulate a poorly lit indoors setting) lagged somewhat. In less-challenging, well-lit settings–for example, a sunny outdoor park scene–the HV20 produced superb-looking video (though most camcorders do pretty well in such an environment).”
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Pocket-Lint reviews the Canon HV20 Camcorder and writes;

“Our test footage, using both the Cinema Mode and regular mode was crystal clear, and the high quality means you can do what you like with it afterwards rather than just being restricted to show it on the web.”
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VideoMaker reviews the Canon HV20 Camcorder and writes;

“The overall impression of this video camera is one that captures a beautiful image with easy-to-use controls and record settings. The menus and submenus are neatly organized and effortless to use. Switching to shutter priority mode and changing white balance to night mode were easy navigations, with no noticeable hassle. The HV20’s ease of use is perfect for consumer shooters… The low-light image quality is quite good, and the clarity and crispness of the image are fantastic.”
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CNET.UK reviews the Canon HV20 Camcorder and writes;

“Despite our handful of gripes, the HV20 will probably be a big seller for Canon. We wouldn’t be surprised if it’s among the top-selling nonbudget camcorders this year, especially if retailers drop the price to less than £700. The HV20’s stunning high-definition video and comfortable operation make it a great choice for nonprofessional, HD-happy videographers.”
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DigitalTrends reviews the Canon HV20 Camcorder and writes;

“It seems Canon took the complaints about the HV10 to heart and solved most of them—including the shape and lack of an HDMI out. They still need to beef up the editing component of the CD ROM, however. Video performance of this new HDV camcorder is top notch and I have no problems recommending it. Realize it is tape-based so forget about instant access to scenes like competing formats and there’s always the dreaded possibility of recording over precious memories. But if you follow some precautions, the Canon HV20 is a memory maker of the first rank. ”
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CamcorderInfo compares the Canon HV20 Camcorder to Sony HDR-HC7, Panasonic HDC-SD1, JVC GZ-HD7 and writes;

“Viewed through our performance and control-oriented lens, we believe there is a clear winner – and it is the Canon HV20. It shares an advantage over the Panasonic HDC-SD1 and JVC GZ-HD7 because it uses tried and true HDV MPEG-2 compression, and our tests show that HDV remains the best consumer HD format. Both the Canon and Sony HDR-HC7 – the other HDV camcorder in this shootout – scored higher than the others in our video performance tests. In the lab, the Canon and Sony raced to a virtual dead heat, both displaying sharper images with less noise than the Panasonic and JVC. ”
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CNET reviews the Canon HV20 Camcorder and writes;

“we were very impressed with the video we shot with the HV20. Our footage was quite sharp, colors showed plenty of saturation, and we saw surprisingly little noise, especially in good lighting conditions… The good: The Canon HV20 high-definition camcorder has excellent video quality, nice features, HDMI output, and an accessory shoe. The bad: Can’t change white balance while shooting; night mode doesn’t help poor low-light performance. The bottom line: Canon’s HV20 camcorder is a great choice for HD-happy amateurs, but its low-light performance could have been better.”
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CamcorderInfo reviews the Canon HV20 Camcorder and writes;

“There is room for improvement here, especially in the physical handling department, and if Sony’s next HDV effort takes the needs of the shooter into account, the HV20 may meet its match. JVC’s more expensive - but very intriguing - Everio HD7 is another camcorder to watch closely, and it should make a splash when it hits the US market. But the HV20 is the camcorder of the moment. It works the way a DP thinks more than any other consumer today, and delivers video performance that belies it’s diminutive $1099 MSRP”

AVWatch reviews the Canon HV20 Camcorder and writes;

“　It seems that as for image of cinema mode, color temperature goes down somewhat, becomes color taste of invar base. In addition there is the judo biting as a tone of the picture, the person et. al becomes the picture which has persuasive power. Of course, if it combines with the frame rate of 24p, in the former video camera the world view which is not obtained appears.”

CNET has a preview of the Canon HV20 Camcorder;

“the design of the HV10 made several ergonomic sacrifices to achieve its compact attitude. The HV20 eschews the sleek vertical look for a more practical and traditional horizontal design that provides room for an active accessory shoe, a manual focusing dial, and a higher capacity battery. Canon also added support for 24p frame-rate recording, I suppose to make the substantive price difference between the two models a bit more palatable”

Canon HV20 Samples

- Canon HV20 Camcorder Sample Movies: 1 - 2 - 3 (warning: large file size!)
- Canon HV20 Camcorder Sample Photos: 1 - 2 @ AVWatch

Canon HV20 User Manuals (PDF)

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- Download Canon HV20 Camcorder Instructions Manual (PDF - 7.98MB)

Canon HV20 Press Release

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., January 31, 2007 – Canon extends its leadership role in the creation of feature rich, high-quality, High Definition (HD) camcorders for consumers with the introduction of the Canon HV20 HD Camcorder. With its proud professional pedigree plain to see, the HV20 HD Camcorder draws on decades of Canon’s proven excellence in optics and technological innovation, incorporating professional level HD video features in a handy, horizontal-style, user-friendly design.

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