Hardware Review: Canon HV20 Camcorder Review

If you are an indie filmmaker like me, then you are constantly out on the hunt for new, low-priced, budget equipment to help you put together you micro and low budget films.  Ok, let’s admit it, we’re all cheap.  Or poor.  Or both. 

And one of the main pieces of filmmaking equipment we’re always looking for is that Holy Grail of a camera: the low cost, high performing, 24p HD camera that works as well as a Canon Xh-A1 but doesn’t cost an arm and a leg to buy.  Well, if you don’t have the $3000+ to pick up a new XH-A1 but are desperate for a high quality HDV camera that shoots in 24p, then I may have just the answer for you. 

It may not contain the Blood of Christ, but the HV20 camera from Canon holds the answers to a lot of prayers. 

Released over a year ago (and now upgraded to the Canon HV30), the Canon HV20 provides a lot of prosumer level power in a very tiny consumer package priced at well under $1000.  With its HDV format and ability to shoot in 24p, the Canon HV20 has quickly become one of the must-have cameras for the low-budget filmmaker.  In fact, the accessories and gadgets you can add to your Canon HV20 will quickly get it looking more like a $7000 professional camera than the $700 one it really is!  You can pick up matte boxes, shotgun mics, rail/rod systems, 35mm adapters, prime lenses, XLR adapters and just about anything else you can imagine.  I’ll be posting pictures of my own tweaked-out Canon HV20 camera in the near future.

Let’s take a quick look at the Canon HV20’s specs:

CANON VIXIA HV20 HDV CAMERA SPECIFICATIONS
Format: Mini DV
Image Sensor: 1/2.7″ CMOS sensor
Video Effective Pixels: 2,070,000 in 16:9 1,550,000 in 4:3
Interchangeable Lenses: No
Lens f-stop: 1.8-3.0
Optical Zoom: 10x
Digital Zoom: 200x
Focal Length: 6.1-61mm
Filter Diameter: 43mm
Focus Auto: (instant AF) /Manual
Iris Control: Auto, manual
Shutter Speed: Auto, manual
Maximum Shutter Speed: 1/2000
Minimum Shutter Speed: 1/8
Image Stabilization: Super range optical Stabilization system 
Program Exposure Modes: 8
Manual White Balance: Yes
Zebra Stripes: Yes
Viewfinder: Color .27″ 200K pixels (16:9)
LCD Monitor: Color 2.7″ 123K pixels (16:9)
Progressive Scan: Yes
HD Modes: HDV
Video In: Yes
Video Out: Composite, component, FireWire HDMI
Color Bar: Generator No
Audio Modes: Stereo
Microphone In: Yes, 1/8″ mini mic
VU Meter: Yes
Manual: Audio
Level Controls: Yes
Headphone Jack: Yes, dual-purpose AV terminal
Speaker: Yes
Wireless Remote: Yes
External Battery Charger Provided: No
Battery Type: Lithium Ion
Form Factor: Standard, horizontal
Tape Loading Config: Side
Onboard Video Light: Yes
Accessory Shoe: Yes

Now, we could go in and discuss each and every line of the specs list, but it really doesn’t do anyone any good.  What matters is that the Canon HV20 produces some of the very best HDV footage available in a camera priced at under $3000.  What also matters is that a low budget, micro budget or guerilla filmmaker can pick up one of these camera for almost nothing, head out on location and shoot a film or broadcast quality piece.  As with any DV camera, you’re still going to have to properly light your scenes, however if you do that you will be suitably impressed with the results you’ll find from the Canon HV20 (and the newer Canon HV30, which is essentially the same but with a few upgrades and a shiny new coat of black paint). 

The only real downsides to this mighty marvel come in two forms.  First off, you can manually adjust your aperture and your shutter speed, but you can’t adjust them both at the same time.  It is an either or situation.  What a lot of guerilla filmmakers are doing is locking off the shutter speed a 1/48 and then going for manually adjusting their F-stops.  This is a great work around for most cases.

The only other real problem with the Canon HV20 is the incredibly tiny manual focus wheel.  Instead of having a focus ring on the lens itself, Canon foolishly designed one of the smallest levers I’ve ever seen on a piece of equipment.  Adjusting your focus with the focus wheel isn’t impossible, or even all that difficult, it just would have been nice if Canon had made the thing a bit more user friendly.   If you poke around on the internet, there are a number of DIY focus wheels out there which are very easy to put together.  Plus, if you add on a 35mm adapter like most of us do, you very rarely have to make use of the onboard manual focus dial.

If you are looking for a low, low cost camcorder that still has the quality of picture and shoots in 24p high definition, then the only sane choice on the market today is the Canon HV20 and its update the Canon HV30.  I’d suggest hunting around for an HV20 because it is almost identical to its “upgrade” and is now priced about $100 less!  I picked mine up at my local Best Buy for under $700 on sale, but I’ve seen some really great prices online as well.

As I mentioned earlier in this article, I’ve got a pair of Canon HV20s myself and will be using them to shoot a new low budget film later on this year.  Over the next couple of weeks I’ll post images and video of how I trick out my tiny little Canon HV20 into a professional looking, professional performing HDV monster camera.  Stay tuned for shots of my new rig!

Check out the Canon HV20 and HV30 cameras.  You will not be disappointed.

-Mat N., the Film Sensei
http://www.filmsensei.com

One Response to “Hardware Review: Canon HV20 Camcorder Review”

1. Keith Sparks
   

   Hi there. I am writing to you from South Africa. I specialize in making wild life and fishing videos. I am looking to buy some new gear at the moment I am using a z1 and pmw-ex1 but after reading about the hv30 cameras I am really keen on getting a few of these. the problem that I have is to kit it out so it looks like a pro camera so the guys employing me don’t think I am just so idiot arriving with a handy cam. I have been reviewing some rigs including yours and although they are all awesome they are not prctical for my type of shooting where it is all done run and gun. Not many tripod shots. So I am looking for weight, shoulder rigs and external mics that are sleek not going to get stuck on every bush. I will also need lens hoods that are not rediculously big Can’t climb trees running away from rhinos with those!!!` and also the best tele adaptors that you think would be right. Any info you could give would be greatly appreciated. If you ever need any animal footage let me know. Thanks for all your information that you make available to us guys in the sticks!!! Thanks again
   Keith Sparks
   ilanga video productions

   
   September 19th, 2008 at 9:24 am

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