Canon HV20 Camcorder

I had high hopes for the new Canon HV20, but when I saw it for the first time I couldan’t see any difference between it and the Sony HDR-HC7. They have almost the same size and shape and they both produce a great image.
When you look at the HV20 , you can see the retractable shaped lens cover .This may seem for a consumer cam just a perk ,but meanwhile the lens cover could become one of the camcorder’s first casualties.On the left side of the lens you can find a vertical panel that encompasses, from the top: flash, instant AF sensor and a mini video light.

The flash is positioned to the left of the camera and behind the lens. In some situations the lens barrel could cast a shadow. The instant AF sensor is located below the flash.It can be used to adjust quickly to changes in the focal distance or when you move really fast. But in case you use a wide or a telephoto lens, you need to make sure that the AF mode is set to normal AF ,because the instant AF sensor will be obstructed. The mini video light which is placed on the HV20 looks like a very cheap LED light would, and its the same one that’s placed on the Canon’s entry-level ZR850. But it is a convenient way to illuminate dark places, so you can now interview your subjects in the closet if you want. The remote sensor is placed by the mini video light. The HV20’s front end is similar to the HC7,but the HV20 can give you more features than the HC7, for an example it has a bigger filter diameter, and is lower and wider than it.
If you look from far away, the right side of the HV20 as you might think it has a familiar horizontal design akin to the Sony HC7. But only on the HV20, can you find the microphone jack, AV/headphone jack, and the component terminal that’s hiding behind a rubberized port cover toward the lens end of the camcorder. The camcorders hand strap is very low strung and a bit awkward.It’s made from cheap plastic . The top loading tape hatch on the HV20 will open and close at a faster rate than most of the camcorders in is class. This is a good thing for the filmmakers who are on a tight time schedule and who can’t afford to sacrifice theyr time due to a vexing bottom loading tape hatch.You can get an additional grip with the three wave-like grooves,which provides the palm of the hand with a nice little massage.
On the top left side of the tape hatch you can find two raised oval switches one of them is the auto/P switch, and the other is the tape/memory switch.Theyr placement is a bit awkward, but you don’t need to acces these controls many times when trying to film something or someone.

You can notice that the back of the HV20 is very “fat” and wide.The HV20’s battery chamber does not delve into the body as deeply as the HC7.If you will upgrade the power supply, you can be greeted with the full battery. The HC7’s viewfinder is wide, retractable, and has a rubberized ring. In the right of the battery you can find a strip, containing the FireWire and the HDMI terminals. Canon finally added a red dot on the record start/stop button. The function menu button is right beneath the joystick, the place where it should be to ensure the better and rapid menu selections. Above the joystick you can see the mode dial, which if you want it can be switched into camera or play. The HV20’s design is very cool,it’s a metallic, two-tone body with curves while the HC7 is all about bold and chunky lines.The HV20’s 2.7” wide LCD screen shows us a panel of flattened playback buttons located on the bottom edge of the LCD panel. On the HV20, all that you can find is a the Mini SD card slot (that’s protected by the rubberized door), USB terminal, and the round shaped playback speaker.
Toward the lens end you can find the built-in stereo microphone,that’s programmed to pick up the sounds from action directly in front of the camcorder. The only downside is if you accidentally put the fingers across on the mic while recording.An option that affected my decision was the zoom toggle. This is one of the worst zoom toggle from Canon that I’ve seen in years.