| |
Model
|
| Canon HV30 | Canon HV20 | Canon HV40 | |
| Picture ? | | | | Picture ? |
| Manufacturer | Canon 
| Canon
| Canon
| Manufacturer |
| Name | HV30 | HV20 | HV40 | Name |
| European name ? | HV30 | HV20 | Legria HV40 | European name ? |
| US name ? | VIXIA HV30 | HV20 | VIXIA HV40 | US name ? |
| lowest US price | | | 585 $ | lowest US price |
| On the market since | April 2008 | April 2007 | April 2009 | On the market since |
| Manufacturers URL | link to Canon | link to Canon | link to Canon | Manufacturers URL |
|
|
Test preview
|
| [ top ] | Canon HV30 | Canon HV20 | Canon HV40 | |
| slashCAM rating ? | Good
 | Good
| not yet tested | slashCAM rating ? |
| test picture 1200 Lux | | |  | test picture 1200 Lux |
| Test image 12 lux auto-mode | | | | Test image 12 lux auto-mode |
Video
|
| [ top ] | Canon HV30 | Canon HV20 | Canon HV40 | |
| Video formats ? | MiniDV
HDV
| MiniDV
HDV
| MiniDV
HDV
| Video formats ? |
| Recording Medium | MiniDV/HDV-Cassette
| MiniDV/HDV-Cassette
| MiniDV/HDV-Cassette
| Recording Medium |
| video resolutions EU ? | HDV 1440 x 1080/50i
MiniDV 720 x 576/50i
MiniDV 720 x 576/25F
HDV 1440 x 1080/25p
| HDV 1440 x 1080/50i
MiniDV 720 x 576/50i
MiniDV 720 x 576/25F
HDV 1440 x 1080/25p
| HDV 1440 x 1080/50i
MiniDV 720 x 576/50i
MiniDV 720 x 576/25F
HDV 1440 x 1080/25p
| video resolutions EU ? |
| video resolutions US ? | HDV 1440 x 1080/60i
HDV 1440 x 1080/24p
HDV 1440 x 1080/30p
MiniDV 720 x 480/60i
720 MiniDV x480/24p
| HDV 1440 x 1080/60i
HDV 1440 x 1080/24p
HDV 1440 x 1080/30p
MiniDV 720 x 480/60i
720 MiniDV x480/24p
| HDV 1440 x 1080/60i
HDV 1440 x 1080/24p
HDV 1440 x 1080/30p
MiniDV 720 x 480/60i
720 MiniDV x480/24p
| video resolutions US ? |
| Max Bitrate ? | 25 Mbit/s | 25 Mbit/s | 25 Mbit/s | Max Bitrate ? |
| Compression format ? | DV
MPEG2
| DV
MPEG2
| DV
MPEG2
| Compression format ? |
| on-board memory ? | | | | on-board memory ? |
| Optics |
| Optics Manufacturer ? | Canon
| Canon
| Canon
| Optics Manufacturer ? |
| Optical Zoom ? | 10 x | 10 x | 10 x | Optical Zoom ? |
| Wide Angle 16:9 ? | 43,6 mm | 43,6 mm | 43,6 mm | Wide Angle 16:9 ? |
| Filter diameter ? | 43 mm | 43 mm | 43 mm | Filter diameter ? |
| Image Stabilization ? | optical
| optical
| optical
| Image Stabilization ? |
| ND Filter ? | Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| ND Filter ? |
| Exchangable optics ? | No
| No
| No
| Exchangable optics ? |
| Image Sensor |
| Number of sensors ? | 1 | 1 | 1 | Number of sensors ? |
| Size of image sensor ? | 1/2,7 inch | 1/2,7 inch | 1/2,7 inch | Size of image sensor ? |
| image sensor effective pixel count 16:9 ? | 2070000 Pixel | 2070000 Pixel | 2070000 Pixel | image sensor effective pixel count 16:9 ? |
| Image Sensor Type ? | CMOS
| CMOS
| CMOS
| Image Sensor Type ? |
| Controls |
| White Balance ? | auto
presets
| auto
manual
presets
| auto
presets
| White Balance ? |
| Focus ? | auto
manual
| auto
manual
| auto
manual
| Focus ? |
| Minimum shutter time ? | 1/2.000 | 1/2.000 | 1/2.000 | Minimum shutter time ? |
| Maximum shutter time ? | 1/2 | 1/2 | 1/2 | Maximum shutter time ? |
| Apperture control ? | auto
manual
AE-Shift
| auto
manual
AE-Shift
| auto
manual
AE-Shift
| Apperture control ? |
| Infrared recording ? | | No
| | Infrared recording ? |
| Expanded Focus ? | | Yes
| | Expanded Focus ? |
| Peaking ? | | Yes
| | Peaking ? |
| Signal Processing |
| Zebra ? | | Off
70%
100%
| | Zebra ? |
| Histogram ? | | No
| | Histogram ? |
| adjustable sharpness ? | | Yes
| | adjustable sharpness ? |
| Adjustable color ? | | Yes
| | Adjustable color ? |
| Cinegamma ? | | Yes
| | Cinegamma ? |
| Black Strech ? | | No
| | Black Strech ? |
| Knee ? | | No
| | Knee ? |
| Colorbars ? | | No
| | Colorbars ? |
| Misc. |
| Shot Transition ? | | No
| | Shot Transition ? |
| Custom Presets ? | | No
| | Custom Presets ? |
| Set Time Code ? | | No
| | Set Time Code ? |
Configuration
|
| Connections |
| [ top ] | Canon HV30 | Canon HV20 | Canon HV40 | |
FBAS ?
synonymous: RCA, composite | | In
Out
| | FBAS ?
synonymous: RCA, composite |
YC ?
synonymous: S-Video | | No
| | YC ?
synonymous: S-Video |
YUV ?
synonymous: Component Signal | Out
| Out
| Out
| YUV ?
synonymous: Component Signal |
| HDMI ? | Out
| Out
| Out
| HDMI ? |
DV / HDV (FireWire) ?
synonymous: ILink / IEEE-1394 | In
Out
| In
Out
| In
Out
| DV / HDV (FireWire) ?
synonymous: ILink / IEEE-1394 |
| USB ? | USB 2.0
| USB 2.0
| USB 2.0
| USB ? |
| Microphone / Audio input ? | Mini-jack
| Mini-jack
| Mini-jack
Cinch
| Microphone / Audio input ? |
| Headphones ? | Mini-jack
| Mini-jack
| Mini-jack
| Headphones ? |
| Lanc ? | No
| No
| No
| Lanc ? |
| Time-code interface ? | No
| No
| No
| Time-code interface ? |
| Genlock ? | No
| No
| No
| Genlock ? |
| Accessory shoe ? | | Intelligent
| | Accessory shoe ? |
| HD-SDI ? | No
| No
| No
| HD-SDI ? |
| Misc. |
| Weight (without battery) | 535 g | | 535 g | Weight (without battery) |
| Weight (with battery) | | 535 g | | Weight (with battery) |
| Battery type | Canon BP-2L13
| Canon BP-2L13
| Canon BP-2L13
| Battery type |
| Battery capacity | | | | Battery capacity |
| Charger ? | | internal
| internal
| Charger ? |
| Remote control | | Yes
| | Remote control |
| Size |
| Height | 82 mm | 80 mm | 82 mm | Height |
| Width | 88 mm | 88 mm | 88 mm | Width |
| Depth | 138 mm | 138 mm | 138 mm | Depth |
| Relative Size ? | 9 | 9 | 9 | Relative Size ? |
| Viewfinder |
| Viewfinder available ? | Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| Viewfinder available ? |
| Color Viewfinder ? | Color
| Color
| Color
| Color Viewfinder ? |
| Viewfinder format ? | 16:9 | 16:9 | 16:9 | Viewfinder format ? |
| Viewfinder pixels ? | 123000 Pixel | 123000 Pixel | 123000 Pixel | Viewfinder pixels ? |
| Display |
| Display available ? | Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| Display available ? |
| Color display ? | Color
| Color
| Color
| Color display ? |
| Display size | 2,7 Inch | 2,7 Inch | 2,7 Inch | Display size |
| Display format ? | 16:9 | 16:9 | 16:9 | Display format ? |
| Display pixels ? | 211000 Pixel | 210000 Pixel | 211000 Pixel | Display pixels ? |
| Touch Screen ? | No
| No
| No
| Touch Screen ? |
| External controls |
| Manual Zoom ? | | Rocker
| | Manual Zoom ? |
| Manual Focus ? | | Wheel
bi-functional focus or aperture wheel
| | Manual Focus ? |
| Manual Aperture ? | | bi-functional focus or aperture wheel
| | Manual Aperture ? |
| Focus switcher ? | | Yes
| | Focus switcher ? |
| ND Filter ? | | No
| | ND Filter ? |
| Exp Lock ? | | No
| | Exp Lock ? |
| Gain ? | | No
| | Gain ? |
| White balance ? | | No
| | White balance ? |
| Push AF ? | | No
| | Push AF ? |
| Audio Levels ? | | No
| | Audio Levels ? |
Custom Keys ?
synonymous: User buttons | | No
| 1 | Custom Keys ?
synonymous: User buttons |
Audio
|
| [ top ] | Canon HV30 | Canon HV20 | Canon HV40 | |
| Audio Formats ? | MiniDV: 2x48kHz 16bit PCM
MiniDV: 4x32kHz 12bit PCM
HDV: 2x48kHz 16bit MPEG 1
| MiniDV: 2x48kHz 16bit PCM
HDV: 2x48kHz 16bit MPEG 1
| MiniDV: 2x48kHz 16bit PCM
MiniDV: 4x32kHz 12bit PCM
HDV: 2x48kHz 16bit MPEG 1
| Audio Formats ? |
| Microphone ? | | Stereo internal
Mini-jack external
| | Microphone ? |
| Audio Control ? | manual
| auto
manual
| manual
| Audio Control ? |
| Audio levels ? | | No
| | Audio levels ? |
Still
|
| [ top ] | Canon HV30 | Canon HV20 | Canon HV40 | |
| Recording Medium ? | MiniSD
| MiniSD
| MiniSD
| Recording Medium ? |
| Medium included ? | | No
| | Medium included ? |
| Effective pixels ? | | 2760000 Pixel | | Effective pixels ? |
| Resolutions ? | 1920x1080
1440x1080
848x480
640x480
2048 x 1536 | 1920x1080
1440x1080
848x480
640x480
2048 x 1536 | 1920x1080
1440x1080
848x480
640x480
2048 x 1536 | Resolutions ? |
| Standard ? | | JPEG Exif 2.2
| | Standard ? |
| Flash ? | Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| Flash ? |
Misc.
|
| [ top ] | Canon HV30 | Canon HV20 | Canon HV40 | |
| Specials | | | | Specials |
Product Shots
|
| [ top ] | Canon HV30 | Canon HV20 | Canon HV40 | |
| View 1 | | | | View 1 |
| View 2 | | | | View 2 |
Test results
|
| Test pictures |
| [ top ] | Canon HV30 | Canon HV20 | Canon HV40 | |
| luminance resolution | | | | luminance resolution |
| chrominance resolution | | | | chrominance resolution |
| lens distortion | | | | lens distortion |
| test small ISO image | | | | test small ISO image |
| noise / internal microphone | | | | noise / internal microphone |
| test picture 1200 Lux | | | | test picture 1200 Lux |
| Test image 12 lux auto-mode ? | | | | Test image 12 lux auto-mode ? |
| Test image 12 lux optimized ? | | | | Test image 12 lux optimized ? |
| slashCAM rating |
| Lowlight ? | Satisfactory | Satisfactory | | Lowlight ? |
| Resolution ? | Very good | Very good | | Resolution ? |
| Color performance ? | Very good | Very good | | Color performance ? |
| subj.Picture impression ? | Very good | Very good | | subj.Picture impression ? |
| Optical Zoom ? | Sufficient | Sufficient | | Optical Zoom ? |
| Wide Angle ? | Poor | Poor | | Wide Angle ? |
| Configuration / image ? | Satisfactory | Satisfactory | | Configuration / image ? |
| Configuration / sound ? | Satisfactory | Satisfactory | | Configuration / sound ? |
| Handling ? | Sufficient | Sufficient | | Handling ? |
| Portability ? | Very good | Very good | | Portability ? |
| Photo function ? | Satisfactory | Satisfactory | | Photo function ? |
| Optics ? | Good | Good | | Optics ? |
| Dynamics ? | Good | Good | | Dynamics ? |
| Conclusion slashCAM |
| slashCAM rating ? | Good
| Good
| not yet tested | slashCAM rating ? |
Total score ?
(maximal 570) | 340 | 340 | | Total score ?
(maximal 570) |
| Pros | + excellent resolution in brightness and color
| + Excellent resolution in brightness and color
+ Compact
+ Very good price / performance ratio
| | Pros |
| Cons | - small wide angle
- dull audio section
| - small wide angle
- slight problems with reds
- over-simplified operation
| | Cons |
| Conclusion | Thanks to the excellent resolution of its CMOS the Canon HV30 makes almost full use of the HDV-system in brightness as well as colorNoticeable is the high resolution in diagonals.In lowlight situations the performance is only average.The lens shows little abberations, but offers only a small wide angle. | Thanks to the excellent resolution of its CMOS the Canon HV20 makes almost full use of the HDV-system in brightness as well as color.Noticeable is the high resolution in diagonals.With enough light the HV20 makes a very clean picture, only in low light there is visible image noise.The optics has very little distorsion, but offers only a small wide angle. | | Conclusion |
More information
|
| Reviews and Forums |
| [ top ] | Canon HV30 | Canon HV20 | Canon HV40 | |
| slashCAM Review | | | | slashCAM Review |
| external reviews/tests |  www.camcorderinfo.com
| www.videomaker.com
www.camcorderinfo.com
| | external reviews/tests |
| Forum posts | Canon HV30 or Hf20?
Canon HV30 DV / HDV Firewire port broken ... what?
Proper Tripod for me? Canon HV30 + Dolly conversion may
Canon HV30 - suddenly no longer playing
Canon HV30 lens cover broken - fix it?
Canon HV30 tapes
Canon HV30 with control SonyVCT-60AV
Technical Question Field Mixer Sound Devices 302 and Canon HV30
Distinction between "Vixia HV30" and "HV30"
Canon HV30 + Wide Angle? What with AutoFocus?
Idea: HV30 and Rode Stereo VideoMic / Störgeräuschminderung
Microphone for Canon HV30 missing - recordings of diesel sound
Export from Pro cs4 film onto videotape of Canon HV30
| Pana G2 + Canon HV20
Canon HV20 + 35mm adapter + wide angle converter useful?
Firewire under Windows7 and HV20 shows artifacts
A question of storage media - used or new HF10 Canon HV20
In Memoriam Canon HV20 - HDV long-lived
Focus ring for Canon hv20
Canon HV20 and Final Cut Pro Log and Capture problem
Wanted: Canon's successor to the Canon HV20 ...
Canon HV20 PAL + NTSC?
Sunshade for the Canon HV20 with wide-angle attachment
Getting Started with the GT35PRO 35mm s.der Canon HV20
HF100 or HV20 + Questions
Test - Sin City Effect with a Canon HV20
| Without Cam I feel "naked"! ... Reservecam as HV40 vs SD707?
Canon HV40 drive problem
Canon HV40
Successor to the HV40 searched
HDV does not recall the image of computer on CANON HV40
A Journey through Hamburg - 7D - HV40 - Split Screen
Small Micro searched for Canon HV40
Test shot of HV40 Wide Angle with reasonable intent
Totgeglaubte live longer - Canon HV40
| Forum posts |
| |
