The news
Canon looks to have scored a couple of worthwhile first with its latest 1080i high-definition HDV-format camcorder for consumers, the HV20, due April at a retail price we'd estimate will be a few pennies under £1,000.
First first, if you'll forgive the expression, is the provision of an HDMI socket - to take high-def video and sound directly to an HDMI-equipped TV set with one slim cable and, hopefully, provide the best possible image and audio quality.
HV20
Second first (cough!) is a "cinema-style" 25p progressive shooting mode that may have considerable appeal to would-be film-makers.
This is paired with a cine-image mode said to have originated in Canon’s high-end XH series camcorders introduced last year and to provide appropriate settings for cine gamma, cine matrix and other image variables, so that video better mimics the appearance of film. The same cine-mode settings are also available with interlaced shooting - 50i high-def and 25 frames/sec standard DV.
HV20 - from front
The HV20 will sell alongside, rather than replace, the £840 HV10, a model introduced in late summer and billed as the world's smallest 1080i camcorder.
HV10 (click for larger image)
[advert]The two HDV camcorders share many features, including:
* A 2.96 megapixel/
1/2.7in CMOS sensor
* Canon's DIGIC DV II processor, with additional "advanced digital photography functionality"
* Record to MiniDV cassettes for HD and SD
* A Canon HD video lens with 10x optical zoom and optical image stabilizer
* Canon's DIGIC DV II processor, with additional "advanced digital photography functionality"
* Record to MiniDV cassettes for HD and SD
* A Canon HD video lens with 10x optical zoom and optical image stabilizer
Canon describes the HV20 - like the HV10 - as capturing True HD at a resolution of 1920x1080.
This is in contrast with those two XH-series pro HDV models introduced last year - the XH A1 and XH G1. These were said to use pixels with a native widescreen (16:9) aspect ratio of 1.333:1, so that video is actually displayed at full HD resolution.
The company tells us that the two HV consumer camcorders do actually use a Canon HD CMOS sensor with a 1920 x 1080 array.
The pixels there are square whereas the pro models use CCDs that capture 1440 x 1080i using non square pixels - but capture the same target area, according to Canon, as the XH-series models.
The HV10 and HV20 are different from one another in a number of ways - including the lens - and you can find out more by right-clicking on the image below to download a tiny PDF of the specs of each camcorder.
Right-click to download specs
(PDF)
Thoughts? Well, read Canon's press release on page two then have your say in this thread in the HEXUS.lifestyle.news forum.
HEXUS.links
HEXUS.community :: discussion thread about this articleHEXUS.lifestyle.headlines :: Canon HV10 - 'world's smallest HDV 1080i camcorder'
HEXUS.lifestyle.headlines :: Canon adds two further 'pro' HDV camcorders
External.links
Canon UK - home page; Tel: 08705 143723Canon Eire - home page; Tel: 01205 2400
Update - February 1, 2007, 14:03
Article has been changed to include pricing info and better detail of the HV20's 1920 x 1080 CMOS array
