Canon HV20 Expert Reviews

When Canon first showed us the HV10, we were surprised that the company chose a vertical form for its first compact HD camcorder. In our review, we found that the vertical design brought with it some irksome ergonomic issues. Canon's follow-up, the ...

The Canon HV20 high-definition camcorder has excellent video quality, nice features, HDMI output, and an accessory shoe

Can't change white balance while shooting ; night mode doesn't help poor low-light performance

Canon's HV20 camcorder is a great choice for HD-happy amateurs, but its low-light performance could have been better.

In conclusion, the Canon Vixia HV20 provides HD quality in a user friendly package. With a 10x zoom and an included HDMI port this camcorder is great for the casual user or the aspiring videographer of the family. Unless you have an aversion to using ...

HDMI port, 24p Cinema Mode, 10x zoom, Super Range Optical Image Stabilization, Still photos can be taken from video images

If you are looking to upgrade your clunky, old fashioned tape camcorder to

The stylish Canon HV20 gives you the ultimate in HD video and digital photo quality with advanced features for the knowledgeable and demanding videographer. Among the Canon Exclusive features on the HV20 are Canon's own Full HD CMOS sensor and ...

If you don't mind dealing with miniDV tape, the Canon HV20 is a fine choice. However, we prefer having nonlinear random access to shots, rather than rolling through an anachronistic tape to find a shot. We also don't care for the cheap, plastic feel ...

buttah-smooth video, crisp and vivid in bright light

Cheap-feeling plastic, stuck with miniDV tapes

We especially like the way Canon includes features normally reserved for pros, such as a 24p frame rate that can be combined with the camera's CineLook setting in order to almost mimic film's slower frame rate and slightly diffuse look. But the star ...

The consumer HD camcorder to beat.

Amazing image. Works with external mics. Smallish form-factor. Footage works with all video editors. Great value for price ; Tape will soon be obsolete

Tape will soon be obsolete

. Ready to take the dive into HD video? You won't go wrong with the HV20.

When it comes to HD cameras, call us hopeless romantics. We'd love to find a shooter capable of taking beautiful footage but without the bulk of a professional cam. Canon's new HV20 got close, but eventually it just broke our hearts. Here's why: We ...

Super clear, super clean, super colorful 1080i video quality. Tapes eject quickly and cleanly. 10x zoom and rapid auto focus. Compact size and light weight (1.3 pounds!) make transporting the cam second nature. Top mounted mic cancels out ambient ...

Holy design flaw! The electronic lens cover sputtered and failed to open right out of the box ; we had to prop it open with our fingers. Poor menu configuration - especially with playback functions. Image stabilization has its limits: 10x zoom ...

Canon's HV20 is a breakthrough video camera: it hits a trifecta of high quality, reasonable price, and small size that will make it a winner in the consumer market. The video quality is excellent, and while it lacks an exposure control to help with ...

1080/60i quality in a small package ; Excellent image quality and colour ; Certified for Windows Vista ; Surprisingly good still photo capture

Small, awkwardly-placed zoom control ; No exposure adjustment/override ; Ridiculous that no Firewire cable is included ; Spartan out of box experience

Canon's HV20 video camera is an impressive piece of hardware - getting true 1080i video in a small package, all for under $1000 USD, is an impressive feat. When paired with Windows Vista Home Premium or Windows Vista Ultimate, the Canon HV20 really ...

With so many HD camcorders hitting the market, it may seem to be an overwhelming decision to narrow your choice down to one. Thankfully, Canon has come out with the HV20 HDV camcorder, which may just be the lifeboat you need to stay afloat in a sea of ...

24P Easy menu navigation Good color reproduction and image detail

Hand strap is awkward Manual focus dial is small

The Canon HV20 is an easy-to-use camera with good image quality and true 24P, which really separates it from the pack

This high-definition camcorder is a bit heavy and bulky, but it's a good performer with lots of features.

Many features, including accessory shoe, Very good battery life

Some tiny controls, A bit bulky and heavy

Since the HDV format demands less computing power than the AVCHD format does, I would steer clear of AVCHD models unless I had an extremely powerful PC. And the HV20 one of the better HDV models on the market, at a pretty good price to boot