Canon HV20

518 reviews

Apr, 2024

Positive
usability (223)
image quality (156)
price (151)
portability (142)
size (72)

Negative

General overview
Price comparison

alaTest has collected and analyzed 518 reviews of Canon HV20. The average rating for this product is 4.3/5, compared to an average rating of 4.0/5 for other Camcorders for all reviews. Comments about the size and image quality are overall positive. The portability and price are also appreciated, whereas views about the viewfinder and durability are different.

usability, price, portability, image quality, size

We analyzed user and expert ratings, product age and more factors. Compared to other Camcorders the Canon HV20 is awarded an overall alaScore™ of 90/100 = Excellent quality.

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Review analysis

(Based on 518 reviews)

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Showing 1 - 257 of 366 Show Reviews: in English | in other languages (151)

Consumer review (amazon.co.uk)

Amazon.co.uk review summary for Canon HV20

alaTest has collected and analyzed 52 user reviews of Canon HV20 from Amazon.co.uk. The average user rating for this product is 4.9/5, compared to an average user rating of 4.0/5 for other Camcorders on Amazon.co.uk. Opinions about the memory and image quality are generally positive. The price and portability are also mentioned favorably. There are some critical views about the design and durability.

usability, portability, price, image quality, memory

durability, design

100% of the reviews on Amazon.co.uk give this product a positive rating.

Apr, 2024

Consumer review (amazon.com)

Amazon.com review summary for Canon HV20

alaTest has collected and analyzed 195 user reviews of Canon HV20 from Amazon.com. The average user rating for this product is 4.2/5, compared to an average user rating of 3.9/5 for other Camcorders on Amazon.com. Reviewers are impressed by the size and image quality. The portability and price also get good feedback, but there are some negative reviews about the memory. Reviews about the reliability and durability are mixed.

usability, price, portability, image quality, size

memory

89% of the reviews on Amazon.com give this product a positive rating.

Apr, 2024

Expert review by : PCMag Staff (pcmag.com)

Canon HV20

Preview of the Canon HV20.

For additional information on Digital Camcorders and product reviews, please visit our Digital Camcorders product guide.

Jun, 2008

Partner Source

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Expert review by : Rachel Swaby (wired.com)

Review: Canon 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...

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 noise...

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 requires...

Aug, 2007

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Expert review by : Alan Stafford (pcworld.com)

HV20 Mini DV HD DVD Camcorder

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

Jun, 2007

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Expert review by : Alan Stafford (pcworld.com)

HV20

Compared to Panasonic's sleek HDC-SD1, the Canon HV20 looks a bit ungainly, mostly because it has a large MiniDV tape mechanism grafted onto one side. The HV20 records 1920-by-1080-pixel HDV-formatted high-definition footage or standard-definition...

Many features, including accessory shoe Very good battery life

Some tiny controls A bit bulky and heavy

Jun, 2007

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Expert review by : Phil Ryan (cnet.com)

Canon HV20 review:

Canon HV20

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.

Apr, 2007

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Expert review by (electronicsme.com)

Canon Vixia HV20

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 port24p Cinema Mode10x zoomSuper Range Optical Image StabilizationStill photos can be taken from video images

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

Jan, 2009

Partner Source

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Expert review by : Charlie White (maximumpc.com)

Canon HV20 HDV Camcorder

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 of...

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 of...

Dec, 2007

Partner Source

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Expert review by : Easy Camcorder (easycamcorders.com)

Expert Review

Here it is! The king of castle. The Canon HV20 ($1099 MSRP). This camcorder packs in a beautiful image, superb ease of use, and a hearty cluster of manual controls. If you can look beyond its imperfect design and awkward handling, you will be treated...

Great Image Quality, - 24P Mode, - Good value

Cheap construction, - Handling

May, 2007

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Expert review by : John Neely (camcorderinfo.com)

Canon HV20 HDV Camcorder Review

We had high hopes for the Canon HV20, just as we did for the Sony HDR-HC7, and at first glance they look like they are cut from the same cloth. These camcorders are nearly identical in size and shape, they both produce a beautiful image, and bring a...

The Canon HV20 is that rare camcorder that bursts onto the scene, and sets a new standard in its niche. This is not a perfect camcorder by any means, but it has an intelligently assembled set of features that make it a viable tool for professionals, as...

Mar, 2007

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Expert review by : Misty Faucheux (brighthub.com)

The HV20: Great for Amateurs, Not so Great for Professionals

The Canon HV20 replaces the HV10 and improves on many of the issues that the HV10 had. But, the Canon HV20 comes with its own problems. While these problems may prevent a professional from buying this camcorder, an amateur should be very pleased with...

Jul, 2011

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