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Feb 14, 2008
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Dueling Canons
Camcorders offer very different approaches to HD
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by Chuck Gloman
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I recently had the opportunity to conduct a "shootout" between two models from Canon's VIXIA line of prosumer camcorders, the HV20 (MSRP $999) and HG10 (MSRP $1,099). The camcorders are similar in size and weight, but each model brings its own spin to low-end HD acquisition.
Features And Functionality
The slightly older model, the Canon HV20 (see my full review in Government Video July 2007), records HDV (1080/60i) as well as SD using a single 2.96 megapixel CMOS chip. The HD lens in front is a 6.1 to 66mm touch sensitive 10x zoom opening to F1.8. Canon's great Instant Auto Focus available on higher end modules is also here. Manual focus is a tiny wheel that turns forever, but that's not unexpected in a camcorder of this size.
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| Canon's HV20 and HG10 prosumer HD camcorders have identical optics but record in different formats. |
Complementing the flip-out 2.7-inch LCD screen is a .27-inch color viewfinder, one of the smallest I have ever seen. Behind the LCD screen is the speaker, USB 2 port, and mini-SD card slot for recording still pictures -- that's it.
The back of the camcorder houses FireWire and HDMI ports, as well as the small BP-2L13 Li-Ion battery. Also on the back is the joystick for accessing menu options, camera/VCR function selector, and AC input (the only way to charge the battery). The VCR side has a plastic cover hiding the mini microphone input, AVI in/output, and the multi-pin component output. For a camcorder that weighs only a bit more than a pound, that's a pretty good group of tactile features.
Optically, both cameras are identical, with the same CMOS sensor, lens, F-stop, LCD screen, and baby viewfinder. But the HG10 records in AVCHD 1080/60i, which is based on MPEG-4 compression, compared to the HV20's HDV MPEG-2 compression.
Another distinction: There's no SD choice for HG10 users -- the camcorder only records in AVCHD. With an internal 40 GB hard drive, you now have four recording speeds. You'll probably want to stay with the "XP+" best quality option, which gives you about five and a half hours of footage, but you can store as much as 15 hours of footage if you're willing to sacrifice quality. The camera automatically defaults to "SP" recording, so you'll need to change that in the menu.
Important Distinctions
Which camcorder is right for your application? Let's look at a few more differences.
Physical appearance. The joystick is now a more flush-type wheel on the edge of the LCD screen, which has the same items behind it as the HV20. Both cameras use the same battery, which doesn't last very long. Beyond the hard disk technology in place of a videocassette mechanism, the biggest differences are the absence of a FireWire port and manual focus ring on the HG10. The camera does have manual focus and manual iris, but they must be accessed through the menu (a LED light/flash in the front of the camcorder is also controlled through the menu). Based on these functions, the HV20 is clearly easier to operate.
Audio. The location of the microphone port is different, which really isn't a problem, but you can't view the audio levels on the LCD or viewfinder of the HG10. And everything is permanently set to automatic gain control. Canon recommends adding an external microphone to the hot shoe, but without a device like a BeachTek adapter (don't miss my review of the DXA-2S next month), you have no way to adjust the levels. Another point for the HV20.
Editing. You'll need to digitize your tape-based footage from the HV20 for use with your NLE. HG10 footage is already on a hard drive, so one step is eliminated, but you must preload special software from Corel and Canon to have your computer read the HG10 (not a big deal).
With the HG10, however, you are in the HD world -- no downconverting here. The HV20 will playback HDV footage in SD, but the images are squeezed. You'll also need to use NLE software capable of accepting AVCHD (found in the latest offerings from Adobe, Apple, and Avid). Premiere Pro CS3 allowed me to export an SD version, but it was an extra step in the post process. So, editing setup takes a bit more effort and requires newer software for the HG10, but you do save a transfer step once everything is in place.
Picture quality. A colleague and I shot identical scenes with both cameras. When shooting in regular lighting, I saw no difference between the images. However, in a low-light environment, my HV20 footage was a bit grainy and noisy, but the same footage on the HG10 was sharp and had virtually no noise. It wasn't a huge disparity, but in a side-by-side editing environment I could tell the difference.
Which Canon camcorder is the winner? Despite my gripes, the HG10 is probably the better investment in the long run. Remember, your audience will be looking at the final product and won't care that you had to access manual focus from a menu. Provided you have the NLE software to back it up, the HG10 offers a tapeless workflow that's hard to resist at this price point.
Chuck Gloman is an awarding-winning producer/director of photography with more than 800 commercials to his credit, and is program director of the TV/Film Department at DeSales University. Contact him at chuck.gloman@desales.edu.
MORE INFO
Canon usa.canon.com
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