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Review Summary
2009-06-10T21:00:00
picture quality is great. light weight. easy to use. sound better than the hf10 i previously had. still would recommed an external microphone if subject is going to be more then 20 feet away and talking softly, otherwise the microphone picks up decently.
picture p.
2009-06-10T21:00:00
First impressions: the device is amazing. Quality of vid is excellent. The camera is easy to start using. However, the included ImageMixer 3SE "Editor" software doesn't let you save the video (transcode) to any other format besides H.264 m2ts. Now I have to spend more money on software just to get basic AVI, Quicktime, WMV files. Given that m2ts/H.264 is not a common desktop video format, Canon's included SW should provide "save as something useful" ability along with a codec for normal media players like Windows Media Player and Quicktime -- better yet, they should bundle it with a useful video editor program.For [$] (street price), I expect the HDMI cable to be included. I paid $60 for the Canon part that should have been included 'cause it's a non-standard mini HDMI connector. The kit includes the component video cable but not the HDMI mini.The filter threads are plastic which is pretty scary given that you need a conversion lens for reasonable field of view indoors. (read below).The field of view (FOV) is about 45 degrees with the zoom lens fully wide. This is inadequate for shooting indoors or up close to people which is mostly what I do -- I bought the WD-H37II wide-converter lens which makes the thing useful indoors with about a 60 deg FOV. The conversion lens is a lovely piece of glass, however, the lens is huge as compared to the front of the camera's lens. The converter lens obscures the microphone, light and flash and this heavy lens is now attached via plastic threads -- this is not confidence inspiring. My pocket digicam can zoom wide enough so why can't an [$] camcorder basic lens.As for confusing screen messages: When you connect the USB cable to your computer, it tells "connect the compact power adaptor". When you do, you get a "PC Connection" message that says "Do not disconnect the USB cable or the power source while the camcorder is connected to a computer. Cannot turn off the camcorder or change the operating mode." That's not a typo - it's what it says. However, none of the controls work and you're left to guess that you should just unplug the USB cable and the sky will not fall down. Later, I discovered it behaves differently depending on the mode selected (dual, photo or video). It will connect without the power cord if you have photo mode select but not video -- a little odd.The AWB auto white balance is horrible if you are taking still photos using the flash indoors - a heavy orange cast results -- like a nightmare at the tanning salon but not a big deal as the snapshot feature is a bonus, IMO.In a nutshell, the video quality is amazing but impossible to work with effectively until you buy some more after-market software. The ergonomics are very good (even for a switch-hitting lefty). I would like to see shorter focal length zoom (who cares about long telephoto zoom? -- wider is much more useful, IMO) and metal filter threads holding stuff onto the face of the unit. My recommendation is really "Yes" with caveats above, and is based on video quality and ergonomics. Not having a wide enough zoom is my biggest gripe.
DAVID M.
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High Definition
NTSC
MPEG4-AVC / H.264
1/4" CMOS, RGB Primary Color Filter
Approx. 3.89 Megapixels
Video: Approx. 2.99 Megapixels
(2304 x 1296) / Still Image: 16:9: Approx. 2.99 Megapixels
(2304 x 1296), 4:3 Approx. 3.31 Megapixels (2100 x 1575)
32GB internal Flash drive
LP (5 Mbps) 12 hours 15 minutes
SP (7 Mbps) 9 hours 35 minutes
XP+ (12 Mbps) 5 hours 45 minutes
FXP (17 Mbps) 4 hours 10 minutes - Allows 1920 x 1080 Full HD Recording
MXP (24 Mbps) 2 hours 55 minutes - Allows 1920 x 1080 Full HD Recording
15x Optical / 300x Digital
f=4.1- 61.5mm (35mm equivalent: 39.5 - 592.5mm)
Variable / 3 Fixed Zoom Speeds
f/1.8-3.2
Instant AF, Face Priority AF, TTL (through the lens)
Yes
AUTO, P, Av, TV, Portrait, Sports, Night, Snow, Beach, Sunset, Spotlight, Fireworks
Movie: 1/2000
Still image: 1/500
10mm (wide) / 1m (tele)
Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Fluorescent H, Manual
60i, 24p Progressive (records at 60i), 30p Progressive (records at 60i)
0.4 lx (Night mode)
SuperRange Optical (lens shift)
37mm
2.7-inch Multi-Angle Vivid widescreen color LCD (Approx. 211,000 dots)
Built-in
Internal Flash drive (32GB) or SDHC Memory Card
USB 2.0 Hi-Speed
component (output), composite (output)
Dolby Digital 2 channels (AC-3 2 ch)
Mini Advanced
Pixela ImageMixer 3SE
HDMI Mini Connector (output), CEC and x.v. Color
3.5 mm stereo mini-jack
3.5 mm 4 pole mini-jack (video/audio output only)
(W X H X D) 2.8" x 2.4" x 4.9" (70 x 62 x 124mm)
12.0 oz. (340g) (not including lens and battery pack)
14.1 oz. (400g)
Canon 1 year parts and labor limited warranty
Great Camera !
By picture p.
picture quality is great. light weight. easy to use. sound better than the hf10 i previously had. still would recommed an external microphone if subject is going to be more then 20 feet away and talking softly, otherwise the microphone picks up decently.
The Canon VIxIA HF20 delivers brilliant video and photos through a Canon exclusive 3.89 Megapixel CMOS image sensor and the latest version of the advanced image processor, DIGIC DV III. It is ultra lightweight - the smallest and lightest HD camcorder and brings the ease and convenience of Flash Memory. This technology, the same used in advanced laptop computers, MP3 players, PDAs and cell phones, allows the VIxIA HF20 to record to both its large 32GB internal memory for over 12 hours of crisp, high definition video as well as to a removable SDHC card.
The VIxIA HF20 allows you to record at up to 24Mbps, the highest bitrate in AVCHD format, for the highest quality image. The VIxIA HF20's Canon Exclusive features - such as the Genuine Canon 15x HD video lens, Genuine Canon Face Detection, SuperRange Optical Image Stabilization and a host of new control and creative options - makes the Flash Memory camcorder unmistakably Canon.