Canon Vixia HG20 Camcorder Review

Conclusion
The Canon Vixia HG20 ($949 MSRP) is a very good camcorder, of that there's little doubt. Since last year's highly-rated HG10, the hard drive was expanded from 40GB to 60GB, the maximum bit rate increased from 15Mbps all the way up to 24Mbps, which is the fastest that AVCHD allows for. However, we couldn't see discernible increase in video quality with the bitrate bump, so that should not be a major factor in your purchasing decision.

Once again, we have to complain about how cheap the Canons feel in-hand compared to Sony. The plastic has a discomforting hollow echo to it, and the zoom motor is awfully loud by modern standards. Conversely, readers have reported instances of Sony camcorders taking a fair amount of abuse without complaint.

The HG20's performance is what brings us around again to a favorable opinion. The video is so sharp, and the colors so vivid that nothing has beat Canon in side-by-side comparisons for nearly two years. We'll readily admit that the Sony HDR-SR12 is a close competitor, and that some may prefer Sony's color reproduction and handling. However, Canon allows you to dial the saturation and sharpness up or down, making it more flexible (though Panasonic has just added this as well on the HDC-HS100 and HDC-SD100). Also, the 60i/30P/24P frame rate options greatly expand the aesthetic options. The menu navigation will likely confuse new shooters, but an Easy mode makes point-and-shoot operations a snap. Heavy manual controls users may balk at the joystick as the sole means of access, but the control options are excellent. Overall, the HG20 is a very strong camcorder.

We should also mention Canon's upgraded version of the HG20, the HG21. It features an LCD with a wider viewing angle, a viewfinder, and most importantly, a 120GB hard drive. Priced at $1299, a full $350 more than the HG20, it would have to come with a personal shooting instructor to make the upgrade worthwhile.

Comparisons

	Canon HF11 The Canon HF11 ($1199 MSRP) is nearly identical in many regards to the Canon HG20. It feaures the same 1/3.2-inch CMOS sensor and 12x, f/1.8 lens. Our testing showed that the camcorders produced the same results. The difference lies in their respective recording methods, which impact both size and use. The HF11 records to solid state memory, with 32GB internal and with expandability through SDHC cards. As a result, the HF11 is about 30% smaller than the HG20. The latter has a bulkier 60GB internal hard disk drive. The HG20 clearly gives you more recording capacity, but how much do you need in one shoot? It's pretty foolish to be sitting on 32GB or 60GB of unarchived video. If you back up often enough, the HF11 is the better choice due to faster access times and a smaller, lighter body, but it is about $250 more expensive.
	Sony HDR-SR11 and HDR-SR12 These Sony camcorders are identical except for the capacity. The SR12 sports a 120GB hard drive, while the SR11 has a 60GB capacity. We reviewed the SR12 and deemed it the best Sony we'd seen in some time. From overall performance to handling, it was a top notch camcorder. The front-mounted Cam Control dial made manual adjustments particularly easy. Canon lacks the grace in handling, but counters with more manual controls and 60i/30P/24P frame rate options. In terms of raw performance, we think the Canon appears sharper and more vivid. On the other hand, the Sonys seem more solidly built. This is tough call. It's a split decision.
	Panasonic HDC-HS100 The Panasonic HDC-HS100 offers good handling, especially the full-sized ring control around the lens. With independent aperture and shutter, gain, focus, white balance, and zoom all controlled by the ring, the HS100 feels more like a pro camcorder than anything else in its class. However, Panasonic's continued reliance on three small sensors is really hurting its low light performance, as the company is routinely surpassed by Canon, Sony, and now JVC, all of which use a large, single sensor. We have to recommend the Canon HG20 in this face-off.
	JVC GZ-HD40 The GZ-HD40 offers a lot of options for the user, perhaps too many. It can record in both the AVCHD and the MPEG-2 TS formats, making it flexible but confusing for the casual consumer. The video performance took a big leap forward over previous generations, and we were quite impressed with the improved low light performance, but still not as good as the Canon HG20 or Sony HDR-SR12. The JVC GZ-HD40's lack of optical image stabilization is a tough omission to swallow. The HD40 is good, but the Canon HG20 is better.

Who It’s For
Point-and-Shooters
The Canon HG20's easy mode is a godsend for consumers who have no aspirations beyond strict point-and-shoot operation, as it makes the camcorder virtually idiot-proof. The complex menu structure, however, proves challenging for point-and-shooters looking to wet their feet in manual controls.

Budget Consumers
There are cheaper camcorders to be found, certainly. But for an HD camcorder, the $949 MSRP is not bad.

Still Photo / Video Camera Hybrid
The stills from the Canon HG20 are pretty good, and the manual controls are excellent.

Gadget Freaks
There's not much new here.

Manual Control Freaks
The Canon HG20 has a lot of manual controls. The color saturation and contrast, in particular, are better than anything else out there. Panasonic counters with independent shutter and aperture, while the Canons have Priorities modes instead.

Pros / Serious Hobbyists
Pros might like this as an inexpensive b-camera, considering the 30P and 24P frame rates that significantly broaden its aesthetic range.