HDV

• Canon XL H1A Camcorder Review $5,495.00

  The Canon XL H1A ($5999 MSRP) offers some small but useful improvements to the first-generation XL H1A. An upgraded 20x lens kit lens adds an iris ring to the focus and zoom rings. The in-camera color controls, already beyond what most camcorders offer, has been extended even further. Most importantly, Canon has increased the affordability of a shoulder - mount camcorder. In this latest generation, there are two versions. The XL H1A offers all the handling and controls. The XL H1S ($8999 MSRP) has an identical form factor, but adds uncompressed HD/SD-SDI output, Genlock and Timecode. Both camcorders are damn good, offering the performance and handling that can stand up to the most discerning critics. It's not perfect – the weight balance could be better and the audio was reduced from 4-channel to 2-channel (a minor downgrade). Overall, though, we like them very much.

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• Canon HV30 Camcorder Review $649.00

  The Canon HV30 ($999 MSRP) is the replacement model for the much celebrated HV20, winner of our 2007 Camcorder of the Year award, along with three other awards. Canon has decided not to mess with a winning formula too much. The small list of upgrades includes a 30fps frame mode (in addition to 24p and 60i), an better zoom toggle, an improved LCD, and a black paint job. Canon also realize that tape-based (HDV) high definition camcorders are on their last legs. HDD and solid state memory are taking precedence, and it wouldn’t be surprising if this is the last time their consumer HDV line receives any significant upgrades. The real question is this: should you hunt for a cheap HV20, or for the slightly improved HV30, or ditch tape altogether and move onto non-linear media?

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• The Little HD Shoot-out: Canon TX1 and Sanyo VPC-HD2

  
  In the last few years, camera manufacturers have made a big leap into the video world, luring customers with the promise of that digital imaging holy grail, a fully realized camera/camcorder hybrid. What could make that even more enticing? That’s right - high definition video. You know you want it, and so do the camera companies. Two of them, Canon and Sanyo, are vying for your dollars with two seemingly remarkable products, the Canon TX1 and the Sanyo VPC-HD2. Both offer 720p HD video and high resolution still images, all in a tiny package. But can they make good on their promises? We at CamcorderInfo put them to the test, examining video performance, still performance, handling, manual controls, and more. Let the battle begin.

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• The Great HD Shoot-Out - Canon HV20, Sony HDR-HC7, Panasonic HDC-SD1, JVC GZ-HD7 $1,402.89

  This month marked the arrival of perhaps the most anticipated HD camcorder of the year on US store shelves as JVC’s HD Everio finally hit the market. The GZ-HD7 joins HD camcorders from Sony, Canon, and Panasonic atop the consumer market and presents a unique opportunity. For the first time, a true diversity of consumer HD camcorders from four major manufacturers is available in the US. This means more choice than ever, and as our testing shows, there are some great choices available. HDV models like the Canon HV20 and Sony HDR-HC7 produce stunning video and cram a host of advanced features previously limited to prosumer cams into their (relatively) miniature frames... 

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• Canon HV20 Camcorder Review Complete Color Charts $1,402.89
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• Canon HV20 HDV Camcorder Review $1,402.89

  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 strong core feature set to into the ring. As it turns out, the HV20 is an imperfect beast, and the physical handling of the HC7 puts it to shame. It’s also slightly weaker in terms of overall image adjustability without independent shutter speed and iris control, and fewer tweaks to attributes like sharpness and saturation. However, the Canon HV20 delivered in ways the Sony fell short... 

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• Canon XH A1 Camcorder Review $3,195.00

  The Canon XH A1 is poised to win over a host of videographers looking to make the switch to HD. Billed by Canon as the XL H1 in miniature, we can tell you that the statement is hardly exaggeration. The manual control suite is simply outstanding and the performance is essentially identical to its big brother. Message boards are already abuzz with praise for its low light performance. 30F and 24F frame rates, met with skepticism at the H1’s release, have received acceptance (if not accolades) compared to 24P camcorders. With the smaller body comes some loss of functionality, but overall, this camcorder to new champion on the block.

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• Canon XL H1 Camcorder Review $4,099.95

  The Canon XL H1 – you’ve seen it, you’ve studied it, and you’ve put it on your wish list. Now we have the complete review. This HDV camcorder with a $8999 (MSRP) price tag has just about everything you want in a professional camcorder: 30F and 24F frame rates (no, it does not have true 24P, but Canon claims you can’t see the difference), a huge array of manual controls, great handling, a removable lens, and every input and output you could need, whether you’re an ENG, an indie filmmaker, or a corporate videographer. There’s certainly more details than we can fit in an introduction, so please read on.

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• Canon HV10 Camcorder Review $1,599.95

  The Canon HV10 is an interesting model. It's Canon's first consumer high defintion camcorder and as a result it's attracted quite a lot of buzz. And it's no coincidence that Canon has priced it almost exactly the same as Sony's lowest priced HD camcorder, the HDR-HC3. The similarities don't stop there. The HV10 and HDR-HC3 are closely matched in their target audience of point-and-shooters looking for HD quality, as well as their feature set of ultra-simplification. Many are now wondering, with two such similar camcorders, which one should I buy? Let us do the dirty work and try to point the way. 

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