Digital Video - January 2008 - (Page 17) selected. Under the “effect” menu, you can turn the digital effects on and off, with options for in-camera fades and wipes. If you’d rather not wait until post for some specialized images, you can also record in blackand-white or sepia, while the “art” option posterizes your world. Unlike some of the competition out there, the Canon HV20 does down-convert, but you don’t get the options (letterbox, squeeze or edge crop) that Sony offers. You can have a standard-def image, but your editing software must format it for 4:3 viewing. IN THE FIELD, IN THE AIR The 2.7” flip-out LCD screen is large enough for a camcorder of this size and has touch-sensitive tape control buttons at the bottom of the screen. With glasses, the viewfinder is difficult to use — at best. A small wheel, seemingly designed for people with long fingernails, controls the manual focus. A dial or lens ring would have been much better, but these are the kinds of concessions you must allow for when you settle for consumer-level gear. Canon’s “Instant AF,” found on other cameras in its line, also has a home here, which is evident by the sensor to the left of the lens. When I previously reviewed Canon’s XH A1, I found this auto-focus system to be extremely fast. The lens is an f1.6, 6.1mm-61mm 10x zoom using 43mm filters. It will SCORE CANON HV20 PROS: Good image, excellent autofocus, light, good image stabilizer, price. CONS: Almost too small and light, and missing many “professional” controls. Low light is not its strong suit. BOTTOM LINE: For its price point, nothing can beat the HV20. MSRP: $999.00 CONTACT: http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer focus as close as 3’, and requires only three lux if the shutter speed is set at 1/30. Also, the optical image stabilizer is superior to the digital units found on most inexpensive camcorders. I took the HV20 along with me on a shoot where I was using the Sony HVR-Z1U as my main camera. I decided to use the HV20 as my B-roll camera, and it wound up being a godsend. The shoot was of an air show, and the point-of-view cockpit shots were too cramped for the Z1. While in a World War I biplane, I had no room for my knees, let alone the Z1. No problem for the HV20 — it fit snugly in my hands while flying in the open cockpit. For my outdoor shoot, the HV20 images were amazing and cut perfectly with my Z1 footage. But don’t expect the HD video shot with the HV20 to be in the same ballpark with footage shot with something like Sony’s XDCAM HD. A camcorder that costs more than $50,000 (with lens) is going to outperform one with a street price that’s south of $1,000. Also, the HV20 did just fine sideby-side with the Z1 on an outdoor shoot, but it couldn’t compete in low-light situations. For its price point, nothing can beat the HV20. Sure, the controls are small, it’s missing many of the professional features you want or need, and I doubt it could take the daily pounding of student use. However, on shoots where I have more control, this is a great B-roll camera that is less obtrusive than many larger HDV offerings. DV Chuck Gloman is an awarding-winning producer/director of photography with more than 800 commercials to his credit, and is director of the TV/Film Department as well as an associate professor at DeSales University. Contact him at chuck.gloman@desales.edu. THE 300LT INTRODUCING Designed for use with today's new, smaller DV Cams, the 300LT UHF bodypack sytem (300UPR receiver and 30BT transmitter) is loaded with features in Azden's smallest wireless microphone package yet. • 240 UHF user-selectable frequencies (794-806MHz) • Digital LCD display with multi-function readout • Twin high-gain antennas • Balanced mini-plug output with locking connector • Small Size (3.85" H X 2.5" W X 1.0"D) • Supplied mini and XLR output cables • Comes with EX-503L lapel microphone with mini lock-down connector • Includes shoe-mount on receiver, metal belt-clip on transmitter • Powered by 2 AA batteries (not supplied) ® P.O. Box 10, Franklin Square, NY 11010 (516) 328-7500 • FAX: (516) 328-7506 MSRP $650 For full specifications, visit our website: www.azdencorp.com www.dv.com dv january 2008 17 http://www.azdencorp.com http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer http://www.azdencorp.com http://www.dv.com
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