Canon HV30 review

Canon HV30 Review

Reviewed by: Lori Grunin

Reviewed on: 6 March 2008

Features
The HV30 uses the same 1/2.7-inch, 3-megapixel CMOS sensor as the HV20, capturing 1,440x1,080-pixel (1080i) HD or widescreen SD video (despite Canon listing 1,920x1,080 resolution in its specs, HDV does not support 1920-pixel horizontal resolution). For SD, it downconverts to fit MiniDV 720x480-pixel format.

The camcorder also incorporates the same f/1.8 10X zoom lens as on the HV20, which uses the company's Super-Range Optical Image Stabilisation, a technology that tweaks the results based on feedback from its image processor. As long as you use the eye-level viewfinder instead of the LCD, which lets you to better brace the camcorder, the stabilisation works very well zoomed to its maximum. Since it's harder to keep the camcorder steady when held out in front of you, the stabilisation will likely be less effective.

You can set the HV30's zoom switch for variable speed or one of three fixed-speed zoom options

Performance
In retrospect, we think the HV30's video quality deserves better rating than we gave the HV20 at the time. In good light, the video rivals that of the Sony Handycam HDR-HC7, its primary competitor, delivering excellent colour, sharpness and exposure for its class.

Low-light video quality, while not spectacular, is still above average. It's noisy, but as long as you don't use the Night Mode preset the shutter speed doesn't drop so low as to be unusable, and the camcorder seems to have sufficient dynamic range to record in fairly dim conditions. Focus performance in low light is just OK. It's not terribly slow at finding and locking on still subjects, but if you're zoomed in the focus can continue to pulse gently even when locked.

Conclusion
As of this writing, the HV20 is still widely available, and costs significantly less than the Canon HV30, making it an excellent deal. Both are usually cheaper than the competing Sony HDR-HC7 -- and without the annoying touchscreen -- making either one a necessary addition to your short list of HDV camcorders.

Additional editing by Shannon Doubleday