Michael Jouravlev
September 25th, 2007, 05:13 PM
Here is what I don't like about HV20 and what I would like Canon to fix in a next model.
The list of things that will cost nothing or next to nothing to implement:
- Properly flag 24psf frames in 60i stream.
- Provide normal manual mode for shutter/aperture/gain or at least explcit aperture control in Tv mode instead of dumbed-down Exposure slider.
- Display light meter info without using "photo" button.
- Allow using Cinemode gamma with any other shooting mode like Tv or Av. Cinemode should entail just image enhancements, no shutter speed / aperture control.
- Allow explicit control over built-in ND filters (if they are indeed there).
- Revamp the menu, two-layer menu is too convoluted. Use words like Sony does, ditch icons.
These are low-cost mods:
- lanc connector or at least focus control from the remote. What is up with omitting remote focus? Sony's PDX10 remote control does not have focus buttons either, zoom only. Why? If there is no zoom ring available, I'd rather control zoom via a remote, this would keep my camera steady on my shaky tripod.
- Throw in an LCD hood (I prefer Canon lettering instead of Hoodman, isn't this good advertising for Canon?). This will mitigate the need for proper retractable viewfinder.
- Make it black or any other color, the metallic paint is cheesy.
- Throw in a lens hood (JVC Everio and Sonys look cool with their rectangular hood) or at least make it available from Canon website for no more than $20. Oh, and make sure that it is possible using hood along with standard screw-in filters.
- Make available a custom Canon-branded mic from Canon accessories website. The mic should incorporate handle for carrying camcorder around, like GL2 has. To do this the new camcorder should have two shoes: in front and in the back. Or make two accessories: just the handle without mic, and handle/mic combo. Both should have a shoe on top since this accessory would use camera shoes.
- Make sure that bottom of the camera has a hole for tripod locking pin. Current HV20 has it, but many other Canon camcorder don't. Don't skip on this important feature!
Higher-cost mods:
- Use better plastic. I know Canon can do it, because HV10 plastic looks much better texture-wise and color-wise. Do the same to HV20 successor. I am not asking for Sony- or Panasonic-like magnezium or aluminum body, but at least use better plastic and get rid of cheap metallic paint.
- Provide XLR breakout box as an optional accessory, sell it from the website. No more than $200, better yet $150.
- have a dedicated switch for ND filters
- Either provide a focus ring (repeatable, please!) or provide automatic rack focus based on two preselected points. Come on, the camcorder is just a small computer with a lens, this stuff is simple and costs nothing. Allow choosing rack focus speed, similarly like it is possible to choose zoom speed.
High-cost mods:
- Now when GL2 is almost out of the door, the 3CCDs version with global shutter could be an upscale model, filling the void between $1000 HV20 or its successor and $3000 XH-A1. Say, a $1500 HDV camcorder with large GL2-like lens, focus ring, bunch of buttons, manual ND filter, flip-out viewfinder and 3CCDs would be an absolute killer. If this is not possible, make it $2000, and sell the similar package for $1500 with one CMOS.
Canon, stick with tapes for a while. Not everyone wants to switch to HDDs or expensive memory cards or flaky DVDs.
The list of things that will cost nothing or next to nothing to implement:
- Properly flag 24psf frames in 60i stream.
- Provide normal manual mode for shutter/aperture/gain or at least explcit aperture control in Tv mode instead of dumbed-down Exposure slider.
- Display light meter info without using "photo" button.
- Allow using Cinemode gamma with any other shooting mode like Tv or Av. Cinemode should entail just image enhancements, no shutter speed / aperture control.
- Allow explicit control over built-in ND filters (if they are indeed there).
- Revamp the menu, two-layer menu is too convoluted. Use words like Sony does, ditch icons.
These are low-cost mods:
- lanc connector or at least focus control from the remote. What is up with omitting remote focus? Sony's PDX10 remote control does not have focus buttons either, zoom only. Why? If there is no zoom ring available, I'd rather control zoom via a remote, this would keep my camera steady on my shaky tripod.
- Throw in an LCD hood (I prefer Canon lettering instead of Hoodman, isn't this good advertising for Canon?). This will mitigate the need for proper retractable viewfinder.
- Make it black or any other color, the metallic paint is cheesy.
- Throw in a lens hood (JVC Everio and Sonys look cool with their rectangular hood) or at least make it available from Canon website for no more than $20. Oh, and make sure that it is possible using hood along with standard screw-in filters.
- Make available a custom Canon-branded mic from Canon accessories website. The mic should incorporate handle for carrying camcorder around, like GL2 has. To do this the new camcorder should have two shoes: in front and in the back. Or make two accessories: just the handle without mic, and handle/mic combo. Both should have a shoe on top since this accessory would use camera shoes.
- Make sure that bottom of the camera has a hole for tripod locking pin. Current HV20 has it, but many other Canon camcorder don't. Don't skip on this important feature!
Higher-cost mods:
- Use better plastic. I know Canon can do it, because HV10 plastic looks much better texture-wise and color-wise. Do the same to HV20 successor. I am not asking for Sony- or Panasonic-like magnezium or aluminum body, but at least use better plastic and get rid of cheap metallic paint.
- Provide XLR breakout box as an optional accessory, sell it from the website. No more than $200, better yet $150.
- have a dedicated switch for ND filters
- Either provide a focus ring (repeatable, please!) or provide automatic rack focus based on two preselected points. Come on, the camcorder is just a small computer with a lens, this stuff is simple and costs nothing. Allow choosing rack focus speed, similarly like it is possible to choose zoom speed.
High-cost mods:
- Now when GL2 is almost out of the door, the 3CCDs version with global shutter could be an upscale model, filling the void between $1000 HV20 or its successor and $3000 XH-A1. Say, a $1500 HDV camcorder with large GL2-like lens, focus ring, bunch of buttons, manual ND filter, flip-out viewfinder and 3CCDs would be an absolute killer. If this is not possible, make it $2000, and sell the similar package for $1500 with one CMOS.
Canon, stick with tapes for a while. Not everyone wants to switch to HDDs or expensive memory cards or flaky DVDs.