Can anyone point out why the HV30 keeps dropping in price. Just about a week ago I freaked out that B&H dropped it to $600.

....Now it's $550.

Am I missing something or is canon just about to release another spiffy HD camcorder?

Or is it because it's a tape based cam in an increasingly tapeless world?

Or is it merely because of the holidays?

I guess I shouldn't complain since I am seriously considering purchasing a small HD camcorder ASAP. I just don't want to be ignorant of something important when the time comes to make my purchase.

I doubt it'll drop much below $500, but I wouldn't be surprised if a new model came out in January. The HV20 and the HV30 both dropped in January, and its been a year since the HV30. I doubt they'll be able to put much more in it, it's already a great camera. The update may end up being more like the HV20 to HV30 bump.

With the aggressive pricing, I think it's being used as a loss leader. But usually the low holiday pricing doesn't last. In the past, I've waited to buy, and found that the price jumped back up the following year.

Don't overlook the lousy economy. It could be retailers selling at a loss. It does happen more than one might think. Also, since product introductions cost money, I'd be less inclined to think that Canon would release an incremental upgrade. If there's a new product it's likely to be a substantial change in features or a great reduction in production costs. There might actually be fewer features if it's a substantial cost reduction.

This comes from 20 years in product marketing for major corporations.

If there's a new product it's likely to be a substantial change in features or a great reduction in production costs. There might actually be fewer features if it's a substantial cost reduction.

Yeah, like the Panasonic upgrade from GS400 to GS500.

Yeah, like the Panasonic upgrade from GS400 to GS500.

If you can call that an upgrade. *sigh*...I miss my GS400 :(.

I wish panasonic would come out with an HD GS-400 (with 24p of course). That would be awesome :). Sorry for the slight OT.

As the camera model ages, naturally the prices are going to drop but with the economy in a very bad recession as it is, prices on most anything is going to tumble. Gas is an example. I just filled up for $1.39 a gallon. I think I paid over $4.00 a gallon last spring.

The economy! How could I forget?

It seems that there are lots of possible reasons. Can we expect further price decreases on other items? I did notice that the xh-a1 is down a couple hundred for the holidays as well. Will other video products and companies follow suite or have they already?

I did notice that the xh-a1 is down a couple hundred for the holidays as well.

This is probably because Canon have announced the XH-A1S to be delivered early next year. And yes, the economy too. Parenthetically, the A1S offers some very useful new functionality with none lost compared to the existing camera.

If one listens to the economic pundits, there is a very real threat of deflation in the global economy. It's only a risk at this point, but if it happens prices will be lower. It would also be disastrous.

Well I guess it's going back up now? $589 @ B&H...

deflation is a reality already... that $1.5M McMansion that's worth half or less is a shining example. We're in for some "readjustments", no matter how the whole thing pans out.

AS for tech, closeouts with any "new" model year are often enticing, and particularly with HD cameras, each model year seems to bring a price drop, as SD rides off into the sunset... and HD heads down the road to where $250 will buy a "HD" camera...

Now when will BLURAY get with the program???

Even at $589 that's a decent price. Shipping is free too. I'm getting serious about buying an HV30 (to use as a deck for my XH A1 and also as a second camera for when I might want to look like a tourist). I haven't heard anything, so this is just speculation, but it is possible that may be the last HDV consumercam Canon makes. It seems the whole consumer market is headed toward tapeless. If that's true, I definitely want an HV30 before they go away.

It would be a great time to buy an XH A1 too if anybody needs one. The "S" upgrade is nice but I'd still go for the $1,000 savings if I needed another XH A1 today.

Well I think we may see another HDV based consumer cam from them at CES.

With the XH series just updated, their HDV pro cam line will be out for at least another year. One of the purposes of these HDV consumer cams is to act as a "deck" for their professional line (hence why the HV series can playback the "F" modes of the XL-XH series).

As long as Canon has their HDV professional line out, they will need an accompanying deck.

So here's hopes for an HV40 :)

I think there's a bunch of reasons for a declining price.

1. The economy is very poor.
2. Retailers are not wanting to be stuck with leftover stock after Christmas+New Years.
3. It is a HDV+tape based product in a rapidly transitioning AVCHD+flash based world.
4. CES in Las Vegas is less than a month away. And it would be unreasonable to expect no new product. As in a flash based replacement.

It would be interesting to know the month by month sales numbers. It would not surprise me at all if with the release of the AVCHD+flash based HF10, HF11, and HF100 that the older HDV+tape based products sales are rapidly shrinking.

As long as Canon has their HDV professional line out, they will need an accompanying deck.

So here's hopes for an HV40 :)

And today, you got it :-)

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/digital-video-industry-news/140904-new-canon-vixia-consumer-hd-camcorders-2009-a.html

If there's a new product it's likely to be a substantial change in features or a great reduction in production costs. There might actually be fewer features...

Can someone please pass the mustard? I have these words I gotta eat.

I have been watching the HV30 price at B&H from just before the announcement of the upcoming HV40 until today. Unfortunately I did not write down the figures, but from memory the price went from around $535 just before, to $560-something just after, and today it is $579:95. I guess they anticipate a "run" on the HV30 units that are left, because some potential buyers would rather pay $560 for a 30 than full price (whatever that will be) for a 40, when the latter has few new features. But perhaps I shouldn't play amateur psychologist.
- David

Very likely the price was dropping with sales as CES approached.
Now that everyone knows what the new models will be, the sales, and prices, are going back to normal.

I had to go spring for the HV30 just now over at Amazon, as this will pay for itself as a FCP playback/capture deck deck later on. I grabbed the hot shoe mic while I was at it. I shot some footage or a band recording session this summer with that same setup and was knocked out by the picture as well as sound quality. That mic makes a big difference.

I really want a Sony Z1 or V1, and one of them are coming next, but I need something right now to get more new demo material up on Vimeo, and we all know you can get some great stuff with this camera if you know what you are doing and have the lighting right.

Price at B&H just now (Jan 8th, 7:15 pm) is another $20 higher, i.e. $599:95. Bill, what do you think it will top-out at?!
- David

I have no clue what the price vs. time curve is going to be...my crystal ball for reading the future stinks. I just make educated surmises.

Are you happy with the picture quality? Features? There will always be a better cam coming next year, but that does you no good this year. At some point, you have to nail down what's important to you, why it's important to you, make the decision, buy it, and not look back.

It wasn't that long ago (months) I bit the bullet and bought a Sony HDR-HC9.
Big, make that huge, huge upgrade from the Std. Def. Sony TRV-320 that was its predecessor.

Do I like the look of the new cams? You bet.
Am I going to buy a new one? No, for the following reasons:
1. Overwhelmingly I am still delivering product via DVD. HDV is fantastic source for that.
2. I am still having fun learning how to use the cam to its full ability.
3. It is to soon in my upgrade cycle, and the improvement would be to incremental.

But that's me.

B&H price now at 630$

I guess I'm just gonna have to aim for an HV20.

B&H price now at 630$

I guess I'm just gonna have to aim for an HV20.

can still get it for $600 and free shipping if you look around.

If you're not in a rush, I'm sure the price will drop as soon as the 40 hits the market.

I definitely agree, and I would wait if I could but there are a few projects that I need done very soon and I don't currently have any access to a camcorder.

Well B&H price is $599 + MasterWorks DVD: Jumpstart Guide for the Canon HV30 Camcorder

Amazon has one for $10 bucks cheaper...


Any idea if the price will drop back down?

Does anyone actually buy steadily from Amazon? How is their return/repair policy?

Because I'd pay way, way more than an extra $10 for the consistency and comfort that B&H gives me when something goes wrong.