VIXIA HV30 announced -- pics

[Ray Bell]

Originally Posted by Tony Parenti

Is there any way to get 30p out the HV20 using 60i mode??

If so how, I'm assuming post processing???

You can use this program to get 30P or 60P

Fieldkit...

http://www.revisionfx.com/products/fieldskit/

[Daymon Hoffman]

I'd have to agree with Euisung Lee. Looks like a really big statement from Canon saying "We will not revolutionize, just slowly evolve". Canon says "We are not RED". lol

A shame. I really was looking forward to seeing what they could have brought us for the second time around given their first attempt brought us the beaut HV20.

[Patrick Jenkins]

Is the HV30 a 720 or 1080 (squished) camera? If it's 1080 (squished), is this giving us 1080/30p (as well as 24p)?

Going out of the country in late March and definitely buying either the HV20 or HV30 for the trip. I do hope the HV30 is available at that point.

[Tony Parenti]

Would it be as simple as a firmware update for the HV20 to do 30p?? Doubt it would happen though.

[Paul Tauger]

Originally Posted by Patrick Jenkins

Is the HV30 a 720 or 1080 (squished) camera? If it's 1080 (squished), is this giving us 1080/30p (as well as 24p)?

Going out of the country in late March and definitely buying either the HV20 or HV30 for the trip. I do hope the HV30 is available at that point.

I'm not sure what you mean by "1080 (squished)." If you are referring to the 1440 x 1080 aspect ratio, that is the HDV standard and any HDV camera, including the HV30, will have it -- no HDV camera is 1920 x 1080, nor could it be.

[Patrick Jenkins]

Originally Posted by Paul Tauger

I'm not sure what you mean by "1080 (squished)." If you are referring to the 1440 x 1080 aspect ratio, that is the HDV standard and any HDV camera, including the HV30, will have it -- no HDV camera is 1920 x 1080, nor could it be.

That's what I mean - 1440 (squished - i knew something was squished PAR wise). My previous HDV experience is only 720p with the JVC HD1/0 cams, not to mention I've been out of the HDV world for a while - not up to date with my terms.

[Peter Moretti]

Originally Posted by Paul Tauger

I'm not sure what you mean by "1080 (squished)." If you are referring to the 1440 x 1080 aspect ratio, that is the HDV standard and any HDV camera, including the HV30, will have it -- no HDV camera is 1920 x 1080, nor could it be.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe you are using aspect ratio and pixel count interchangeably, when they shouldn't be.

If I understand correctly, HDV uses rectangular pixels, not square. They are more wide than they are tall. So while HDV has a 1440 by 1080 pixel count, it indeed has an aspect ratio of 1920 by 1080, i.e. 16:9. If this were not the case, it would have an aspect ratio of 4 by 3.

This may seem like splitting hairs, but if it's not clear, it can lead to some confusions down the road. At least for me it has. ;)

[Frank Tucker]

Originally Posted by Luis A. Diaz

They missed the Lanc control again, and the 24P pulldown conversion I'm very happy with my HV-10 and HV-20.
I'll pass on the HV-30 if that is all they are offering.

Luis

Yes ... We need a wired full featured remote for these cameras. I was extremely disapointed when Canon gave up the Lanc connection. I was using this commection for remote and helmet mouted camera work and I wanted to carry this on with the HV20 but no luck. When you attach a camera to the side of a helicopter, truck or motercycle. You expect there may me some risk. This is palitable with a $1,000.00 camera but make you think twice when using your $4,000.00 or $8,000.00 camera. Also the more expensive cameras are quite large and won't work in all the places you can mount the HV20. I would pay good money for a wired remote controller for the HV20. I heard somwhere that there was a firewire version of a controller in the works but have not heard since. It seems this might be possible as the XLH1 is controllable via Firewire using the Canon Console software. How about something for the smaller siblings in the family?

[James Blunt]

Originally Posted by Frank Tucker

Yes ... We need a wired full featured remote for these cameras. I was extremely disapointed when Canon gave up the Lanc connection. I was using this commection for remote and helmet mouted camera work and I wanted to carry this on with the HV20 but no luck. When you attach a camera to the side of a helicopter, truck or motercycle. You expect there may me some risk. This is palitable with a $1,000.00 camera but make you think twice when using your $4,000.00 or $8,000.00 camera. Also the more expensive cameras are quite large and won't work in all the places you can mount the HV20. I would pay good money for a wired remote controller for the HV20. I heard somwhere that there was a firewire version of a controller in the works but have not heard since. It seems this might be possible as the XLH1 is controllable via Firewire using the Canon Console software. How about something for the smaller siblings in the family?

If you are that serious about getting a LANC, you could probably hire a EE student to mod a camera to extend the record button, or do it yourself if you have ever soldered anything, I doubt its that hard, it could probably be done in less than an hour.

Or a solution with off the shelf components, get a learning IR remote which has a powerful IR blaster. Or get a wireless IR recv/transmitter to pipe the IR from where you are to where the camera is.

[Tom Hardwick]

...not THE James Blunt?

[Dustin Whitaker]

Originally Posted by Wes Vasher

According to Canon's own press release on the HV20...

Just because it captures 1920 doesn't mean that it writes it all to tape. If the HV30 is HDV then it will be recording 1440 to tape no matter how a press release plays with words.

I'm hoping some one could explain something I can't seem to find answered. I'm looking to get a couple consumer cameras and later a prosumer camera that can work with the consumers. I want to go HD but was trying to stay with tape. What' the difference between 1920 and 1440? Are they both HD? Should I go the Sony way? Just wondering what camera does shoot full HD on a consumer level, and in what format. We're talking HV30 on tape but knocking it down to 1440. Is that bad?

[Daniel Browning]

Originally Posted by Dustin Whitaker

What' the difference between 1920 and 1440?

The 1920 has more detail, all else being equal.

Originally Posted by Dustin Whitaker

Are they both HD?

Yes. But be aware that HD is a very vague term, thanks to marketing.

Originally Posted by Dustin Whitaker

Just wondering what camera does shoot full HD on a consumer level, and in what format.

Quality is what matters, not the format. Having a full HD sensor (1920x1080) is only one part of the equation. How the encoder handles dark areas, noise, motion, and how well it utilizes the available bandwidth can have a huge impact on quality. Consider the resolution of the lens at the focal lengths you'll use (e.g. most cheap cameras get soft at the telephoto end).

[Mark Fry]

Oh, the agony! Looks like my XH-A1 needs to visit the service centre, so that'll probably be away best part of a month, but I still need to capture HDV into my NLE and do a bit of shooting while it's away. "No problem" I thought, "get an HV20". Seems it's not so simple ATM. Do I:
a) get an HV20 now?
b) wait for the HV30 to appear in the UK?
c) wait a little longer for the price to drop a little?
d) try to get one of the last HV20s at a bargin price once the HV30 is around?

If the HV30 had a LANC socket I'd gladly pay a little extra. What a shame it doesn't. Failing that, if the zoom control is much easier to use on the new model, then maybe it's worth it. I don't suppose anyone who knows the HV20 has got their hands on an HV30 yet, have they?

[Chris Hurd]

Originally Posted by Mark Fry

If the HV30 had a LANC socket I'd gladly pay a little extra. What a shame it doesn't.

But that should come as no surprise. Canon hasn't had LANC on a consumer camcorder for years, and it's not likely to ever come back.

[Chris Hurd]

Originally Posted by Dustin Whitaker

...1920 and 1440? Are they both HD?

Yes they are both HD.

We're talking HV30 on tape but knocking it down to 1440. Is that bad?

No, in fact it's *exactly* how the most popular HD format in the world for High Definition broadcast masters (Sony HDCAM) does it: 1080 x 1440.