a list of hv20 disadvantages?

[ugafan]

anyone have a clear, concise list of things the hv20 can't do, but a panasonic dvx can?

 

[Huy Vu]

1. No focus or zoom ring.
2. No independent aperture control
3. No gain control
4. Consumerish form factor
5. (Currently) difficult to remove pulldown for 1080 24p
6. No in-camera image control
7. No XLR inputs

 

[Barry_Green]

The list would be as long as your arm. Jade made a good start, but there are many other things. No 30P, no DV 24p or 30p, no advanced pulldown, no selectable gammas, no physical manual zoom, no spotmeter, no using professional microphones, no phantom power, no to so many things.

But you could buy three of them for the cost of a DVX.

A DVX is a professional camcorder from Panasonic's broadcast group, and acts like it. An HV20 is a consumer camcorder from Canon's consumer group, and acts like it. Totally different products, totally different market. You can buy thousands of dollars of accessories to go with your HV20, vs. the cost of a DVX. You can shoot HDV on an HV20. You can put an HV20 in your pocket (although it's a pretty tight fit!)

The HV20 has a lot more controls than I was expecting, but even so, getting at them is nowhere near as convenient. DVX has physical switches and buttons for gain, white balance presets, zebras, audio level controls, etc. HV20 can let you control those things, but it all involves jumping into the menus and digging around with the joystick.

I like the HV20. It's great for what it is. But frankly I find myself just sticking it on "auto" at all times.

 

[ugafan]

i had been considering downgrading and using the extra cash to get some more audio equipment, but now i don't think i will. thanks for the info!