Need advice on 2nd camera... Canon HV20 or Canon 7D?

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dalethompson

Well-known member
I'm currently shooting a documentary now and I now realize I need a 2nd camera. I'm pricing out options right now and have $2500 to spend on this camera. I already have an HVX200 which is my primary camera but I'm needing a 2nd camera for various shots my HVX200 will have some difficulty with.

Looking for the best camera with the best options for the following:

- Close up shots (face, hands etc.)
- Low light scenes (indoors and outdoors)
- Interior car scenes
- Time-lapse shots
- Street interviews and crowd scenes
- Ability for rookie camera person to shoot with.

I love the Canon 7D and all it's functions and results. However, it's also an expensive camera too once you add on the lens(es) and other accessories. I'm not sure about the audio quality too (in terms of using it in a vehicle to record audio).

The Canon HV20 has gotten really positive reviews too. I love the fact it's true HD and small enough for an inexperienced person to use (my wife will be using it on certain scenes). However, it's not quite as functional as the 7D for certain things but it's half the price.

What would you suggest if you were to choose between the two? I want something that will do the job and match up well with my HVX200 footage too.

Any suggestions?

TIA,
Dale

P.S. Can someone familiar with the 7D give a brief rundown on the audio for this camera too. How good/bad is it for a close interview? Do I need other audio components for this camera too?
 
7D all the way. Keep in mind you'll need a decent lens for it too.

Nothing wrong with the Canon HV series (I own an HV30), but 7D definitely has the WOW factor with the shallower DOF achievable with it (don't overuse it please), the low light performance, and the color reproduction. Also, you'll always have a good DSLR handy if you need stills. Tapeless is the way to go too.

Like I said, HV series is really nice, but lacks in low light, and is a smaller sensor. It's a consumer cam, so doesn't have all the manual controls you might want. It IS better if you need to shoot long segments because you can shoot an hour at a time and don't need to worry about overheating.

Both of these cameras have CMOS rolling shutter issues (jello-cam if you're not careful and flash banding)
 
The HV20 is a better "video" camera, with zebras and the ability to actually use true manual audio, no recording time limitations (well, except for the length of a tape) and an actual headphone jack so you can monitor your audio, and no concerns about aliasing and very very little concern with codec breakup.

But for some of the things on your list (close-up shots and interviews) the 7D's "look" will blow the HV20 away. The HV20 is high-def, but deep-DOF, the 7D can deliver the shallow-DOF look.

But, for interviews, be aware that the 7D has a recording-time limitation of about 12 minutes maximum and, if you're using it in a warm-to-hot environment, it has a tendency to overheat and shut down.

But, on the other hand, you said you want it for "low light" scenes, and the HV20 is really bad in low light, the 7D would do better.

However, you're concerned about the cost of a 7D. Therefore, I suggest that neither of these are the right product for the job. I would say you should look at the Canon t2i (supposedly equivalent video performance, for $799) or the Panasonic GH1 (about $1180). The GH1 is probably ideal for the scenarios you've described, and it has no recording limitations or overheating to worry about. It will deliver the gorgeous shallow DOF of the 7D/t2i, but it acts and operates more like a video camera, so it's pretty much an ideal blend between those two. The big knock on the GH1 is the robustness of the codec, it has a tendency to fall apart in high-detail high-motion scenes, so you'd have to watch out for that.

P.S. Can someone familiar with the 7D give a brief rundown on the audio for this camera too. How good/bad is it for a close interview? Do I need other audio components for this camera too?
Click to expand...
Audio on all SLRs is nigh unto useless. Lousy little on-camera microphones with no way to defeat the automatic gain control. You can get a little better performance by using something like a Rode videomic, but most people just abandon the idea of recording on the camera and use an external recorder (such as the Zoom H4N).
 
Galleddrim & Barry:

Thanks for your replies, much appreciated.

I feel foolish a bit now because I totally forgot the HV20 only records to tape (it has the option for microSD, correct?) and I'm shooting digital all the way. Yes, of course this is a huge feature for me (digital vs. tape) and is a dealbreaker in terms of spending extra $$$ on converting the tape.

I love the look of the 7D too and love the fact I can take stills with it too. I kinda wanted it to do secondary shots for this film, so lack of audio isn't really a killer because anything with audio will be captured by the HVX200 or, at the very least, I can sync it up in FCP with the Zoom H4N if I decide to go that route.

I was partial to the 7D anyway, nothing at all against the HV20, it looks amazing really but the 7D is just that much more useful for me in so many ways.

Thanks for the input guys, I really appreciate it!
 
(it has the option for microSD, correct?)
Click to expand...
No. HV20 is an HDV tape camera only. But you may be confused in your terms; the HV20 is 100% digital. HDV is a digital format recorded digitally, on tape. So perhaps you meant to say you were to be 100% solid state?
 
The HV20 records in HDV and DV, which both are digital formats. MiniSD (sic!) is used for still photos only. Also, having a MiniSD card in slot allows for more precise control of exposure. Canon's HDV codec is very robust and does break into macroblocks as easily as Sony's HDV.
 
OR hire me with a 7D kit! haha...but in all seriousness, I'd go with a 7D with its limitations over the HV20 just because I despise tape logging now.

Kegan
 
Barry:

Yes, correct, I think I was confused in terms of what the HV20 was all about. I've never actually picked one up, I've just heard about it on this site. Now I know a bit more about it, thanks :)

As much as I want to save some $$$, in the end, I think the 7D will allow me to do more things with it and be more creative too. I'm thinking long term too... I love taking still pics, so I would use the 7D for this too.

I'm not thinking of the 7D replacing my HVX200, rather, it's another tool to use to compliment the HXV200 and both will allow me to get some good footage which will look great together. In the end, it's all about capturing the moment as best as you can and hope your equipment will allow you to do it in a way that's pleasing to the eye as much as it's informative/entertaining to the viewer.

Thanks to everyone for your input and help too :)
 
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