Great entry prosumer camcorder for amateur films/home movies
First off, I'm going to keep my actual feelings about the camcorder brief, considering other reviewers have covered the bases far better than I ever could. The HF20 is a pretty great AVCHD camcorder, especially for the price, and I just wanted to share a couple things I noticed as well as a couple of add-ons that I've tested myself that greatly enhance the experience.
Now the camera itself is a little larger than the size of your palm. The grip is a bit awkward at first, but you quickly adapt and it feels quite natural. While the camera itself has no optical viewfinder, the side mounted pivotal LCD does the job more than well enough. The zoom toggle and record buttons are located in natural positions, but the bulk of the controls are done through buttons located on or around the LCD panel.
The HF20 has 32 gigs of internal memory, as well as an expansion slot for SDHC cards. I was first leaning towards the HF200, which is the same camera, spec wise, but lacks the internal memory. Seeing as how I wanted to use this camera for moderate amateur film-making purposes, I figured I'd want the flexibility, so I settled on the HF20. The internal memory included is flash based, so there are no moving parts to break or move around. Since you can choose where to record easily enough, I enjoy having the best of both worlds.
Two others I looked into were the HFS10 and the upcoming HFS20. While these cameras were supposedly much better in terms of feature sets and overall quality, I found the advantages to be evolutionary rather than revolutionary, especially for the much higher cost. The quality on the HF20 puts it far ahead of cheaper camcorders, but if I was going to spend upwards of $1000, I would consider more fully equipped professional options.
The camera itself is a sleek combination of gloss and matte blacks (this is another reason I chose it over the HF200. Trivial I know, but the black just looks better than the silver/grey). When gripping the camera with your right hand, your index finger rests naturally on the zoom switch, and your thumb on the record/stop button. Moving your thumb to the right gives access to the mode toggle dial, alternating between picture mode, movie mode,and dual-shot mode. Beyond these, and a small picture button just behind the zoom switch, there are no other buttons accessible with your gripping hand.
Opening the LCD gives you access to the rest of the camera layout. A small enclosure opens to reveal the expandable SDHC slot. And there are access indicator lights that flash to show read/write activity. On the LCD itself is a small joystick for navigation, and buttons along the bottom row for playback settings. A function button rests below the joystick, which acts as a switch for the front light in certain modes. Now the learning curve for the menu system is steep, but you'll easily be navigating in no time. The LCD also has a hidden IR receiver, for use with the included remote. This comes in handy, but the remote has to be pointed at the screen portion to function properly.
As for the still picture quality, it is good enough, but will not replace any dedicated point-and-shoot cameras of comparable quality. When in picture or dual-shot modes, video tweaks are turned off or throttled back so severely that they almost aren't worth using. If you're buying this camera, it's most likely for the video, not the stills, and considering the fact that stills can be extrapolated from footage in post on a computer, I see no need for dual-shot or the dedicated picture mode.
The battery is adequate, but by no means stellar. Fully charged, I get about 80 minutes of usage when using the highest settings. Video playback cuts into this total as well, so for longer shooting sessions (with the internal 32 gigabytes, coupled with a 16 gigabyte SDHC card, I get about 5.5 hours at highest settings) you're going to want to keep the included ac adapter plugged in.
As for the footage and the highest quality settings there-in, I'll be brief due to the myriad variations you can tweak. I'll say this though: in MXP, 24p, and Cine modes, the results are breathtaking in normal light, and more than satisfying in lower light conditions. Using the camera extensively, the video quality is bar far it's strongest selling point, and any other gripes are negligible by comparison.
But there ARE gripes, albeit small ones. The included software is garbage, everyone knows that. If you're just shooting home movies, and just need to move them to a computer, any Windows or Mac will due that via SDHC card reader or USB to the camcorder. Editing however, is another issue, and I'll get to that soon. Another problem is the fact that the camera needs to remain plugged into a power source while transferring. This isnt huge, but a bit of a gripe considering other cameras let you transfer via USB without attaching external power.
Lastly, lets talk briefly about editing and computer performance. Because the included software is relatively horrible, you're going to want to use a dedicated video editing suite. I'll recommend one later for you PC users. Mac users should be able to use the latest versions of Final Cut Pro and iMovie to get the job done. The real problem is computer specs for the AVCHD format, which has been mentioned in other reviews. Now, to clarify, I bought this camcorder knowing the strengths and minimum requirements of the format. Others, however, may not think of this. Let this be a warning: if you're computer is not a fast dual-core with a decent amount of RAM as well as shared video memory, it will not handle the AVCHD format well at all. I myself am running a Core 2 Quad processor with 6 GB DDR3 and a Geforce GT250. It's a bit overkill, but edits beautifully. Any high end Core 2 Duos, or any Quads, i5s, or i7s should do fine. I havent used AMD chips in years, so I cant comment on their performance.
Finally, I wanted to link and recommend some products I've found essential when trying to shoot quality movies. One thing I'm not going to mention here is lighting, which is key. Outdoors on a sunny day is fine, but any interior or nightime shots should be lit properly, and you should usually use something to diffuse the light and make it less harsh. But thats another discussion entirely.
First up, if you're buying the HF20 over the HF200, you're going to want a solid SDHC card. Myself, I picked up a 16 GB Transcend Class 6. Two things to look out for are the class (get 6 or better for HD video) and the size (I found 16 GB cards hit a sweet spot between size and value. The 32 GB cards, to me, are still too expensive. But they also double the memory provided internally, so it's up to you), but beyond that, you can pick almost any brand and get comparable results. The Transcend card hasnt failed me yet, so it gets my seal of approval.
Transcend 16 GB Class 6 SDHC Card: http://www.amazon.com/Transcend-Class-Flash-Memory-TS16GSDHC6/dp/B0015AOK1O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1268752588&sr=8-1
You're definitely going to need some good editing software if you're looking to make short films are pro-looking clips. Since I'm a PC user, I went with Sony Vegas Pro 9. I've heard good things about other programs, but from experience, I know this works and I know it offers a ton of options for editing and perfecting film clips.
Vegas Pro 9:http://www.amazon.com/Sony-SVDVD9000-Vegas-Pro-9/dp/B001GM275C/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=software&qid=1268754253&sr=8-2
Next, you're going to want to beef up the audio to match the video quality. While the internal microphone is far from horrible, separate add-ons do a much better job of offering semi-pro sound at decent prices. One of these is from Canon directly, and plugs directly into the accessory shoe at the top of the camera. The other plugs into the external mic jack, on the back of the camera. The shotgun mic is omnidirectional, and should be used in most situations. I threw in the lapel mic for interviews and such, as it has pretty focused sound for singular voice and whatnot.
Canon DM-100 Shotgun Mic: http://www.amazon.com/Canon-2591B002-Directional-Microphone-Camcorders/dp/B0012ILNK0/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1268752501&sr=8-5
Sony DS70P Lapel Mic: http://www.amazon.com/Sony-ECM-DS70P-Electret-Condenser-Microphone/dp/B00006HOLL/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1268752576&sr=8-1
The basis for all good shots is a good, stable tripod. I have three different ones for three different situations. First is your basic, regular-old tripod. Almost any brand will do, but with tripods it's good to read reviews. I have the one mentioned, and it does what it's supposed to well enough. The second is a steadycam system. These things are handheld, but offer a counter balancing weight system to keep moving shots steady and clean. The Tiffen Merlin is the best, but it's ludicrously expensive. I myself have a Hague, but Amazon doesnt sell those (Google it). The one I'm linking is sold by Amazon, looks reasonably priced, and you get the idea of what it does. Youtube it for test results, it really does make a difference. Lastly is the Gorillapod. I love these things. I have three of em, all different sizes, and I always carry at least one with me, no matter what. Essentially, it's an ultraportable, ultraflexible tripod, which can be bent in any way to wrap around branches, poles, arms...you name it. The one I'm linking is the size you want for the HF20. Smaller cant handle the weight, and bigger is more money than you need to spend. I also have the Gorillatorch, which I'm not linking. The Torch has nothing to do with cameras, but is essentially a gorrilapod with magnetic feet and a super-bright LED flashlight fused to the top. Look it up, very useful.
Dolica 62-Inch Proline Tripod and Ball Head: http://www.amazon.com/Dolica-AX620B100-62-Inch-Proline-Tripod/dp/B001D60LG8/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1268754799&sr=1-3
Manfrotto 585 ModoSteady 3-in-1 Camera/Camcorder Stabilizer: http://www.amazon.com/Manfrotto-585-ModoSteady-Camcorder-Stabilizer/dp/B00103BRMQ/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1268754769&sr=8-3-fkmr0
Joby GP2-D1EN Gorillapod Flexible Tripod with Bubble Level: http://www.amazon.com/Joby-GP2-D1EN-Gorillapod-Flexible-Digital/dp/B001QVUEFI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1268752548&sr=8-1
Finally, I suggest this for anyone, not just people with the HF20. Doesnt really matter what brand, but carry one of these everywhere. It's a lens cleaning pen, and it includes a retractable brush, as well as a soft chemical cleaning pad for smudges. While the HF20 specifically has an automatic lens cover, it's always good to clean it frequently to avoid problems down the line. A necessity.
Nikon 7072 Lens Pen Cleaning System: http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-7072-Lens-Cleaning-System/dp/B00006JN3G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1268752562&sr=8-1
Beyond that, there isnt much else you'll need. As I said before, look into good lighting options and diffusers. For post effects, a cheap green screen might be a good investment. Other than that, all you need is a bag, and almost any will do. I personally use a Canon DSLR bag, since I can fit everything in there and it supports the camcorder nicely. It's up to you though.
Well, that ran way longer than I expected. I hope I covered all of the bases, and if I didnt, feel free to comment and I'll do my my best to answer any questions. The HF20 is a really solid camera, the best in it's price point, actually. Of course, more money will get you a better camera, but this is an awesome balance of quality, value, and versatility for any video situation.
If you want to see test footage, or a review, visit my Youtube Channel: Alfeetoe.
Again, thanks for reading, and good luck
