Sony HC3 vs Canon HV40

[alegator]

Is the newer Canon HV40's image quality better/equal/worse than that of the Sony HC3? In case that image quality is better, is it much better to justify an upgrade from the HC3 to the HV40? Thanks for your feedback.

[minidv2dvd]

the hv40 has a slightly larger cmos sensor. the only thing new on the hv40 from the hv30 is true 24p recording. not really very useful.

your money you decide, but i wouldn't think it's much of an upgrade from an hc3.

[zoobie]

you decided not to get the hc3's firewire port fixed for $100?

maybe it's time to goof with it, perhaps do the monitor flip hack along with a 35mm dof adapter...or turn it upside down on rails...what's nice is you'd have the LANC to control a remote on a handle unlike the canons

[alegator]

you decided not to get the hc3's firewire port fixed for $100?

I haven't decided yet, but most probably I will get it fixed, for $100 or $350. I was just wondering what's "new" in the consumer miniDV HD camcorder segment since the HC3.

[edDV]

Quick history:

The original Sony HC-1 had some user exposure and manual audio level capability and was considered by some a poor man's FX1. The HC3 "dumbed" out manual control modes and was re-focused to the consumer at a lower cost. From then on, Sony stayed in the dumb consumer mode.

Canon jumped in with manual audio control, peak meters, manual exposure control and zebra patterns on the HV20/30/40. These were quickly adopted by the serious hobbiest and low prosumer. The HV20/30/40 truely filled the role of poor man's FX1. www.HV20.com

More controversial were the "24p" and "30p" modes but nobody else was offering similar in HDV below $4000.

[alegator]

Quick history:

The original Sony HC-1 had some user exposure and manual audio level capability and was considered by some a poor man's FX1. The HC3 "dumbed" out manual control modes and was re-focused to the consumer at a lower cost. From then on, Sony stayed in the dumb consumer mode.

Canon jumped in with manual audio control, peak meters, manual exposure control and zebra patterns on the HV20/30/40. These were quickly adopted by the serious hobbiest and low prosumer. The HV20/30/40 truely filled the role of poor man's FX1. www.HV20.com

More controversial were the "24p" and "30p" modes but nobody else was offering similar in HDV below $4000.

Thanks edDV for your review. So other than more manual control, and only in terms of image quality, is the HV20/30/40 an improvement over the HC3? If I watch the same video shot with the HC3 and the HV40, will I notice any difference? I'm just a casual shooter, so for me image quality is top priority over manual control.

P.D.: Manual control is always welcome, but in my case that alone would not justify spending in a new cam to upgrade from the HC3.

[edDV]

Quick history:

The original Sony HC-1 had some user exposure and manual audio level capability and was considered by some a poor man's FX1. The HC3 "dumbed" out manual control modes and was re-focused to the consumer at a lower cost. From then on, Sony stayed in the dumb consumer mode.

Canon jumped in with manual audio control, peak meters, manual exposure control and zebra patterns on the HV20/30/40. These were quickly adopted by the serious hobbiest and low prosumer. The HV20/30/40 truely filled the role of poor man's FX1. www.HV20.com

More controversial were the "24p" and "30p" modes but nobody else was offering similar in HDV below $4000.

Thanks edDV for your review. So other than more manual control, and only in terms of image quality, is the HV20/30/40 an improvement over the HC3? If I watch the same video shot with the HC3 and the HV40, will I notice any difference? I'm just a casual shooter, so for me image quality is top priority over manual control.

P.D.: Manual control is always welcome, but in my case that alone would not justify spending in a new cam to upgrade from the HC3.

Manual control is very important for audio quality and can be very important for video quality in difficult lighting. For auto modes see the reviews at camcorderinfo.com but in general Canon won on picture quality, the Sony HC's won vs HV20 for the fine focus ring but that is a manual control.

[zoobie]

yep...that HC1 was thee handycam at the time...blew others away...I tried to buy one once but the guy (who wanted $700) was scamming everyone because of the cam's popularity...even years after it's release

most of these little cams have about the same quality...canon may lead the way in PQ, 24 fps, and low light where sony is a lot more rugged, handles much better, HC1 focus ring, and has LANC...take your pick

like mini said, though, you won't notice a "stunning" amount of difference...and it's a long way to go for a small upgrade...but it's your money

[edDV]

The most direct solution is to get the IEEE-1394 port fixed.

[PapaDmitry]

A question on Canon HV40 AV In/Out port. Does it record from an outside source such as a helmet camera? Not all camcorders have the AV Inpurt features (My old Panasonic PV-GS250 does). Nearly all camcorders have an AV Out option. Any feedback?

[Zilvinasrecords]

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[kenone]

just got the Sony HD HDR-CX 150 3.1 mega pixels & still image rec and i think it does the job really good

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[edDV]

A question on Canon HV40 AV In/Out port. Does it record from an outside source such as a helmet camera? Not all camcorders have the AV Inpurt features (My old Panasonic PV-GS250 does). Nearly all camcorders have an AV Out option. Any feedback?

The HV-20/30/40 have a composite A/V input (no S-Video in) that can be used for DV 720x480 recording. It can also be used for pass-through live DV over IEEE-1394. It does not work in HDV mode.

[MJA]

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