Is the HV20 ready for next version?

[FoxyKaye]

I have to say that as an HV20 owner, the footage I've pulled from HD MiniDV on the HV20 outstrips the AVCHD footage I've seen on others' computers. I'd say that unless you're really wanting to shoot 30p that the price break on the HV20 is really excellent and you'll be getting a quality camera to enjoy for years to come. Though the fact that Canon didn't strip features from the HV30, and in fact added a few, and kept the camera at the same price point is also keen.

Editing HDV is, of course, another bag of tricks, but even if you only wind up producing standard DVDs from your footage, the quality is amazing.

 

[jamey420]

problems connecting canon hv20 to mac

I am connecting my canon hv20 to my mac for the first time and I am not doing it correctly because I am not downloading any video. I am wondering if anyone has any advise for the best connection methods or any advise after I connect. I am just starting with the process and am not very knowledgeable. Thanks for any advise for a newbie

 

[Artful Dodger]

What program do you use? I know that you only need FCP for 24p material. I have FCE 3.5 and it handles 30p just fine.....just not 24p.

Right now just iMovie. I've read that FCE can't do the 24p only FCP but what I'm doing as of now 24p isn't important for clients just for personal needs/wants since it offers it Now that you said 30p works fine, well then that's nice to know if it gives a nicer picture. I was going to buy FCE4 anyway once I bought the HV20 or now maybe the HV30.
Either way which ever unit I buy will be wonderful so everything worked for a reason that the store was out for time being

 

[FoxyKaye]

I am connecting my canon hv20 to my mac for the first time and I am not doing it correctly because I am not downloading any video. I am wondering if anyone has any advise for the best connection methods or any advise after I connect. I am just starting with the process and am not very knowledgeable. Thanks for any advise for a newbie

I believe either iMovie HD or iMovie '08 should be able to see the HV20 and import video. Try connecting the camera first, turning it on, and then launching iMovie - it should go straight to "import" mode and allow you to control the camera from the screen.

I can't speak for FCE, but if you're using FCP 5.1 or later, change the "Easy Setup" to HD - 1080i60 or HD - 720p24 depending on the output from your camera. You should double-check the HD settings on the camera itself as well - if they don't match what you've set on your computer, it won't work. I think for iMovie, the HV20 needs to be set on 1080i60, but I could be wrong about this since I just use it on this setting in FCP.

Hope this helps - try doing a Google search as well, there are tons of forums on Canon and Apple about correctly configuring your camera and OS X to work together.

 

[Carl Spackler]

Right now just iMovie. I've read that FCE can't do the 24p only FCP but what I'm doing as of now 24p isn't important for clients just for personal needs/wants since it offers it Now that you said 30p works fine, well then that's nice to know if it gives a nicer picture. I was going to buy FCE4 anyway once I bought the HV20 or now maybe the HV30.
Either way which ever unit I buy will be wonderful so everything worked for a reason that the store was out for time being

Briefly, the HV20 does not do a "true 24p" video, it records and outputs in a 60i stream of video, by duplicating certain frames. iMovie should import "Cine Mode 24p" footage it just fine.

If you want to extract those duplictaed frames once you're done with the editing, you'd export your project and run it through JES Deinterlacer (see about halfway down the page). If you don't need the higher end ability that Final Cut Pro has to offer, the HV20, FCE and JES offer a pretty amazing and affordable starting place to output something with a decent film look.

 

[jamey420]

canon to mac

Is it a must to use a firewire connection, or can I use USB?
Thanks for all the info so far.

 

[Carl Spackler]

Is it a must to use a firewire connection, or can I use USB?
Thanks for all the info so far.

I belive it depends on the camera. I have an older miniDV Canon that has Firewire and USB outputs, but the video only transfers over firewire.

 

[FoxyKaye]

Briefly, the HV20 does not do a "true 24p" video, it records and outputs in a 60i stream of video, by duplicating certain frames. iMovie should import "Cine Mode 24p" footage it just fine.

Forgot about that - I don't do 24p workflow, so yeah, if you're interested in 24p and the HV20, look in to this further since there is some discussion of this aspect of the camera.

And to j-420, the HV20 is FireWire (4pin to 6pin) only.

 

[LethalWolfe]

Briefly, the HV20 does not do a "true 24p" video, it records and outputs in a 60i stream of video, by duplicating certain frames.

Which is how pretty much every other tape based camera that shoots 24fps operates as well. Basically the only difference between how the HV20 does it and how a more expensive camera does it is the more expensive camera encodes extra information into the video stream to let compatible editing software ID and remove the duplicate.


Lethal

 

[Carl Spackler]

Which is how pretty much every other tape based camera that shoots 24fps operates as well. Basically the only difference between how the HV20 does it and how a more expensive camera does it is the more expensive camera encodes extra information into the video stream to let compatible editing software ID and remove the duplicate.


Lethal

It would've been really neat to see 2:3:3:2 instead of 2:3 in the HV20, but 24p in any flavor was a wonderful addition.

 

[portismedia]

HV20 to Final Cut Pro 5

I can connect my HV20 to iMovie fine. I have not been able to have the same success with Final Cut Pro 5. Does anyone know what my setting should be on my camera and the setting in FCP 5 for it to recognize my camera. I use the firewire cable for iMovie, should I use a different connection with FCP5? On a few occassions I changed my HD setting in FCP and when I went to "Log and Capture" it crashed the program. Main error in FCP "Unable to initialize video deck" Please someone help:~> Right now my camera is set to HDV PF24.