My claims: shoot movies (family, holidays, family gatherings) uncomplicated to "best" quality. Simply turn on Camera and films. Largest claim is the image quality. No claim to work semi-professional. Manual picture settings (aperture, shutter ...) for me is of secondary importance.
After ausgiebieger information and study more meaningful tests (eg: Computer Video 4/07 Current Issue, video 4/07 Current Issue, and on the Internet such as: [...] or [...]) I bought the camera. I have chosen deliberately for a system with HDV and recording on mini-DV tape, because the recordings are archived so directly. Post (see below) in HDV easy. The new recording AVCHD standard (Cameras that capture to hard drive or flash drive) is rework until the coming and only to a lesser extent. Disadvantage of the mini-DV tape: cumbersome access to scenes, wear drive, drive noise, dubbing to a PC only in real time. Nevertheless, the advantages of tape outweighed for me.
The data of the camera I want to write nothing, but here refer:
[...]
I am absolutely thrilled. The camera is small and handy and despite my large hands, the operation succeeds very well. After the first charging the battery, I have (so) made according to the recommendations of Wolfgang's HDV Blog contrast and sharpness to -1 and losgefilmt. The results are beyond doubt. The display on my Pioneer 435XDE (Plasma, HD-ready) is breathtaking. Focus in all areas with very natural color reproduction. I was particularly impressed the contrast behavior of the action. One knows the problem of the backlight, if, for example in rooms with large windows takes in bright outdoor light. Often no image contents are then inside to detect because the Cam exposed to the bright window, or inside the exposure is correct, but the windows outshine enormous. When Canon such difficult shots succeed very well. This results in high-contrast motifs very nice balanced shots. If the backlight even be too strong, there is a backlight button that compensates for this.
The optical image stabilizer is awesome. Even with 10x optical zoom very quiet recordings and pans are possible. The zoom is with the small rocker actually quite good to use. Who is this too sensitive, which can reduce the zoom speed in 3 steps in the menu. I did not do that, because it may well be that you even want to zoom in quickly and I do not want to spoil me. Moreover, the basic control buttons are also on the monitor! Here you can thus start and stop recording, and zoom. For operation via the buttons on the monitor the zoom runs very smoothly and quietly.
Something negative (this is true but actually on all the video cameras to) is the limited wide angle. Here already is the acquisition of wide-converter WD-H43 on the program (not yet available).
The autofocus is very good. He quickly grabs and a pump (as described earlier in a post) I have not yet noticed. On the contrary, through the Instant AF, the focusing is done absolutely fast. The autofocus also has been working during the zoom, so that even when zooming no big blur arises. The manual Scharfstellun succeed with the small knurled wheel on Objektivund the wizard (enlarged an image area to focus) actually quite good.
The sound recording is ok You hear indeed in quiet passages low drive, but that's not distracting. At least not for the films that I shoot. By Möglichket aufzustecken an external microphone that you can even manually adjust, this shortcoming is easy to fix if necessary.
Recording Mode HDV 1080 / 25p and Cinemodus: These two recording options are not interesting to me. However, I have so far made only 2 test shots with it. The images stutter something when moving fast and in particular Cinemodus leaves the focus on. This appears to be both desirable. These recording modes are safe for amateur filmmakers interesting, want to create the film projects in the "movie look", for me they are playing as we have said does not matter.
Photo Features: I have (actually for mobile phones) bought a 1GB mini-SD card for 12. On this map you can about 700 images in 16: 9 format (1920x x1080) or 500 images save with a maximum resolution of 2048 x 1536. The photo quality is satisfactory, the display on the PC ok, the plasma (output on Playstation 3) outstanding. Again, very natural color reproduction, balanced contrast and good sharpness. Of course, the quality of an SLR or other pure still cameras (eg comparison with Fuji F11) is better. However, I have decided to make the next holiday pictures only with the HV20, because me this quality sufficient safe. A small Blizt is the way integrated.
The menu is called up is possible with a button. Navigating the menu is done with a small, very good to use joystick next to the record button. Very clear menu structure, intuitive operation.
Finishing on the PC:
Of course you want to edit the recordings. To this end, there is a lot to say: HDV (recording standard of the camera) can be reworked well, but you need a correspondingly powerful PC (P4 3GHz recommended from, 2GB of RAM, 256MB graphics card and up). In addition, a modern cut program for about 100 erfordelich (eg Magix Video Deluxe 07/08 or Pinnacle Studio 11 plus or others). After editing, you can copy the movie back on the camera back and then output via HDMI in best quality on the Plasma / LCD. Alternatives (HD-DVD and Bluray) have not yet been possible without any problems. Appropriate hardware is still rare. Here, the Playstation 3 has an enormous advantage again! The PC home movie can BluRay file on a "normal" DVD burn (single layer about 40 minutes playing time), and then play with the PS3 in the HDTV Plasma / LCD. He can of course also on the 60 GB hard disk of the PS3 store for even faster access (the PS3 is also ideally suited for photo presentation on Plsma / LCD because it outputs the images in HDTV in a captivating quality).
Overall I would recommend the camera highly, especially also because of the price performance ratio. The unanimous opinion of the tests: the best currently feasible image, no substantial difference to Proficams. And the picture is me with a video camera at the main.
Conclusion In my opinion:
+ Excellent image quality
+ Very good optics
+ Fast, accurate autofocus
+ Excellent image stabilizer
+ Very good value for money
+ Recording on mini-DV tape
o plastic case (does not really bother)
o drive noise audible in quiet passages
o impaired Wide (systemic in the cams)
Recommended Accessories:
- Bag
- Filter to protect the lens
- Replacement Battery (Original 80, ebay 5-6)
- Editing program for editing on a PC (eg Magix Video Deluxe 07/08 or Pinnacle Studio 11 plus)
possibly:
- External charger
- Wide Converter
- External microphone
