[austinw]

Hi all, I am a new user but have been visiting the forum to get useful advice. I am currently using a trusty but aging Sony TRV900E camcorder and am considering replacing it with the Canon HV30 which appears to have had very good reviews apart from the tiny viewfinder.

I have a Panasonic DMR-HS2 DVD recorder and Sharp Aquos LC-30HV4E TV neither of which are HD ready but cannot be replaced just yet. I would like to know if I will get better SD pictures from the HV30 than with the Sony. I understand I can record on HD but output in SD with the Canon and retain the HD footage for the day when I buy an HD ready TV.

My main use for the camera would be to record steam trains and for holiday use.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks.

[felix2]

Hi Austin,

As someone who saw quite a bit of use with a Sony TRV950, and then bought a Sony HDV HC7 just over a year ago... I'd say the standard def video from the HV30 (i.e. recorded in HDV and downsampled in camera, or in editing) is probably IMHO generally pretty comparable to the TRV900. Probably a bit better. The HV30 is obviously rather newer technology and got one slightly larger CMOS image sensor chip compared with the 900's older and slightly smaller three CCD chips.

But if and when you watch back the HDV footage in high def, the improvement will blow you away!

As you may already have seen / read, CMOS chips as used in HV30 etc, do have a slight weakness compared with the CCD of the older cams, with a bit of "shearing" distortion with fast pans, and occasionally a bit of "jelly wobble" with the wrong sort of camera shake (shouldn't be too much of a problem on trains though, I wouldn't have thought). But for most users most of the time, that doesn't seem to be any issue anyway.

Just out of interest, had you considered the Sony HC9? Actually, not a huge amount to choose between that and the Canon HV30.

Hope that helps,

Giles.

[austinw]

Originally Posted by felix2

Hi Austin,

As someone who saw quite a bit of use with a Sony TRV950, and then bought a Sony HDV HC7 just over a year ago... I'd say the standard def video from the HV30 (i.e. recorded in HDV and downsampled in camera, or in editing) is probably IMHO generally pretty comparable to the TRV900. Probably a bit better. The HV30 is obviously rather newer technology and got one slightly larger CMOS image sensor chip compared with the 900's older and slightly smaller three CCD chips.

But if and when you watch back the HDV footage in high def, the improvement will blow you away!

As you may already have seen / read, CMOS chips as used in HV30 etc, do have a slight weakness compared with the CCD of the older cams, with a bit of "shearing" distortion with fast pans, and occasionally a bit of "jelly wobble" with the wrong sort of camera shake (shouldn't be too much of a problem on trains though, I wouldn't have thought). But for most users most of the time, that doesn't seem to be any issue anyway.

Just out of interest, had you considered the Sony HC9? Actually, not a huge amount to choose between that and the Canon HV30.

Hope that helps,

Giles.

Many thanks for that information Giles, I will have a look at the HC9 as having used a number of Sonys without any problem I feel a certain loyalty.

Austin

[felix2]

I spent quite a while deciding between the Canon HV20 and Sony HC7. I think general consensus on reviews, forums etc, and looking at examples of footage online, was that the Canon's picture quality was probably very slightly better than the Sony, and was a bit better in low light in progressive frame mode (which Sony doesn't have). But to me the Sony had a small handful of advantages over the Canon, including build quality (I think the HV30 is supposed to be better than the HV20 was?) and better onboard mic, and a couple of features (like slow-mo recording and others that I've since forgotten!). I still love the Sony's spot focus and spot exposure though! I've got a friend who uses an HC9 as a "B" camera now and again for his broadcast programme since his TRV950 gave up, and he certainly likes it.