HC9 vs. HV30 revisted...

jmpatrick wrote on 6/13/2008, 6:20 AM
Got to check out the Canon HV30 for an hour or so last night. Shot some HD footage and captured with V8. Everything worked great. My new Quad Core was able to crossfade between 2 HD video tracks, both loaded down with effects (blur, film effect, broadcast colors, cg, etc.) no problem. CPU load never exceeded 50%. Preview was smooth. I rendered a 2 minute clip and was ahppy to see that Vegas was maxing out all 4 cores. It's all good.

The Canon is a nice camera. The build quality seemed better than my first impression. The camera noise was there, but not terribly distracting. I really liked the manual focus wheel and the audio level meter on the display.

Here's my question. Does the Sony HC9 have an audio level meter on the LCD display? I couldn't find that information when I scanned the online manual.

I'm moving from a Panasonic GS120, which is a 3-chip SD camera, to either the Canon or the Sony, and I hope that whichever I choose is going to have at least as good PQ.

Comments

CClub wrote on 6/13/2008, 12:12 PM
In addition to the audio level meter question, depending on the type of footage you capture, you might want to find out if the HV30 or HC9 have a histogram. My HV20 doesn't have one (well, it does for photos but that doesn't help me), while I know the HC3 had one. I use the histogram extensively with my Sony V1U and they're very helpful when capturing frequently changing lighting situations.
Cliff Etzel wrote on 6/13/2008, 1:03 PM
My HC7's have 70/100 Zebra and histogram options for the flip out monitor. Also, my HC7's allow to monitor audio and provide auto and manual mic audio adjustment. I set up my p menu's on both cameras to make audio levels and exposure the first two items so I dont' have to go hunting for them. I'm sure the HC9 is set up the same way.

Cliff Etzel - Solo Video Journalist
bluprojekt | SoloVJ.com
nolonemo wrote on 6/13/2008, 1:34 PM
The HV30 has 100 and 70 percent zebras. No histogram. One thing to be aware of is that the "exposure adjustment" feature on the HV30 locks the exposure at the adjusted setting, and in that way is different from the "exposure compensation" feature found on digital still camera which reduces or increases exposure by the designated amount but does not keep the camera from adjusting the exposure in shutter or aperture priority mode.
owlsroost wrote on 6/16/2008, 8:45 AM
I'm moving from a Panasonic GS120, which is a 3-chip SD camera, to either the Canon or the Sony, and I hope that whichever I choose is going to have at least as good PQ.

I don't think that will be a problem - I've owned a couple of the Pana 3CCD cams, and the Sony HC3 I currently have is better PQ than either when down-converted to SD (and blows them away in HD, of course). The sound from the on-board mics is pretty good and tape noise is almost completely suppressed - just about audible (on playback) in a quiet room.

Tony

Terje wrote on 6/16/2008, 1:43 PM
I'm moving from a Panasonic GS120, which is a 3-chip SD camera, to either the Canon or the Sony, and I hope that whichever I choose is going to have at least as good PQ.

I moved from the Panasonic GS-400, a camcorder with better PQ than the 120, many ways the 400 was the Star Panasonic retired and never really matched with later releases of the GS series. The Canon HV-20 is significantly better PQ than the Pana, that includes color representation. This may seem to go against conventional wisdom that three CCDs give better color quality than one. This is true when comparing SD camcorders, but the majority of one-chip HD camcorders are going to have better color representation than the majority of three chip SD camcorders.

I have read technical explanations for this, above and beyond the fact playing in 4:2:0 color all the way is far better than going from 4:1:1 (DV) to 4:2:0 (DVD).I would not be able to reproduce the logic.
jabloomf1230 wrote on 6/16/2008, 3:03 PM
Actually you can "trick" the Canon HV20/30 into displaying the histogram, but it's more trouble than it's worth. First you put the camcorder in Card mode and shoot a still image. Then check the histogram, which is displayed for still photos in Card mode. Put the camcorder into Tape mode, using the same exposure. You keep doing this until you either get the best result by manually adjusting the exposure in Card mode, or you fall asleep from boredom. The 70% zebra works fine in most instances.
CClub wrote on 6/16/2008, 6:09 PM
You know, I was wondering about that "trick." Have you done it? If I was shooting an interview where I knew the lighting wasn't going to change, I'd use that. For any footage where you'd need changing exposure settings, obviously that wouldn't be useful.
jabloomf1230 wrote on 6/18/2008, 6:27 PM
Yes, I have used it. But most of the "tricks" (such as this one and the more common "zero gain/lock the exposure" trick) for the HV30 do not magically transform it into a pro camcorder with full manual control. The installed user base for the HV20/30 is so large that people have creatively come up with ways to make the camcorder appear more useful in conditions of either extreme lighting or fast motion. The histogram trick is far too tedious to be useful, even in a setting where light conditions remain constant. All I can say is for you to try it yourself and see what you think.
randy-stewart wrote on 6/18/2008, 6:50 PM
There are a couple of vid's on the Tube for the HC9. Here's a link to one from VASST:
Randy