Canon Vixia HG20 Camcorder Review

The Canon HG20 ($949 MSRP) is an HD camcorder that records to an internal hard drive, replacing last year's HG10. In addition to a new black paint job to set them apart, the HG20 also has a 60GB hard drive (up from 40GB on the HG10), a few design alterations, as well as a larger CMOS sensor and an increased AVCHD recording bitrate. On the downside, Canon omitted the viewfinder on the HG20, making the LCD screen the lone option for setting up your shot. For $350 more Canon also makes the HG21—featuring an even larger storage capacity (120GB), an improved LCD, and a viewfinder.

The 60GB internal hard drive on the HG20 is its most prominent feature. It bulks up the camcorder's size (the HG20 is 30% larger than the HF11, which records to solid state memory), but it's capable of holding approximately 330 minutes of footage at highest quality. If that's not enough space for you, the HG20 can also record to removable SD/SDHC cards (just like the HF10 and HF11). As with most new HD camcorders, the HG20 uses AVCHD compression codec. Improvements with the codec over the past year have been steady, with noticeable improvements in video quality. There remains, however, the disadvantage of large and unwieldy video files that are difficult to edit, unless you have a first-rate computer.

True to its Canon pedigree, the HG20 delivers a sharp, vivid image, with deep colors and plenty of manual controls and frame rate options. True, the colors on the HG20 may appear too oversaturated, but Canon is just appealing to the consumer market—most people prefer rich color rather than accurate color. Like most Canons, the HG20 offers 24P and 30P frame rate options, both designed to give your footage a different look and effect (compared to the normal 60i mode). 24P is designed to emulate a cinematic appearance by giving your video softer, slower motion, while 30P is a slightly faster frame rate that is recommended for action sequences or sporting events. If you're not interested in frame rates or manual controls, the HG20 has an Easy button that puts the camcorder in an entirely automatic mode—exactly like Sony's button of the same name.

The HG20, with all its powerful video capabilities, does have the feeling of cheap construction. The hard plastic body has a hollow echo and the zoom motor is louder than it should be. Also, Canon utilizes a joystick for all its menu selections and manual controls. The joystick is rough and jerky, and it's no good for making fine adjustments like the Cam Control dial on the Sony HDR-SR11 and SR12 or the lens ring on the Panasonic HDC-HS100.

Performance (read in-depth lab performance at CamcorderInfo.com)
The HG20 produces amazing video, which is exactly where Canon has been leading the way for the past year. Canon's tape based camcorders (the HV20 and HV30) as well as flash memory models (HF100, HF10, and HF11) all rank as top tier video performers (with the HG20 right along side). The HG20 comes equipped with a 1/3.2-inch CMOS sensor and has an effective pixel count of 2,070,000 (both upgrades over the Canon HG10).

In auto mode, the HG20 does a decent job handling scenes with very little light. It is the 24P and 30P frame rates, however, that turn the HG20 into a low-light champion. Using the alternate frame rates allow the HG20 to capture more color depth, along with a sharper, brighter image in low light. This is the same impressive performance we've seen from the other Canon's this year.

Comparisons (read in-depth comparisons at CamcorderInfo.com)
Canon has been manufacturing camcorders with the best video quality on the market for nearly two years, and the HG20 is no exception. With its sharp image, multiple frame rates, and vibrant colors the HG20 puts on a wonderful visual show. As far as camcorders that record to internal hard drives go, the HG20 is the best of the bunch. If you're willing to shell out the extra cash the HG21 has double the storage space, a view finder, and an enhanced LCD, with the same video quality as the HG20.

Sony's internal hard drive HD camcorders, the HDR-SR11 (60GB) and the HDR-SR12 (120GB) do come close to matching the Canon's performance. They don't have multiple frame rate settings, and the resolution isn't quite as sharp. However, the handling is definitely better and some people may prefer Sony's less saturated colors. The Panasonic HDC-HS100, while having the least impressive video quality of the bunch, does provide a lens ring for manual adjustments as well as certain features (like gain control) that no other consumer camcorder manufacturers offer.

There's always the option of going with a camcorder that records to tape or solid state flash memory instead. Canon's HF11 has a nearly identical video performance to the HG20—the only difference besides the recording media is size and money, with the HF11 being smaller and around $250 more. Sony also has a decent solid state camcorder, the HDR-CX12, while Samsung produced the shockingly good SC-HMX20.

For a more in-depth review, visit the Canon HG20 Review at our partner CamcorderInfo.com