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Canon VIXIA HV40 HD HDV Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom
Price: Too low to display (Add To Cart To See Your Price)
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Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| HDV format delivers high-definition video to miniDV tape |
| Genuine Canon 10x HD video lens; SuperRange Optical Image Stabilizer |
| DIGIC DV II image processor; 24p Cinema Mode, 30p Progressive Mode |
| 2.7-inch Multi-Angle Vivid Widescreen LCD |
| HDMI terminal for easy, one-cable connectivity to your HDTV |
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Accessories
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Customers Reviews
2009-11-03
Motor noise is flaw
I ordered this camera to replace an aging Sony SD Mini DV unit. I returned it because the motor produces a distinct, pulsating whine that is clearly audible on the recorded audio. I have run into this issue before with cheaper Mini DV camcorders but believed an expensive and highly-rated unit like the HV40 should be better. The issue is important to me because I find the whining sound distracting as a backdrop to my family memories. Maybe it doesn't bother others so mach, which is why manufacturers can get away with it.
I replaced the HV40 with the Sony HDR-HC9 and I'm very happy with the Sony. The Sony's motor is audible during recording but is almost completely silent on the tape. I also like the handling of the Sony much better and the construction feels more solid in the hand. The touch-screen menu is fine with me. Although some rave about the HV40's low light performace, I prefer the image quality of the Sony. The HV40 appears to produce a more contrasty image in low light, which some may prefer, but I think it comes at the expense of more visual "noise" in the image. The Sony's images are smoother, more balanced, and cleaner, though less vivid. Finally, I like the Sony's image stabilization better -- I believe it smoothes out small vibrations better. Others may differ, but the choice was clear to me.
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2009-11-02
1440 x 1080 NOT 1920 x 1080
I purchased this camera for HD semi pro video. Considering that it received the highest score from Consumer Reports among the HD camcorders, I was astonished to discover that it does NOT record 1920x1080. Its highest mode is 1440x1080 and the image quality is pretty average at that. The documentation that I found was misleading, because I saw numerous references to a 1920 x 1080 resolution and I never saw any warnings that would have led me to believe that the only thing on this camera that gets 1920 x 1080 resolution are still photos. I used it with a high quality Sony stereo microphone and the sound quality was atrocious. It's a good microphone that I use a lot with other recorders. There are several recording modes, but they are not well explained in the manual, so good luck figuring out which recording mode you will want to use. There are quite a number of menu items that are cryptic at best. The straw that broke the camel's back was when I discovered that it is not compatible with Adobe Premiere for live capture. Seriously, Consumer Reports? This camera gets your highest score? I wouldn't recommend this camera to my worst enemy.
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2009-10-05
Overall a great camera but buy a better battery
The image quality is outstanding for a novice style camera and user. The features are easy to use and intuitive. The battery that comes with the camera is pretty much a joke as far a recording time. Buy yourself the best battery you can afford.
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2009-09-24
Previous HV20 user. HV40 is a good upgrade.
I purchased the HV20 a few years back when it first came out, and it was a fantastic camera, with a few small shortcomings mostly to do with the HDV format falling behind technological advancements, i.e. 24p buried in a 60i wrapper (which made the 24p a pain to retrieve) was the biggest gripe, as well as having to take the time to transfer video from the camera to my computer. Wasn't a big fan of the silver color, either, but that's minor at best. The hotshoe cover was removable and not captive and was easy to lose (by the time I sold the HV20 I had to dig through my house to find that cover).
Thankfully, the HV40 has fixed the issue with 24p. Now you can capture at 24p without any real issues (works perfectly with Sony Vegas on PC, haven't tried it with any mac software yet). Nice black camera looks a little more professional, and even the hotshoe cover is permanently attached to the camera... However, it's painfully annoying because it just gets in the way when mounting a shotgun microphone! Yes, I broke it off and it's now sitting in a drawer again. A sliding cover like on the HFS10 would be a better solution overall. Obviously, you're still looking at transferring the video in real time via firewire. If there's a faster way to do this, I haven't found it yet.
The things that stand out most to me:
- Picture quality is, as expected, excellent.
- Menu system has never been great on the HV series but it's usable once you get used to it.
- Location of the Instant AF sensor --or whatever it is-- to the side of the lens, outside of the filter rings means it's easy to block with many lens accessories, which makes IAF work poorly at times.
- HDV Tape vs. Flash... Flash based camcorders are easier to deal with in post, but DV tapes can be bought just about anywhere, making tape-based cameras great for vacations or long shooting sessions.
- Battery life is sufficient, you can fill an entire hour tape on a single charge, plus some extra. Aftermarket batteries are easy to find and CHEAP, and don't nag like HFS10 batteries.
- VIEWFINDER! An actual, honest-to-goodness LCD viewfinder, which is often easier to shoot through than the flip-out LCD.
Overall, a solid update to the HV line, at a decent price. You can't go wrong with this camera, though depending on your needs, there might be something better for you out there, like the HFS10/100. 4/5
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2009-08-27
Fantastic. Best Consumer HDV I've Ever Used.
Camcorders are tough to review. The wide skill sets of consumers who purchase them as well as their diverse needs make for a ton of different approaches, though none that are necessarily one-size-fits-all.
So, as in my review of the PS3, I'm going to concentrate on those things that I think are important to the majority of people looking at camcorders on amazon.com. If you are a highly experienced shooter and need technical specs and measured results, I'd suggest a quick look at some of the dedicated digital video review sites, of which there are plenty. As for me, the following are the issues that mattered. My video background: I worked for a few years at a television studio, shooting and directing, and have been shooting home video since the 80's, progressing from cameras attached to VCR's through VHS cams, 8MM, Digital8, and HDV, so I've played with a bunch of goodies.
That said, on with my review:
FORMAT: The first thing anyone purchasing a camcorder needs to decide on is recording format. Do you want to record to local memory (flash or hard drive) or removable media. For me, it's a no-brainer. I wanted removable media so that a) I'd be able to keep archives and b) there was no chance that I'd fill up the camera with no way to offload the footage in the field. Those two issues eliminated built-in memory right off the bat. Also, digital tape is well supported and easily streams video via firewire to my computer for editing - the downside? It's done in real time. That's not a horrific issue for me though, and certainly not enough for me to trade to a hard drive system.
FEATURES: The HV40 is packed with features. It's an upgrade from the HV30, which was a minor upgrade from the HV20, both of which received rave reviews from press and consumers for quality and ease of use. I own an HV20, so I was ready to go with the HV40.
The lens on the HV40 is a Canon 10x optical zoom with optical image stabilization (as opposed to digital stabilization, which is not nearly as good) and has fantastic optics. The zoom switch is a HUGE upgrade over the one on the HV20, allowing for incredible control (the old one was a barrel, this is an actual raised switch - all the difference in the world!). Auto focus is fast and accurate, and it never had a problem finding focus. Above the lens is a video light, which is ok in a pinch, but not fantastic.
Shooting modes include 60i (60 frames-per-second, interlaced) 30p (30 frames-per-second, progressive), and, new to this model, true 24p (24 frames-per-second, progressive) that gives a very film-like quality. Note that your editing software must support it, but if it does, it's fabulous looking.
The HV40 also shoots still photos (as many camcorders do) though it uses the Canon Digic image processor, which gives great quality and continuous shooting. Two pretty neat features: you can capture still photos to a memory card as you're shooting video, and you can capture still photos to a memory card FROM video you've already shot, and it's all transferable via the USB port. Very neat.
The LCD screen is a healthy 2.7 inch widescreen unit and looks great. There's also a hot shoe on top of the camera (with a removable cap that stays attached to the camera, unlike on the HV20), an HDMI terminal for connecting directly to a display, and a wireless remote control. There are, of course, many additional features that are too plentiful to list here. I've included the big highlights, but you might want to take a look at the manufacturer's description for more.
QUALITY/USABILITY: In a word: fantastic. The quality of the video is stunning. I've loved my HV20 since I bought it, but the HV40 looks even better, at least to my eyes. Plus, as I mentioned, you've got the new 24P mode which adds new creative options.
There are plenty of shooting modes: you can select the frame rate and choose from a number of program scenes if you wish, or simply leave it on auto. You can select preset white balance settings or do a manual white balance, and of course control manual focus and other settings if you wish. All in all a great variety of shooting modes that should fulfill pretty much anyone.
The camera is light and easy to hold for long periods of time, the focus is fast and accurate as I said, and tape noise handling is great.
I found low light performance to be excellent. On a recent trip to the Luray Caverns, I was able to capture everything I wanted to get, and the focus, color registration and clarity were phenomenal.
Battery life is also very good - I didn't have any issues during a recent road trip, shooting a lot during the day and charging overnight.
I had absolutely no problems transferring my finished footage to my computer via firewire. I tested importing to my Mac as well as my PC, and neither posed the slightest problem. Two issues I'd like to point out here for Mac owners: iMovie and Final Cut Express do not support native 24p editing, and both import HDV using Apple's Intermediate Codec, which is a lossy compression that is not compatible with Windows, and is not true native HDV. I'm not making qualitative statements here - I just wanted to give folks a heads up to do the research if these might be issues for you. As an aside, I edit using Sony Vegas Platinum which has no such issues and is a fantastic, reasonably priced product that supports 24p footage (though it's PC-only).
INCLUDED SOFTWARE: Forget it. Use a third party solution. As I said, I've been very impressed with Sony Vegas, though you have to get at least the Platinum edition to support HDV editing (I bought the Platinum Pro edition that included Sound Forge - a great value).
CONCLUSIONS: Fantastic. I have no complaints whatsoever. The HV40 is simple enough in auto mode for my 9-year-old son to use, but has the features that I find necessary to shoot what and when I want.
Best in class, hands down.
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Product Details
Batteries Included: 1
Binding: Electronics
Brand: Canon
Color: Black
EAN: 0013803113006
Floppy Disk Drive Description: None
Has Red Eye Reduction:
Is Autographed: 0
Is Memorabilia: 0
Label: Canon
Legal Disclaimer:
Manufacturer: Canon
Model: 3686B001AA
Publisher: Canon
Release Date:
Special Features: Array
Studio: Canon
System Memory Size: |
Canon Cameras HistoryCanon Corporation is a world-known manufacturer of office equipment ranging from printers and fax machines to scanners and copying machines.
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