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Whistle Stopper - Canon VIXIA HV30 MiniDV High Definition Camcorder with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom
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List Price: $999.99
Our Price: Too low to display
Your Save: $ ( % )
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Canon
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Batteries Included: 0
Binding: Electronics
Brand: Canon
Connectivity: IEEE 1394 (FireWire)
Digital Zoom: 200
Display Size: 2.7
EAN: 0013803091595
Feature: Capture high-defintion video to MiniDV
Floppy Disk Drive Description: None
Included Software: Yes
Label: Canon
Manufacturer: Canon
Maximum Focal Length: 61
Maximum Resolution: 2070000
Minimum Focal Length: 6.1
Model: HV30
Monitor Size: 270
Optical Zoom: 10
Publisher: Canon
Special Features: nv:Sensor^2.96 Megapixel|Size^1/2.7-inches|Image Resolution^1920 x 1080|Movie Resolution^1440 x 1080|Storage Media^High Definition miniDV (recommended) (63min.) or miniDV cassette|Storage Media^MiniDV Cassette|Compressed Format^JPEG|Movie File Format^HDV|Movie File Format^DV|Optical Zoom^10x|Digital Zoom^200x|Focal Length^f=6.1-61mm|Focus Mode^Manual|Focus Mode^Instant AF|Focus Mode^TTL - AF|LCD Monitor^2.7-inches|LCD Pixels^211,000 pixels|LCD Coverage^100%|Shutter Speed^1/2000
Studio: Canon
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Features
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Capture high-defintion video to MiniDV
10x optical zoom; SuperRange Optical Image Stabilizer
24p Cinema Mode; 30p Progressive Mode
2.7-inch widescreen Multi-Angle Vivid LCD
Simultaneous photo capture
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating: 
Summary: What I Consider A Deal-Breaker Issue.
Comment: Everything you read about this camera is true. I owned one for a couple of days and the picture was extraordinary... the camera was a breeze to use...
And then I turned up the audio. Whoa. What's that humming?!
Now, I had seen plenty of reviews (even on the older HV20) warning of a little tape noise in the audio. I own two other Mini DV cameras, and you do hear a little bit of the mechnism working. But this is different. It's disruptive. And I'm not alone in my thinking here. Do some digging and you'll find a few other reviews cropping up online with this complaint now.
If audio's not a big deal to you, or you plan on using extrenal mics, I'd say this is still an insanely great camera for you. But if you're getting it to grab baby's precious moments or anything like that, I have to strongly warn against getting this due to the tape noise in the audio. I consider it a deal-breaker.
On the upside, I'd like to note that I got a great deal on this camera using one of Amazon's partners on here, Butterfly Photo, and they were prompt, courteous, and easy to deal with when I returned the camera. Recommended. I'll likely be using them again to order my new camera (gonna give the HF100 a try instead... possibly an ever-so-slightly less perfect picture quality, but most reviewers are saying no moving parts = prestine audio and for me that makes it a far better overall final product.)
Customer Rating:
Summary: A great camcorder
Comment: This is a great camcorder. I'm filming in 30p mode to upload video online, and I'm extrememly happy with the results. I'm using Final Cut Express 4 with no setup or capture problems - great compatibility with my Mac Pro. I attached a Canon VL-10Li II on-camera video light (it's a big light) and a good-quality, sturdy plastic lens hood I bought on e-bay. The hot-shoe cover is attached to the camera and is not detachable. Many owners complained about losing the cover with the HV20, but the cover gets in the way of my video light, so I'm thinking about cutting the attachment. The camcorder has all the ease and variety of functions for an intermediate videographer like me. My favorite functions: quick white balance setting; grid lines on the display; great instant auto-focus; allows for attachments like an on-camera light or microphone and filter lenses; manual focus option. I'm very, very happy with this camcorder after shopping and comparing different ones during the last few months.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Great camcorder!
Comment: I've had the HV30 for about 1 week now, and so far I think it's great.
I previously used the Sony TRV38, another very capable camcorder. The HV30 comes in a slick, black color and is slightly smaller than my Sony TRV38.
I have three young kids, so I take tons of video mostly indoors. The HV30 has very good low light capability. There's some grain in the darker videos, and the shutter speed also slows (you can see the stuttering movement in the video when taking in very low light). However, you can still see faces clearly. One cool thing I like about this camera is that it has a manual controlled LED light that can add about 3 feet of light when it's too dark. Sony has that 0 lux Night Shot that works in complete darkness, but the colors change to green and black and makes the eyes look scary. I prefer the LED light feature on the HV30 over Sony's Night Shot.
You can select from 5 different shooting modes:
1. DV (regular)
2. DV (wide screen)
3. HDV (high definition - wide screen by default)
4. HDV 24P (cinema mode)
5. HDV 30P (progressive mode)
Although I don't have a high definition TV yet, the colors in every mode looked great on my regular TV. The 24P and 30P modes give the video a "movie look and feel" (thus the name cinema mode), and this is cool just to have. I look forward to shooting something all in 24P or 30P and showing the DVD to family/friends. I'm sure they'll be amazed that my home videos don't "look" like home videos.....and this is all due to the camcorder modes.
You can take photos using the HV30 (saves onto mini SD card). You can use the camcorder as a stand-along digital camera (3 megapixels), and there's even a flash on the camcorder for the digital camera. You can also take still photos while you're recording video. I use this to take photos while recording only because it's a nice little extra thing to have. The pictures are not all that great but not bad either. It's definitely a bonus that both video and still pictures are built into this one camera. I would still recommend a dedicated digital camera to take better quality still photos.
I backup all my videos to DVD because it's easier to watch that way. I prefer the miniDV tapes because it stores "pure" video and information like the time and date. I just started doing a little video editing using Sony Vegas software....and that seems to be a nice software package. The final video on the resulting DVD looks great.
I thought I would stick with Sony products, but so far I am enjoying the Canon HV30 and have no regrets.
I will probably be adding more to this review as I use the camera more.
Update April 7, 2008
Still liking the camcorder because of the 24P and 30P modes. You can really see that difference in the images compared to regular mode. Your video editing software must support HDV (high definition video) in order for you to edit any high definition stuff. Sony Vegas Movie Studio doesn't have it, but the Vegas Movie Studio Platinum edition DOES have it. Make sure to buy the right software if you're going to do editing.
I noticed that the sound is a little soft. Maybe there's a setting for this, but another possible reason is that the Canon's HV30's microphones are on the top of the camcorder facing up compared the my Sony TRV38's microphones on the front facing forward. This does not bother me too much.
There's an automatic lens cap which makes protecting the lens very convenient. No more fussing with a lens cap or having it dangle in your videos.
The package does not include a neck strap...you would think Canon would throw in a strap for a $900 camcorder. I bought a regular Canon strap at a local shop for $18. I think this is worth to have to keep the camcorder secure.
The battery is a cheap one and keeps a charge for about an hour or less. Since a miniDV tape is 1 hour, it would be prudent to get a better battery just to be safe. Canon makes an extended battery for about $60.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Covers all the bases
Comment: I did extensive research before making this purchase about a month ago. Bought it at a Best Buy location for $999 and probably paid a bit too much. Now that I have it, I'm very pleased. Given all of its features and flexibility, its fairly simple to use and the film quality looks great on my HDTV - even for a rookie like me. Just a quick note to Mac users - I haven't been able to download footage to my Mac thus far. Pretty sure I need to get a specific Firewire cable for Mac, vs the USB cable that came with the camera.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Looks great!! Great video!! Great value!!
Comment: First impression: Great looking video camera. If the HV20 was the Mercedes of the Canon line, this is a Bentley.
Video quality: Simply the best. Forget AVCHD. If you are looking for superb High Def. video, you just found it.
Value: For under a grand, no one else comes close.
Move over HV20...
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Editorial Reviews:
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records and plays back both high-definition (1080i resolution) and standard-definition video on Mini DV tapes * 2.96-megapixel CMOS image sensor * effective video megapixels: 2.07 in 16:9 mode, 2.76 in 4:3 * high-definition video lens with 10X optical zoom (digital zoom to 200X) * RGB primary color filter for accurate color reproduction *
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