The name Canon has always meant photographic and broadcast television cameras with optical excellence, advanced image processing, superb performance, and the latest in technological advancements. Canon's new High Definition video camcorders are no exception.

The stylish Canon HV20 gives you the ultimate in HD video and digital photo quality with advanced features for the knowledgeable and demanding videographer. Its 10x optical zoom lens, 2.96 Megapixel CMOS image sensor and Canon's advanced DIGIC DVII image processor ensures meticulous detail and superior color reproduction. 24p Cinema Mode brings "film-look" options to the HV20 owner- as never before in this class. And, with its HD and Standard Definition recording modes, you can make the move to HD without making your SD equipment obsolete.

The HV20 is easy to use and delivers the high level of performance you've come to expect from Canon. It's the premium quality High Definition camcorder that sophisticated and discerning videographers have been waiting for.

The Image Quality of HD

The HV20 is the HD camcorder to go along with everything else in your HD world. It captures true 1080 High Definition resolution video in 16:9 format, using MiniDV cassette tapes. The HV20's true 16:9 widescreen HD image is made for your new HD widescreen TV. High Definition and widescreen are the future. Be sure you invest in that future with Canon's HV20.

At the same time, the HV20 gives you the flexibility to record in SD (standard definition) mode, too. That means you can enjoy the ultimate in HD video and photo quality, and still shoot SD video for viewing on your non-HD equipment.

HD Video Lens

The HV20 comes with an outstanding High Definition video lens -- a 10x Genuine Canon Optical zoom. It's the lens you need to record long shots of your child on the soccer field, wide shots of beautiful landscapes, and everything in-between. And because it comes with three pre-set zoom speeds, you always get smooth, steady, professional looking zoom shots.

Super spectra coating technology results in images with minimal flare and ghosting. Plus, the new lens' aspheric design reduces aberration and increases resolution, ensuring crisp, sharp video and enhancing the HD image quality. Not only that, but a new gradation ND system gives you better exposures in bright shooting situations.

True HD CMOS Sensor (1920 x 1080)

The HV20 is one of the first Canon camcorders to feature a Canon designed and manufactured CMOS image sensor. The CMOS image sensors in Canon's EOS Series Digital SLR cameras result in outstanding digital photographs. In the HV20, the CMOS sensor reproduces high-resolution images at 1920 x 1080 resolution with full HD information in video images.

Compared to a CCD, the HV20's CMOS's high color resolution and advanced color reproduction gives brilliant results. It is also unique in featuring Canon's proprietary noise reduction technologies for crisp, sharp images. Low noise technology also means that even in dimly lit scenes, the signal from each pixel is as pure as possible, with minimal noise or other aberrations. It's the ideal sensor for HD.

The HV20 uses an RGB Primary Color Filter with Bayer Pattern that separates light into red, green and blue color components. This results in vibrant images with deep, rich, accurate color and natural-looking tones similar to what you'd obtain from 3CCD camcorders. In addition, the Bayer pattern that delivers sharp, high definition image without creating false colors. As an added benefit, the CMOS sensor provides outstanding image capture in low light conditions.

DIGIC DVII

DIGIC DVII is the next generation of Canon's exclusive DIGIC DV signal processing technology. Designed specifically for HD, DIGIC DVII ensures optimal image quality. It also ensures optimal image quality for still images, even though video and still images have different color requirements. DIGIC DVII is just another one of Canon's advanced technologies that make the HV20 an exceptional performer.

Thanks to DIGIC DVII image processing, the HV20 produces video with improved color reproduction -- especially in skin tones, and dark and light scenes. It also uses a hybrid noise reduction system that employs two types of noise reduction -- for high definition images that are crystal clear.

Plus, DIGIC DVII features improved continuous shooting of digital photographs with the HV20. You can shoot five (3.1 Megapixel) still images per second, and enjoy faster processing of your images to your memory card (1.4x normal card; 2.5x Hi Speed card). It also helps lower power consumption for longer battery life.

Canon's innovative SuperRange OIS combines gyro- and image-sensors to give image stabilization through a wider range of camera motions. Some image stabilization systems correct one type of camera motion or vibration better than another. But Canon's SuperRange OIS corrects for a wide range of camcorder motion:SuperRange Optical Image Stabilizer the fast vibration you'd experience while recording from a moving car; the medium-speed motion of hand-held recording; and the slower motion of body sway. No matter what you're recording and how you're recording it, the HV20's stabilization design corrects camcorder shake instantly. SuperRange OIS also delivers steady images when shooting at long focal lengths.

In addition, optical stabilization keeps your shot steady without a loss in image quality -- something that can't be said for electronic image stabilization. And image stabilization isn't just for video; you can even use it for taking sharper, clearer digital photographs with your HV20. Thanks to Canon's expertise, it's easy to eliminate one of the telltale signs of amateur video and photography.

Instant AF (Auto Focus)

Since it is critical to achieve very sharp focus when shooting in High Definition, the HV20 camcorder features Canon's revolutionary Instant AF focusing system. It offers a dramatic improvement in auto focus speed and accuracy (compared to traditional autofocus systems). The Instant AF feature uses an external sensor, in combination with Canon's autofocus system, to help significantly decrease the time it takes to find focus, even in low light conditions. This system achieves focus instantaneously, reducing focus "hunting". The benefits of Instant AF are especially seen in high brightness and night shooting situations. With Instant AF, it's possible to capture fast, accurate focusing, even when following a moving subject.

Additional Information:

Apple iMovie '08 compatibility

USB: Yes
FireWire: Yes
HDMI: Yes, Type A
PC Compatible? Yes
Mac Compatible? Yes - FireWire
Recording Media: mini-DV Cassette