Martin Steimann
May 13th, 2008, 07:04 AM
I recently compared the SD-Resolution of my old HV20 to my new HV30 (both PAL versions) After playing back the shots from tape via the camera and viewing them on a broadcast monitor, I found that the image resolution on both camcorders appeared to be totally different. The HV30 showed a massive stairstepping effect in SD 50i mode, in HDV 50i everything looked perfect on both camcorders.
I sent my HV30 to CanonConsumerImaging service in Willich/Germany. After some testing they proclaimed that nothing is wrong with my HV30. The picture quality of my HV30 in SD mode and the qualtiy of the whole HV30 series is totally equal, a Canon enginer declared - and equal to the qualtiy of their HV20.
After this remarkable statement I printed out a pdf of an ISO resolution chart and shot it with my HV20 in SD PAL 50i. I asked CCI service to do exactly the same with their HV20 an my HV30. Because my HV30 was alreday on the way back to me they shot the chart with their reference HV20 and HV30. Both showed exactly the same stairstepping I complained about!
But the look of the pictures taken with my HV20 tells a different story. The first picture shows a composition of two screenshot-sections from the SD 4:3 ISO chart testshooting. On the left you can see the jagged image of the reference HV30 taken by Canon, on the right you can see the image of my HV20. Note: images were taken in SD 4:3 (PAL 720x576). I moved a pen accross the ISO chart to prove that my HV20 was in 50i mode.
After I got my HV30 back I created another setup that might help to clarify the problem of the HV30 PAL-Version (shown on the second and third picture)
I matched the setup of both camcorders:
DV 4:3
TV mode 1/50
Customer Settings brightness, colour, contrast and sharpness all -1
White Balance sunlight preset
manual focus with Focus Assist
The combing on the second hand of the clock demonstrates that both pictures were generated at the same time in 50i.
Could this be a problem of the internal signal processing? Did they mix up the interlacing mode? With the shutter set to 1/25, the picture of the HV30 looks perfect again.
Another HV30 user opinion (or even test) is much appreciated!
I sent my HV30 to CanonConsumerImaging service in Willich/Germany. After some testing they proclaimed that nothing is wrong with my HV30. The picture quality of my HV30 in SD mode and the qualtiy of the whole HV30 series is totally equal, a Canon enginer declared - and equal to the qualtiy of their HV20.
After this remarkable statement I printed out a pdf of an ISO resolution chart and shot it with my HV20 in SD PAL 50i. I asked CCI service to do exactly the same with their HV20 an my HV30. Because my HV30 was alreday on the way back to me they shot the chart with their reference HV20 and HV30. Both showed exactly the same stairstepping I complained about!
But the look of the pictures taken with my HV20 tells a different story. The first picture shows a composition of two screenshot-sections from the SD 4:3 ISO chart testshooting. On the left you can see the jagged image of the reference HV30 taken by Canon, on the right you can see the image of my HV20. Note: images were taken in SD 4:3 (PAL 720x576). I moved a pen accross the ISO chart to prove that my HV20 was in 50i mode.
After I got my HV30 back I created another setup that might help to clarify the problem of the HV30 PAL-Version (shown on the second and third picture)
I matched the setup of both camcorders:
DV 4:3
TV mode 1/50
Customer Settings brightness, colour, contrast and sharpness all -1
White Balance sunlight preset
manual focus with Focus Assist
The combing on the second hand of the clock demonstrates that both pictures were generated at the same time in 50i.
Could this be a problem of the internal signal processing? Did they mix up the interlacing mode? With the shutter set to 1/25, the picture of the HV30 looks perfect again.
Another HV30 user opinion (or even test) is much appreciated!