It is in 'Image effect' then go to custom, here you will find controls for Brightenss, contrast, sharpness and colour depth.

There are mutiple increments for each.

That's good to know Lee, thanks.

It will produce a toasted Bacon, Lettuce and Cheese sandwich from the tape bay.

In the PAL version this is likely to be Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato.

The translated spec text from Canon japan said 3 (vs 5) lux for regular shooting modes;
but in night mode (eg slow-shutter speed I assume), they said .2lux, vs HV10 specs said .3lux.
I figured & meant to comment that .1 lux isn't much difference, for THAT spec.
Clearly 3 vs 5 is a big improvement & I'm happy w/ that (more important) spec.

I should have put a semi-colon in my statement to separate the two sets of specs more clearly, sorry!

It's a setting in the custom menu, aptly named 'sharpness'. ;)

It has 3 positions: Default, + and -

Great, first PAL users get more resolution, then a proper BLT sandwich. Its just not fair.

Does "- Sharpness" actually turn sharpening off entirely or only limit it? I searched around but couldn't find an answer.

NTSC =Non Tomato Sandwich Country, it just the way things are.

I'm not sure Wes, but I can tell you this camera has less sharpening than any other camcorder I've ever used. Even at its default setting, I can see absolutely no sharpening at all.

Hv20
 

If you look at how Canon releases new technology on the still side of the house, you know that new sensors and features always get rolled out in consumer models first.

The still images we capture with our 1D series are vastly superior to anything we can get with our H1/A1 chips, and in low light the difference is so vast a comparison isn't even fair.

The 1Ds has a phenomenal CMOS chip, full frame 35mm, 17mp, 4992 x 3328 max resolution, and this sensor is two years old. If I could have 24p with the chip in my 1Ds mkII, wow.

Since Canon has a great track record with still sensors and single chip glass, there is no reason for them not to be looking at unified sensor R&D and production for both still and motion cameras.

I think this camera is a sneak peek at Canon's future product path. With Canon's market penetration in both professional video and still market, their continuing R&D, the size of their R&D budget, and the obvious growing interest in DOF adapters and digital cinema, all I can say is that Red could be dead, and Arri and Panavision should be worried.

HV20 looks like a great addition to the HDV camcorders!

One thing though - i'm not 100% sure, but i think the quoted 3lux-rating is actually at 1/30th second shutter-speed, so the 'normal' shutter-speed of 1/60th sec. may therefore give about a 5lux rating.

Sony and Canon both seem to now be quoting lux ratings at shutter-speeds less than default 1/60th sec, so it is important to check the shutter-speed for the quoted lux rating. (often not explicitly stated unfortunately!). For example HC7 is quoted as being 2lux but that is at 1/30th second shutter too.

Given this, I think low-light might still be a long way off XLH1/XHA1 low-light performance IMO. (happy to be proved wrong!).

If someone could confirm that the 3lux rating is in fact at a shutter-speed of 1/30th second that would be helpful.

Yes that's right. The 3 lux rating is indeed at a shutter-speed of 1/30th second.

http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/31/c...der-gets-real/
"As we hoped, low light shooting has indeed been improved from a 5 to 3 lux sensitivity at 1/30 second shutter speed"

The google translated Canon japan website, said the HV10 5lux spec was also for 1/30s shutter speed, so the 3 vs 5 is apples to apples.

HV10:
http://64.233.179.104/translate_c?hl...language_tools
"Lowest photographing luminous intensity

* Approximately 0.3 luces (at the time of knight mode, 1/2 seconds in shutter speed)
* Approximately 5 luces (automatic mode, at the time of o toss low shutter ON, 1/30 seconds in shutter speed"

HV20:
* Approximately 0.2 luces (at the time of knight mode, 1/2 seconds in shutter speed)
* Approximately 3 luces (automatic mode, at the time of o toss low shutter ON, 1/30 seconds in shutter speed)

I cannot remember if this helps or not but would a bigger lens help sensitivity? This may explian how the same exact chip and DSP could be more sensitive. More light comes through onto the chip. I cannot remember if that helps or not.