OK, what is a good Quicktime conversion for HDV for the web? Or should I skip it and upload PNG or jpegs?

Ryan, not sure what you mean by that. I've shot and I've seen HV20 footage shot by others that looks extremely professional. In many lighting situations the A1 and HV20 will look very similar. So I'm not sure why you'd say the HV20 'still has a very home video feel'. I couldn't disagree more. Now if you mean how the camera 'feels' in the hands, then yes, I would agree. :)

Bingo! Sometimes 'perception' is everything...even if we know better! :)

sample images from HV20 and XH A1
 

This is an extreme shooting condition for the HV20. It is a jpeg from a ballet depicting the aurora. (One of those common Alaskan themes) I used the HV20 as a fixed wide stage shot and did the pan and zoom with the XH A1.

The XH A1 is much better at gathering light and has more detail. The HV20 was much darker until I set the gamma to .63 in FCP. I didn't do any other correction. In spotlight mode, the HV20 kept the gain at 0db. It won't take much to match the images, even thought there is a bit of what may be magenta shift on the XH A1.

I think you can easily use the XH A1 with the HV20 as a b-roll camera. I didn't have anyone question my use of it sitting beside my XH A1 while taping the ballet. Then again, maybe no one saw it sitting next to my XH A1 ;-)

Here is the URL to the XH A1, which is also in another thread.
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/attachmen...1&d=1176189867

Re: Canon HV20 vs Canon XH-A1
 

Just discovered the "spotlight" mode myself on the used HV20 I picked up for $250 as,a solid "b" camera to my JVC HD110. Anyone notice that even in "spotlight" mode (to defeat the auto gain) that the shutter sometims wanders below 1/48th in daylight for no perceptible reason?