Canon LEGRIA HV40

Compression (10.0)

The Canon HV40 uses HDV compression to record high definition video to tape and DV compression to record standard definition video. When tape-based camcorders ruled the market, HDV and DV compression were extremely common. In fact, they are still very common, but most camcorders that record to non-linear media (flash memory or an internal hard drive) use AVCHD compression. While the popularity of HDV is fading, the compression still has a lot of benefits. It is far easier to work with than AVCHD, and even out-of-date editing programs should be able to handle the HDV codec.

When using the DV codec to record standard definition video, the HV40 offers two video resolutions and two recording qualities. Videos can be recorded with a normal aspect ratio (4:3) at 640 x 480 or a wide 16:9 ratio at 853 x 480. The quality options are SP or LP, with LP giving you about 30 extra minutes of record time (at a lower quality). The SP/LP option is not available when shooting HD video. HDV and DV compression have a constant bitrate of 25Mbps, because they are used to record to tape (which has a constant speed).

The most significant change from the HV30 to the HV40 is the inclusion of a native-progressive 25p mode on the HV40. Most 25p modes found on consumer camcorders are actually recorded as 50i video with a technique called a 2:3 pulldown that removes certain frames in order to create the look of 25p. The HV40 has a native 25p mode that actually records 25 frames per second video to tape. Previously, this feature was only found on Canon's professional models, but it is now available to consumers on the HV40. Did the native 25p footage look all that different from 25p recorded at 50i? Not really. Plenty of purists will disagree, but the average consumer will probably not notice the difference. The main benefit of native 25p is in editing and post production.

Media (4.0)

There used to be a time—only a few years ago really—when all camcorders recorded to tape. Well, the Canon HV40 hearkens back to that era by recording all video to MiniDV tape. We are not saying that the HV40 is out of date; it's simply a modern camcorder that records to an older media. Tape still has its glorious benefits over memory cards, internal hard drives, and internal flash memory. MiniDV tapes are very cheap, they're familiar—particularly if you've ever used a VCR—and they offer you a simple, tangible copy of your video. With non-linear media, your videos only exist as digital files saved to memory, unless you take the time to burn them to a disc. Tape is great for people who don't want to deal with the hassle of backing up their footage to a computer, hard drive, or DVD. MiniDV tapes are also fairly easy to find, so if you run out of blank ones while you're on vacation it shouldn't be too much trouble to purchase some extras.

The HV40 records video to MiniDV tapes...		... while photos are saved to MiniSD cards.

The main disadvantages of tape are that it makes your camcorder bigger (you have to fit the bulky tape deck somewhere), and it can make the editing process longer. Video recorded to tape must be captured in real time onto a computer, which is often a frustrating and tedious process. Non-linear media has far less mess: you just connect the camcorder to your computer and import videos as you would photos or music. Both systems are time consuming, but with non-linear media, getting your footage from a camcorder to a computer is much more streamlined.

For HD video, MiniDV tape can only hold 60 minutes of video. For standard definition recording there is the option of using the lower-quality LP mode, which allows for 90 minutes of video. The Canon HV40 does have a MiniSD card slot, but you can only capture photos to these memory cards—not video.

Editing (4.5)

The most important thing to know about the HV40's provided editing software is that it does not come with a program that allows you to transfer video from tape to your computer. If you want to edit the footage you shot with the HV40, you'll need to purchase your own editing program. Basic programs like iMovie or Windows Movie Maker will do the trick, or you can spring for professional-level editing software like Final Cut Pro or Adobe Premiere to capture your footage from tape to computer. We want to make this fact clear because many consumers may assume the HV40 comes with some sort of video editing software. It does not.

Most camcorders that record to non-linear media instead of tape come with a basic video editing application. Canon includes Pixela ImageMixer 3SE on its f5lash-memory camcorders, but this program is not included with the HV40. The only thing the HV40 comes with is a Digital Video Solution Disk, which contains two photo organisation programs (one for Macs and one for Windows). The photo programs are called ZoomBrowser EX 6.2 (Windows version) and Image Browser 6.2 (Mac version). Both programs are essentially rip-offs of Apple's iPhoto software, and they function essentially as organisational tools. Screen grabs of the Image Browser application are shown below.

This screen pops up when you connect the HV40 to your computer (with software installed).

When the HV40 is connected to a computer and is put into card mode, the Image Browser application automatically brings up a photo transfer screen. Transferring photos using the software is easy, but this is something most people will be familiar with if they've ever owned a digital camera. Once photos are transferred, you can view and organise them in the Browser Window (below). Minor edits and adjustments can also be made to photos.

You can make minor edits to your photos with the provided software.

Image Browser does have a few useful video features, but none of them allow for editing or capturing footage from tape. The program allows you to import video clips as well as iMovie projects, so you can organise your videos using Image Browser if you want to. We can't really imagine many people doing this, however, as you must use a separate program to edit and capture the footage anyway.

The software is mainly meant for organising photos.

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