HV20 vs HC7 in low light compared - Page 2 - Techwatch: Satellite TV forums, FTA, Cable, Hardware, & Tech forums

admin_old · 04-04-07, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toni1

Thank rsen

Toni1, you must have see the Thanks button below each post. Click on that once to show your thanks. This way the member will aslo be credited with a valuable user reputation. No need of a seperate post.

This I am posting for the benefit of other users as well.

Binu Joseph
Site Admin

vobiwan · 06-04-07, 11:36 PM

Can you mention where you bought the cameras at? Its been difficult trying to get the HV20 and any place that allows you to return camcorders without too m uch hassle.

Luke · 06-04-07, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rsen

I bought both the HV20 and the HC7 today. From what I have read here and on other forums I was expecting the HV20 to beat the HC7 in low light. To my surprise this was not the case. I compared both at 1080 60i and 1/30 of a second shutter speed (shutter priority in both) and found the noise levels to be very close to one another in a typical indoor low light situation. In fact, if anything the HV20 was a little noisier, but looked a little sharper. My wife (a non-techie) agreed with my findings. The footage was viewed on a new 37 inch LCD TV via HDMI.

I then compared the HV20 in 24p mode (1/24 sec shutter speed) versus the same HV20 in 60i at 1/30 of a second and did notice slightly lower noise in the 24p mode, but just slightly.

I haven't decided yet which one I am going to keep.

The trick here is to use 24p which will give superior low light performance. You can mix 24p and 60i without problems. It will be transferred in 60i.
Have you tried that?

rsen · 07-04-07, 06:38 AM

Luke, yes I did try the 24p mode (at 1/24 sec. shutter speed) and found it to have slightly lower noise than 60i (at 1/30 sec shutter speed), but not alot. But as I mentioned in one of my subsequent posts, the more I tested the HV20 and HC7 in identical controlled lighting, the more I found that the HV20 WAS superior to the HC7 in low light.

rsen · 07-04-07, 07:51 AM

vobiwan, I bought the HV20 at Best Buy here in Canada, and the HC7 at The Sony Store.

Luke · 07-04-07, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rsen

Luke, yes I did try the 24p mode (at 1/24 sec. shutter speed) and found it to have slightly lower noise than 60i (at 1/30 sec shutter speed), but not alot. But as I mentioned in one of my subsequent posts, the more I tested the HV20 and HC7 in identical controlled lighting, the more I found that the HV20 WAS superior to the HC7 in low light.

Sorry missed that. Camcorder info makes a bigger deal about this. Here are the 2 screenshots and you definitely see considerable less noise. Did you compare this on a TV, projector or computer screen? It's possibly more pronounced the bigger the screen is:

http://images.camcorderinfo.com/imag...1080i_auto.jpg
http://images.camcorderinfo.com/imag...x_24P_auto.jpg

But then again with real moving pictures it's a more realistic comparison....

Makes it even harder for me to make a decision between the HV10 and HV20. Did you notice any tape motor noise in your recordings? It does seem to vary. The audio in HC7 samples is much worse in my opinion (reminds me of the HC3).

rsen · 08-04-07, 12:22 AM

Luke,

Yes, test patterns shown on Camcorderinfo.com sure do show a significant difference in noise between 24p and 60i don't they. I just don't see that much of a difference in the actual footage that I am taking. I can't explain it. The settings are otherwise the same (other than a slightly lower shutter speed in 24p mode-1/24 vs 1/30). I have shot several different scenes back to back with 60i and 24p and just don't see the 24p to be so much cleaner. I wish it was. I still love the camcorder-amazing value for what you are getting.

Luke · 08-04-07, 02:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rsen

Luke,

Yes, test patterns shown on Camcorderinfo.com sure do show a significant difference in noise between 24p and 60i don't they. I just don't see that much of a difference in the actual footage that I am taking. I can't explain it. The settings are otherwise the same (other than a slightly lower shutter speed in 24p mode-1/24 vs 1/30). I have shot several different scenes back to back with 60i and 24p and just don't see the 24p to be so much cleaner. I wish it was. I still love the camcorder-amazing value for what you are getting.

Did you set the HDMI black levels on your LCD tv to extended? Just a thought. You can double-check by transferring footage to PC and see if you still don't see much difference.
If that's still the case it might be something else like the amount of lux in their test or some other variable.

I agree that 1/24 versus 1/30 shouldn't amount to such improvement that camcorderinfo reported.

toni1 · 08-04-07, 11:34 AM

rsen, luke
camcorder is laboratory type test (wonder if shots are done in strictly same conditions) same time back to back test seems to be more accurate , and rsen shots are real life situation.
laboratory ok but real side by side same day same condition is a huge better

rsen · 08-04-07, 08:58 PM

I have just now uploaded a short clip of the HV20 in low light in 60 i vs 24p modes. See what you think about the noise in each mode.

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06-04-07, 11:36 PM	#12 (permalink)
vobiwan Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: cleveland, oh usa Posts: 4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Can you mention where you bought the cameras at? Its been difficult trying to get the HV20 and any place that allows you to return camcorders without too m uch hassle.

07-04-07, 06:38 AM	#14 (permalink)
rsen Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 37 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Luke, yes I did try the 24p mode (at 1/24 sec. shutter speed) and found it to have slightly lower noise than 60i (at 1/30 sec shutter speed), but not alot. But as I mentioned in one of my subsequent posts, the more I tested the HV20 and HC7 in identical controlled lighting, the more I found that the HV20 WAS superior to the HC7 in low light.

07-04-07, 07:51 AM	#15 (permalink)
rsen Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 37 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	vobiwan, I bought the HV20 at Best Buy here in Canada, and the HC7 at The Sony Store.

08-04-07, 12:22 AM	#17 (permalink)
rsen Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 37 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Luke, Yes, test patterns shown on Camcorderinfo.com sure do show a significant difference in noise between 24p and 60i don't they. I just don't see that much of a difference in the actual footage that I am taking. I can't explain it. The settings are otherwise the same (other than a slightly lower shutter speed in 24p mode-1/24 vs 1/30). I have shot several different scenes back to back with 60i and 24p and just don't see the 24p to be so much cleaner. I wish it was. I still love the camcorder-amazing value for what you are getting.

08-04-07, 11:34 AM	#19 (permalink)
toni1 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: France Posts: 123 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	rsen, luke camcorder is laboratory type test (wonder if shots are done in strictly same conditions) same time back to back test seems to be more accurate , and rsen shots are real life situation. laboratory ok but real side by side same day same condition is a huge better

08-04-07, 08:58 PM	#20 (permalink)
rsen Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 37 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I have just now uploaded a short clip of the HV20 in low light in 60 i vs 24p modes. See what you think about the noise in each mode.