I've got a question regarding the Canon HV20:

I know that the HDV spec doesn't allow for anything above 1440x1080 interlaced. However, since the camera itself can still capture at 1920x1080p, is it possible for it to push that full picture through to the computer if I'm streaming the feed from the camera directly via a firewire cable as opposed to recording it?

Like, let's say I have the camera plugged into my laptop via a firewire cable. I'm using a tool to stream from the camcorder directly without recording to tape (any recommendations for tools which can do this? I've heard horror stories from users of Adobe applications). Since it's skipping the record-to-tape function, will the result be 1920x1080p, or will it be reduced to 1440x1080i?

I need to know because I'm using this camera to record keynotes and interviews at major Microsoft conferences. Deinterlacing the video is a huge hassle.

If the Canon HV20 can't push 1920x1080p through the firewire cable, can anyone tell me if the HG10 can? I don't mind if the camera can only record 1080i but I'd heavily prefer being able to stream 1080p directly from the CMOS when it is hooked up to my laptop.

Also, I can't find any decent deals on the HV20 anymore it seems. The lowest I've found is 850 at Best Buy, and I'm trying to avoid paying in anything other than cash right now.

I thought the HV20 could shoot in 24P? Wouldn't that accomplish a "film like" look for your video and do away with your concern about having to deinterlace the footage? Maybe I'm missing something...

I'm pretty sure the answer to your question is YES, I vaguely remember reading about this feature last year, however I'm not aware of any software to take advantage of the camera pass thru record function.

Try the hv20.com site I'm sure soneone there can answer your questions?

I thought the HV20 could shoot in 24P? Wouldn't that accomplish a "film like" look for your video and do away with your concern about having to deinterlace the footage? Maybe I'm missing something...

Yes, the 24P and the "cinema mode" settings will produce a great "film look" picture. There is a very good discussion about the 24P use on this site : www.hv20.com


Sergio

I believe only the HDMI port can be used to stream a direct live feed in full high resolution. I haven't heard the firewire used as an alternative.

I imagine you can only stream HDV compressed video through firewire. So, no, you can't get 1920x1080 via firewire. Only way to get 1920x1080 (and I'm still not convinced its not 1440 upscaled to 1920) is to capture via some HDMI capture card.

- Mike

If the Canon HV20 can't push 1920x1080p through the firewire cable, can anyone tell me if the HG10 can?

The constraint is with the output modality and not have anything to do with the camera model.

Does Anyone know how to transfer the time & date stamp from the tape when transfering to my PC using Vista Home Edition Microsoft Movie Maker. My wife likes to see the date & time on the home video.

I use pinnacle Studio 11 and I also do not get the time stamp when I transfer to a PC. With my old SD DV camera at least the timestamp was present in the software avi file (once copied from the camera) but with the HV20 that timestamp is missing.

My best suggestion, is to watch the screen of the camera when you are transferring and note the date for your clips. Then use the editor to put a quick "text" date up on the screen for the clips.

There is no way to transfer the time stamp to your PC. On the HV20 forum this has been discussed several times and no solution so far.It looks like Canon encodes and decodes the data to be shown on the camera screen only but doesn't send the information through firewire.

Sergio

Thanks I kind of thought that!

When this camera is being used in 1080i60 mode (not 24p), is it capturing 30 frames per second ? ie 30p but displaying alternate interlaced fields ?

When this camera is being used in 1080i60 mode (not 24p), is it capturing 30 frames per second ? ie 30p but displaying alternate interlaced fields ?
The phrase "30p but displaying alternate interlaced fields" makes no sense. 60i is not "p" because it is interlaced, but it has 30 fps rate if you agree with commonly accepted terminology that one video frame consists of two fields. 60 fields make up 30 video frames. Each field is captured separately, so there are 60 independent captures per second, not 30.

Like, let's say I have the camera plugged into my laptop via a firewire cable. I'm using a tool to stream from the camcorder directly without recording to tape (any recommendations for tools which can do this? I've heard horror stories from users of Adobe applications). Since it's skipping the record-to-tape function, will the result be 1920x1080p, or will it be reduced to 1440x1080i?


The HV20 is capable of 1920x1040, but I *THINK* it's i and not p. At any rate, 1440x1080 is a limitation of the firewire itself so the answer is you will get 1440x1080. You CAN however use the HDMI connect in combination with the BM intensity card for LIVE streaming of 1920x1080 directly to your computer. You do however need a fast machine with big drives.

The phrase "30p but displaying alternate interlaced fields" makes no sense. 60i is not "p" because it is interlaced, but it has 30 fps rate if you agree with commonly accepted terminology that one video frame consists of two fields. 60 fields make up 30 video frames. Each field is captured separately, so there are 60 independent captures per second, not 30.

Yes, sorry. So to confirm, on the HV20, using 60i (not 24p mode), no 2 fields are really truly congruent to each other, they are not derived from a single 'frame' ? Is this correct or no ?

If 1440x1080 is a limitation of the firewire itself, then how is it that I can get 1920x1080i HDTV transport streams from my DVR via firewire?

So to confirm, on the HV20, using 60i (not 24p mode), no 2 fields are really truly congruent to each other, they are not derived from a single 'frame' ? Is this correct or no ?
Correct. Fields are separated with 1/60 of a second. The HV30 has 30p mode in which two fields are taken from one frame. The 30p mode (as well as 25p mode in the PAL version) is recorded to tape in interlaced fashion, see progressive segmented frame (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_segmented_frame)

If 1440x1080 is a limitation of the firewire itself, then how is it that I can get 1920x1080i HDTV transport streams from my DVR via firewire?

It's a limitation of the HDV format.