Review and Comparison of the Canon Vixia HV40 Camcorder

The Canon HV40 is a MiniDV-based camcorder that belongs to the company’s Vixia line of high definition (HD) video cameras. It is one of the few camcorders that uses the miniDV cassette from any manufacturer that have been released for 2009. However, it offers only slight improvements to its predecessor, the HV30. Thus, aside from a few design changes and the addition of the native-progressive 24p mode, the HV40 is virtually the same as the HV30.

The Canon HV40 has low noise levels and robust color saturation. Its 10x zoom lens is provided with an automatic cover and it performs decently in low light conditions. Its manual controls offer several scene modes, image effects and white balance presets. It offers a good selection of options for frame rate and it offers high definition and standard definition video recording capabilities. The buttons can easily be accessed and its battery pack has a good battery life.

However, the design of the Canon HV40 is bulky and awkward. Its images are not as sharp as the Canon HF S10 and HF S11 and it has only average color accuracy. It does not have a completely manual mode and the photographs can only be stored in MiniSD cards instead of the better known SD/SDHC cards.

The Canon HV40 is less expensive than the Panasonic HDC-TM300 but the latter camcorder has more features and has a more comfortable grip. The TM300 is also easier to use for novices and it has a lens ring and several manual controls that are not available in the HV40.

When compared with its cousin, the HF S100, the HV40 is slightly cheaper but the HF S100 has  better performance and features, aside from the fact that it uses flash memory instead of tape. On the other hand, the HF S100 is not provided with a native 24p mode and it does not have a viewfinder.

In conclusion, the HV40 fulfills the requirements of those who still prefer working with videotape. It may also be preferable than the flash memory models if price is a major consideration. However, getting a less expensive HV30 may be a better choice if the native 24p mode is not needed.