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9.2 out of 10

Canon Vixia HV40

First seen: 12 may 2008

Information found in: from 16 sources in 2 countries.

Great Deal: $659.00

  • User Score (46)
    8.6 8.6 from 46 reviewers
  • Value for money (2)
    10 10 from 2 reviewers
  • Features (3)
    10 10 from 3 reviewers
  • Performance (3)
    10 10 from 3 reviewers
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Pros & Cons

  • easy to use, quality construction, improves performance, good interface with camcorder, unlimited tape storage
  • poor interface, no performance improvement

The Canon VIXIA HV40 is one of the latest additions to our large family of HD camcorders. For those seeking the ultimate in HD video quality, we bring a host of Canon Exclusive features you won’t find anywhere else - from our own 2.96 Full HD CMOS image sensor and advanced DIGIC DV II image processor, delivering breathtaking detail and the best in color reproduction, to SuperRange Optical Image Stabilization and Instant Auto Focus to give you the ultimate control dema…

Specifications

Digital Video

  • Standard Definition or High Definition
    High Definition
  • Power Consumption
    4.3 W
  • Television System
    NTSC
  • Video Recording system
    MPEG2
  • Image Sensor
    1/2.7-inch CMOS, RGB Primary Color Filter
  • Total Pixels
    Approx. 2.96 Megapixels
  • Effective Pixels
    Tape: HD/DV (16:9) mode: Approx 2.07 Megapixels (1920x1080) DV (4:3) mode: Approx 1.55 Megapixels (1440 x 1080) Card: (16:9) mode: Approx. 2.07 Megapixels (1920 x 1080), (4:3) mode: Approx. 2.76 Megapixels (1440 x 1080)
  • Tape Format
    HDV / DV
  • Maximum recording time
    SP: 80 minutes, HDV, DV LP: 120 minutes DV
  • Lens
    Zoom Ratio 10x Optical / 200x Digital Focal Length f=6.1-61mm (35mm equivalent: 43.6 - 436mm) Zoom Speed Variable / 3 Fixed Zoom Speeds Max. F/Stop f/1.8-3.0mm (when tapes are used)

Release Date

  • First seen
    12 May 2008

Canon VIXIA HV40

The Vixia HV40 was launched by Canon in March 2009. It is the successor to the models, HV20 and HV30. It retains Canon’s core imaging technologies and at the same time, adds a new selection of features for image quality purposes. This camcorder utilizes HDV tapes. It features a 2.96 megapixel HD CMOS Image Sensor and a Canon 10x HD Video Lens. For recording purposes, it can capture in 24p Mode that captures 24 progressive frames per second. Additional features include Instant AutoFoc…

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Canon VIXIA HV40

The Vixia HV40 was launched by Canon in March 2009. It is the successor to the models, HV20 and HV30. It retains Canon’s core imaging technologies and at the same time, adds a new selection of features for image quality purposes. This camcorder utilizes HDV tapes. It features a 2.96 megapixel HD CMOS Image Sensor and a Canon 10x HD Video Lens. For recording purposes, it can capture in 24p Mode that captures 24 progressive frames per second. Additional features include Instant AutoFocus, SuperRange Optical Image Stabilization and 24Mbps Recording, which is known to be the highest bit rate in AVCHD. "Canon’s latest camcorder lineup features an exciting new array of advanced technologies that deliver superb image quality and easy operation," said Yuichi Ishizuka, senior vice president and general manager, Consumer Imaging Group, Canon U.S.A. "These new camcorders are available in a variety of recording formats, providing consumers a camcorder choice that complements any lifestyle or situation."

Features

Features included are a 200x digital zoom, Instant AutoFocus, SuperRange Optical Image Stabilization, a 2.7-inch display and HDMI terminal. The Canon Face Detection Technology that can detect up to 35 faces is featured. With that feature, nine detection frames can be displayed at one time. There’s the add-on feature, Custom Key Mode that will enable consumers to assign commonly used functions to a single button on the camcorder for easy access. This camcorder employs Canon’s proprietary DIGIC image processor. Also onboard are the 2.96 Full HD CMOS image sensor and a 10x zoom lens. This camcorder has been noted to increase flexibility by offering you support for both HD and SD storage mediums. Other notable features are 24p/30p modes for video recording, built-in 3.1MP camera, 2.7-inch Multi-Angle Vivid Widescreen LCD, HDMI terminal, easier photo management and sharing.

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Review Summary

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  1. Canon VIXIA HV40

    Reviewer: CNET
    30 August 2009

    The Canon VIXIA HV40 is a MiniDV (HDV)-based, home-movie camcorder.Compared to other home-movie camcorders on the market, it is expensive at around $1,000. Read more

  2. Reviewer: Camcorder Info
    6 October 2009

    Read more

  1. The Quality of HDV

    Reviewer: OneCall
    19 October 2009 See Product at OneCall ($697.00)
    Overall 8
    8.0
     

    Over all good Camcorder, No Real performance improvement over the HV30 or even the HV20, manual focus ring would be great, placement of mic generate wind noise, poor quality in low light situations, great picture out door. Read more or see product

  2. Home Movie User - both HDV and DV look great!

    Reviewer: Amazon
    11 December 2009
    Overall 8
    8.0
     

    Bought this Canon HV40 after about 12 hours of online reviews. Also spent time at National Camera Exchange and talked with a professional. The consensus by far is that this is a very solid camcorder, particularly for the price. Alot of the reviews were from serious film makers, not your average home movie guy. So if you are in the market for a HD camcorder for family events, vacations, sports, etc., then continue reading. Pro's: Price, even standard definition looks... Read more

  3. "Best Compact Minidv Camcorder in this price range"

    Reviewer: CNET
    28 November 2009
    Overall 10
    10
     

    Being most cameras these days record to a hard drive or flash memory,i needed a minidv format hd camera.I was in mammoth ca snowboarding and i hit a mogel and when i got back to my room i found all my video from the past 3 days somehow got deleted due to the fact when your boarding down a black diamond its very bumpy and the vibration caused my hard drive to fail.So i came across this site hv40.net and ordered the camera overnite for like 200 less than msrp and the nexd... Read more

  4. Great Value and Quality

    Reviewer: ABT Electronics
    18 December 2009
    Overall 10
    10
     

    This is the best high defenition consumer grade comcorder on the market. If you have HDTV equipment this is the camera for you. In addition, it is compatible with imovie, which is the movie editor that comes free with all mac computers. Tape storage is better than the hard disk or solid state storage used on many other models. Tape storage is unlimited and the compression software is different and more effective than that used by all other storage media with fewer drop... Read more

  5. Easier to use than ever thanks to new media players

    Reviewer: Netmall
    4 January 2010
    Overall 10
    10
     

    I bought the HV20 in late 2007 and loved it. I could download the .m2t (mpeg tape transport) files to my hard drive to archive them, but I could only use the camera and tape to play them back on my HDTV. Windows Media Player wouldn't play m2t files, and Sony software wouldn't edit them. However, I loved, loved, loved the picture quality. Its hard to imagine that my eyes could actually perceive more pixels - this may be the most image quality I am capable of processing in... Read more

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