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Canon HV40 vs T2i

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tom.skier
Posts: 817 - Karma: 392
Ok, I know there have been many threads similar to this but I did searchbar and found nothing so sorry if this is a repost.

I'm looking at upgrading my camera this year, and am undecided between the HV40 and the T2i. I have done a fair bit of research and both seem to have big plus sides.

Anyone strongly recommend one over the other?

May 30 2010 11:48AM
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[-mvee-]
Posts: 1713 - Karma: 10
t2i. i havent talked to anyone who doesnt like it. the hv40 is still a very good hdv cam. it does run on minidv tapes though, just incase you didnt know
May 30 2010 12:54PM
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MANDER
Posts: 4017 - Karma: 2,038
If you want a little cam that you can pass around with your friends to film skiing, get the HV40.

If you want a camera that can make more artsy type films, get the t2i. The t2i will also be great at shooting skiing, but you will need to put a lot more work into it. The t2i's footage will blow the HV40s out of the water, IF YOU GET THE RIGHT ACCESSORIES AND LEARN HOW TO USE IT. If you shoot with the t2i the same way you shoot with an HV40, the HV40 will look better. DSLRs have some things you really need to work around when filming with them, but when you get it right, the outcome is amazing.
May 30 2010 1:14PM
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hawaiiansteeze
Posts: 3255 - Karma: 3,226
my friend has an HV30 and its great for shooting skiing.  qualities amazing for not doing much altering settings and shit.  im sure the T2i would shoot way better quality as the perosn above me stated.

http://www.vimeo.com/9007217

^theres a link to some shit filmed with an hv30
May 30 2010 1:22PM
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tom.skier
Posts: 817 - Karma: 392
That's awesome, thanks for the help. +K
May 30 2010 6:18PM
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MadSteezin
Posts: 4572 - Karma: 936
Canon HV40 because it can actually shoot at 60p, which the T2i can only shoot 30p.
May 31 2010 3:26AM
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1337
Posts: 31054 - Karma: 29,234
WRONGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG

t2i can shoot 24p, 30p, and 60p (plus 25p and 50p for europeans in the same camera)
May 31 2010 3:35AM
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ILoveOhio
Posts: 1793 - Karma: 253
um?????
May 31 2010 3:36AM
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Jwenz
Posts: 8893 - Karma: 7,633
it depends on how serious you are about filming. if you are going to put time to sit down and learn all of the ins and outs of t2i then go for it. but you have to learn them all and know how to use them on the fly otherwise your shit will look like shit. hv40 would be more of a camera for handing off with friends and having a good time with homies. t2i takes a lot of work i know that and if you dont know much about cameras would be a bad decision
May 31 2010 11:57AM
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Blurst
Posts: 13577 - Karma: 10,169
Is it really hard to get to learn everything? I know that if I buy one I will put tons of effort into learning.
May 31 2010 3:38PM
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Jwenz
Posts: 8893 - Karma: 7,633
i am not sure that its hard to learn everything. its just you want to know evverything like the back of your palm so you can make sure everything comes out as dank as it possibly can.
May 31 2010 5:17PM
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tom.skier
Posts: 817 - Karma: 392
Yeah, this is what I have been hearing actually. I am actually looking to take my filming more seriously. I am going to study film and video studies at university - a lot of which is practical video production next year and this camera will see me through this so i'm really looking at spending lots of time getting the technique right and everything

The T2i is a bit cheaper than the HV40 for me being a PAL user as well, and also doubles up as a pretty decent HDSLR so it's all good.

Thankyou for the advice.
May 31 2010 7:12PM
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MANDER
Posts: 4017 - Karma: 2,038
If you are studying film at university I would move up to the 7d. Tons of threads on NS will tell you the differences.
May 31 2010 7:29PM
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IanAvery-Leaf
Posts: 9931 - Karma: 9,399
yes I agree 100%
just go for the 7D, theres nothing to regret, the minute you hold it you will know it means business
May 31 2010 7:36PM
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VinzenzK.
Posts: 168 - Karma: 286
Canon HV40 is the way to go
May 31 2010 9:43PM
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tom.skier
Posts: 817 - Karma: 392
I have heard that there is no AF during filming with the T2i which isn't a huge problem for me. I was just wondering though, would stopping down the lens to f22 for example give you that much larger DOF when filming?
Jun 1 2010 5:47AM
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IanAvery-Leaf
Posts: 9931 - Karma: 9,399

yes much larger

its a pain to start shooting with HDSLRs but its so worth it in the end, and I dont view manual focus as a bad thing anyway, its nicer to have that extra control

Jun 1 2010 7:48AM
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tom.skier
Posts: 817 - Karma: 392
Yes, I agree. I think that the quality of the footage will far outweight the fact that you have to get used to all the manual controls. I think it's the way to go if you're looking for more professional looking film which is my aim really.
Jun 1 2010 8:55AM
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family_vacation
Posts: 6200 - Karma: 7,840
but remember that a complete DSLR setup that will be usable at your university will cost a ton more than a HV30 setup. If I was you, I'd go for the DSLR, but you will end up paying ALOT more once you get all the stuff needed to support it and make the audio comparable to a real video camera. Lenses cost a bunch as well.
Jun 1 2010 9:44AM
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tom.skier
Posts: 817 - Karma: 392
Another question for any t2i users - When filming are you able to use the LCD screen on the back of the camera to view what you're filming or is it using the view finder only?
Jun 1 2010 10:00AM
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IanAvery-Leaf
Posts: 9931 - Karma: 9,399

you cant use the viewfinder, because the mirror is flipped up, thats one of my least favorite things about filming with my SLR but there are things you can do to help that:

one of my next purchases of my list of things to get is something like this:

Click for larger image

should help a lot since LCDs suck whenever there is sunlight

Jun 1 2010 10:47AM
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tom.skier
Posts: 817 - Karma: 392
Woah, that looks awesome! I'll certainly look into that as an accessory. Thanks for the find
Jun 1 2010 11:03AM
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tom.skier
Posts: 817 - Karma: 392
One other query I have about the t2i - I know with other video cameras you have PAL for Europe and NTSC for America, is this the case with the t2i also?
Jun 4 2010 1:17PM
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TomasAa
Posts: 585 - Karma: 699
You can select if you want to shoot PAL or ntsc inside the menu
Jun 4 2010 1:45PM
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tom.skier
Posts: 817 - Karma: 392
That's just the information I was looking for. Thankyou! +K
Jun 4 2010 1:51PM
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tom.skier
Posts: 817 - Karma: 392
What's the difference between the 550D and the t2i?
Jun 4 2010 2:18PM
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TomasAa
Posts: 585 - Karma: 699
Nothing,just the name.

t2i: usa
550d: europe


Jun 4 2010 2:35PM
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tom.skier
Posts: 817 - Karma: 392
Awesome, thankyou. I did wonder this but just wanted to clear it up in my mind before I went ahead and bought one. Thanks for your help.
Jun 4 2010 2:36PM
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KarmaInitiative
Posts: 2028 - Karma: 174
Close, the HV40 shoots 24p, 30p and 60i which i guess you can deinterlace to 60p but its not easy

the t2i shoots 24p, 25p, 30p, 50p and 60p

If you don't know a lot about cameras, the hv40 will teach you a lot, probably to the point where you can use a t2i fairly well
Jun 5 2010 12:40PM
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Alkyy
Posts: 2839 - Karma: 149
if your going to be studying film and really want to get good picture i would step upto the 7d, it'll be a stretch right now, but it SHOULD(who knows whats gunna come out) hold its value really well and is very durable and should last.  Also with the 7d you buy it now then you get a rail system eye piece and a number of other things as you can afford it to make it as good as any prosumer video camera on the market if you take the time to learn it/ set it up/ and practice shooting.
Jun 5 2010 10:25PM
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tom.skier
Posts: 817 - Karma: 392
I did seriously consider upgrading from the 550D to the 7D but the main issue for me was the extra cost. After some reseach, it seems to me like the 550D and the 7D have very similar video standards anyway so I don't think i'm missing out on too much by not spending the extra money. This also means that i'm able to put a little extra money towards the 550D and trick it out with a mic and extra lens' and bits.

Thanks for the advice though.
Jun 6 2010 1:05PM
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