The Canon VIXIA HG20 is an excellent compact camcorder capable of recording in five different resolutions including true High Definition 1920 x 1080. It records AVCHD video at a maximum bit rate of 24Mbps and its 60GB hard drive is capable of holding up to 22 hours and 55 minutes of video at the lowest bit rate of 5Mbps. A hybrid camcorder, you can also record best quality movies to HDHC cards that are Class 4 or better.

The cameras most important feature is the 3.3-megapixel HD CMOS image sensor which produced sharp, accurate video recordings. It features a Canon f1.8-3.0 HD Video lens with 12x optical zoom and 200x digital zoom. The camcorder has the DIGIC DV II image processor which is the next generation in Canon’s signal processing technology. Fortunately with all of that zoom capability, the device offers SuperRange optical image stabilization. SuperRange OIS corrects for a wide range of camcorder motion from the slow swing of body sway to fast vibrations when recording from a moving vehicle as well as the stabilization required by a long lens focal length.

The camera records in 3 different frame rates including standard 60i interlaced video, a 24p Cinema Mode which helps achieve the professional motion picture look, and a 30p progressive mode that you’d expect to find on professional video equipment.

Controls for the 2.7-inch LCD are easy to access and use and there is a 5-way joystick to help you maneuver through six screens of menu options. The camera features a variety of output jacks including an HDMI terminal facilitating transfer directly to HDTV.

The Canon VIXIA HG20 nearly matches the cream-of-the-crop Sony HDR-SR11 in terms recording quality. It surpasses the Sony’s 32GB of internal memory with its 60GB hard drive at a much lower cost.