The HF20 ($899 MSRP) is a new high definition camcorder from Canon that can record either to its 32 GB of internal flash memory or removable SD/SDHC memory cards. The HF20 also comes with high hopes from consumers. It's more expensive predecessor, the Canon HF11, was the winner of numerous accolades, including the Camcorderinfo.com award for Camcorder of the Year in 2008. In comparison, the new HF20 is roughly $300 cheaper, has a slightly lighter and smaller design, and includes many of the same features and controls that made the HF11 so popular. Of course, in order to make a cheaper model Canon also had to make significant cutbacks—most of which are evident based on the HF20's diminished video performance.

Canon didn't change too much with design on the HF20, so it looks very similar to past models. The hand strap is large and comfortable, but due to some awkward construction on the camcorder's right side, it can be a bit difficult to get a good grip on the camcorder. This was a minor nuisance, however, and the HF20 provides a relatively comfortable shooting experience. The 2.7-inch color LCD screen should work well for most occasions, but old-school videographers should be warned: the camcorder does not have an electronic viewfinder.

The HF20 doesn't excel with manual controls, but there's enough on there to keep most consumers happy. Aperture, shutter speed, white balance, focus, and exposure can all be adjusted with various degrees of control. There's also a good number of image effects, scene modes and connectivity options on the camcorder. Lacking, however, is a full manual control mode that allows you to set aperture and shutter speed independently. There is also no gain control on the Canon HF20. Audiophiles will be excited to hear that Canon included a headphone port, mic jack, audio level control, and hot accessory shoe on the camcorder.

Pre-record is a new feature that enables the HF20 to continually store three seconds of video in the camcorder's buffer memory. With the setting activated, as soon as you press record the camcorder will have already captured three seconds of footage. While this feature can be very useful if you're trying to record an easy-to-miss moment, it also eats up battery life, so make sure you bring a spare if you intend to use it often.

We found Canon's multiple menu system on the HF20 to be a bit difficult and unorganized. Some features were hard to find and others were simply a pain to control. That isn't to say we hated everything about the menu system—a portion of the menus look excellent and is easy to navigate. Unfortunately, the rest of the menus aren't so simple. We're also disappointed Canon got rid of their "Easy" button on the side of the camcorder. Easy mode, as it was called on the HF11, set the camcorder to run on entirely automatic controls, going so far as to locking the user out of menus and other features. The HF20 still has this setting, but its now called "Dual Shot" mode, which sounds a lot more confusing than "Easy," and may end up bewildering first-time users.

Performance (read in-depth lab performance at CamcorderInfo.com)
The HF20's subpar low light performance is definitely the camcorder's most glaring weakness. High noise levels, terrible low light sensitivity, and only average color accuracy all combined to produce a generally unimpressive low light image. Canon has a history of measuring high noise levels in low light, but what we saw from the HF20 was worse than previous HD camcorders. This poor low light capability isn't that surprising, however, considering Canon shrunk the sensor size on the HF20 down to 1/4-inch (from 1/3.2-inch on the HF11).

In bright light, the Canon HF20 did much better. It had good color accuracy, excellent video resolution, and captured motion very well. The camcorder still registered high noise levels, but they didn't pose as much of a problem in bright light. The camcorder's 24p and 30p alternate frame rates also looked great, capturing motion with a slower, more film-like aesthetic.

Comparisons (read in-depth comparisons at CamcorderInfo.com)
The HF20's low light performance is very disappointing and it makes us doubt the camcorder is worth its $899 price tag. Even with its higher cost, the Canon HF11 is a much better buy. Also, you could save some money by getting the Canon HF100, which has similar specs to the HF11, but costs less due to its lack of any internal memory. There's also the option of upgrading to Canon's top-line product, the HF S10, which is a power-house camcorder with a host of professional-level controls. Amidst our current economic situation, however, it is difficult to justify spending $1299 on a consumer camcorder no matter how good it is.

As far as other manufacturers go, the Sanyo VPC-HD2000 blew us away with excellent results in our low light testing, and it had very good numbers in our bright light tests as well. Its upright, pistol-grip design and quirky interface may scare off potential customers, however. It also doesn't have any internal memory, which means you'll have to purchase a few SD/SDHC cards before you can start shooting.