Originally Posted by Socks

Seems the biggest issue might be the HDV resolution limits? AVCHD will do 1920x1080, while HDV only goes to 1440x1080. Is this an issue, or not so much?

Quoted from the website React posted

Compression (7.0)
The Canon HV30 (Review, Specs, Recent News, ) records and outputs video in the HDV format, which is a type of MPEG-2. HDV is the oldest and most venerable of the consumer high definition formats. With age comes some benefits, such as near universal support from video editing software released within the last few years. HDV compression has so far proven to be superior to the competing compression, AVCHD. HDV records at a higher bit rate of 25Mbps, while AVCHD is peaking at an average of about 16 or Mbps, depending on the manufacturer. While AVCHD is more space efficient, its codec is extremely complex, and a powerful computer is needed to work with native files. HDV, on the other hand, offers a more streamlined editing process. Also, AVCHD shows more compression artifacts in the final footage than HDV.

We don?t expect HDV to keep its edge too much longer. At some point, maybe even this year, engineers will figure out how at least match its quality. Most of the AVCHD camcorders for 2008 are recording in 1920 x 1080, while HDV is forever locked at 1440 x 1080, then stretched for playback. The gains that the ?full HD? camcorders make in resolution are expected to be offset by the lingering compression artifacts and other headaches of AVCHD, but it?s only a matter of time before they crack the code.