Canon VIXIA HF S20 Full HD Camcorder w/32GB Flash Memory & Pro Manual Control Reviews

I am a skilled photographer that essential a camcorder for our first baby on the way. I desired a camcorder that created outstanding complete 1080P HD video, very good optical stabilizer and ease of use. Canon delivers. I was blown away by the good quality of the video shot in full automobile mode. The colors, vibrance and razor sharp concentrate completely convinced me that my tough earned money was properly spent. The dynamic stabilizer is wonderful. At wide angle, I shot a video one particular handed while walking my dog. Normally this results in extreme motion sickness. Reviewing the video was unbelievable- quite smooth, no jarring. At complete telephoto (10x) some motion was noticeable….right up until you press the Powered IS button situated on the bottom left of the LCD. I call it my virtual tri-pod. The Powered IS locks down the image. Entirely acceptable, but much more, wonderful how well it performs.

The LCD panel is beautiful. It is a mini HD monitor. It’s a touch panel that performs. You can control every little thing from exposure, focus, aperature, shutter speed, video acquire, and a lot more. What’s genuinely cool is the Touch and Track function. Say you have an individual or a thing (performs on objects as well) that you want to preserve in focus and house expose- just touch the person or issue on the LCD and a box forms about it. It is so delicate you can touch someone’s eye and the camera puts concentrate priority on the eye, vs the nose. This even functions with my dog. Truly impressed by that.

As for ease of use, the Auto mode is specifically that. Turn it on, point it and record. The camera is quite intelligent and nearly constantly selects the very best settings for your subject. This is ideal for someone that doesnt actually know a ton about photography/videography but desires to be ready to capture life’s precious moments. For much more advanced users, there are different settings that will give you hours of enjoyable playing with.

It has a pop-up video light which operates nicely in a pinch. The hot shoe makes it possible for for more sophisticated lights and mics.

1 gripe I do have is the battery overall performance. True, the LCD eats power, but come on, the regular battery only lasts 40-50 mins tops. Canon really should incorporate a bigger capacity battery. Canon ought to also include a wall charger so when you shell out more cash for a greater battery, you can charge that while nonetheless making use of your beautiful camcorder.

So, to sum up, you will not be disapointed with the good quality and ease of use of this camera. Make confident you get a greater battery and obtaining a Hoya filter to safeguard your HD lens is a fantastic concept.

Cannon HF S20 – amazes in many ways. Crisp HD Good quality and amazing sound clarity as well. Awsome in daylight shoots. Surely enhanced Reduced light shoots – from older 2009 designs. Powered IS does a fantastic Work in lowering handycam shakes. The Cannons Vehicle Settings sShoot operates like a charm. And excellent TOUCH Screen-at final- from Cannon. The eight MP Photo’s were OK, but I guess thats an acceptable high quality. Has lot of Manual Controls to play and experiment with. After lot of analysis on Sonys and Cannon’s 2010 Designs I was pretty plseased with this one. I had an Sony earlier and was a bit scptical as effectively as SONY is known for G-Lens Wide shoot and Reduced Good quality outcomes but I assume Cannons CMOS does a great uplift here. Cannon’s had been iffy on Reduced Light shoots and this Model exhibits a fantastic facelift.
Some flaws – Battery guzzler, eats up battery a lot. The Lens cover helps make a rattle noise on a gentle shake, other smart its quite comfortable for my big hands. The black appear offers a rich look. This 1 DOES NOT comes with Viewfinder ,but I in no way utilised it even in my present Sony. The 32 GB and Dual SDHC Slot is amazing, wireless tranfer of vieos would need you to purchase eye-fi cards.

I am torn in writing this assessment. This is a 5-star camera that I should give a three-star rating to. Here’s why. The following is pulled Immediately from Amazon’s product description here: “To add to its versatile capabilities, the VIXIA HF S20 also characteristics a viewfinder for use in severe vivid light situations.” Effectively, as it turns out, this is FALSE. Absolutely false. Only the S21 has a viewfinder, I am sad to say. Now, this is MY Personal FAULT for relying on Amazon’s description, which is nevertheless there as of these days 12/15/2010. But the sources I read all did generic HFS20/21/200 comparisons so it was challenging to tease out variations. In my haste to snag a camcorder before we head off for the holidays, I mistakenly study that the ONLY difference b/w the S21 and S20 was the on-board memory, and that the HFS200 was the camcorder that lacked the viewfinder and on-board memory. This created intuitive sense and was “confirmed” by the Amazon description. This is wrong. Now, for these of you who will chastise me for relying on Amazon’s description (a thing I normally do not do), your point is taken, so no require to ding me. However, this item Nonetheless gets only 3 stars for worth.

In terms of good quality, this image is stunning! I suggest completely brilliant! The build of the camera is outstanding. The controls are slightly non-ergonomic (scrollbar on touchscreen should be on other side for one particular), but manageable. The audio is ideal, for a prosumer. I purchased the 5.one Dolby surround external mike and so far, with my restricted use, the sound is fantastic. The built in mike is excellent also, but as far as I know, only this Canon line (HFS200/20/21) offers 5.one surround. If you want HD video in 1080p/24p then you ought to want five.one. So all this gets kudos. The breakdown comes in the “value” department.

This camcorder is just overpriced for what it offers. For one particular, the HFS200 is Plainly the greatest value of all three. The EVF is truly only marginally useful (honestly the image stabilizer right here, an additional plus, limits the require for the viewfinder to true brilliant situations). And the on-board memory is unnecessary. If you want far more than 6 hours or so of HD video at a time, this isn’t your camera anyway. For the residence movie enthusiast, two 32gb cards (and 64gb with a firmware upgrade) is a lot. So the 0 hike from the 200 to S20 is not warranted, IMHO. One can debate the 0 hike from the 200 to the s21, especially if you want the EVF, but as the proverbial “middle” youngster, this has the least value. Add to the fact that there is no battery charger (ought to be charged on camera), the integrated “battery” is a total joke (about 30 min existence so you will HAVE TO acquire one more a single), and there is no situation, lens cover, and so on. and I believe this camera is overpriced for what it provides. I determined on this above the Panny mainly b/c of the sound/fan concern. And b/c it is actually a wonderful camcorder, I will maintain it and eat my wasted 0. But for those of you who are on the fence, do oneself a favor and purchase the HFS200 – take the extra 0 and acquire two SDHC or SDXC cards and a hoya filter. If you really feel like “splurging” for EVF then obtain the HFS21. But DO NOT buy this certain model. There is actually no justification that I can see.