Reviews
Canon VIXIA HF S20 Dual Flash Memory Camcorder – 2010 MODEL
Canon VIXIA HF S20 Dual Flash Memory Camcorder – 2010 MODEL
- Records up to 12 hours of crisp high definition video to a 32GB internal flash drive or directly to two removable SD memory cards
- Genuine Canon 10x HD Video Lens
- Canon 1/2.6″ 8.59-Megapixel Full HD CMOS Image Sensor captures video at 1920 x 1080 resolution
- Canon DIGIC DV III Image Processor
- Dynamic SuperRange OIS corrects a full range of motion
Canon’s VIXIA HF S20 Dual Flash Memory Camcorder, with a 32GB internal flash drive and two SD memory card slots, offers Canon’s most sophisticated feature set to date – blurring the line between consumer and professional. Canon’s superlative proprietary imaging technologies help deliver video and 8.0 megapixel photos with incredible detail and lifelike color. Touch & Track allows you to achieve sharp focus and precise exposure for any subject, simply by touching the generous 3.5″ High Resolution
List Price: $ 1,099.00
SALE Price: Too low to display
Rating:
(out of 6 reviews)

about 1 year ago
Review by Andrew Clapp for Canon VIXIA HF S20 Dual Flash Memory Camcorder – 2010 MODEL
Rating:
I am a professional photographer that needed a camcorder for our first baby on the way. I wanted a camcorder that produced outstanding full 1080P HD video, good optical stabilizer and ease of use. Canon delivers. I was blown away by the quality of the video shot in full auto mode. The colors, vibrance and razor sharp focus completely convinced me that my hard earned cash was well spent. The dynamic stabilizer is amazing. At wide angle, I shot a video one handed while walking my dog. Usually this results in severe motion sickness. Reviewing the video was incredible- very smooth, no jarring. At full telephoto (10x) some movement was noticeable….until you press the Powered IS button located on the bottom left of the LCD. I call it my virtual tri-pod. The Powered IS locks down the image. Completely acceptable, but more, amazing how well it works.
The LCD panel is gorgeous. It’s a mini HD monitor. It’s a touch panel that works. You can control everything from exposure, focus, aperature, shutter speed, video gain, and more. What’s really cool is the Touch and Track feature. Say you have someone or something (works on objects too) that you want to keep in focus and property expose- just touch the person or thing on the LCD and a box forms around it. It’s so sensitive you can touch someone’s eye and the camera puts focus priority on the eye, vs the nose. This even works with my dog. Really impressed by that.
As for ease of use, the Auto mode is exactly that. Turn it on, point it and record. The camera is very intelligent and almost always selects the best settings for your subject. This is perfect for someone that doesnt really know a ton about photography/videography but wants to be able to capture life’s precious moments. For more advanced users, there are various settings that will give you hours of fun playing with.
It has a pop-up video light which works well in a pinch. The hot shoe allows for more sophisticated lights and mics.
One gripe I do have is the battery performance. True, the LCD eats power, but come on, the standard battery only lasts 40-50 mins tops. Canon should include a larger capacity battery. Canon should also include a wall charger so when you shell out more money for a bigger battery, you can charge that while still using your beautiful camcorder.
So, to sum up, you will not be disapointed with the quality and ease of use of this camera. Make sure you get a bigger battery and getting a Hoya filter to protect your HD lens is a great idea.
about 1 year ago
Review by Ravindra Singh for Canon VIXIA HF S20 Dual Flash Memory Camcorder – 2010 MODEL
Rating:
Cannon HF S20 – amazes in many ways. Crisp HD Quality and amazing sound clarity as well. Awsome in daylight shoots. Definitely improved LOW light shoots – from older 2009 models. Powered IS does a great Job in reducing handycam shakes. The Cannons AUTO Settings sShoot works like a charm. And great TOUCH Screen-at last- from Cannon. The 8 MP Photo’s were OK, but I guess thats an acceptable quality. Has lot of Manual Controls to play and experiment with. After lot of research on Sonys and Cannon’s 2010 Models I was pretty plseased with this one. I had an Sony earlier and was a bit scptical as well as SONY is known for G-Lens Wide shoot and LOW Quality results but I think Cannons CMOS does a great uplift here. Cannon’s had been iffy on Low Light shoots and this Model shows a great facelift.
Some flaws – Battery guzzler, eats up battery a lot. The Lens cover makes a rattle noise on a gentle shake, other wise its pretty comfortable for my big hands. The black look gives a rich look. This one DOES NOT comes with Viewfinder ,but I never used it even in my existing Sony. The 32 GB and Dual SDHC Slot is amazing, wireless tranfer of vieos would require you to buy eye-fi cards.
about 1 year ago
Review by M. Martinez for Canon VIXIA HF S20 Dual Flash Memory Camcorder – 2010 MODEL
Rating:
Lightweight and functional design. Beautiful HD video. Excellent face tracking. Terrific image stabilization. I loved this camcorder! That is, until I tried to install the additional SD cards. Once in place the cards would not eject! I was finally able to force them out but thought I might destroy them in the process. Tried the same cards in my wife’s point and shoot camera and they ejected just fine. This is purely a mechanical problem with the SD card slots but on a $1,000.00 camcorder this is unacceptable! I was so pleased with the performance of the camcorder that I am sending this one back and replacing it with the same model. However, if the second is defective I will find another camcorder. Canon you need better quality control!
UPDATE: Replacement unit has arrived and is working as promised – SD cards eject perfectly so rating has been upgraded.
about 1 year ago
Review by Sandy for Canon VIXIA HF S20 Dual Flash Memory Camcorder – 2010 MODEL
Rating:
Great product, delivered in a timely manner. It is much better than my previious HiDef camcorder (another make.) Easier to use and has many more features at about the same price. as the other.
about 1 year ago
Review by Khaja Ahmed for Canon VIXIA HF S20 Dual Flash Memory Camcorder – 2010 MODEL
Rating:
Defect number 1: To download pictures from the camera to the computer, a utility is required. The built in 32Gig storage does not simply show up as a USB drive when you connect the camera to a PC with a USB cable. This is a serious inconvenience and a puzzling avoidance of a basic ease of use, portability and flexibility mechanism.
Defect number two: Adding insult to injury, the utility to download pictures to the computer is *not* freely available and downloadable from their drivers and download page. The updates to the ZoomBrowser EX 6.5 utility, a bunch of documentation, etc. are all available but not the actual utility itself (Zoom Browser EX). When I called up tech support they offered to *sell* me the utility!!! ….and MAIL (as in physical) it to me on a CD!!!! Yes this in the year 2010.
So you can buy a $1,000 plus camera and be stuck unable to download pictures to a computer if you do not happen to have the CD with utilities that was included in the box. The utility can’t be emailed to you (which would be bad enough) it has to be physically mailed on a CD to you.
This is the moral equivalent of a capital crime or criminal insanity in consumer electronics in this day and age.
I intend to avoid the company’s products in future and advise all to look carefully into this matter and do the same.
Canon:
You can fix this simply by putting the utilities necessary on the download site. Not just the upgrade to it. We’ll understand. Everyone makes dumb mistakes from time to time. The better among us recover, acknowledge, correct and move on.