Canon VIXIA HF M300 Flash Memory Camcorder - 2010 MODEL

Nice HD video but bad low light quality

I've only had this for a couple of days but I wanted to try out different scenarios that I might be working with. I bought this to have video documentation of my older kids in sports and special occasions as well as of my soon to be born son. The camera is feature rich with so many options that I an not likely to use many of them. Having enjoyed the quality of Canon in my DSLR this seemed like the logical choice.



Pros:



Image stabilization - fantastic stabilization! Every video turns out smooth as silk with canon's stability feature

Color - It seems to be very true to life with natural colors

HD video - with today's HD tvs it would be a shame to have anything else

Zoom - large enough to get close from a moderate distance and the variable speed is nice too. Better than some not as good as others.

Mini hot shoe - great for adding accessories such as a flash though I don't have one yet

light weight - I can't believe this is only 11oz!

Lens ring threads - Filters/protective lenses can be added



Cons:



No internal memory - Kind of pricey for not having anything but I knew that getting into it.

Low light performance - It gets pretty grainy fast when the light disappears...even the light that comes with it doesn't help much

Touch panel sensitivity - I have been having a difficult time navigating through the menu by the touch screen. It would have been nice to have some physical navigation buttons to assist for this.



Conclusion:



Overall this is a very nice video recorder that turns out quality videos each time. My only problem real problem is with the graininess of low light videos. This is something I believe is better handled by Sony which I may get if I decide not to keep this one.

More detail ...

Canon VIXIA HF M30 HD Dual Flash Memory Camcorder with 15x Optical Zoom

Awesome Camcorder

I have now owned this camcorder for a couple weeks. I love everything about it except the Pixela software it came with. The software gives an error message every time I try to import the videos from the camcorder to my computer which is frustrating because I have tried everything I can think of to resolve the problem.



Other than that the experience has been very positive. The touch screen takes a little getting used to but once I got a handle on it I found it much more appealing than a traditional menu toggle.



I plan to revisit this review and update after I have gotten the software issues resolved.More detail ...

JVC GZ-MG750 80 GB HDD Camcorder

Excellent camcorder at a great price!

This is a wonderful compact camcorder for filming family and sporting events. I prevously had a Sony handcam which uses DV tapes but it finally broke down after 10+ years. This JVC camcorder is about 1/4 the size and weight of my previous one so it's handy to put into my purse. I also looked at the new Sony handycams but I was not impressed by their image stabilization. The JVC camcorders were much better. The controls are pretty easy to operate. I read the manual front to back but I was able to show my husband how to use the basic controls in 5 minutes. He probably could have figured it out himself since it's fairly intuitive. I like how the camcorder turns on automatically when you open the screen. We tape our daughter's gymnastic competitions so the 45X zoom is fantastic since the equipment is usually far from the spectators. The zoom button is a little hard to operate with your right finger since it's also holding the camcorder but you can also zoom using the screen. The picture quality is fine if you want better you might want to get the HD version. For the price it's definitely a good buy.



The only disappointment for me is that JVC camcorders output in their proprietary .MOD format which is not readable on my old MAC 10.4x Tiger OS. I found a s/w program that supposedly converts various formats that the MAC can read but the output resolution was awful. I ended up using the JVC supplied Pixela s/w to create a DVD that I can play on the TV. The Pixela s/w is OK and you have to do some reading in order to figure out what you want to do but it does the job. I wish I can use iMovie on the MAC since it has more features and is easier to use.More detail ...

Sony HDR-XR150 120GB High Definition HDD Handycam Camcorder

Awesome!

25 X Zoom in 1080p! Where else you get gonna get that? 300 X digital zoom! Now those ufo pics will be indisputable! Minus 1 star because no way to attach an infrared light or flash. :(More detail ...

Canon FS300 Flash Memory Camcorder (Silver)

Great little camera you will use

This camera is small enough to easily fit into your jacket pocket. The automatic lens cover means not having to worry about the lens nor any extra pieces to carry around and keep track of. The long battery time large capacity of a SD card and small size adds up to a very convenient camera to keep with you translating into a greater likelihood of actually having the camera with you more often to catch those interesting moments of our lives. This is a very easy camera to use while shooting video.



There is a little more labor involved to edit video and transfer footage. Although it can be done without too much difficulty. And I am reluctant to be critical of that aspect since the technology has advanced so much in the last decade. I remember a time when videotaping our personal lives was much more limited by the technology.



The picture and sound quality are good. The price is right. I recommend this camera for the convenience and price. Unless of course the best picture and sound available is what you want then more expensive cameras are available worthy of a five star review. For most purposes this camera can't be beat for its convenience and therefore the greater chance of actually having it on hand when needed.More detail ...

Sony HDR-CX150 16GB High Definition Handycam Camcorder

A camera with excellent HD quality but not many features

I bought this camera on Monday had fun with it for two days and then returned it. Although I can't afford it I then closed my eyes and ordered the HDR-CX550V. I basically went from the bottom of the Sony consumer class to the top in one fell swoop.



Things I liked about the CX150:

* FABULOUS quality in adequate light. The video in 24 Mbps mode is stunning. Search YouTube for examples. Every hair on my cat dust particles in sunlight it all shows up with beautiful resolution. It's amazing. Almost Blu-Ray quality. You won't find any consumer-class camcorder with better quality.

* 25x zoom when used with a tripod lets you get really close

* "macro" works without any special settings. Just put the lens an inch away and it will focus. Resolves fingerprints.

* Amazingly tiny. With no hard drive or tape drive the unit is frighteningly small. You can put it and all the cables + charger in a camera case designed for a DSLR + telephoto

* PMB software works has good basic editing. Used it to grab frames from movies - almost don't need the "still" function if 1990x1080 res is good enough.

* It will take a 32GB memory stick even though the feature list says they only support 16.

* The touch screen is responsive

* "touch the object" spot focus spot white balance is cool

* Give it the NP-FV70 battery and it will record for hours and hours



Things I either did not like or features missing (by "missing" I realize that you have to pay more). Don't mistake the length of my 'cons' list as hating the little guy - it's a good camera for what it is designed to be.

* A bit pricey. I think it is worth about $450.00 not the $549.00 list

* No wide-angle. I wish Sony had made the lens go from slightly wide-angle to about 15x instead of from normal to 25x.

* No external mic input

* No hot shoe - not even the Sony proprietary one

* Zoom motor noise is very audible in quiet settings - don't expect to use this camera to record acoustic orchestral music in concert halls

* The "smooth slow-mo 240 fps" is NOT HD 1080i60 quality. Might be OK at 720 but I found it disappointingly blurry. I'd love to see it have the same capability as the Casio EX-FX1 (not holding breath)

* Not enough buttons - too much reliance on the touch screen. I prefer buttons to scrolling through menus. Sony could fix this by providing more than 6 "my menu" choices.

* Auto focus works good most of the time but when it gets confused it is horrible. Combine that with no quick focus wheel and it is a recipe for loosing shots

* Picture mode is not available in 24 Mbps HD mode.

* The electronic stabilization does not work. I've grown used to optical stabilization in my DSC-H50 and there is no going back.

* Short of using something like the Black Rapid Straps Fasten-R2 screwed into the tripod shoe there is no way to attach a neck strap. I almost dropped it several times.

* The plastic housing is sensitive to noise - any little touch while recording will show up as sound in the video.

* No windscreen for the mics. Combine that with no external mic capability and you won't be able to hear anything in windy conditions.

* No remote

* No "night shot" infrared

* Low light performance is what you would expect from a small lens size. All the electronics in the world can't fully compensate for glass area.



Summary: if you want a fairly cheap tiny camera for shooting GREAT quality vids of vacations the kids and the pets this is an excellent choice. Want to do more and you will need to pay more for a better unit. Just want to help other people avoid my experience of being a bit disappointed and having to trade up.More detail ...

Panasonic SDR-S26 SD Camcorder (Black)

Uh people...this is a sub-$200 camcorder NOT a commercial grade HD unit!

I have read all the reviews I could find here and elsewhere about this camcorder and I came away with the impression that the more critical opinions stemmed from unrealistic expectations or poor reading comprehension from the reviewers themselves.

As it turns out I was right.

This is an inexpensive and very compact and lightweight standard definition camcorder designed for the casual user who does not want to sink a whole month's pay into just to record some personal events.

First the good and bad:

Pros:

1) Unusually small and lightweight this is easily carried in a jacket pocket.

2) The startup time even when not set in Quickstart mode is five seconds. Nice way to capture surprises on the go.

3) The iA mode which automatically sets the iris shutter white balance and other major aspects of recording works pretty well even though resorting to the manual settings is still required for some unusual applications.

4) The incredible 70x optical zoom is unparalleled in a camera at this price point.

5) The Optical Image Stabilization is considerably more effective than the more common digital stabilization found in all other cameras in this price range. Just don't expect to get away with using the full 70x zoom while hand holding it though!

6) The MPEG2 format used for recording is easily handled under my admittedly eccentric choice of operating system Linux.

7) The SDHC storage medium allows random access to recordings easy deletion no moving parts and a storage medium that is handled under even Linux with a cardreader. Also the camcorder itself is recognized under Linux so the files can be manipulated through the integral USB port if desired.

8) The manual settings allow the user to adjust for unusual conditions such as low light just as long as you READ THE MANUAL FIRST then experiment a bit on your own.

9) The camcorder is almost noiseless in operation so there is no clicking from a DVD whirring of a hard drive humming of a DVC drive motor or motor from the lens being zoomed in and out.

10) The integral lens cover which is built into the front of the camera surrounding the lens cannot be lost.

11) The barrel surrounding the lens area is threaded allowing accessories such as wide angle and zoom lenses and filters to be screwed in for special applications. Those accessories are easily found right here on Amazon.

12) Hey! It even comes with a proper printed manual a rarity in this day of PDF manuals available only on CD-ROM or via websites.



Cons:

1) It would have been nice if Panasonic had added a microphone jack to allow a separate microphone to be used. However the integral microphone works rather well on its own.

2) In certain applications especially indoors the image can take on a reddish cast when using the default iA setting. This is easily overcome by adjusting the white balance for incandescent lighting though so no real problem.

3) The battery life of ~1 hour is rather short and requires opening a cover on the bottom to replace when discharged. I already ordered two spares and a standalone charger.

4) This may be looked at as good or bad depending on your opinion but the battery does not charge with the cable plugged in while the camera is in use. I actually look at this as a good thing since it does not wear out the battery by discharging it while it is charging which can cause premature failure of lithium-ion batteries. It simply runs directly from the power cord when plugged in which is no real problem as far as I am concerned.

5) Even at the MagicPix setting designed for extreme low light this camcorder will not work in a completely dark room. I don't really even worry about that. If I really wanted to record in such extreme conditions I would spring for a considerably more expensive night shot camcorder. It still does pretty well in low light as long as there is at least 2 lumens of light present.



My opinions on this are that this is unusually good for a camcorder in its price range especially for its two main selling points of its fantastic 70x optical zoom and optical image stabilization.

It is so simple to operate that even a young child could understand it using the nicely automated settings.

Yes there are some circumstances that call for manual intervention but the people griping about this especially those attempting (apparently) to take footage inside a cave would be well advised to READ THE MANUAL and not expect the impossible from such an inexpensive camcorder.

I was able to take some nighttime footage with this with only sodium and mercury vapor light illumination and it did pretty well.

And while it is true that my naked eyes are good in light far lower than this can handle I have a more realistic expectation of it than some of the more critical people out there.

I intend to have a family member use this next year for my wedding and I am confident that it will work just fine for that too.

Nice work Panasonic!More detail ...

Canon VIXIA HF R100 HD Flash Memory Camcorder with 20x Optical Zoom

Canon Vixia HF R100 enthusiast

Since purchasing and using the Canon Vixia HF R100 (search c925-1520) for a month since 4/8/2010 my opinion has moved from doubtful skeptic to delighted enthusiast.



I am a non-professional user who has occasionally used several video machines(beta vhs 8mm mini-DV Hard Disk DVD and now HD to SD chip) to capture life events (gatherings celebrations outings sports events documentary of people animals plants stage plays and travel). Except for cell snapshots The HFR100 is now my ONE camera for both video & stills.



Initially the factory setting for video disappointed. Once the Camera was configured to HD CINE 24 frame mode the results became much more clear vivid detailed & acceptable. While slow panning The DIGIC DV III processor and 2.39 megapixel HD CMOS process images fast enough to create clear individual frames without the choppiness that earlier slower HD cams had (shots from a moving car with the Vixia actually produced some usable frames and clips).



The 20x(40-800 mm 35mm eq.) glass canon-quality lens is not threaded to accept threaded filters or wide/tele extensions but is recessed about 1 cm behind the camera face so it is both protected and somewhat hooded from surrounding light sources. An automatic drop-down into the cam lens protector operates when the cam is switched on/off. This is a great feature for protecting the lens while being quick ready. The dynamic image stabilization worked well out to 20X and was amazingly steady for videoing while walking at wide angle settings. The digital zoom (oversampling feature beyond 20X) may be set to 80X or 400X and in this camera may be good enough to produce some useful images in these ranges.



The Instant autofocus was superb. Focus was always very close to being on or slightly deep into the field. There was no "dancing-focus" or movements toward the wrong end of the focusing scale whatsoever. The manual focus automatically magnified in the LCD panel aiding focus. The high quality LCD panel was very sharp. Its readability in direct sunlight was enhanced with the backlight turned on.



The automatic face detection autofocus did a fantastic job of keeping the focal plane on faces even in a sports action environment. This also worked somewhat to keep wildflower blossoms in focus. Menus and controls are fairly intuitive but the disk based (also available for download feom the canon web site) .pdf instruction manual should be read to access all of the feature-rich options this unit offers.



I normally carry the camera out and off. This camera starts focuses rapid zooms and readies itself very quickly (about 3 sec) so it is hard to miss a shot. Additionally the new pre-record feature carries 3 sec of video to add in front of your clips to make it difficult to miss shots as long as the camera is on and pointed in the right direction.



The Smart AUTO setting works very well for point-and-shoot capture in most any condition. For difficult environments there are 10 manual modes that can produce great results in extreme conditions. I was disappointed with the low-light results in auto mode but in the low light mode I was astounded to see what crisp COLOR images could be made in with such little light. An on-camera light is not present nor needed with this camera unless substantial low-light action shots are desired. Campfire light flashlight or moonlight are plenty adequate light sources. Starlight is usable with a bipod and no panning.



The stereo sound is bright adjustable and very accurate. The wind dampening filter was minimal - not adequate. I have been experimenting with sponge materials to attach over the mics. The camera records a low decibel irregular low sound (something like a 16mm film sprocket). It is noticeable when played back at high volumes and might be objectionable if listening closely for something near the same bandwidth in a low noise recording. I found it tolerable but I'm hoping this will be corrected in later production.



The battery lasted about two hours. By keeping the camera off I was able to get through a full day of taking portraits and snapshots on one battery. The day I accidentally left the camera on I had a failure but was able to charge it quickly and adequately with a car inverter. A back-up battery would be a wise precaution. On about 38 hrs of experimentation camera set at highest resolutions and including several hrs. of picking "snapshots" off of 220 video clips. I have 690 HD stills and have used 6.16G of a Patriot class6 16.1G SD chip. There are plenty of connectors (mini USB (use the included cable with this camera) mini HDMI (no cable included) component out (cable included) power in (115V adapter included)(battery is small(15x32x45mm) and recharged in the camera a switchable 1/8"(3.5mm) pin headphone/ a/v out jack ((1/8 to (3) RCA) cable is included) and an external mic port. There is no hotshoe.



Advances- on an Alaskan Cruise a few years ago I quit using a still camera because the high zoom of the Video Cam got us close to the action. The snapshots we could pull were tolerable for computer viewing but inadequate for blow-ups. While watching glaciers "calve" after the "crack" the challenge was to get the vid cam on and focused in the exact right direction before the ice sloughed into the sea. The canon Vixia HF R100 would have been up to the task. It's fast to start and the resulting images are HD quality.



USAGE- I set the camera for highest resolution power saver and keep it off until shooting. This camera will easily fit in a pocket or purse. I normally keep attached a 1 5/8 lb. 10"- 54" collapsible tripod. This added weight stabilizes the light (12 oz. with battery & chip) cam and improves results. The collapsible nature of the tripod with one two or three legs variously extended greatly enhanced results.

At full zoom I found it difficult even with the tripod to take a still directly without shaking the camera. I find it much more effective to pull an image during playback while hooked to a monitor using the snapshot feature. Playback speeds are 1/8 or 1/4 (a remote control is not available with this canon series) so it takes a little effort to find the best frame but I find the result far more satisfying than trying to catch the perfect still.



Not everyone has the "photographer's eye" or the ability to catch the perfect frame of an event with a still but most can select the best frame out of a video clip. Pixels are: 1040000 optical zoom dynamic image stabilization 1560000 image stabilization off 1560000 16:9 still 1730000 4:3 still. While not exactly professionally acceptable the 1 meg images will be acceptable for most casual user uses. Few video cams costing much more can offer better resolution off of a video clip than the HFR100.



What I like most about this camera is that it is small- very easy to carry every day. It is fast to prepare itself to shoot very good video. The third and most important thing is that the resulting video/still is very good. This camera does basic videography very well and has a host of features to handle difficult light movement or color situations even better. This camera has come a long way toward being my perfect camera and is state of the industry in several critical areas. I kept it use it and recommend it. It has quality features and no weaknesses. I notice the Canon HFR 10 (the middle camera in this series) with 8G memory built in is now selling for only $20 more. It may be a better price point. -Happy Hunting- 5/5/2010

More detail ...