Canon VIXIA HF20 HD Dual Flash Memory w/32GB Internal Memory & 15x Optical Zoom – 2009 MODEL
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I wasn’t as thorough when doing my research for a Video Camcorder. I assumed that this high end model would work seamlessly on a mac, but it doesn’t. I had to buy some 3rd party software to convert the windows video files to mac compatible files that i could use in iMovie, etc. It’s a real pain in the butt!
Rating: 1 / 5
I have been using a Digital Camcorder for several years and thought it would be a good time to upgrade to HD Video with the Canon VIXIA HF20. I was wrong.
First, the bad. I first shot some video and the results were much worse than my standard digital video. After reading through the manual I found how to set the camera up to shoot HD video and only after selecting the best HD video recording mode was the quality better than my standard digital video. Then I tried to download the video to the PC. Reading the manual for this was frustrating. But, After some effort I did it. I found the USB interface next to the clearly labeled HDMI interface. I installed the PIXELA software, got all the cables connected, set the camera to video mode, turned on the camera and hit the “picture of camera with two arrows and a play symbol” button. Yes, I was then able to downloaded the video onto my 3 Gigahertz Dell computer and attempted to play the video. The video playback was unacceptable. It skipped several frames at a time and only played the top third of the scenes. I assume the problems are due to my computer being underpowered. I upgraded the hard drive to see if there was an improvement but this just resulted in the software no longer working with tech support unable to tell me why. I’ll probably have to get a newer faster computer to see if the video playback and editing works. Of course, once I do edit the HD video, what do I do with it. There really isn’t a cost effective standardized media to write HD video productions at this time. I’ll leave the video on the hard drive until the Blue ray recorders and media become reasonably priced.
Now, the good. The 32 GB of memory provides for plenty of recording time, at least for me. After recording 11 days of vacation in High Dev I still have 1 hour 20 minutes of recording time left. Playing the video on a TV through the Component interface on the camera looks great. The camera is very compact and light and easy to handle. It takes good still photos that look very nice on the computer screen and TV.
Overall a nice little camera but as it is hard to learn to use and as the HD video really isn’t viewable on a standard computer configuration, I’m only giving it two stars.
Rating: 2 / 5
Just after a great day with your camera, you realize what kind of an hassle is waiting for you in front of your PC, while transfering, editing or viewing your files. That is the end of a perfect day and the start of something else.
What I mean from the previous centence is, in order to get the full satisfaction from a product, everything should have the same quality. The weakest link sets the total strength of the chain and in this case, the weakest link is the human interface.
Simple example, when you connect the camera to the PC, you get this writing on the display “Do not disconnect the USB cable or the power source while the camcorder is connected to a computer. Cannot turn off the camcorder or change the operating mode” Everything is on the screen but how you are going to disconnect the camcorder from the PC. The power cord has 90 degrees bend at the connector side. This makes it awkward to put the camcorder on a flat surface. The AC adapter has no light indicator on it, therefore you can not be sure if it is plugged in or not, yet, the charge indicator led on the camera is located in a cosmetic groove which makes it impossible to check from a distance if the camcorder is charging or not. I have large hands and the camcorder is not designed for me. It is not ergonomic enough to operate the zoom without shaking the view and I am out of hope to gain that experience over time. Taking pictures during shooting video is another drama, the push button is so hard that keeping the picture stedy is another challange.
As for the rest, it is giving you what is promissed on the advertisement. I find it now a little diplomatic, not sincere though. Think of this, you used to go to a certain coffee shop because they were used to deliver a nice cookie with it. You do the same next time, but there is no cookie anymore, just what you have asked is what you get!
Rating: 3 / 5
This camcorder DOES NOT COME WITH FIREWIRE! expect slower than tape downloads, and you will need a third party software to edit the video unless you have latest imovie. I’ve gone back to using the standard def tape video for my videos because dealing with these files is a real headache. If you have a PC and don’t edit and don’t mind waiting forever for your transfers (which will crash if over 2 minute pieces when transferring) then this camcorder works fine. If you want to edit, work with in any way, and own a mac save yourself some brain damage and get a Sony. Canon won’t let me replace it so may you learn from my lesson. Good Luck
Rating: 1 / 5
The software that came with the camera doesn’t work. Before you say “Sure, it’s not the user…” I must say I work in software development. It doesn’t work. I couldn’t install it or use it at all.
I spent 2 months comparing cameras, reading reviews, comparing videos in YouTube and other sites, studying specs. I read about the software problem but I didn’t imagine it would make muy purchase a living hell.
The camera is good. The 24p and Cinema mode are not “magical”, and not everyone will even see the difference between one and another.
But this software thing is enough to say “keep looking”. Because not even current Mac software (iMovie and other video editing software from Mac like Final Cut) work, they have “problems with image stabilization clips”.
* Funny thing: I’m writing this additional line months after I bought the camera. I’ve had to buy additional memory and my disk is full, and I still don’t find how to download the video. I’ve spent hours and hours trying to find something on the web but nothing works.
So before you buy, know that you MAY have to spend hours and hours without being able to use the software provided, buying additional memory and… with the risk of losing it all.
Rating: 2 / 5