Canon HF20 / HF200 Official Owner's Thread - Page 11

Gorgeous video! I just picked up the HF20 without doing much research. I will use it primarily to film my son's wrestling matches inside of high school gyms. Typically they have fluorescent lights and maybe a little filtered sunlight. Anyone who can answer the following?

1. What are the best settings for indoor action sports? Wrestling or basketball games. How would the "sports" mode do? Seems like it's more for outdoor sports.

2. Is there a big difference in quality shooting the MXP vs the FXP? I'll be editing in iMovie '09 on an Intel Mac 2.4 GHz and 4 GB of SD ram.

3. If I burn a disk image of the SD card onto a standard DVD for archival purposes will I lose any resolution? Do I need to burn to a bluray disk?

Thanks!

Yeah, I decided on keeping the HF200. After looking at my indoor footage again it is livable. Some scenes were pretty bad but then again I was playing with settings so more then likely that's just from user error and bad settings. Once I learn the thing, what it can do in what lighting, I'm sure most of the issue can be solved.

Other then the lighting issue I love the camera. I love that it's small and that's another benefit I feel over the vDSLR. The camera would certainly be more noticeable and in ones face where as the camcorder isn't. Most of the time no one even realizes that I'm recording being that's it's just tucked in the palm of my hand. Which is nice because a lot of people will shy away from being on video.

Hey guys, I'm a new owner of this camera and new to this forum. I produce a lot of videos on youtube for my wargaming hobby and painting tutorials.

After reading through the posts, I found some of the info I was looking for. Video editing is one of the common questions and Pinnacle Studio Ultimate 14 seems to be one of the favorites. I was using my pocket canon to make video then using Windows Movie Maker to turn it into movies. I was then able to save these videos onto disc to send to people, upload them to my website for download, and upload to youtube. Before I leave this forum and get the software I wanted to ask a couple questions.

Does this software convert the MTS files into files that can be read by any program like Windows Media Player so that I can send some one a disc and have it work? Does it create files that can be uploaded to youtube? What I am hoping you will tell me is that pinnacle is just a more powerful version of Windows Movie Maker and that my HF200 will function like my pocket canon, only hugely better!

I guess that is really it for Pinnacle. The rest I can figure out.

Here is the kicker question. I want to use my HF200 as a webcam. I want to broadcast live painting and gaming tutorial shows on ustream and I need to know what I have to do to make this happen! I have a fairly up to date machine with loads of ram. Do I need to get an additional card to plug my camera into or will the USB input work? It has to be possible. Can any one help figure this out?

Thanks! Jawaballs

Thank you!

I'm no expert. I'm still learning this stuff. However I've read that sometimes you have to venture outside of the presets to get the best results. I would definitely see how the Sports setting looks, then switch to shutter priority mode and pick a speed that strikes a good balance between the pace of the action and the light. Also try doing a manual white balance. 60i

Yep tried this and it ended up crashing on me. I couldnt figure out how to add a music file and it locked on me. It has happen every time i got to edit at some point it crashes. Its never anywhere specific either and different every time.

I cant beleive how much of a PITA to find a decent but user friendly program out there.

I've had no issues with PowerDirector 8 Ultra so far But I've only made a couple of small clips. I've been working on a more complex edit though(trying one of their step by step tutorials) today and I never a crash. I've also tried(key word lol) 9 PIP videos which is playing 9 clips simultaneous, didn't crash but it choked the PC down completely lol. 3 Clips(maybe) is about max with a C2D.

I know a lot of the complaints I seen at various forums were from early versions(post were from months ago) of the software. I don't doubt there are bugs still though but I think a majority of them have been fixed through patches.

Also, there seems to be a decent community for this software with dedicated forums and active CS working them. I also just signed up where there seems to be a user community for free effects and the such(though I'd bet most editing software has the same communities). Anyways, that was just for a FYI.

My stats are...

Win Vista 32
C2D 8400(overclocked to 3600MHz)
Geforce 260(OC'ed also)
2 Gigs of Ram.

For me the D7 is not an "either or" but a "when" question. I've seen some simply stunning clips taken with that piece. I'm hoping that one day my skill level will progress to the point where it warrants me dishing out that kind of money.

Not to get too far off topic, but they claim to have shot this with a handheld D7. http://www.vimeo.com/8455331

Just tallied the cost of his gear that he used on the clip. Around $5000 with all that glass.

But yea, that footage is absolutely stunning.

Well maybe when that "when" comes, there won't be trade offs and there will be a perfect hybrid/all-in-one device.

btw, d300s footage http://www.vimeo.com/6141980

Yeah, I've seen some absolutely fantastic footage from the 7D. Actually, I've seen a ton of footage from various DSLRs that totally trounce any videocam. My problem is that I'm a photographer first-video is just a nice secondary feature. Unfortunately, the 7D has some annoying problems with it related to still shooting, so I'm not going to jump until I know that my pictures will turn out correctly. As to the video, I have no problem toting along a tripod and spending some time with settings if it can get me close to the drool-worthy footage I've seen. I also have to admit that I would much prefer shooting video with a DSLR & all the weight involved. My little HF20 is just too light for me to hold steady.

Oh, and the main reason why I'm looking at the 7D is because my #1 requirement for a DSLR (including my current non-video DSLR) is that it be built like a tank & weatherproof. That means the body and lenses. No lens condoms, otherwise I could use a Nikon. This is what I'm talking about:



Here's the full link to a short report on the ruggedness of the 7D:
http://canonfieldreviews.com/7d-1-weather-sealing/

Wow! The lense alone on that thing is $4300!

Tonight I started having a problem with my HF20 not showing up on my macbook. Has anyone else had this problem? If so please help. I have reset it and reinitialsed it. No luck. The usb symbol just blinks with a blank lcd screen when I select pc transfer. I posted in Apple support forums had a few that had this issue but no fix or reason why. It will connect to my PS3 fine. But not my MacBook anymore. I have been playing with different editing software for days and now that I try importing my mac doesnt see it.

It was working before I installed VM Fusion and Windows 7. I was hoping to run Pinnacle HD but that doesnt work to well in a virtual setting with video editing. Anyone have success with this? I didnt.

Please help The camera acts like its in use or not making a connection to my mac. Funny when I connect it when Im running Windows it sees it and asks me what I want to do. Mac system profiler sees it under usb but camera wont mount to desktop even after safely removing it in windows and powering it back up in OSX.

This has been covered ad nauseum before....... The camera needs to be plugged into a power outlet before it can be recognized.

Nice sample of low light abilities with the hf200. Some info that might be helpful in the responses also.

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Hey guys, slightly off topic, but can i get some recommendations on SDHC cards for the HF200.

I just bought the camera and it has yet to arrive, but i am leaving for Africa in early February and would like to grab SDHC cards ASAP.

I have read posts about about Class 10 not working with the HF200...so i guess i will stay away from that....but how about some recommendations on good Class 6 cards?

I was thinking of grabbing 2 or 3 16GB Class 6 cards for my 3 week trip. Outside of Sandisk (i know they are the best but i dont want to risk getting a Class 10 card in Class 6 packaging lol)

Maybe Patriot Iris (Class 6) or Transcend???? Any advice would be nice...cheers.

The last 2 minutes of your video was particularly impressive. It basically lays to rest all the concerns about the low light capability of the HF200 and shows that once dialed in, this is one very capable little camcorder.
Could you elaborate on the exact setting for the last 2 minutes? It said P mode at 60i, is that the night preset and was this at MXP?
Thanks so much for sharing.

When I purchased my 200 the guy (at Penn Camera, Fair Lakes, VA) sold me a Promaster 16GB class 6 to go with it. It works as it should. Cost about $60.

I would recommend Class 4 as your cam won't be able to write at Class 6 speeds anyway. 24mbit = 3MB. Class 4 is 4MB+. The sustained speed is most important but manufacturers don't often report that or don't make it easily visible if it's available at all.

Patriot's and Ritek's higher end cards are reported to not operate at their rated speeds so be wary (Class 6-10). The same goes for some of the really low end junk like Transcend.

I've always been a fan of Sandisk's cards for their reliability and performance. There are other good options also. Just be wary of the claimed speeds on the Class 6 and above.

Well it's not my clip so I'm not sure his exact settings. I think they talk abut it in the comments though so you can search through those. I thought he said not to use P(auto?) mode though as it's the worst. I may be wrong though.

So would most people recommend going with a Class 4 Sandisk (Ultra) over, lets say the Class 6 Patriot Iris? I thought i read some reviews of the partiot iris last night that actually had positive things to say about the sustained write speed of their "Iris"cards....thoughts?

When I purchased my HF200 for Christmas, the dealer here where I live didn't have any Sandisk 16GB cards { which I normally use in all my cameras } so he sold me a Patriot 16GB. Not sure if it's an "IRIS" as you stated, but he assured me it was the right card for the camera, and that they have had no problems with them at all.



Kevin.

I think i may take the plunge and grab a couple of these Patriot Iris cards....from what i can tell its just specifically targeted for media users (i.e. camcorder, dslr, point&shoot)....garuanteed sustained write speed, etc...lots of mumbojumbo lol.

Patriot Iris line is Class 6 and the Patriot LX line is Class 10....since HF200 doesnt write to Class 10, as yet...i am not going to go that route.

Plus, i can grab two Iris 16GB cards for under $80 CAD.

You don't need Pixela or any other software to grab the video files. Just plug in your memory to card reader and navigate your way to them.

Private > AVCHD > BDMV > STREAM

Why, thank you!

The entire video was recorded in 24 Mbps MXP. There's no point in getting a high definition camcorder if you're going to use it in its low quality settings.

I was very lucky the last two minutes of the video didn't turn into a slide show as the "P" mode does tend to be very unstable in the dark, which I didn't know when I originally recorded that shot.

For an idea on just how dark it was around the fountain, look at the sequence recorded in Cinema mode 18 seconds into the video. It was THAT dark!

My preferred setting for night shots are the Tv mode with a 1/30 shutter speed in either 60i or 30p, or the Tv mode with a 1/24 shutter speed in 24p. Alternatively, Cinema Mode is also extremely useful whenever you need a darker recording that's still clean and serviceable.

You can also trying playing with spotlight mode as this will disable gain as does cine mode.

Hi HF2 Team...
This week I purchased my first ever Video Cam....HF20. So I am a real NOOB when it comes to cams, but not computers (which I know my way around pretty well). However I am tearing my hair out on what should be the simplest of matters...

I have taken a few vids & stills of the kids with my shiny new toy. I have installed all of the software which came in the box (being Zoombrowser..?, Pixela Image Mixer 3SE Ver. 5 (Transfer), Pixela Music Transfer & Pixela Image Mixer 3SE Player. I have a fairly high-spec dual boot PC running both WinXP (SP3) and Win7 Pro and have installed all software on both systems.

So now my theory is that I can plug the cam in via USB (and A/C power), turn on it's power, push the cam/play button on the bottom right of the screen, select computer/printer and voila, the flash drive appears somewhere on the sytem either as another drive letter or inside my wondeful pixela software. But no....none of the above (although I do get the little windows bing-bing sound to say that it has found something new).

So then I figure I manually run the Imagemixer software, and I should be able to press the button marked "Save Files to PC"....but alass, I can't because it and the next 2 buttons below are greyed out.

So I have a few questions.....
1. How do I get the vids & stills from the cam to the PC..?
2. Is there some other free/trial-buy software which can do this..?
3. Should the cam show up in My Computer as another drive letter..?
4. Should I be able to see the cam somewhere else in Windows..?
5. Is there a version of this Pixela software that works on Windows 7..?

Hopefully one or more of you guru's has some suggestions/answers to these before the rest of my hair falls out.......thanks in advance.........c.d.

Is the power cord plugged in on the camera? It won't work without it.

Pixela works on win 7.

So I have a few questions.....
1. How do I get the vids & stills from the cam to the PC..?

The Pixela software should open automatically whenever it sees your cam plugged in. Using the Pixela software has the benefit of transferring your vid files, placing them in a dated folder and giving them a date and time stamp as the file name. It also transfers another details file with the vid file incase you want to transfer the files back to the cam. If you just use a card reader to transfer the files they will not have the date and time stamp as the title.


2. Is there some other free/trial-buy software which can do this..?
It seems that some of the editing suites mentioned here can transfer as well but not having tried it I don't know what it does as far as naming them.


3. Should the cam show up in My Computer as another drive letter..?

Yes, mine shows up as :F. Maybe this is where your problem is. If the drive letter assigned to the vid camera is already used it will not show up and you will have problems. You need to go to Control Panel>administrative tools>Computer management>disk management in windows. In there you should be able to see the vid camera as a drive and re-assign an unused drive letter.

4. Should I be able to see the cam somewhere else in Windows..?

Yes in explorer as a drive

5. Is there a version of this Pixela software that works on Windows 7..?

Hopefully one or more of you guru's has some suggestions/answers to these before the rest of my hair falls out.......thanks in advance.........c.d.[/quote]