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Camcorder for Low Light & Basketball/Volleyball Games - Canon HG21

post #1 of 13
1/27/10 at 10:57am
Thread Starter 
After searching for best camcorder for low light and best camcorder for basketball I settled on the Canon HG21. Particularly due to comments by MomEngineer at this thread: Canon HF11 vs. Canon HG21 vs. Sony HDR-SR12, and the video posted by RCPlains at this post

So far this camcorder is everything that I desired. Using the supplied ImageMaker 3 SE software; I was easily able to download video files, burn AVCHD files to DVD-R, and play on my new Blu-Ray player (Sony BDP-S360). And the files uploaded and played great at Vimeo.

The following video was shot the XP setting, TV-100, auto-white balance (AWB) and backlight on. Be sure to watch it full screen.

On a side note, after reading disappointing reviews about that standard battery (BP-807), I also bought the Canon BP-819 battery. I am not sure how long the BP-819 will last, but it easily recorded a full length high school basketball game (about 1 hour & 15 minutes). I would estimate enough power for at least two games.
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post #2 of 13
1/29/10 at 12:03am
HG21/HF11 is grainy as heck in low light but color reproduction is very good so I was pretty happy with it.

Side note: 2 of the Sony cons on that comparison list are unfortunately alive and well within the Canon HG21/HF11.

"1. OIS is just OK" (though on the Canon is it is awful , not ok)
"2. Auto focus "hunting" under certain situations, and it's not always low-light; I have proof of that." (terrible issue on the Canon though it is primarily in low light)
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post #3 of 13
1/30/10 at 7:49am
Are you trying to say in the HG20/HG21 price range theres something thats noticably better in low light?
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post #4 of 13
1/30/10 at 8:03am
The Sony XR500 (or CX500) is more money, but produces outstanding quality for indoor sports. I have a son that plays varsity basketball and take video all of the time. People watching it remark on how it looks better than "hi-def basketball on TV."
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post #5 of 13
1/30/10 at 8:28am
XR500 is almost DOUBLE the price. Very unfair comparison, it's not just a little more it's almost twice the price.
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post #6 of 13
1/30/10 at 9:02am
The difference is closer to +50% than +100%, but I put out the information because suitability to the purposes is most important.
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post #7 of 13
1/30/10 at 9:41am
Well from what I saw, the HG21 is about $700 and the XR500 is about $1150, the HG20 is about $600-700. Also looking at vids on XR500 looks very noisy also, almost as bad as the HG20/21.
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post #8 of 13
1/30/10 at 1:14pm
I got my XR500 for $950 at Best Buy and others have gotten theirs online for about $900. All of the gym videos I've taken (in a dozen venues) are very clean.
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post #9 of 13
1/30/10 at 2:45pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by bernhtp View Post

I got my XR500 for $950 at Best Buy and others have gotten theirs online for about $900. All of the gym videos I've taken (in a dozen venues) are very clean.


So your saying it looks noticably cleaner than the topic starters video he has linked to his message?
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post #10 of 13
1/30/10 at 3:42pm
Yes, it does look sharper and cleaner, but it's hardly fair as I'm comparing it to my native hidef. However, I will say that it's also a good bit better than my friend's HF100, which I believe to be very similar to the HG21 in this regard.
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post #11 of 13
2/1/10 at 11:26pm
bighairnee7,

Yes the Sony is definitely better indoors and in terms of indoor grain, the Canon is actually behind Panasonic's HDC-HS250 as well. The Canon takes fantastic video outdoors in good lighting though - better than Sony or Panny. Sony's color reproduction is a bit too far off for my liking.
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post #12 of 13
2/3/10 at 11:45am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ach3r0n View Post

bighairnee7,

Yes the Sony is definitely better indoors and in terms of indoor grain, the Canon is actually behind Panasonic's HDC-HS250 as well. The Canon takes fantastic video outdoors in good lighting though - better than Sony or Panny. Sony's color reproduction is a bit too far off for my liking.

Where is your proof that the HDC-HS250 is better in low light?
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post #13 of 13
2/3/10 at 11:56am
Hmm, it does seem to do a little better in low light, but also every review says it's not as clear and sharp as the Canon HG20. And both reviews I seem on expert review and cnet gave the Canon HG20 a better score. It's almost like it has built in noise reduction getting little less noise but little softer blurrier pic. I never was a fan of Panasonic camcorders myself. But with 3 1.4" sensors you think this thing would destroy the sony and the canon.
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