[cydiamante]

I decided to start this new thread because i have been searching the web for the past couple of months on information on the new Canon HF200 and could not get any straight answers.

After reading CamcorderInfo's review, I was somewhat puzzled. Throughout the review they kept going saying that the HF200 had very similar PQ to its big brother the HFS100. In the conclusion though they stated that the HF20 was a major downgrade from last years HF11.

I'm am currently a proud owner of a Canon HV20 which I have had for almost 3 years. I decided so buy this cam after thorough research and basing my decision mostly on CamcorderInfo's review. The HV20 has been a benchmark for others to follow. Rightfully so, the picture quality is stunning!

I jumped the gun and ordered the HF200 a few days ago because I need a smaller camera for a trip that I going on in the Summer and I also did not want to deviate for the HV20's quality and also not want to spend a fortune.

After doing some filming with my new toy today and playing it back on my 50 inch Panasonic plasma, I have to say that the quality is AMAZING! The colors pop more than the HV20 and the sharpness is notably better. I can say without any hesitation that it shoots more impressive and crisper images than the HV20 at least in daylight. I have not done any night time tests because they do not interest me.

If anyone is thinking of buying this cam I highly recommend that you do so, you will not be disappointed. I don't think that anything near that price can produce such images.

I hope you guys find my findings useful because I could not get a straight answer from anyone on the web while I was searching to decide for this purchase.

[johndoe77ie]

Im tempted to buy one of these but im a bit dubiuos of the low light perfomance given the smaller cmos compared to the hf100/10 so any input from owners would be appreciated....

[lasty82]

Originally Posted by johndoe77ie

Im tempted to buy one of these but im a bit dubiuos of the low light perfomance given the smaller cmos compared to the hf100/10 so any input from owners would be appreciated....

If you go on youtube and look up canon hf200 low light footage and watch in HD you will notice that there really isn't a problem with low light like a lot of reviews have said. I believe there is a problem when it is put on auto settings in low if you use manual settings then there is a huge difference in quality

I hope this helps, I have just ordered this camcorder hopefully it will turn up this week.

[lasty82]

I have just recieved my canon hf200 and just finished charging it up. I'm not sure if i have some settings wrong but its currently in dual mode.

I was just filming downstairs and the screen looks really grainy when I am filming in low light lots of flashing pixels. I then connected it to my tv using the hdmi lead and I wasnt impressed didnt look good at all.

I will check tomorrow in daylight if there is any issues.

Do you reckon I have a faulty unit ?

Thanks

[A n d r e w]

Define "low light."

[lasty82]

Originally Posted by A n d r e w

Define "low light."

Well I had my dining room lights on and the footage was very grainy. I am going to have a play with it tonight and see how I go.

1 problem I have noticed is that when i am filiming inside and play it back on my tv the sound is all echoe any idea why that it is?

I have just been filming some footage in the garden and I am very impressed. I cant believe how good the footage is and the level of detail the camcorder pics up, it has really blown me away.

[A n d r e w]

I doubt that it's faulty. Almost all of the current crop of consumer camcorders struggle at least a little in average indoor artificial lighting.

[Chappers78]

Just got one of these myself. It's my first camcorder, bought to capture my first child's moments.

Quite pleased with it so far - daytime footage using just the auto settings on max quality looks pretty damn good to me played through my PS3.

Would like some advice regarding optimum settings/general advice for low light shooting. Will mainly be filming in a 6 x 3.5m room illuminated by 2 x 40watt table lamps positioned about 0.75m from long back wall about 3m apart, either side of the sofa. Main focal point will be in front of said sofa.

[fatrich]

The HF200 seems to be low in stock at most suppliers, ive just ordered a one from Jessops (to collect in store) web price is £599.00 - a 5% discount code = £569.05 - £50.00 cash back from Canon total price £519.05, i know i could of got it £20 to £30 cheaper online but too many horror stories about at the moment and at least i get my hands on it tomorrow when i go to collect it and return it if i have any problems..... just need to source some SDHC cards out at a reasonable price.

regards

richard

[lasty82]

Originally Posted by fatrich

The HF200 seems to be low in stock at most suppliers, ive just ordered a one from Jessops (to collect in store) web price is £599.00 - a 5% discount code = £569.05 - £50.00 cash back from Canon total price £519.05, i know i could of got it £20 to £30 cheaper online but too many horror stories about at the moment and at least i get my hands on it tomorrow when i go to collect it and return it if i have any problems..... just need to source some SDHC cards out at a reasonable price.

regards

richard

Try Jackofallgames, Video Games and Console Specialist . They have it in stock £529.99 or £479.99 if canon still doing the £50 cashback.

I ordered my camcorder on a thursday and it arrived the following tuesday I cant fault the company at all, you can also pay via paypal so if you get any problems just dispute it.

[lasty82]

I have had my camcorder over a week now and I am very impressed with the picture quality.

I just had one problem when I view the footage back on my lcd tv the wind noise is very loud and seems to ruin the footage that i have shot.

Is this common or is there a setting or something i can buy to reduce the wind noise.

Thanks

David

[Kamanchi]

Hi I've just picked mine up from Currys. Im a little disappointed so far, It is grainy at lowish light but what I am concerned about is the information Currys gave me before I bought it. Firstly they said it had 3 censors for RGB and said it was full HD 1080p. I've only had a little mess about with it but in the settings I can only see a 1080i option. Im going to have a proper play with it tomorrow afternoon. Can anyone confirm the censor and the 1080p query?

Cheers

[loz]

Originally Posted by Kamanchi

Hi I've just picked mine up from Currys. Im a little disappointed so far, It is grainy at lowish light but what I am concerned about is the information Currys gave me before I bought it. Firstly they said it had 3 censors for RGB and said it was full HD 1080p. I've only had a little mess about with it but in the settings I can only see a 1080i option. Im going to have a proper play with it tomorrow afternoon. Can anyone confirm the censor and the 1080p query?

Cheers

1 sensor, not 3
1080p, yes
Canon LEGRIA HF20 HD Camcorder - Canon UK

[Kamanchi]

Originally Posted by loz

1 sensor, not 3
1080p, yes
Canon LEGRIA HF20 HD Camcorder - Canon UK

1 Sensor yes
1080p no.

It's definitely only 1080i I'm a bit peed off now Im thinking about taking it back and getting the SD200.

[loz]

Originally Posted by Kamanchi

1 Sensor yes
1080p no.

It's definitely only 1080i I'm a bit peed off now Im thinking about taking it back and getting the SD200.

I don't have one, but everything I have read about it says it does do 1080p 25p

e.g.

Canon LEGRIA HF20 Review - Camcorder Reviews - TrustedReviews

Further sweetening the deal, progressive scanning is available via 25pf mode,

Canon LEGRIA HF20 HD Camcorder - Canon UK

25p Cinema Mode

In specs:
Progressive shooting mode: YES (25p)

[A n d r e w]

Originally Posted by Kamanchi

Can anyone confirm the censor and the 1080p query?

The HF200 has a single CMOS sensor. It also shoots progressive video if you select the progressive mode. But as far as I'm aware all output is interlaced, which means in other words that it outputs field-doubled interlaced video if your source video was shot using the progressive mode.

[loz]

Originally Posted by Kamanchi

I've only had a little mess about with it but in the settings I can only see a 1080i option. Im going to have a proper play with it tomorrow afternoon. Can anyone confirm the censor and the 1080p query?

Cheers

page 61 of the manual

Cinema Mode: Giving a Cinematic Look to your Recordings
Give your recordings a cinematic look by using the [ Cine Mode] recording program. Combine this recording program with the 25 fps progressive
frame rate [ PF25] to get the enhanced effect of the 25p Cinema Mode.

[FlyersFan]

I just got this camera and have questions about back up and storage of footage.
How are most folks going about playback?
If I burn the AVCHD files to a DVD, will they play on most Blu Ray players?
Or do folks simply hook their PCs up to their HDTV's?

Any insight will be helpful.

[alpine101]

Originally Posted by FlyersFan

I just got this camera and have questions about back up and storage of footage.
How are most folks going about playback?
If I burn the AVCHD files to a DVD, will they play on most Blu Ray players?
Or do folks simply hook their PCs up to their HDTV's?

Any insight will be helpful.

The stream files from an AVCHD camcorder will only play if they are imbedded properly in their AVCHD file structure, you can't just copy them across and get them to work. Either use the utility that will have come with the camera to get them on to DVD which may reduce the quality, or use one of the editor packages often discussed here to produce an AVCHD DVD that will play via a bluray player.
Storing the raw files to DVD for backup is of course fine.

[FlyersFan]

Originally Posted by alpine101

The stream files from an AVCHD camcorder will only play if they are imbedded properly in their AVCHD file structure, you can't just copy them across and get them to work. Either use the utility that will have come with the camera to get them on to DVD which may reduce the quality, or use one of the editor packages often discussed here to produce an AVCHD DVD that will play via a bluray player.
Storing the raw files to DVD for backup is of course fine.

Ah, so using the software that came with the camera will degrade the quality? Hmmm.
Can someone recommend an AVCHD editor that WONT reduce the quality? (free?)

What's the point of recording in HD if you can't watch them in full resolution?
It would by ideal if I could just play these files off my PC, as it has an HDMI out.

[mr-monday]

I bought an HF200 just before Christmas from play when it was on special offer for £399. It's my first camcorder and I'm really happy with it. After hearing scare stories about poor low light levels it was much better than I expected.

When viewing footage, I must admit that I usually just hook it up the the side HDMI port in my TV and watch it directly off the camera. It supports HDMI CEC so I can control the camera using my TV remote control which is nice. It terms of other viewing solutions, you could copy the video files directly off the card to your PC,then play them on that. The PS3 and some blu ray players will read the files off the SD card. Or you could burn the files to a data disc. This wouldn't involve any format conversion.

[alpine101]

Originally Posted by FlyersFan

Ah, so using the software that came with the camera will degrade the quality? Hmmm.
Can someone recommend an AVCHD editor that WONT reduce the quality? (free?)

What's the point of recording in HD if you can't watch them in full resolution?
It would by ideal if I could just play these files off my PC, as it has an HDMI out.

Win 7 media player plays the files with no probs on my Dell SXPS16. Never tried, but I assume if I plugged the HDMI port in to the TV, it would play them.

[senu]

Originally Posted by FlyersFan

Ah, so using the software that came with the camera will degrade the quality? Hmmm.

Only if you try and create a SD DVD
You can create an " AVCHD disc" which will play hidef on a Bluray player or PS3 it will be on DVD media and limited to 30min at most it will not play on a DVD player
Can someone recommend an AVCHD editor that WONT reduce the quality? (free?)

What's the point of recording in HD if you can't watch them in full resolution?
It would by ideal if I could just play these files off my PC, as it has an HDMI out.

You can,
Win7 media player can but then there are lot of other media players free and paid for that can in Vista and XP as long as your PC is a good enough Spec.

[FlyersFan]

Thanks All
So I just got a new laptop that I think will solve most of my issues.
Thoughts on the specs?:

Processor Intel® Core™ i5-430M Processor 2.26GHz 2.27GHz, 1066MHz FSB, 3MB L2 Cache) with Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology
Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium (64-bit)
Memory 4 GB Dual-Channel DDR3 1066MHz sDRAM, expandable to 8 GB max.
Hard Drive 320GB 5400RPM SATA hard drive
Display 15.6" HD Widescreen Ultrabright™ LED-backlit Display (1366 x 768 resolution, 16:9 aspect ratio)

External Ports (4) USB 2.0, VGA Port, HDMI™ Port

[senu]

Looks good. CertainLy better if it has an NVIDIA/ ATI graphics card but it is todays technology!

[FlyersFan]

One last thing. I've heard the included software is not that great. Is it worth installing?

Editor of choice?

Thanks

[senu]

Originally Posted by FlyersFan

One last thing. I've heard the included software is not that great. Is it worth installing?

what do you have to lose?

Editor of choice?

Editing software query

[tausifs]

I think its worth pointing out, for those disappointed with low light performance, that shooting in the 25p mode is recommended in these situations. Although there will only be 25 true frames per second, it will be a significant improvement- Canon advertise this as one of its utilities. i believe the Panasonic equivalent can also do this.

[mulmul]

I have a slight problem with the HF200 , cos for some reasons , when i hooked it up with the HDMI cable ( the mini-hdmi to normal hdmi) the LG tv recingised it being plugged in but it didnt get a signal. It can only be play on its lil LCD screen

First thing came to my mind is damn the TV is messed up, but when I try others HDMI devices on the tv with the same port it is all fine.

Then I thought, well must be the HDMI port on the HF200 is messed up, took it upstair hook it up with another LG HD tv and guess what ! it is running perfectly fine with no problems , stunning sound and everything

So now I kinda diagnosed that it is not the TV problem nor the HF200 problem.

a bit of extra information, the LCD HD tv that didnt work with HF200 is 47LH3000 , and the one compatible with is LG M227WD

I searched here found some people had exactly the same problem with HF200 and their HD tvs, did anyone get a solution for that?