Canon Vixia’s are my favorite video cameras. They are what I use and recommend to people. They give you near pro-quality video at consumer-level prices.
And Canon will be releasing 9 new Vixia models over the next few months. All of them are Flash-based, as Canon begins phasing out tape-based cameras from their Vixia lineup.
The new Vixia’s will have better image and processing technology, better performance in the blue and purple color ranges, better image stabilization, touchscreen viewfinders and the ability to downcovert the HD footage they shoot to SD.
On the high-end of the Vixia line there is the HF S21, HF S20 and HF S200. The S21 and S20 have 64GB and 32GB of internal storage (along with SDHC memory card slots) while the S200 has no internal memory. They range in MSRP from $1,400 to $1,000 and all cameras shoot AVCHD.
The mid-tier cameras in Vixia’s lineup, the HF M series, range in price from $800 to $680. And the lowest in the line of new Vixia’s, the HF R series, range in price from $700 to $500.
But if you’re a current Vixia owner, don’t fret. You’ve still got a great camera and I won’t be upgrading my Vixia’s anytime soon. And remember, new, better cameras will come out every 6-12 months anyway. Just be aware that tape-based cameras are being phased out by all manufacturers.
To learn more about all of the new Canon Vixia’s, go to Canon’s site by clicking here.
Dave,
I have the Vixia HSF11 and it’s a great camera. Images are superb. However, one thing I have discovered is the dual microphones are located on the sides of the camera body, which makes them extremely suseptible to wind noise, when not using a remote mic., since the wind is uaually (always) coming from the side.
My older camcorder with a front mounted microphone is not as suseptible, unless your aiming directly into the wind – not very common.
Dave,
I just bought my Vixia HFS10 late last year based on watching your review of it (great review by the way). C’est La Vie as they say and thanks for the reminder that there are always new ones coming onto the market…makes the pain more bearable!
Keep up the great work! Always look forward to your latest blogs.
Jon
They are available in April. and I think I can wait that long. I have been lusting after an HFS 11 and ready to purchase when I get my Tax refund, I can hang with my Sony till then I guess Thanks for info Dave,
Man… I was going to buy an HF S11 this week. I’m glad I stopped by. The downconverting feature is worth waiting a few months for. I’ll keep using my SD cameras till then.
Hi, Dave, Burt again. After reading your blog and noting the future is short for tape, I still want to do something NOW and hope this will solidify me for a couple of years. I’m budgeting around $2000, give or take, and want to buy something this month. I scanned B&H Photo for choices. There’s a Sony HDR-FX7 for $1920 that I like because it has a 20x zoom and there’s a Panasonic AG-DVX100B mini-dv for $2384 and a Panasonic AG-HMC40 for $1995 which is, of course, an SD unit. No comparable Canons in price range. The Panasonics only have 10X and 12X zooms. Thanks to you, I know a few things. I will get better low light performance. The 20x gives me huge versatility in shooting all kinds of things including sports. Ultimately, my budget is tight, but, i feel I must go to a higher level than the Canon VIXIA and i want to do it now. Your feedback will be greatly appreciated as will any other suggestions. I don’t want to make a mistake though. I assume I’ll be able to buy mini-dv tapes and stock up, but, with them being phased out and everything else, I really need help. A 20x zoom if it is an inferior lens or camera or has other limiting issues is important to know. I’m thinking this is a closeout on a much more expensive camera being that it has 20x. Am I wrong? Will the latest model, Panasonic with the SD technology blow away the Sony? I can’t afford the extra $1000 to find other 20x choices or maybe a better Canon model since
Canon has best lens. Anyway, your feedback would be greatly appreciated. I don’t know who else to trust for feedback and certainly not salespeople.
@Burt – At the prosumer or pro level, every camera is good and what’s best is simply a matter of opinion. I’d suggest checking out footage from each camera on Vimeo and searching for unbiased user reviews of each camera.
Dave,
I’ve heard some of the same hub-bub on Nikon P-100 that comes out next month with price around $400…would appreciate if you would give your opinion when it arrives..
@Joe – It’s kind of an apples vs. oranges comparison. The P100 is more of a point and shoot camera…the lens is built into the camera (it’s not interchangeable like the Canon). It’s in the same market as Canon’s lower-end cameras, the Powershots.
I would like to know if it is friendly user with a MAC (final cut express) thank you
I have a Canon HF S11. Is it true that I can’t control the camera via either iMovie or Final Cut Express? This is a pain so far, as I have to import or download to desktop the entire file/scene and can’t select portions of it, eating up valuable disc space.
Is this really true?
@vidman55 – Just connect the camera or card reader via USB, open Final Cut and use Log and Transfer.
Purchased the HFS200…can’t get it to work with Ustream Producer …my old camera just showed up immediately in the drop down Using Mac OSX.
OK…after spending $900 on this camera it turns out you can NOT use it for web streaming! I finally called Canon…wow…what a waste of money the Vixia HFS200 camera turned out to be. Really bummed and disappointed AND poorer.
@Monica – You can’t use any Flash-based video camera for live streaming, computer’s only recognize them as USB storage devices. You need to use Firewire (tape based) cameras or install an HDMI capture card in your computer to use with a Flash-based camera: http://www.blackmagic-design.com/products/intensity/
just got a canon hfs200. when i plug in the sd memory card via a usb reader, imovie or imovie hd does not recognize the format. do i need another type of software for video downloads and editing. thanks.