Table of Contents
Canon VIXIA HF G21 Full HD Camcorder Review
VIXIA HF G21 Camcorder specs.
- Megapixels: 2.91
- Filter Diameter:58mm
- HD 1920×1080 recording
- 3.0 in. touch screen
Pros
- Small size facilitate transportation
- Built from strong materials
- Simultaneous recordings to both SD cards
- Intelligent optical image stabilization system
Cons
- Steep pockets required
Verdict
The great thing about doing the Canon VIXIA HF G21 Full HD Camcorder Review is that we met a camera that without losing capabilities, shows such a small and manageable design. Its lightweight makes that the item can be carried very easily when on vacation or for special events.
No matter if you are beginner on photography or a seasoned professional; the product can be used by any person that likes to catch images or videos.
The VIXIA HF G21 is also loyal to the huge prestige that the Camcorders have acquired overtime, meaning that the item is easy to operate but at the same time have available features that can satisfy more sophisticated users.
Summarizing, our opinion is that the camera is a high quality one, and if you can afford to buy it, the product worth every penny that you spend on it.
Video-Canon VIXIA HF G21 Full HD Camcorder Unboxing
What Is In The Box?
The box of the Canon VIXIA HF G21 Full HD Camcorder includes the camera itself, a CA-570 Compact AC Power Adapter, a BP-820 Lithium-Ion Battery Pack (1780mAh), and Lens Hood (with Lens Barrier).
It is also worth to say that the product comes with a 1 year limited warranty.
Canon VIXIA HF G21 HD CMOS Pro Image Sensor
According to our experience the HD CMOS Pro Image Sensor of the HF G21 with its 1/2.84-inch, 2.91 Megapixel, grabs clear and thorough HD video records, showing up to nearly 2136 x 1362 pixels thanks to its great sensitivity and high signal to noise ratio that reaches a rating of +3dB, no matter which is the luminosity available.
The signal to noise ratio is defined like that comparison of the background noise against the level of a desired signal.
The unit of measurement that is used when measuring SNR is decibels and any ratio bigger than 1: 1 shows that the level of signal is greater than the noise.
Canon VIXIA HF G21 Remote Control
The remote control that is required for the HF G21 Camcorder is the same that you can use for many models of the Camcorders, and are sseveral brands that cater different levels of quality and prices. We think that the best way to choose one is browsing the models that are extensively offered on Amazon.
Image Reproduction That Impress
The Canon HF G21 camcorder show us the potent 20x Optical Zoom HD Video lens that perform exactly like we often see in products made by Canon, and combined with the strong DIGIC DV 4 Image Processor, have a performance that impressed us greatly. The effective and realistic capture of the images, fulfilled our expectations about the features, and without a doubt are great improvements for this kind of Camcorder.
Video Tutorial: Setting Up The WiFi On The Canon VIXIA HF G21 Camcorder
VIXIA HF G21 8-blade Circular Aperture
The 8-blade Circular Aperture of the canon VIXIA HF G21 camcorder is the feature of the camera that minimize the negative effects of point light sources in non-circular aperture designs (Starburst Effect). The result is that out of focus areas of the images are more natural, smoother and attractive.
Beyond that, we think that the flexibility that the manual focus ring gives to the more seasoned photographers, improve the possibility to have better and enhanced their options by setting the control zoom feature.
Recording MP4 Or AVCHD Files With The Canon HF G21
We can say that the quality of the recordings of AVCHD, and MP4 files is outstanding. Images are recorded up to 60 frames per second which is a rate that make the camera to be able to capture fast moving objects in a natural and neat form. Diagonal noise is almost absent, which helps our videos to show patterns of the movements clearly without distortion. The quantity of information that the 1080/60p recording grabs can be doubled up to 60i.
AVCHD recording of the VIXIA HF G21 shows a bit rate of up to 28 Mbps which talking about AVCHD standards is the highest that can be achieved.
Another feature that we loved about the product is that the camera is able to share via internet, MP4 files at up to 35 Mbps with no hassle.
The Native 24p Progressive Mode, which has the same frame rate of a traditional film camera, is also present in the HF G21, allowing more advanced users to get a film style quality with temporal motion and pace.
If you want to get the best from full HD, our opinion is that the item is able to gives high sense of detail, nice tonal gradation and awesome color which are features that most of photographers, no matter amateurs or professionals want to get.
Video: Canon VIXIA HF G21 Full HD Camcorder Test
LCD Touchscreen And Electronic Viewfinder
The product also stand up from its alternatives, because the capacitive touch-sensitive LED( Light Emitting Diode) panel that displays great and realistic colors, awesome viewing angles, and reliable touch responsiveness, which with its impressive sensitiveness allows easy control of the camera by the user.
Also the Electronic Viewfinder that comes with the VIXIA HF G21 shows an outstanding nearly full field of view to help the right and detailed composition of the recordings. The color electronic viewfinder with its 0.24 inch dimension consists of an amazing 1.56 million dots, and allows greater shooting possibilities, thanks to the ability of it that permits to be skewed up to 45 degrees from its normal standing.
Canon VIXIA HF G21 Dual Recording Specs.
More Recording Features: Dual, Relay, Fast And Slow
The backup of the footage when using the Canon VIXIA HF G21 camcorder is given by the double-slot recording, meaning that each time that you record images you can do it in both SD cards at the same time. Also in case that the one of the memory card got full, the relay recording feature changes the card in use automatically.
The Camera also comes with fast and slow motion modes, that using MP4 mode can record not only the playback frame rate, but also making possible the footage using a slow or fast motion effect at almost the same rate of quality. The recording at specified interval is also possible and the intervals can be set up to 12x for fast and 0.4 for slow motion.
VIXIA HF G21 Wide DR Gamma And Highlight Priority Modes
Between the several modes that are available with the VIXIA HF G21 is the Wide DR Gamma mode, which suppresses the overexposure in areas of the composition that shows excessive brightness, giving to the recordings a more realistic look with a dynamic range of 600% that provoke greater color accuracy, smother and detailed images.
The Highlight Priority mode helps to grab high levels of saturation and shades that resemble the perception of the human sight. The results are almost the same that other Camcorders present when using HDR modes. The loss of detail in high brightness areas is avoided by the reduction of the mid- to high-brightness density of the regular gamma mode.
Image Stabilization System
The potent image stabilization system that comes with the camera is intended to minimize the blur effect provoked by the shaking of the camera when shooting images. The Canon VIXIA HF G21 offer the possibility of utilizing the intelligent IS manually, or if the user prefers the feature can detect the right stabilization mode that is necessary to use according to the actual situation. Beyond that the Dynamic IS can correct electronically the tilt and roll.
Canon VIXIA HF G21 Full HD Camcorder Manual
http://gdlp01.c-wss.com/gds/8/0300027918/01/vixiahfg21-im-en.pdf
Buyers Opinions Summary
Clients say that the product beyond its price is an excellent one, but some complain about that with the price in which the product is offered should have some accessories included in the package. Th featured that they like most is that been a very easy to handle and simple to use, the camera still include many advanced features that justify its price. Of course the range of price that the item shows make that the product tend to be bought by people that is more demanding, but no matter this fact our Canon VIXIA HF G21 Full HD Camcorder review about the opinions of the people that has bought it makes conclude that the products is highly valued by them.