Canon VIXIA HF S21 vs Sony HDR XR550V

Dave Blackhurst · July 15th, 2010, 12:29 PM

Hmm, I didn't remember the 550 being rated 11 lux - mine "sees" better in low lux mode than I do... so I can't complain if it matches that.

I was fiddling with shooting a still with the 550, and noticed it wasn't able to do all the same digital tricks as it could in video mode, so stills were "dark", I wonder how much enhancement the video side will get in this new toy, it "might" be able to do OK when in actual use, even if the specs don't look so hot.

I actually "love" the look of this new camera (sure prettied it up a lot from the mockup!), and will be on the hunt to pick one up when the guy who buys this "because the sales guy said it was the best" sticks it up on eBay... and you know that a lot of consumers will buy thinking they are getting the "best", and realize the unique approach this camera takes isn't nearly as "friendly" as a basic handycam...

I'm still waiting to see what comes out of the Alpha line - there should be two Alpha mount SLR style bodies with HD video, and supposedly two more mirrorless alpha mount bodies... In some ways those form factors are more "attractive" in my mind, but this traditional video camera format looks very tempting too!

Eduardo Romero · July 15th, 2010, 01:17 PM

Thanks for the advice guys looks like I'm getting the Sony in a week or so I'll uploadsome sample footage as soon as I can

Robert Young · July 15th, 2010, 02:07 PM

Dave
The "low lux" 550 settings are rated lower than 11 lux (3 lux, I think), but I always shoot in standard mode, which, according to the manual is 11 lux, & am very happy with the low light results. If the NEX can match that, I'll be satisfied.
As to style & appearance: the more I look at it, the better I like it. I think it looks bigger in the photos than it will turn out to actually be in your hand.
One possible major bummer is no servo zoom. Can I hold steady while zooming? Don't know- never had to.
But, at the end of the day, I can't get past the notion that that huge chip has got to produce better images in some tangible way.
Eduardo,
I think you will be happy with the Sony. It's an amazing little camera.

Dave Blackhurst · July 15th, 2010, 03:06 PM

I think size wise, the camera will be quite nice - bigger than a handycam, but still very portable - the weight was something just over a pound, so easy to "lug", any way you slice it.

I'm still trying to get my head around it, and wonder about the zoom as well...

I see it as a reasonably priced way to get shallow DoF without going the DSLR route, which I'd been planning on anyway when the new Alphas with video finally hit the street. I found the vimeo HD video version... take a look:

Looks pretty good, and some of the light conditions are pretty poor, so there's potential!

Robert Young · July 15th, 2010, 06:09 PM

Thanks for the video- I hadn't seen that one yet in it's entirety. I thought it was very revealing- more so than the other samples I have seen so far:
Low light looks fine, nice blacks, plenty of detail in the shadows; shallow DOF, color, sharpness, dynamic range, it all looks great!
I doubt my EX1 could have made better images, and it sure couldn't have delivered such shallow DOF.
I'm hooked, manual zoom or not- I just preordered one :-)
Amazing rare slip-up on Sony's part: the NEX uses the same batteries as the CX550.

Dave Blackhurst · July 15th, 2010, 07:06 PM

I stumbled across the Vimeo earlier today, the You Tube version I saw yesterday is low res and unimpressive. I probably should go post this link in the news section...

Well, I'm happy ANYTIME I don't have to buy new accessories! I'm evaluating selling a couple Alpha lenses to put towards this, really hinges on what if any DSLR's escape the labs (or the rumoured A55 or NEX7). I'm leaning towards adding one of these into the toolbox, as I've been planning for a DSLR-V for some time, and this fits the bill from what I can see.

I'd still keep the CX550Vs, and for that matter probably a CX500 around for multicam shooting, but this would step up the "look" and be mighty useful - far more than any of the "big cams" I've owned, IMO.

Robert Young · July 15th, 2010, 07:24 PM

Definitely will keep the CX550. I always have a need for a really small cam.
As crazy as it sounds, I'm thinking of replacing my EX1 with the NEX, if it really pans out.
The EX is incomparable in terms of features, controls, image quality, but I have slowly realized that the type of shooting I actually do, I don't really utilize but a fraction of the cool features, and the EX is big and heavy- really difficult to hand hold, and a bit of a pain to transport.
So if the NEX can compete in the image dept, I may just scale down & let it be my "big" cam.

July 15th, 2010, 02:07 PM	#18
Robert Young Trustee Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Coronado Island Posts: 1,472	Dave The "low lux" 550 settings are rated lower than 11 lux (3 lux, I think), but I always shoot in standard mode, which, according to the manual is 11 lux, & am very happy with the low light results. If the NEX can match that, I'll be satisfied. As to style & appearance: the more I look at it, the better I like it. I think it looks bigger in the photos than it will turn out to actually be in your hand. One possible major bummer is no servo zoom. Can I hold steady while zooming? Don't know- never had to. But, at the end of the day, I can't get past the notion that that huge chip has got to produce better images in some tangible way. Eduardo, I think you will be happy with the Sony. It's an amazing little camera. __________________ Bob

July 15th, 2010, 03:06 PM	#19
Dave Blackhurst Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Apple Valley CA Posts: 4,874	I think size wise, the camera will be quite nice - bigger than a handycam, but still very portable - the weight was something just over a pound, so easy to "lug", any way you slice it. I'm still trying to get my head around it, and wonder about the zoom as well... I see it as a reasonably priced way to get shallow DoF without going the DSLR route, which I'd been planning on anyway when the new Alphas with video finally hit the street. I found the vimeo HD video version... take a look: Beautiful Bali captured with the Sony NEX-VG10 Handycam camcorder on Vimeo Looks pretty good, and some of the light conditions are pretty poor, so there's potential!

July 15th, 2010, 06:09 PM	#20
Robert Young Trustee Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Coronado Island Posts: 1,472	Thanks for the video- I hadn't seen that one yet in it's entirety. I thought it was very revealing- more so than the other samples I have seen so far: Low light looks fine, nice blacks, plenty of detail in the shadows; shallow DOF, color, sharpness, dynamic range, it all looks great! I doubt my EX1 could have made better images, and it sure couldn't have delivered such shallow DOF. I'm hooked, manual zoom or not- I just preordered one :-) Amazing rare slip-up on Sony's part: the NEX uses the same batteries as the CX550. __________________ Bob

July 15th, 2010, 07:24 PM	#22
Robert Young Trustee Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Coronado Island Posts: 1,472	Definitely will keep the CX550. I always have a need for a really small cam. As crazy as it sounds, I'm thinking of replacing my EX1 with the NEX, if it really pans out. The EX is incomparable in terms of features, controls, image quality, but I have slowly realized that the type of shooting I actually do, I don't really utilize but a fraction of the cool features, and the EX is big and heavy- really difficult to hand hold, and a bit of a pain to transport. So if the NEX can compete in the image dept, I may just scale down & let it be my "big" cam. __________________ Bob

July 15th, 2010, 12:29 PM	#16
Dave Blackhurst Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Apple Valley CA Posts: 4,874	Hmm, I didn't remember the 550 being rated 11 lux - mine "sees" better in low lux mode than I do... so I can't complain if it matches that. I was fiddling with shooting a still with the 550, and noticed it wasn't able to do all the same digital tricks as it could in video mode, so stills were "dark", I wonder how much enhancement the video side will get in this new toy, it "might" be able to do OK when in actual use, even if the specs don't look so hot. I actually "love" the look of this new camera (sure prettied it up a lot from the mockup!), and will be on the hunt to pick one up when the guy who buys this "because the sales guy said it was the best" sticks it up on eBay... and you know that a lot of consumers will buy thinking they are getting the "best", and realize the unique approach this camera takes isn't nearly as "friendly" as a basic handycam... I'm still waiting to see what comes out of the Alpha line - there should be two Alpha mount SLR style bodies with HD video, and supposedly two more mirrorless alpha mount bodies... In some ways those form factors are more "attractive" in my mind, but this traditional video camera format looks very tempting too!

July 15th, 2010, 01:17 PM	#17
Eduardo Romero Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Fresno, CA Posts: 28	Thanks for the advice guys looks like I'm getting the Sony in a week or so I'll uploadsome sample footage as soon as I can

July 15th, 2010, 07:06 PM	#21
Dave Blackhurst Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Apple Valley CA Posts: 4,874	I stumbled across the Vimeo earlier today, the You Tube version I saw yesterday is low res and unimpressive. I probably should go post this link in the news section... Well, I'm happy ANYTIME I don't have to buy new accessories! I'm evaluating selling a couple Alpha lenses to put towards this, really hinges on what if any DSLR's escape the labs (or the rumoured A55 or NEX7). I'm leaning towards adding one of these into the toolbox, as I've been planning for a DSLR-V for some time, and this fits the bill from what I can see. I'd still keep the CX550Vs, and for that matter probably a CX500 around for multicam shooting, but this would step up the "look" and be mighty useful - far more than any of the "big cams" I've owned, IMO.