Baby steps with the Canon HF-S200 at DVinfo.net
DV Info Net

Go Back   DV Info Net > Canon EOS / MXF / AVCHD / HDV / DV Camera Systems > Canon XA and VIXIA Series AVCHD Camcorders > Canon VIXIA Series AVCHD and HDV Camcorders
Register FAQ Today's Posts Buyer's Guides

Canon VIXIA Series AVCHD and HDV Camcorders
For VIXIA / LEGRIA Series (HF G, HF S, HF and HV) consumer camcorders.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old April 10th, 2010, 05:00 PM   #1
Major Player
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 267
Baby steps with the Canon HF-S200

shot in automatic at 24mbps, no color correction, edited in AIC with Final Cut express 4.0. Exported as h.264 at 1280x720.

__________________
Measure twice, cut once!
Robert Morane is offline   Reply With Quote
Old April 11th, 2010, 11:03 AM   #2
Major Player
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Sitka Alaska
Posts: 470
Was that shot in 60i, 24p or 30p?

I would like to see 30p.

Dave
David Rice is offline   Reply With Quote
Old April 12th, 2010, 11:37 AM   #3
Major Player
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 267
David, this was shot in Automatic , I think by default it is 60i.
I'll try to post 30p in few days.
__________________
Measure twice, cut once!
Robert Morane is offline   Reply With Quote
Old April 24th, 2010, 01:57 PM   #4
Major Player
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Alpharetta, Georgia, USA
Posts: 760
Robert,

Given that this model has no view finder, how well can you see the LCD outdoors in the sun?
Bill Koehler is offline   Reply With Quote
Old April 24th, 2010, 06:49 PM   #5
Major Player
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 267
Bill, the LCD is very good and has 4 times the resolution of my former Canon XHA!, that helps a lot. I also bought for $20 the Canon LCD hood and it works better than the Hoodman I use with my HV30.
I like a dedicated viewfinder but , overall, I can work around that with the HFS200 as it is and I am getting use to it. I live in San Diego and I will be travelling with the camera for several months in Mexico, another sunny place and I have no worry about using the camera under very bright light.
__________________
Measure twice, cut once!
Robert Morane is offline   Reply With Quote
Old April 24th, 2010, 08:41 PM   #6
Major Player
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Alpharetta, Georgia, USA
Posts: 760
Thanks for the info, Robert.

I've had my eye on this camera for a while, my one concern being the lack of a viewfinder. But I've also been noting the viewfinders on the newer small cameras are getting pretty low res/coarse, so maybe not a big loss.

I recently did a shoot down in Boynton Beach, Florida (east coast)(on the beach)(morning shot) and both the LCD screen on the HDR-HC9 with hood, and separate monitor with hood, were good only for framing the shot - I ended up putting the exposure on auto, which I almost never do, but if you can't see squat, what do you do? Fortunately, it came out very usable.

But honestly, most of my shooting is indoors, so it's a minority issue for me.
Bill Koehler is offline   Reply With Quote
Old April 25th, 2010, 10:10 AM   #7
Major Player
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 267
Bill, there is really no comparison between those new LCDs and the old ones.
Off course there will be no problem shooting indoor but you will be surprise at the visibility of the LCD while shooting outdoor.
This being said, it is a change of habits so give the camera a chance at first, you need to start working differently, this also apply to the touch screen. For the first hour I was mad at it, but now I would never go back to joystick menu.

The Canon Hood screen i a must. Very well made and even if not always useful for run and gun, you will love it when you can use it.
__________________
Measure twice, cut once!
Robert Morane is offline   Reply With Quote
Old April 25th, 2010, 10:39 AM   #8
Major Player
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Alpharetta, Georgia, USA
Posts: 760
Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert Morane View Post
Bill, there is really no comparison between those new LCDs and the old ones.
Perhaps, but you understand why I ask.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert Morane View Post
This being said, it is a change of habits so give the camera a chance at first, you need to start working differently, this also apply to the touch screen. For the first hour I was mad at it, but now I would never go back to joystick menu.

The Canon Hood screen i a must. Very well made and even if not always useful for run and gun, you will love it when you can use it.
Possibly changing brands, I understand the need to learn new controls. It didn't even occurr to me that it might not be necessary. Given the length of my upgrade cycles, even sticking with Sony I know things have changed.

Also, your former XH-A1. What did you replace it with, if you don't mind my asking? Your profile shows it as current.
Bill Koehler is offline   Reply With Quote
Old April 26th, 2010, 03:27 PM   #9
Major Player
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 267
Bill, I have updated my profile. I sold my XHA1 and I am selling my HV30 kit. At this point in time I will explore how far I can go with the HF-s200. In all honesty I am starting to think that it may be my replacement for the A1, I have a lot of learning with the 200 to do, but the manual controls are quite versatile.

The low light indoor are good enough and for interviews I use my Cool Lights 600.
The audio is also pretty good. The fact is that with my XHA1 I have been using 90% of the time my wireless G2 and the last 10% my Rode NTG2.
I have already tested the sound with the G2 on the HF-s200 and for me it is the same. The little Canon DM-100 is pretty good and should be good for most of my run and gun needs.

I will be traveling extensively for the next few months, so this little kit will do, but I am quite sure that it may prove a viable replacement for my XHA1 , and when a bigger camera is needed.. well I can rent a kit for less than 200$ a day and pass the cost to my client.
I don't know for sure, I still have to explore the HF-s200 but frankly so far I am impress.
We live in interesting time and the camera revolution has already happen, in my case my own "paradigm" is changing.
__________________
Measure twice, cut once!
Robert Morane is offline   Reply With Quote
Old April 29th, 2010, 06:02 AM   #10
Major Player
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: College Park, Maryland
Posts: 913
Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert Morane View Post
Bill, I have updated my profile. I sold my XHA1 and I am selling my HV30 kit. At this point in time I will explore how far I can go with the HF-s200. In all honesty I am starting to think that it may be my replacement for the A1, I have a lot of learning with the 200 to do, but the manual controls are quite versatile......
Hey Robert do you do event filming? Would you try this camera as a cya cam? I currently have a XHA1 and am using my T2i more and more and would like to exchange my XHA1 for a solid state camera which would also operate as the audio camera. My XHA1 is prob worth 2g's and would like purchase the next camera with the money from the camera only. Thanks Robert.
Monday Isa is offline   Reply With Quote
Old April 29th, 2010, 03:31 PM   #11
Major Player
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 267
Monday, I don't do events, the closest thing I do would be Yoga Classes. And I would certainly used the HF-s200 as a replacement for my XHA1. Of course the client may feel more confident when you get there with a bigger cam.
I recently sold my XHA1 with extra battery, filter and Kata CC193 for $2000. I sold through Craiglist local and the camera sold in 24 hours, so that may give you an idea of the resale value.
__________________
Measure twice, cut once!
Robert Morane is offline   Reply With Quote
Old April 29th, 2010, 08:18 PM   #12
Major Player
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: College Park, Maryland
Posts: 913
Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert Morane View Post
Monday, I don't do events, the closest thing I do would be Yoga Classes. And I would certainly used the HF-s200 as a replacement for my XHA1. Of course the client may feel more confident when you get there with a bigger cam.
I recently sold my XHA1 with extra battery, filter and Kata CC193 for $2000. I sold through Craiglist local and the camera sold in 24 hours, so that may give you an idea of the resale value.
Thanks for your input Robert. I'm not concerned about the camera size on my jobs. My last job the teenagers were like where is the video guy not knowing it was me with my HDSLR "/
Monday Isa is offline   Reply With Quote
Old May 2nd, 2010, 08:30 AM   #13
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Canada
Posts: 170
Nice video.

My HF-S200 arrived on Friday, but I haven't had a chance to take it out and test it because of bad weather.

I had considered getting an HF-S21, but figured I could live without the viewfinder and the 64GB of onboard memory. I prefer to work with removable media anyway.

Absolutely love the bigger, brighter LCD display, and the touch-based menu system isn't too bad. One thing that's also great is the dual SD card slots. If the cards ever have to be changed while shooting, the entire camera doesn't have to be removed from the tripod, as was the case with the HF-S100.
Steve Struthers is offline   Reply With Quote
Old May 3rd, 2010, 09:57 AM   #14
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Tampa, FL
Posts: 50
Robert, I'm thinking about replacing the xh-a1 as well. So tired of lugging the extra weight and dealing with tape. What SDHC cards are you using? I'm looking for to use 2 x 16g cards. True, clients might look at the camera size and wonder what kind of "toy" you might be using. To put their minds at ease, I'm getting a mattebox and rails.
Ian VanCattenburch is offline   Reply With Quote
Old May 3rd, 2010, 10:16 AM   #15
Major Player
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 267
Ian, I have been using 2 8gb, class 6 from Transcend. I will get 2 16gb , class 10 (Transcend). They sell for less $50 each (Amazon), I will go for class 10, not that it is needed but the difference in cost with class 6 is just few $$$.
__________________
Measure twice, cut once!
Robert Morane is offline   Reply
Reply

DV Info Net refers all where-to-buy and where-to-rent questions exclusively to these trusted full line dealers and rental houses...

B&H Photo Video
(866) 521-7381
New York, NY USA

Scan Computers Int. Ltd.
+44 0871-472-4747
Bolton, Lancashire UK


DV Info Net also encourages you to support local businesses and buy from an authorized dealer in your neighborhood.
  You are here: DV Info Net > Canon EOS / MXF / AVCHD / HDV / DV Camera Systems > Canon XA and VIXIA Series AVCHD Camcorders > Canon VIXIA Series AVCHD and HDV Camcorders


 



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 02:45 PM.


DV Info Net -- Real Names, Real People, Real Info!
1998-2024 The Digital Video Information Network