Small Legria cam to match G25 and XA20 as a C cam at DVinfo.net

Andrew Maclaurin · October 1st, 2013, 09:43 AM

Does anyone use a small Legria camcorder that matches the look of the G25 and the XA20 (more or less)?
I'm looking for a camera that is cheap, reasonably good in low light, has a reasonably wide lens and has a few manual controls. The camera will be used as a locked off camera getting a wide general plan in events and weddings.
Thanks

Tim Lewis · October 1st, 2013, 05:53 PM

Hi Andrew

I use a Canon HF200. I cannot say how similar to the XA20 it might be, but I am impressed with the degree of manual control. It has manual mic levels, adjustable sharpening, adjustable exposure and focus as well as an accessory shoe for an external mic (proprietary) and and external mic port for something like a Rode. It also has an adjustable zoom speed from a really nice glacial creep to the usual "vomit" setting.

I have been very pleased with it, even though it is just my "holiday" camera. I also have a Century Optics 37mm 0.65 WA attachment on it.

Steve Bleasdale · October 2nd, 2013, 01:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew Maclaurin

Does anyone use a small Legria camcorder that matches the look of the G25 and the XA20 (more or less)?
I'm looking for a camera that is cheap, reasonably good in low light, has a reasonably wide lens and has a few manual controls. The camera will be used as a locked off camera getting a wide general plan in events and weddings.
Thanks

Canon legria hfm56, perfect I have two and one for sale. same colours as the hfg25 just smaller cam...

Andrew Maclaurin · October 4th, 2013, 12:22 AM

Thanks steve. I've heard the wide angle is not great and is restrictive. Is that the case? I ask as it's principle gob would be a locked off wide angle shot

Steve Bleasdale · October 4th, 2013, 02:51 AM

Its not bad but when I need it extra wide I use a raynox hd 58mm wide angle lens on it and its awesome..

Andrew Maclaurin · October 6th, 2013, 02:02 AM

Thanks again.

Noa Put · October 6th, 2013, 02:15 AM

A pana DMC-FZ200? Jeff Harper who owns a xa20 as well claims it outperforms his xa20 at full zoom as it's sharper so that might be a cheap c cam alternative.: http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/wedding-...eddings-2.html

Jeff Harper · October 6th, 2013, 10:25 AM

Noa, I used it last night and it does outperform the XA20 at full zoom, noticeably sharper. Personally, I would not buy anything else for use as a b cam. For the price it is remarkable.

Noa Put · October 6th, 2013, 12:27 PM

Could it be that you posted a xa20/fz200 comparison shot in a church that showed the difference in sharpness? I remember seeing such a shot. I currently have a gh3/g6 but have not used them during a ceremony as I use handicams there for their ease of use, dslr type of cameras still scare me when it comes to continuous multicam "you only get one chance" type of recordings (as a solo shooter). Does the fz200 also has that 30 minute limit, meaning, do you manually have to press the record button again after 30 minutes?

Andrew Maclaurin · October 6th, 2013, 03:59 PM

The panasonic looks interesting but it's 430€ here. Seems a lot. How does it do in low light?
I'm really looking for something around 300-350€ that can handle churches, has decent wide angle and will mix well with a canon xa20, g25 and canon dslr.

Noa Put · October 6th, 2013, 05:00 PM

At that price your choice is limited, probably the cheapest Canon handicam you can find would be the safest bet since you are already using Canon camera's.

Andrew Maclaurin · October 7th, 2013, 12:12 PM

yeah, the canon hf m506 is only 300€ but it doesn't have much of a wide end and if i have to buy a wide adaptor it just pushes up the price!

Steve Bleasdale · October 7th, 2013, 01:44 PM

Yes but if you need it then get it!! The 506 or hfm56 match identical that's what I use with my hfg25 g10, I have told you in my last post. Just get the hd raynox wide angle lens 58mm with a step ring. sorted..

October 1st, 2013, 09:43 AM	#1
Andrew Maclaurin Major Player Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Madrid, Spain Posts: 396	Small Legria cam to match G25 and XA20 as a C cam Does anyone use a small Legria camcorder that matches the look of the G25 and the XA20 (more or less)? I'm looking for a camera that is cheap, reasonably good in low light, has a reasonably wide lens and has a few manual controls. The camera will be used as a locked off camera getting a wide general plan in events and weddings. Thanks

October 1st, 2013, 05:53 PM	#2
Tim Lewis Major Player Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Perth, Western Australia. Posts: 591	Re: Small Legria cam to match G25 and XA20 as a C cam Hi Andrew I use a Canon HF200. I cannot say how similar to the XA20 it might be, but I am impressed with the degree of manual control. It has manual mic levels, adjustable sharpening, adjustable exposure and focus as well as an accessory shoe for an external mic (proprietary) and and external mic port for something like a Rode. It also has an adjustable zoom speed from a really nice glacial creep to the usual "vomit" setting. I have been very pleased with it, even though it is just my "holiday" camera. I also have a Century Optics 37mm 0.65 WA attachment on it. __________________ Cheers Tim Last edited by Tim Lewis; October 1st, 2013 at 06:27 PM.

October 4th, 2013, 12:22 AM	#4
Andrew Maclaurin Major Player Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Madrid, Spain Posts: 396	Re: Small Legria cam to match G25 and XA20 as a C cam Thanks steve. I've heard the wide angle is not great and is restrictive. Is that the case? I ask as it's principle gob would be a locked off wide angle shot

October 4th, 2013, 02:51 AM	#5
Steve Bleasdale Trustee Join Date: May 2010 Location: England liverpool Posts: 1,343	Re: Small Legria cam to match G25 and XA20 as a C cam Its not bad but when I need it extra wide I use a raynox hd 58mm wide angle lens on it and its awesome..

October 6th, 2013, 02:02 AM	#6
Andrew Maclaurin Major Player Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Madrid, Spain Posts: 396	Re: Small Legria cam to match G25 and XA20 as a C cam Thanks again.

October 6th, 2013, 02:15 AM	#7
Noa Put Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Belgium Posts: 9,510	Re: Small Legria cam to match G25 and XA20 as a C cam A pana DMC-FZ200? Jeff Harper who owns a xa20 as well claims it outperforms his xa20 at full zoom as it's sharper so that might be a cheap c cam alternative.: http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/wedding-...eddings-2.html

October 6th, 2013, 10:25 AM	#8
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	Re: Small Legria cam to match G25 and XA20 as a C cam Noa, I used it last night and it does outperform the XA20 at full zoom, noticeably sharper. Personally, I would not buy anything else for use as a b cam. For the price it is remarkable.

October 6th, 2013, 12:27 PM	#9
Noa Put Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Belgium Posts: 9,510	Re: Small Legria cam to match G25 and XA20 as a C cam Could it be that you posted a xa20/fz200 comparison shot in a church that showed the difference in sharpness? I remember seeing such a shot. I currently have a gh3/g6 but have not used them during a ceremony as I use handicams there for their ease of use, dslr type of cameras still scare me when it comes to continuous multicam "you only get one chance" type of recordings (as a solo shooter). Does the fz200 also has that 30 minute limit, meaning, do you manually have to press the record button again after 30 minutes?

October 6th, 2013, 03:59 PM	#10
Andrew Maclaurin Major Player Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Madrid, Spain Posts: 396	Re: Small Legria cam to match G25 and XA20 as a C cam The panasonic looks interesting but it's 430€ here. Seems a lot. How does it do in low light? I'm really looking for something around 300-350€ that can handle churches, has decent wide angle and will mix well with a canon xa20, g25 and canon dslr.

October 6th, 2013, 05:00 PM	#11
Noa Put Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Belgium Posts: 9,510	Re: Small Legria cam to match G25 and XA20 as a C cam At that price your choice is limited, probably the cheapest Canon handicam you can find would be the safest bet since you are already using Canon camera's.

October 7th, 2013, 12:12 PM	#12
Andrew Maclaurin Major Player Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Madrid, Spain Posts: 396	Re: Small Legria cam to match G25 and XA20 as a C cam yeah, the canon hf m506 is only 300€ but it doesn't have much of a wide end and if i have to buy a wide adaptor it just pushes up the price!

October 7th, 2013, 01:44 PM	#13
Steve Bleasdale Trustee Join Date: May 2010 Location: England liverpool Posts: 1,343	Re: Small Legria cam to match G25 and XA20 as a C cam Yes but if you need it then get it!! The 506 or hfm56 match identical that's what I use with my hfg25 g10, I have told you in my last post. Just get the hd raynox wide angle lens 58mm with a step ring. sorted..