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/// HD Camcorder Comparison



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models compared on this page: Canon HF21 and Sony HDR-XR500V

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Model

Canon HF21Sony HDR-XR500V
Picture ?
Manufacturer Canon Informationen zu Canon

Sony Information on Sony

Name HF21HDR-XR500V
European name ?Legria HF21HDR-XR500VE
US name ?VIXIA HF21HDR-XR500V
lowest US price 1099 $1230 $
On the market since September 2009 March 2009
Manufacturers URL link to Canonlink to Sony
Test preview

[ top ]Canon HF21Sony HDR-XR500V
slashCAM rating ?Good
Good
test picture 1200 Lux
Test image 12 lux auto-mode
Video

[ top ]Canon HF21Sony HDR-XR500V
Video formats ? AVCHD
AVCHD
Recording Medium SDHC card
Built-in hard disk
Memory Stick PRO Duo
video resolutions EU ?AVCHD 1920 x 1080/50i
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/25p
AVCHD 1440 x 1080/50i
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/50i
SD MPEG2 720 x 576
video resolutions US ?AVCHD 1920 x 1080/60i
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/24p
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/30p
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/60i
AVCHD 1440 x 1080/60i
SD MPEG2 720 x 480
Max Bitrate ?24 Mbit/s16 Mbit/s
Compression format ? MPEG4
MPEG2
MPEG4
on-board memory ?64 GB120 GB
Optics
Optics Manufacturer ? Canon
Sony
Optical Zoom ?15 x12 x
Wide Angle 16:9 ?39,5 mm42,9 mm
Filter diameter ?37 mm37 mm
Image Stabilization ?optical
optical
ND Filter ?No
No
Exchangable optics ?No
No
Image Sensor
Number of sensors ?11
Size of image sensor ?1/4 inch1/2,8 inch
image sensor effective pixel count 16:9 ?2990000 Pixel  
Image Sensor Type ? CMOS
CMOS
Controls
White Balance ?auto
manual
auto
manual
presets
Focus ?auto
manual
auto
manual
Minimum shutter time ?1/2.0001/800
Maximum shutter time ?1/61/2
Apperture control ?auto
manual
auto
manual
Infrared recording ?No
Yes
Expanded Focus ?Yes
No
Peaking ?No
No
Signal Processing
Zebra ?No
No
Histogram ?No
No
adjustable sharpness ?Yes
No
Adjustable color ?Yes
No
Cinegamma ?Yes
No
Black Strech ?No
No
Knee ?No
No
Colorbars ?No
No
Misc.
Shot Transition ?No
No
Custom Presets ?Yes
No
Set Time Code ?No
No
Configuration

Connections
[ top ]Canon HF21Sony HDR-XR500V
FBAS ?
synonymous: RCA, composite		 Out
Out
YC ?
synonymous: S-Video		No
About Special Equipment
YUV ?
synonymous: Component Signal		 Out
Out
HDMI ?Out mini
 Out
DV / HDV (FireWire) ?
synonymous: ILink / IEEE-1394		--
USB ?USB 2.0
USB 2.0
Microphone / Audio input ?Mini-jack
Mini-jack
Headphones ?also AV-output
3.5 mm mini-jack
Lanc ?No
No
Time-code interface ?No
No
Genlock ?No
No
Accessory shoe ?Advanced Mini
 AI
HD-SDI ?No
No
Misc.
Weight (without battery) 340 g510 g
Weight (with battery) 400 g590 g
Battery type Canon BP-809
Sony NP-FH60
Battery capacity 890 mAh1000 mAh
Charger ?internal
internal
Remote control Yes
Yes
Size
Height 62 mm71 mm
Width 70 mm75 mm
Depth 124 mm134 mm
Relative Size ?57
Viewfinder
Viewfinder available ?No
Yes
Color Viewfinder ?- Color
Viewfinder format ?- 16:9
Viewfinder pixels ? 123200 Pixel
Display
Display available ?Yes
Yes
Color display ?Color
Color
Display size 2,7 Inch3,2 Inch
Display format ?16:916:9
Display pixels ?211000 Pixel 307200 Pixel
Touch Screen ?No
Yes
External controls
Manual Zoom ?Rocker
Rocker
Zoom ring multi-assigned
Manual Focus ?Menu
Wheel
bi-functional focus or aperture wheel
Manual Aperture ?Menu
Wheel
bi-functional focus or aperture wheel
Focus switcher ?No
No
ND Filter ?No
No
Exp Lock ?No
No
Gain ?No
No
White balance ?No
No
Push AF ?No
No
Audio Levels ?No
No
Custom Keys ?
synonymous: User buttons		No
No
Audio

[ top ]Canon HF21Sony HDR-XR500V
Audio Formats ?Dolby AC-3 Digital 2 channel 48 KHz
AC-3 Dolby Digital 5.1 640 kbit max.
Dolby AC-3 Digital 2 channel 48 KHz
Microphone ?Stereo internal
Mini-jack external
Stereo internal
Mini-jack external
Audio Control ?auto
manual
auto
Audio levels ?Viewfinder
Screen
No
Still

[ top ]Canon HF21Sony HDR-XR500V
Recording Medium ?SDHC card
Memory Stick Duo
hard drive
Medium included ?No
No
Effective pixels ?  
Resolutions ?2304 x 1296 - Max
4000 x 3000 - Max
Standard ?JPEG Exif 2.2
JPEG Exif 2.2
Flash ?Yes
Yes
Misc.

[ top ]Canon HF21Sony HDR-XR500V
Specials  GPS with geo-tagging functionality
Product Shots

[ top ]Canon HF21Sony HDR-XR500V
View 1  
View 2   
Test results

Test pictures
[ top ]Canon HF21Sony HDR-XR500V
luminance resolution
chrominance resolution
lens distortion
test small ISO image
noise / internal microphone
test picture 1200 Lux
Test image 12 lux auto-mode ?
Test image 12 lux optimized ?  
slashCAM rating
Lowlight ?SatisfactoryVery good
Resolution ?GoodVery good
Color performance ?Very goodVery good
subj.Picture impression ?Very goodVery good
Optical Zoom ?SatisfactorySufficient
Wide Angle ?SatisfactoryPoor
Configuration / image ?SatisfactorySatisfactory
Configuration / sound ?SatisfactorySatisfactory
Handling ?SatisfactoryGood
Portability ? Excellent Very good
Photo function ?SatisfactorySatisfactory
Optics ?GoodGood
Dynamics ?GoodGood
Conclusion slashCAM
slashCAM rating ?Good
Good
Total score ?
(maximal 570)		367364
Pros + Many manual controls
+ very good low-light sensitivity
+ iris control ring and touch-focus work together very nicely
Cons - fiddly operation
- No Zebra
- Manual focus very poor
+ very few possibilites for manual control
Conclusion Compared with the older models of the same series the smaller sensor, the picture problems and the exaggerated sharpness offer no real advancementsAdd to that the bad low-light sensitivity with some bright pixel noise, the missing histogram and zebra-displays and the manual focus problems.On the positive side: the low price and the fact that the pictures in the automatic mode (assumed there is enough light) are sharp and generally good.The Low-light picture quality is very good and sets a new standard for the sub 1000 euro camcorder classBut there is no histogram, no zebra, no shutter-control, no focus assist and no picture adjustmentThis is sad, especially because Sony could probably unlock these functions via firmware
More information

Reviews and Forums
[ top ]Canon HF21Sony HDR-XR500V
slashCAM Review
external reviews/tests   
Forum posts  How do I get my videos of SonyHDR-XR500Ve on the MAC??
Question about Resolutionbei SonyHDR-XR500VE HD camcorder! 1080i or 1080p?
Difference? SOny HDR-XR500V or ... VE
Update of SonyHDR-SR11E to SonyHDR-XR500VE ... what do you think?
HDR-XR500VE - only 25 FPS?
SonyHDR-or XR500V Panasonic SD300??


Please consider that these data have been entered into this database by human beings.Also, the technical information provided by the manufacturers are at times contradictory, incomplete and sometimes even incorrect.Although we take great care checking all information, we can not gurantee for its correctness.Should you find this data to have some omission or error, please let us know! Mail:



update am 18.Mai 2012 - 06:23
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