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models compared on this page: Canon HF21 and Sony HDR-CX520V

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Model

Canon HF21Sony HDR-CX520V
Picture ?
Manufacturer Canon Informationen zu Canon

Sony Information on Sony

Name HF21HDR-CX520V
European name ?Legria HF21HDR-CX520VE
US name ?VIXIA HF21HDR-CX520V
lowest US price 1099 $951 $
On the market since September 2009 August 2009
Manufacturers URL link to Canonlink to Sony
Test preview

[ top ]Canon HF21Sony HDR-CX520V
slashCAM rating ?Good
Satisfactory
test picture 1200 Lux
Test image 12 lux auto-mode
Video

[ top ]Canon HF21Sony HDR-CX520V
Video formats ? AVCHD
AVCHD
Recording Medium SDHC card
Memory Stick PRO Duo
built-in flash memory
video resolutions EU ?AVCHD 1920 x 1080/50i
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/25p
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/50i
video resolutions US ?AVCHD 1920 x 1080/60i
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/24p
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/30p
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/60i
Max Bitrate ?24 Mbit/s16 Mbit/s
Compression format ? MPEG4
MPEG4
on-board memory ?64 GB64 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 inch1/2,9 inch
image sensor effective pixel count 16:9 ?2990000 Pixel 4150000 Pixel
Image Sensor Type ? CMOS
CMOS
Controls
White Balance ?auto
manual
auto
manual
presets
WB-Shift
Focus ?auto
manual
auto
manual
Minimum shutter time ?1/2.0001/1000
Maximum shutter time ?1/61/25
Apperture control ?auto
manual
auto
manual
AE-Shift
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-CX520V
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
No
Headphones ?also AV-output
No
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 g370 g
Weight (with battery) 400 g450 g
Battery type Canon BP-809
Sony NP-FH60
Battery capacity 890 mAh1000 mAh
Charger ?internal
internal
Remote control Yes
Yes
Size
Height 62 mm62 mm
Width 70 mm65 mm
Depth 124 mm125 mm
Relative Size ?55
Viewfinder
Viewfinder available ?No
No
Color Viewfinder ?- -
Viewfinder format ?- -
Viewfinder pixels ?  
Display
Display available ?Yes
Yes
Color display ?Color
Color
Display size 2,7 Inch3,0 Inch
Display format ?16:916:9
Display pixels ?211000 Pixel 230000 Pixel
Touch Screen ?No
Yes
External controls
Manual Zoom ?Rocker
Rocker
Manual Focus ?Menu
bi-functional focus or aperture wheel
Manual Aperture ?Menu
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-CX520V
Audio Formats ?Dolby AC-3 Digital 2 channel 48 KHz
AC-3 Dolby Digital 5.1 640 kbit max.
Microphone ?Stereo internal
Mini-jack external
5.1 Internal
Audio Control ?auto
manual
auto
Audio levels ?Viewfinder
Screen
No
Still

[ top ]Canon HF21Sony HDR-CX520V
Recording Medium ?SDHC card
Memory Stick Duo
Medium included ?No
No
Effective pixels ? 6631000 Pixel
Resolutions ?2304 x 1296 - Max
3640 x 2160 max
Standard ?JPEG Exif 2.2
JPEG Exif 2.2
Flash ?Yes
Yes
Misc.

[ top ]Canon HF21Sony HDR-CX520V
Specials  -50 upscaling in playback mode
- image stabilizator corrects hand rotations
- GPS receiver built in
Product Shots

[ top ]Canon HF21Sony HDR-CX520V
View 1  
View 2  
Test results

Test pictures
[ top ]Canon HF21Sony HDR-CX520V
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 ?GoodGood
Color performance ?Very goodGood
subj.Picture impression ?Very goodVery good
Optical Zoom ?SatisfactorySufficient
Wide Angle ?SatisfactoryPoor
Configuration / image ?SatisfactorySufficient
Configuration / sound ?SatisfactoryPoor
Handling ?SatisfactoryGood
Portability ? Excellent Very good
Photo function ?SatisfactorySatisfactory
Optics ?GoodGood
Dynamics ?GoodVery good
Conclusion slashCAM
slashCAM rating ?Good
Satisfactory
Total score ?
(maximal 570)		367328
Pros + Many manual controls
+ multi functional ring
+ focus and exposure control via touchscreen works well
+ good lowlight sensibility
+ six freely configuarable display buttons
Cons - fiddly operation
- No Zebra
- Manual focus very poor
- no microphone and headphone jacks
+ mediocre display resolution
- upgradeable only with expensive and proprietary MemorySticks
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.for now, the low-light image quality rules superior in the sub 1000 Euro camcorder class.The great dynamic range when using the factory settings as well as its abandonment of moving part makes this cam interesting for independent filmmakers.On the other hand there are some features missing, there is no histogram, no zebra, no exposure time control, no sharpness helper and no image adjustment.
More information

Reviews and Forums
[ top ]Canon HF21Sony HDR-CX520V
slashCAM Review
HDR-CX520V Review
external reviews/tests   
Forum posts  Search affordable wide-angle attachment for SonyHDR-CX520VE!
My SonyHDR-CX520VE original test clips
Test: SonyHDR-CX505VE and HDR-CX520VE


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 22.Mai 2012 - 08:40
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