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/// HD Camcorder Comparison



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models compared on this page: Canon HF21 and Sony HDR-TG3

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Model

Canon HF21Sony HDR-TG3
Picture ?
Manufacturer Canon Informationen zu Canon

Sony Information on Sony

Name HF21HDR-TG3
European name ?Legria HF21HDR-TG3E
US name ?VIXIA HF21HDR-TG3
lowest US price 1099 $979 $
On the market since September 2009 May 2008
Manufacturers URL link to Canonlink to Sony
Test preview

[ top ]Canon HF21Sony HDR-TG3
slashCAM rating ?Good
Satisfactory
test picture 1200 Lux
Test image 12 lux auto-mode
Video

[ top ]Canon HF21Sony HDR-TG3
Video formats ? AVCHD
AVCHD
Recording Medium SDHC card
Memory Stick PRO Duo
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 GB 
Optics
Optics Manufacturer ? Canon
Carl Zeiss
Optical Zoom ?15 x10 x
Wide Angle 16:9 ?39,5 mm42,9 mm
Filter diameter ?37 mm 
Image Stabilization ?optical
electronical
ND Filter ?No
No
Exchangable optics ?No
No
Image Sensor
Number of sensors ?11
Size of image sensor ?1/4 inch1/5 inch
image sensor effective pixel count 16:9 ?2990000 Pixel 1430000 Pixel
Image Sensor Type ? CMOS
CMOS
Controls
White Balance ?auto
manual
auto
manual
Focus ?auto
manual
auto
manual
Minimum shutter time ?1/2.0001/auto
Maximum shutter time ?1/6auto
Apperture control ?auto
manual
auto
manual
Infrared recording ?No
No
Expanded Focus ?Yes
No
Peaking ?No
No
Signal Processing
Zebra ?No
70%
100%
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-TG3
FBAS ?
synonymous: RCA, composite		 Out
Out
YC ?
synonymous: S-Video		No
via accessories
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
No
HD-SDI ?No
No
Misc.
Weight (without battery) 340 g240 g
Weight (with battery) 400 g300 g
Battery type Canon BP-809
Sony NP-FH50
Battery capacity 890 mAh900 mAh
Charger ?internal
internal
Remote control Yes
No
Size
Height 62 mm32 mm
Width 70 mm119 mm
Depth 124 mm63 mm
Relative Size ?52
Viewfinder
Viewfinder available ?No
No
Color Viewfinder ?- -
Viewfinder format ?- -
Viewfinder pixels ?  
Display
Display available ?Yes
Yes
Color display ?Color
Color
Display size 2,7 Inch2,7 Inch
Display format ?16:916:9
Display pixels ?211000 Pixel 211200 Pixel
Touch Screen ?No
Yes
External controls
Manual Zoom ?Rocker
thumb wheel
Manual Focus ?Menu
Menu
Manual Aperture ?Menu
Menu
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-TG3
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
5.1 Internal
Audio Control ?auto
manual
auto
Audio levels ?Viewfinder
Screen
No
Still

[ top ]Canon HF21Sony HDR-TG3
Recording Medium ?SDHC card
Memory Stick Duo
Medium included ?No
4 GB
Effective pixels ?  
Resolutions ?2304 x 1296 - Max
2304x1728
Standard ?JPEG Exif 2.2
JPEG Exif 2.2
Flash ?Yes
Yes
Misc.

[ top ]Canon HF21Sony HDR-TG3
Specials  Outside Europe the Cam is named Sony HDR-TG1
Product Shots

[ top ]Canon HF21Sony HDR-TG3
View 1  
View 2  
Test results

Test pictures
[ top ]Canon HF21Sony HDR-TG3
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 ?SatisfactorySatisfactory
Resolution ?GoodSatisfactory
Color performance ?Very goodGood
subj.Picture impression ?Very goodGood
Optical Zoom ?SatisfactorySufficient
Wide Angle ?SatisfactoryPoor
Configuration / image ?SatisfactorySufficient
Configuration / sound ?SatisfactoryPoor
Handling ?SatisfactorySatisfactory
Portability ? Excellent Excellent
Photo function ?SatisfactorySufficient
Optics ?GoodGood
Dynamics ?GoodGood
Conclusion slashCAM
slashCAM rating ?Good
Satisfactory
Total score ?
(maximal 570)		367288
Pros + Many manual controls
 
Cons - fiddly operation
- No Zebra
- Manual focus very poor
 
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.While the new Exmor CMOS technology and the Bionz signal processor provide great results with the SR-12, their benefits are leveled by the smaller chip area of the TG3.Demanding filmmakers will find too many compromises in terms of lowlight, ports and manual controls, preventing them from using the camera seriously.Ambitious filmmakers on the other hand will like the nice interface via touch screen.
More information

Reviews and Forums
[ top ]Canon HF21Sony HDR-TG3
slashCAM Review
HDR-TG3 Review
external reviews/tests   
Forum posts  Buy TG3 camcorder or similar
SONY TG3 synonymous HDT-suited for short films?
Successor to the Sony HDR-TG3


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 24.Mai 2012 - 10:15
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