Before I sing praises of the Canon Vixia HF R800, lemme give some perspective on this review: I work as a professional videographer, typically for local bands and music events, fundraiser charities, musician EPKs, etc. I have been using a Canon Vixia G30 for almost 4 years now, and it's literally the best prosumer camera anyone can buy. While it only goes up to 1080/60p, the image quality is superior to anything else I've seen thanks to the CMO sensor (which does VERY well in the low-light bar settings I often encounter). And it has the superior optics that typifies Canon products. The setup options allow videographers the ability to get a near-perfect set up for each gig I video, and even the internal microphone sound quality is top-notch, considering it's only a video camera. The only drawback with the Vixia line (so far) is that they don't offer 4K quality video...but frankly, the 4K videos I get filming in low-light settings with other cameras end up looking NO BETTER than 1080/60p...and when the file sizes explode to 5-6 times what I get with 1080/60p, you effectively max out computer memory after just one gig!! So for now, the Canon Vixia G30/G40 is the benchmark for what I do.
So, I had a gig come up where I really needed a 3rd camera (or really 7th camera, if you include GoPros), and I was torn between getting this Vixia HF R800, or the Vixia G20, which I call the poor-man's G40. There's a $500 price difference, so given my budget constraints, I opted for this R800. And boy, that was easily the best $250-or-less camera investment I've ever made. It's setup and user options interface is basically a simplified version of the G30 I already have, it records in the SAME 1080/60p format (and has most of the same video quality-level options). It uses the CMO sensor (or a version of it), so low-light quality was fairly crisp...except with dreaded red/pink lighting, then the fuzziness starts to come through...but again, we are talking very dark bars/stages here. Autofocus works well too, it doesn't spend a lot of time wandering around trying to focus. And damn, the sound quality was also extremely good, comparable to the G30 I have, but requiring a lot less work to get it setup for this kind of audio recording. For this gig, it was a static tripod camera, and it work exactly how I needed it to. It's so light and affordable, I might just buy another one, rather than get a GoPro for almost $100-$200 more.
Again, you CANNOT go wrong with the Canon Vixia line, it's pretty good, yawl!!
Pros:__________
- Very pleased with its 180 degrees layout and its 90 degrees face down. For those who want to be a part of their film, you’re going to appreciate it.
- Its optical image stabilization is fantastic as the videos I took were not shaky or disorderly. I tested this out by walking while filming and driving with it on. You’re going to get some movement but compare to an iPhone this beats it out of the park.
- Taking pictures with it give you an HD 1920x1080 resolution.
- On my walking and driving test, I was getting 60 fps. Keep in mind that I was walking in a busy mall as the cam needed to adapt to numerous lighting issues (Was quite pleased with the fps over this).
- You have the option for an HDMI output if you want to plug it into your TV.
- Little to none noise distortion while filming. Of course, this will depend on your location, but for filming indoors (with outside traffic) you’re not going to hear a thing.
- The video quality is very good as the cam captures a sharp detail layout of what it’s filming. You’re going to see what I mean when you film a cloud or a grassy lawn with this cam.
- It’s a small compact cylinder which feels good in your hand, while not experiencing significant heat from it.
- This is a “set and forget” type of camera as you really don’t need to do anything other than turn it on and press record.
- Color, adjustment, stabilization are all automatic and yes you have the option to customize it yourself if you want to.
- Biggest perk was the zoom feature. I believe you can go to 57x into a focal point, really impressive, as I never realize that I would spend 5 minutes of memory just for filming ants.
- Little to none controls on this device as you can let anyone use it without the fear of them pressing anything that might ruined what you’ve already filmed.
- Where you want to zoom, just point your figure and that’s it. Super easy to use.
- A unique mode called highlight priority prevents your videos from being blown out. This means that you will lose some detail quality but more information on what you’re filming will be preserved. I don’t use it but it’s something to note.
- 1080p on a 128 GB will give you 8 hours and reducing to 720 will give you up to16 hours of recording.
- Really like that it has a built-in video editor as it’s easy to use and you don’t need to plug it in a computer to use it. I’ll find this a lifesaver if I’m on the road traveling.
Cons and Oks:__________
- Sometimes I experience the video playback from my computer to be rough as something that you’ll see on a $50 camera. This only occurs sometimes when I’m using 1080p filming. This is not a constant basis but I think everyone should know because the view is fine when It’s on my TV (could be a software issue).
- You’re going need to get an external microphone if you’re planning to talk with it on the road. Take it to Disneyland and no one will be able to hear what you’re talking about.
- Regarding with the mic issue, keep in mind that it doesn’t have a manual audio control level for an external mic input.
- You need to have a memory card installed in order to record. No built in memory.
- Low lighting is not the best for this one. It’s alright but you’ll see the difference in quality compare to daytime filming,
- Complete zoom out doesn’t give you a whole 180 degree viewing as its right at the fisheye lens.
- No 4k resolution. Something that even $50 cameras have.
- Not a lot of options in enhancement feature while filming.
Bottom Line:__________
Families and social media bloggers are going to love this. It’s small, compact, a good battery life, and is something that doesn’t require extensive knowledge in video experience. I had a great time using it as the light/compact style made it fast and easy to turn it on and begin filming. These are the type of cameras you’re going to be taking it to the beach or at a special event. It brings a 1080p quality experience without forking over that much in income to buy it.
Social media bloggers will love the size and image quality when filming but the microphone may be a deal breaker. It’s not bad but without a manual audio control level feature in the cam you won’t be able to know if your voice can be heard. Not to mention that 4k is now becoming the new 1080p where almost any new camera on the market will be adding this option.
Overall it’s a decent camera with some impressive features. It’s not the best in the market but it’s nowhere near the worse. The price they offer justifies what you’re buying with this. Verdict: This is almost built for on the go, at a moment’s notice. If the mic issue isn’t a factor to you, then it’s a good bang for your buck.
Hopefully, I was a help to you.
Love,
Honest Reviewer.
For the last ten plus years, my primary photography (both still and video) has been to record my grandson growing up and making yearly videos. Because his sports and school plays seem to need increased video range (just beyond the reach of my “still” cameras), and indoor / outdoor versatility, I purchased this as my first camcorder.
It’s pretty small - 5.4 inch long with battery, 2.3 inch tall, 2.1 inch wide & 10.8 oz with battery. You have to manually open/close the lens cover.
I selected the highest video setting of 35Mbps (1920 x 1080) which allows 30 minutes of video recording for every 8 GB of memory so my 32 GB card has more than enough recording time for plays and games. The manual says the typical recording time on a single charge is 100 minutes, just short of the 2-hours recording time on my 32 GB card. Good match.
I recorded my grandson’s lacrosse game today using a monopod to help stabilize the video while using the telephoto lens. The camera automatically turns on when you open the Touch Panel LCD. It does remind you to open the lens cover. With the record button and the zoom lever both near the rear of the camera, starting / stopping the recording and/or zooming the lens was pretty convenient. I left most of the camcorder settings in the default mode. Here are some of the pros and cons I observed for the first time out;
Pros;
- The video quality was pretty good, although the background seems a bit light while the players seem too dark. Of course this is personal taste.
- It’s small, light and easy to use.
- It seemed to have more than enough zoom power, and it zooms in and out pretty quickly. I believe you can modify the zoom speed.
Cons;
- The Canon software doesn’t really work with a Mac using High Sierra. I spent nearly an hour with their tech support, and we got it “kinda" working, but not that well. DOESN’T MATTER!! Downloading from the camera is painfully slow. I strongly suggest using a USB Memory Card Reader to transfer data to your computer.
- The mic seems very sensitive and picks up a lot of wind (breeze) noise. In fairness I suspect that I will appreciate this sensitivity when recording a school play.
- It was a sunny day so I couldn’t see squat with the Touch Panel LCD. It was both washed out and reflected my clothing/face/whatever back to me. After getting home I read the manual and found how to increase the brightness of the screen - hopefully that will help.
For now I’m giving this product 3-stars - "It's OK". This rating may go up or down as I gain more experience.
Update: 4-7-18 I got to video my grandson's second lacrosse game. While not quite as sunny as a week ago, it was still pretty bright. The increased rightness of the screen (as noted above) made a great deal of difference. Yes - it still my clothing/face/whatever back to me, but the screen was bright enough to see what I was videoing. Game changer! I doubt I could get a better deal on a quality camcorder so I'm raising my rating from 3-stars to 4-stars. Added a short video clip of my grandson's goal - reduced the quality (for Amazon and email) to 720p.
Update: 4-29-18 So I recorded another lacrosse game. It was 10:00 am so the sun was high and bright and in my face. I wore a very light colored shirt that reflected against the LED screen again making it hard to see what I was videoing. WELL DUH! I lowered the monopod a bit and rotated the LED screen upward - problem solved! Funny how some simple things are so evasive. Also the display on the LED screen is indicating 120 minute (just over 2 hour) battery charge (+/-) - more than I expected and noted above.
Amazon doesn't allow multiple video uploads, so I combined two short lacrosse clips from Apr 7 and 29 into one 20-second video.
This camera works well. It has an external microphone input, which I needed so I can be heard over the background noise in my machine shop. I could maybe have given 5 stars, because I have no problems with this camera at all, but it also takes a little work to understand how to get all the features working like I need them on it, and it only comes with a "quick start" paper book. The real manual is a PDF document, and it is not browser friendly because so many explanations reference details found on other pages. So lots of scrolling.
One feature I like is the on-screen focus. I think they call this a face tracking feature, but basically you touch the screen on any part and it sets the focus to there... that is useful when you have something in the middle of the screen you want to focus on and there are other objects further away. Often the regular autofocus feature gets stuck on the background somewhere, the face feature works well and is much faster than trying to manually focus the camera.
I get good quality full HD video at 30 FPS with stereo audio, the SD card is easy to access and pop into my computer. There is a USB port, and if I plug the camera in it recognizes it and the driver was installed automatically. But sucking the videos off the SD card is faster than the USB port, so I choose fast over easy. Overall, I have been happy with this purchase and if it was to meet with an accident, I would probably replace it with another just like it (especially since I know how to work it well now).
I am a professional broadcast video engineer with more decades of experience than I care to think about.
Canon has done a lot of things right with this camera. It is amazing given its price. There isn't much to complain about, just a few nits to pick. It would be unfair to give it less than five stars. I would give it 6 stars if I could.
The touch screen is rather fiddly. Someone with large fingers could have trouble with it. My fingers are fairly slender and I'm a little bit challenged to navigate the menus on its small screen. I tried to operate the touch screen using a toothpick as a stylus, but no joy.
Canon has loaded up this camera with a lot of consumer-y gimmicks but you can ignore those or disable them. The documentation omits a couple of neat tricks, but thankfully people have made videos documenting some of them.
The documentation doesn't cover this, but he camera can be used for live streaming. I use an Elgato Cam Link which goes between the HDMI output and a host computer's USB 3 input. You can then use an application such as OBS to record or stream your video. You do need to disable the icon display on the HDMI output to see your picture over HDMI without icons. There is a video on YouTube that show you how.
You can also export videos over USB without installing Canon's app to do this. Once you make the USB connection, press the "playback mode" button (on the left below the on-off button) and it should show up as a device on your computer, at least it does in Windows 10.
The external mic input is truly amazing. Somebody at Canon really understands audio and they got it right with these camcorders. They use a mic preamp which actually provides enough gain for a microphone, unlike many dedicated audio interfaces. A mic can require up to 60 dB of gain and this camcorder doesn't disappoint. I have connected a Shure SM 63 dynamic mic using a Hosa MIT-156 to go from XLR to mini-plug. Listen to the voice of experience: this is really the correct way to do it. You will then have a trainsformer-balanced mic input, greatly reducing the chances that you'll pick up the local 50-kilowatt AM station (been there, done that). This solution costs all of $21. You could then use an E-V 635A or a Shure SM 58 or even a ribbon mic.
After putting it through its paces, I have to say the auto white balance mode is poor. It puts in too much red and too little blue. The tungsten white balance mode works much better. My plan is to leave it in "tungsten" mode and use an 85B filter when I use it outdoors -- just like film!
Having owned this camera for a few months, I will add that the DC connector from the AC power supply is very flimsy and does not mate well with the camera. In addition, the camera does not do 59.94 frames per second at all. The maximum frame rate is 29.97 fps.
Feature Product
- 57x (32.5-1853Mm) advanced zoom and Super range OIS
- Canon 3.28 Megapixel full HD CMOS image sensor
- Digic DV 4 image processor
- Lightweight tripod with adjustable-height legs and rubber feet
- Compatible with most video cameras, digital cameras, still cameras, GoPro devices, smartphone adapters (not included), and scopes
- Recommended max load weight is 6.6 lbs (3kg) for optimal performance
Description
I have been shooting with Canon Vixia's for years and they've always been winners! Recently my oldest one (as in mini DV tapes) started having problems with the shutter not opening all the way and I was told it would cost more to replace the part than to buy a new one, so I bought a new one, and by new one I mean this refurbished one. Mostly what I use these cameras for is to record local concerts and arts events to make performance videos for different groups like high schools and colleges. A few of these cameras set at different places in a concert hall really make for a nice finished product! You should know however that I don't use the built in audio. I either pair it with house mic recordings when available or use my own pair of stereo mics with a zoom H4N recorder. That being said, the audio on these isn't half bad for the price! I also use this to shoot video for a YouTube channel. I sing and tour with the Salt Lake Vocal Artists all over the world and record our audio and video as we perform in different churches and venues and need equipment that is light and easy to pack/travel with/set up and this Vixia is perfect for that purpose! If you want to see a sample of the kind of end result I get with these Vixia's go to YouTube and search Salt Lake Vocal Artists if you want to see a sample of what the finished product of this camera looks like. ALL of these videos were shot with Canon Vixia's.
I love how easy these cameras are to use, but it would behoove any first time user to spend a little time with the manual going through and arranging the settings one by one to make sure everything is set just how you want it for your purposes before you start shooting. That being said, you can use it right out of the box without messing with anything if you don't feel like it. I love the touch screen and that you can flip it around to face you if you're filming a YouTube video for instance, so you can see what is being captured and frame your shot correctly. The picture is sharp and clear! My only complaint is that I wish the battery life were longer. That being said, I don't know that it's any worse than other similar cameras at similar price ranges, and it will last for an entire concert which is mostly what I use it for anyway. If you need the battery to last longer, I suggest buying one of those plug in batteries that you can connect to an outlet and use as long as you want.
I also have to say I'm REALLY thrilled that these are offered refurbished on Amazon! If you're nervous about the word "refurbished" don't be. These cameras come looking and working like new and you save a boat load of money! I buy refurbished on Amazon whenever I can and I've never been burned! I highly recommend this camera for all kinds of uses, especially for entry level YouTubers or those who don't have enough room on their smart phones to capture everything they want to capture. For the record I paid full price for this! Hope this helps!
This is an outstanding camera. The pictures are clear and give good resolution. That is, they are not in any way blurred. I particularly like the external microphone jack which was one of the reasons that I purchased this camera.
The primary con is that the battery for the camera charges on the camera, and a separate battery charger and battery is not provided. Fortunately, these are available for separate purchase, and their use is recommended. An additional battery is required if one is doing extended shooting away from a power source.
The external microphone jack works well. I use a condenser microphone with Phantom Power. The microphone input is added to the video, and the sounds through the microphone are captured clearly and distinctly, as if the microphone were going directly into a computer.
This camera can be recommended both for the quality of its video and audio through the external microphone jack. Fortunately, it is available at a relatively low cost.
UPDATE: If you're planning on using a neutral density filter with this camera, make sure you manually set your exposure first, or the camera will compensate for the reduced amount of light hitting the lens, adding noise and nullifying the effects of the filter.
For much of my video recordings, I have used either DSLR's or bridge cameras. While they each have their strengths, I needed something lightweight, compact and portable, but capable with good image quality, accurate autofocus, and capable of 24p recording. The Vixia Hf R800 fit the bill for what I needed, so I gave it a shot.
The fit and finish of this camera is excellent. It doesn't feel cheap, and the white finish has a slight pearl cast to it. It has a 43mm threading around the lens, allowing it to accept filters of that size.
The image quality on this camera is good. In daylight or bright indoor lighting, it's exceptional for the price and leaves very little to be desired. In lower light situations, the camera suffers somewhat. For instance, I shot some video at night in my town, which featured traffic and business lights. The image quality was fairly good, but there was definitely some grain to the image not present in better lighting conditions.
As far as manual controls go, you get very few of them. You can manually set white balance and specify frame rate, but no dice for shutter speed or iris. It does feature manual focus, but it's actuated by the touch screen instead of a physical control. This camera also does still photos, but the resolution and quality leave a lot to be desired.
Overall, I'm satisfied with this camera. It's a good camera at a good price, but it is not without its limitations. Canon makes a quality product, and it's a brand I know and trust, which did influence my decision on what to buy. If you're looking for a way to capture events or make art films on a budget, this camera is a good choice. The video quality is not on par with my Canon T3i, but it's a lot easier to carry and use on the go, and the image quality is usually pretty good.
Great so far. I ordered this to record our minister's sermons for posting on the web. Almost all DSLRs will not record past 30 minutes due to a stupid EU regulation, but the HF R800 automatically starts a second file for videos longer than 30 minutes. And he sometimes goes a few minutes past 30 for his sermons.
Stuck an SD card in it, put it on a tripod, plugged in the power line and wireless microphone output from the receiver, zoomed a bit and pressed the Record button. The results came out fine for an internet video even though our lighting is mediocre and we had to zoom from the back of the auditorium. I used the free software that comes with Windows to process the video, uploaded the file to the internet (took several hours for a 2GB file) and it all worked fine. Very pleased for $200.
Updated Review 6/5/2017: I updated my review from 2 stars as I had initiated a return, but the shipping didn't work for me. I decided to cancel the return and try to work on the issue of extremely long transfer times.
Seriously, if you're going to buy this camera, make sure you have a card reader. Transferring 10 GB of footage from the camera will take about 25 minutes, LONGER if you use the Cannon transfer software. I bought an external USB 3 card reader, and 10GB file transfers now take about 90 seconds.
I had also previously complained about not having AVCHD recording for smaller file sizes. However, the Highest quality MP4 60p recording makes it so much easier to Edit in Sony Vegas. Rendering times are faster than real-time. a 30 minute video will render in about 16 minutes in Vegas.
I use these for shooting pinball video's with a 2 camera setup, which I upload to YouTube at a very high quality. I edit these in Vegas, as mentioned, and they come out stunning and with the 2 videos combined, Picture in picture, it takes close to the actual amount of time to render. Again, a 30 minute video will render in about 34 minutes, keeping the MP4 settings as close to the original footage specs as possible. With the AVCHD files from my other cameras, it took more than twice as long to render - about an hour for a 30 minute video. Plus, this MP4 format uses my Intel graphics chip to aid in rendering.
I previously mentioned the indoor quality was not so great, but a few lighting adjustments and the picture is perfectly fine.
I still wish that you could record 60p at lower bitrates. These files takes up a TON of space. However, with being able to transfer the files much faster, this isn't so much of an issue.
Again, if you want 60p recording, you have to use the highest setting of 35Mbps recording. This will only allow a maximum of 16 minutes and a few seconds, after which a new file is created. They appear as 1 video in the camera, but if transferring to a computer, there will be multiple files that have to be edited together. While the video is seamless, there will be a slight glitch in the audio track.
One other thing, as far as audio, it's stereo only. No 5.1 surround. But I can live with that.
Battery life is where this camera really shines. The battery lasts significantly longer than my previous cameras. Kudos to Cannon for including a larger battery in the box, and a charging unit with a long enough cord so I can record while using the charger.
I'm glad I decided to give this camera second chance, and that I got the transfer issues sorted out.
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