Canon HF11: Any tests wanted?

[RobPhoboS]

I've got the HF11 for a few more days, it's looking like I'm going to keep it as it has many many advantages over my old (dead) HV20.
My biggest problem has been shooting in-car with the camera mounted but I'm on a mission to have that solved in the next couple of days. :hv20-smilie64:

Other than that, is there something else I should or could test it for?

[statsman]

This may be too late, but I am curious if an external microphone needs some sort of isolation from the HF11 as compared to an HV20/30. It would seem that the lack of most internal moving parts would make the HF11 a very silent cam except when handled by its owner.

[RobPhoboS]

I decided to keep it.
No way am I going back to tape !
:D

I'm not sure about the mic issue, as when I use another microphone its usually stuck to the back of a car :)
But whilst the camera is runnig 0 noise.

[statsman]

I decided to keep it.
No way am I going back to tape !
:D
I am sorry to hear about your disappointment with the HF11! :hv20-smilie03:


But whilst the camera is runnig 0 noise.
Sounds great. I am about to film high school basketball, and I have been looking at the HV30. But the HF11 is an interesting option, given that the games are an hour long and would only fill up about 1/3 of the internal flash memory space for any one game.

[Soultrape]

I love my HF100, video quality is lovely, working without tape is a BLISS - no noise, just copy/paste and watch your footage (use, editing requires an intermediate codec, but it's STILL more fun than tape)

Generally speaking - long live the Flash king!

[javanaut]

I'm going through the HV30 vs HF11 struggle right now. I'm coming from Digital 8, which I've been impressed with, but I wouldn't miss the tapes and the motor hum in my audio. But I can live with tapes again if it's the best.

My main question is how these two compare with the subject is moving quickly, like sports, or when the camcorder itself is smoothly panning when the background has a lot of detail?

I'm not a huge fan of HD TVs right now, because the "pixelation" drives me crazy more than it does other people I think. But I only see them in the stores, maybe it's a lousy signal source?

How do thest two recorders compare with regards to this pixelation issue with motion? I'm assuming that since mpeg4 is supposedly more efficient than mpeg2, then for a given data rate, that the HF11 should look as smooth if not smoother, since the HV30 is at 25mbps.

Also, why does the HF11 cost so much more than the HG20? The HG20 is also capable of recording to flash at 24mbps isn't it, so with it's built in HDD, I'd think it's cost would be very similar to the HV11. ( I don't want a hard drive in my camcorder)

[Eugenia Loli-Queru]

Javanaut: http://hv20.com/showpost.php?p=158496&postcount=27

[Letze]

Java, as per your HD question It's the source. most of the videos sent to stores are loaded with compression same as the digital signal sent to peoples homes for cable and satellite HD television. The TV's have as clean and crisp display as a 30" LCD for your computer only in a larger scale. Compression is an issue creatives are forced to deal with.

[spideralex90]

Is there a Canon Announcement in January? Or an electronics show or something?

[javanaut]

I'm still interested in whether or not fast moving subjects recorded by the hf11 show much sign of the pixel or window effect at the edges of the subject, when you are at the highest resolution? I haven't even seen how the HV30 does with that either. From the answers above, sounds like the results are about the same between the two (thanks for the link to the comparison).

By the way, can the HF11 record at 24mbps if shooting at a lower resolution (resolution comparable to my old Sony Digital 8 TRV320)? If so, that might be great for fast moving sports if you can live without the highest resolution once in a while.


The stories I'm hearing about the motor noise getting into HV30 recordings has me leaning away from the HV30, since I don't plan on using a separate mic most of the time. So now all I need to do is convince myself that the smaller sensor, lack of viewfinder, proprietary hotshoe, and poorer manual focus won't have me really upset with the hf11. I don't think those things added up will upset me as much as the motor noise in the hv30, but I'm not really confident about that (the motor noise in my TRV320 bugs me sometimes, don't know how the hv30 compares).

It seems Canon could have put in a sw based noise filter into the hv30, especially since they know in advance the characteristics of the motor whine. I have some cheap SW that removes noise and hiss from old analog recordings very well. Why can't miniDV camcorders build that in, with a menu to enable / disable it during the recording. Maybe I have a great idea, but 7 years too late.

[ryguy]

I have a HF11.. and A hv30.. Im tired of using tapes.. and the video quality isnt that much noticeable. As in terms of the HV30, this is the 2nd time the tape drive broke.. :(

http://homepage.mac.com/frstrtdmac/Sites/Ttora12.4.08AppleTV%20.mov

[Eugenia Loli-Queru]

javanaut, you are talking about interlacing when you talk about motion artifacts, and unless you are shooting in PF30 or 25p, both the HF11 and HV30 are interlaced.

As for motor noise, I never hear it on the HV20/30. You are overreacting.