Anyone buy a Canon G20?
- Thread starter Deer Film
- Start date
I did and am still evaluating it (vs. D7100, D5200, DMC-FZ150). I have very specific low light filming needs (see this thread) but wasn't sure if the G20's smaller sensor size was up to par vs. aforementioned DSLR's/digicam. Did some informal testing and thus far was surprised by my findings. G20 truly is amazing in low light (and noise I suppose). It's able to capture "spill" (basically the flood from a light source that isn't the hotspot) extremely well but the problem is I don't know if I'm doing apples to apples comparo (total newb at videography).
Is there a direct correlation between gain and ISO? That seems to be the only "variable" in my testing as otherwise, I can adjust Tv, Av, frame rate, to match between the test subjects. I'll post some screen caps in the future to clarify what I mean.
So far, the only major annoyance of the G20 is the resistive touch-screen, just not very smooth compared to capacitative. On the plus side, the mics are AMAZINGLY sensitive, picked up noise from the first floor whereas the others could barely pick up sound just outside of the room I was testing in (that of course can be a con depending on what you're filming).
Please let me know if there's anything specific you'd like to know but again, keep in mind, total newb here. ;o)
Cheers,
Tim
Is there a direct correlation between gain and ISO? That seems to be the only "variable" in my testing as otherwise, I can adjust Tv, Av, frame rate, to match between the test subjects. I'll post some screen caps in the future to clarify what I mean.
So far, the only major annoyance of the G20 is the resistive touch-screen, just not very smooth compared to capacitative. On the plus side, the mics are AMAZINGLY sensitive, picked up noise from the first floor whereas the others could barely pick up sound just outside of the room I was testing in (that of course can be a con depending on what you're filming).
Please let me know if there's anything specific you'd like to know but again, keep in mind, total newb here. ;o)
Cheers,
Tim
pulpfiction007
Veteran
I had the HF S200 and despite some saying it wasn't good in low light, I found it to be quite good, just had to know where to set the gain limit...and the new Canon CMOS Pro is better. I agree with Turbob on the screen...was difficult to make menu setting adjustments. Other than that minor hassle, these top line consumer cams from Canon are very very capable, nice to work with and deliver very good footage.
LanceOregon
Well-known member
I own the Vixia HF G10, and I have to disagree with the others regarding making changes to settings using the camcorder's menu system. I found it much easier to navigate and use compared to the menu systems on the similar category Sony and Panasonic top of the line consumer camcorders, which I also tried.
Here is a clip shot indoors inside a home on an afternoon back last October. The room did have a nice picture window that let in light, but it was still an indoors recording.
How much better the G20's newer sensor is over the G10, I cannot say. Other than the new sensor, it is pretty much the same camcorder the G10 was.
What I also love about these Canon camcorders is Canon's excellent add-on Stereo Shotgun microphone, the DM-100. Yes, it is a bit fragile, so one does have to be careful using it. But boy, it is compact and light, and does an absolutely wonderful job recording sound. I highly recommend spending the extra $190 to get it.
The only advantages that the top of the line Panasonic and Canon camcorders have is that they both offer 1080/60p 28 Mbps recording, which the G20 still lacks. And they both have further enhanced their image stabilization feature this past year, to the point where I think that they have a definite advantage on that feature. But the Canon image stabilization is not bad, as you can see in my video above, which I shot handheld.
But I definitely like the ergonomics and controls on the Canon G10 / G20 better.
Here is a clip shot indoors inside a home on an afternoon back last October. The room did have a nice picture window that let in light, but it was still an indoors recording.
How much better the G20's newer sensor is over the G10, I cannot say. Other than the new sensor, it is pretty much the same camcorder the G10 was.
What I also love about these Canon camcorders is Canon's excellent add-on Stereo Shotgun microphone, the DM-100. Yes, it is a bit fragile, so one does have to be careful using it. But boy, it is compact and light, and does an absolutely wonderful job recording sound. I highly recommend spending the extra $190 to get it.
The only advantages that the top of the line Panasonic and Canon camcorders have is that they both offer 1080/60p 28 Mbps recording, which the G20 still lacks. And they both have further enhanced their image stabilization feature this past year, to the point where I think that they have a definite advantage on that feature. But the Canon image stabilization is not bad, as you can see in my video above, which I shot handheld.
But I definitely like the ergonomics and controls on the Canon G10 / G20 better.
I should clarify that menu layout is logical and the navigation of it is fine, just that the touch screen is not as responsive as I'm accustomed to on an iPhone/iPad screen. Considering that capacitative screens are nearly ubiquitous nowadays, there should be no reason why their flagship consumer model is still lacking it. Likewise, I feel it's a shame that the G20 still doesn't support 1080/60p but I was willing to live with that if the low light performance was up to par which thus far it seems to be.