Newbie Advice on HMC-40 Versus HF S21

[Green Hornet]

To me, the HMC40 and HMC80 are at a non-desirable price point.
I would have to go higher in price and get the HMC150.

The HMC40 and HMC80 are 1/4" sensors, that is very limiting.
They cost over $1,800 retail, so after you get the box to add the XLR's, you might as well have just bought an HMC150.

Now if you never had the $1,800 in the first place,
the Canon HFs21 offers the ability to purchase, for little money.

If I only had $1,500, I would get the Canon and pocket the rest, than to save a few more weeks and get the HMC40.

I really do not see any advantages of getting the HMC40.
At the end of day, the image will not look noticably better, and you will have a camera that is difficult to sell used.

I happen to have both the Canon HFS21 and the HMC150.
I do not have an HMC40, but by friend just bought one.

After playing with it this weekend, I will let you know if my opinion changes.
I really don't expect it to.

I would get the CANON HFS21 for under $1,500 and jump to the HMC150 for over $3,000
The $2,000 price point only costs more, for no real gains.
Just my opinion.

 

[GrahamH]

I have an HMC40 and a Canon HF100.

I use the Canon whenever the HMC40 is too bulky, and the HMC40 whenever the Canon is too small and too fiddly to control properly. Both have great images and similar low-light sensitivity - the HMC does have much greater control over the recorded image however, through its scene file settings.