Just purchased the R400 by Canon - video footage blurry?
 

I have a HV20 that I used on DV mode all the time to extend the running time. I edit the video on Vegas and it always looks great. Recently I purchased the HF R400 Canon Vixia. I leave it in AVCHD mode with a 32gig SD card.
For the first time I am editing the footage and I have a comparison of the HV20 in DV mode and the HF R400 and wow, the HV20 looked noticeable clearer and crisper. Any idea why?

Re: Just purchased the R400 by Canon - video footage blurry?
 

HI David,
You might want to check the settings on the bitrate. These new cameras can record in various different bitrates, to allow you to record for longer periods of time. Those longer record times however, come at the cost of lower quality pictures. Check the quality settings, & make sure you are on the highest one.
Hope this helps,
Bryce

Re: Just purchased the R400 by Canon - video footage blurry?
 

David,
Been a while since your above question, but I've done just about the same thing. For several years now I've shot with two HV 40 Canons and an A1. I decided to finally go tapeless and got two of the R400 cams.
I am very please with the quality of my video and I use the lowest bit rate AVCHD. Just be sure and set it on progressive or it will not look good. What program are you editing with? Do the AVCHD files slow down your editing?
Tks, Tom

Re: Just purchased the R400 by Canon - video footage blurry?
 

David: Are you saying that the HV20 video in DV mode, meaning an SD image, looks better than the R400 image in AVCHD (HD) mode?

How are you viewing/judging the video, as raw video from the camcorder, or as edited and converted to a viewing format such as on a DVD?