CES2013: Canon USA Announces VIXIA HF G20
 

Full press release w/ photos located here:

Canon Enhances Connectivity And Quality With New VIXIA Camcorders at DV Info Net

re: CES2013: Canon USA Announces VIXIA HF G20
 

The HF G20 looks very interesting. I wonder if we can expect an XA20 soon?

re: CES2013: Canon USA Announces VIXIA HF G20
 

Yes, and XA20 with even better low light than the XA10? I'm all over it! I do love my XA10. Despite some minor shortcomings, the XA10 is my favorite cam of all time.

re: CES2013: Canon USA Announces VIXIA HF G20
 

What doesn't compute in terms of logical next moves is the lack of 1080p60 on the HF-G20. 35mbps in a MP4 container nonetheless too... If the XA20 has these, I'll be happy, but this is a baffling exclusion from the HF-G20.

re: CES2013: Canon USA Announces VIXIA HF G20
 

I totally agree! How could they not include 1080 60P? Maybe I will have to buy the Panny X900

re: CES2013: Canon USA Announces VIXIA HF G20
 

What's more baffling is the entry level cameras getting it, but the prosumers get left out in the cold.

Now, if there was 35Mbps 1080p60 and PCM audio, that'd be better.

re: CES2013: Canon USA Announces VIXIA HF G20
 

And they have apparently dropped LANC as well, the G10 had it. Bummer.

re: CES2013: Canon USA Announces VIXIA HF G20
 

Well, I guess if I had pulled the trigger on one of those refurb G10s I wouldn’t hate myself for it now so much. I was really hoping they would do something spectacular.

How does this or the G10 stack up against the competition now? I’ve barely seen the specs, but noticed it didn’t have 60p. Is there anything on the plus side over the G10 that makes it compelling that jumps out in the specs?

re: CES2013: Canon USA Announces VIXIA HF G20
 

Both G10 and G20 are shown on the CanonDV web page at this time. Still has to undergo FCC approval for the USA.

G20 has $100 lower price point. Wonder if any other features were dropped beyond the LANC terminal?
G20 weight is a bit more (30 grams)?

The 20% improved low light is based on 1.2 vs. 1.5 lux low light which is about one third stop, nice if not significant, provided no other features are lost.

However, to me LANC is arguably worth more than 1/3 stop of speed, but LANC may reamain in the XA series if one is released.

re: CES2013: Canon USA Announces VIXIA HF G20
 

The R series can record in both formats simultaneously, too- 30p and 60p.
NO Lanc on the G20?
Add me to the baffled list.

re: CES2013: Canon USA Announces VIXIA HF G20
 

Indeed, on the Specifications page at Canon U.S.A. : Consumer & Home Office : VIXIA HF G20 there is nothing listed for Remote Control Terminal as there is on the G10. If true then that is a big disappointment. Looks like there are a few HF G10's still available though...

via Amazon:
via B&H: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/749190-REG/Canon_4923B002_VIXIA_HF_G10_Flash.html
via Adorama: Canon VIXIA HF G10 Camcorder 4923B002

Re: CES2013: Canon USA Announces VIXIA HF G20
 

Looks like dropping the HF G20 LANC caused the Canon Brochure and Guide Dept to go into a flat spin.

The Camcorder_Brochure is dated 1/11/2011 and its Pocket_Guide 07/21/2010!

Canon U.S.A. : Consumer & Home Office : VIXIA HF G20

Cheers.

Re: CES2013: Canon USA Announces VIXIA HF G20
 

Here, there is a video from CES2013.


But he don't open the LANC door. Bad luck.

Re: CES2013: Canon USA Announces VIXIA HF G20
 

This German web site says about the new G20:

Neu: Canon LEGRIA HF G25 sowie LEGRIA HF R48 etc.

Die Bildstabilisation erfolgt sowohl optisch als auch elektronisch; der Canon Intelligent IS will vier verschiedenen Aufnahme-Modi erkennen und sich entsprechend anpassen. Auch die Audio Scene Select Technologie nimmt automatisch unterschiedliche Aufnahmeeinstellungen vor je nach erkannter Situation (5 Modi zB. Geräuschreduzierung, Musik und Sprache). Zusätzlich zum integrierten Mikrofon ist ein Eingang für ein externes Mikro an Bord. LANC ist übrigens auch dabei.


Well, I don't understand German, but Google translates "ist übrigens auch dabei" as "way, is also there.", and in Spanish "Así, también está ahí.".

It seems that remains the LANC port (don't forget that the machine is a clone).

Re: CES2013: Canon USA Announces VIXIA HF G20
 

I also note that on the B&H website, where under 'Accessories' a number of LANC remote controls are listed for the HF-G10, no remote controls are listed for the HF-G20.

Re: CES2013: Canon USA Announces VIXIA HF G20
 

Looking at this review of of the HF-G20 at CES, looking at the view of the camera at 1:36, it appears to me the LANC port is gone. I'm comparing what I'm seeing to my HF-S200, which seems very similar in layout, but did port placement change going to the HF-Gxx series?

CES 2013: Canon Vixia HF G20 HD Camcorder | Top of the line consumer camcorder | HFG20 - YouTube

Re: CES2013: Canon USA Announces VIXIA HF G20
 

Did y'all see this?

Canon HFG20 will be replacing the HFG10. 20% better low light performance. No word on improvements to the XA10. This was in their closed off and draped "low light test" area:
(146mb total size)
Free Online Storage - MediaFire

Re: CES2013: Canon USA Announces VIXIA HF G20
 

well i know for one this would be a deal breaker for me. i was waiting for the G20's release to pick up 2 or 3 of 'em . . but . . if there is NO LANC its a NO BUY

Re: CES2013: Canon USA Announces VIXIA HF G20
 

I have just taken delivery of a new HF-G25, which is the UK version of the HF-G20. I can confirm that not only does it have a "remote" socket (2.5mm) under a flap on the side, under the wrist strap, but that it works with my Manfrotto LANC controller which I normally use on a Sony Z5.

I'm in the middle of rendering an unboxing and "first look" video which I'll upload to YouTube tonight I hope; I will then do some test videos - low light, contrasty light, audio, stabilisation etc as well as a look at the menus and so on.

So far I have to say the "Powered" Stabilisation (the best it can do) is remarkable and the ordinary setting is pretty good as well.

Cheers
Dave

Re: CES2013: Canon USA Announces VIXIA HF G20
 

Thanks for the info. If the USA version can work with my LAN-C lens controller, it's gonna be my new 3rd camera!

Re: CES2013: Canon USA Announces VIXIA HF G20
 

First test video now uploaded and included below (I've also uploaded two unboxing videos - I talked so much I decided to split it into two sections...)

This was shot fully automatic, at highest quality (24Mbps, 'MXP' setting), 1080/25p

This file was not edited or processed in any way, I uploaded the file directly from the camera so it is as true a representation of the camera's output as you can get apart from YouTube's compression which inevitably does have a detrimental effect.

I deliberately included some fast zooms to try to confuse the camera's autofocus; also dipped and bobbed the camera to the bridge and sky to see how well its autoexposure works.

Re: CES2013: Canon USA Announces VIXIA HF G20
 

Please, do a low light test in manual mode and use Gain: 0db to test it's sensibility!
And then...push the gain to test noise....
If you have a XA10 or HF G10...please put side by side to compare!

Re: CES2013: Canon USA Announces VIXIA HF G20
 

Hi,

As you are now aware, I have done just that, they're on my YouTube channel (UKAirscape) along with all the others.

Cheers
Dave

Re: CES2013: Canon USA Announces VIXIA HF G20
 

Thanks for these videos, Mr. David Johns.

The manuals for the Canon HF-G20 have finally shown up on the Canon USA website here:
Canon U.S.A. : Consumer & Home Office : VIXIA HF G20

And the remote terminal is still there. Let the rejoicing begin...

Re: CES2013: Canon USA Announces VIXIA HF G20
 

personally i love this camera (canon hf g20). purchased two of them and use them routinely with the canon hf m40.

the only thing im still working on is editing. still haven't developed a workflow that is pleasing although i have yet to have an output. when i use "log and transfer" in final cut pro 7, there is this sawtooth looking edges on all the vertical lines (like the edge of a person) although as long as the person stands still or the lines are not moving, the horizontal sawtooth edges are NOT there.

anyone have any ideas of a solution to this phenomena? and/or if the phenomena actually isn't there in the output?

Re: CES2013: Canon USA Announces VIXIA HF G20
 

Judge by an actual output of an edited product on the traget viewing system; e.g., a Blu-ray or DVD player feeding a HD TV set.

I am not a FCP user and do not know its internals, but some NLEs simplify and/or scale displayed images used during editing to speed up the process and use less computer resources. Some use reduced resolution proxy files. Some may display aalternate fields, not full frames. Thus the computer screen diplay may not be not a good indicator of the final product.

Re: CES2013: Canon USA Announces VIXIA HF G20
 

i actually had not loaded it into FCP but was simply seeing that issue in the quick view (space bar) player and quicktime viewer. i even seen it in the vlc player. that means it is really there. i did some working with the files and have learned this:

- interlace (60i) on the avchd/h.264 causes this effect. the effect does not exist on video i filmed in 24p or 30p . . only on interlace.
- the effect can be removed by encoding to ProRes422 (not intermediate) and ProRes422 HQ (although the latter files are larger, slow rendering, and don't appear to give any difference in video than the ProRes422.
- the files can be converted to ProRes422 (QT video) via Wondershare Video Converter and is a lot easier to do than through FCP Log and Transfer, let alone it is easier to do in the background and then just transfer the videos in.

:-)

Re: CES2013: Canon USA Announces VIXIA HF G20
 

Symptom sounds similar to how my interlaced video looked when it was being treated as lower field first but in fact was upper field first. Not sure how that would happen with a player, but it sure sounds familiar to me. In Vegas I had 1080i footage, half was upper field first, the other half was lower field, and after rendering I got the jaggies as described on scenes with motion.

Re: CES2013: Canon USA Announces VIXIA HF G20
 

probably. however, as indicated . . problem solved AND i will shoot all future video in "p" progressive :-) or if i have to use "i" interlaced then i will use wondershare to convert to prores422 to get rid of the obvious malfunction :-)