Last Updated on June 17, 2020
Mobile phones may be the new convenient tool for capturing videos, but the magic of camcorders still hasn’t faded away. In fact, professional videographers still prefer a good camcorder over a super expensive mobile phone that promises 4k videos.
After all, there’s still nothing quite like shooting with a handy camcorder that allows you to produce top quality imagery, no matter what the setting.
- Genuine Canon 20x high Definition optical zoom Lens
- New, advanced HD CMOS Pro image sensor with improved Low-light performance
- Full HD 1920x1080 recording capabilities
- Outstanding image Reproduction
- Intelligent optical image stabilization system with powered and dynamic modes and auto on/off.Filter Diameter:58mm
Canon VIXIA HF G21 Full HD Camcorder Overview
Video credit: CanonUSA
Anyone who’s into photography or videography would know that Canon has been a leading name in the industry for many years now. Even critics have lauded its range of cameras and camcorders and a lot of professionals invest in these products for their quality and durability. The Canon VIXIA HF G21 Full HD camcorder is considered one of the best offerings from the brand because it has all the features that any videographer would want and need for shooting crisp quality videos.
Design & Features
The Canon VIXIA HF G21 Full HD camcorder is popular for its wide dynamic range and impressive low-light performance that guarantees beautiful videos by minimizing overblown highlighted areas, opening up shadowed areas, and reproducing image gradations.
For starters, the camcorder boasts of a 20x optical, 400x digital HD zoom lens paired with Canon’s signature ½.84” 2.9MP HD CMOS Pro image sensor that allows it to capture 1920x1080 full HD resolution videos even in bad lighting. Its 8-blade circular aperture also helps it produce “bokeh,” which is still a popular trend in videography today.
Image & Video
You won’t be disappointed with the quality of imagery produced by the Canon VIXIA HF G21 Full HD camcorder, as it can record in full HD 1080p60 in both MP4 and AVCHD file formats. Recordings feature maximum bit rates of 28 Mb/s in AVCHD and 35 Mb/s in MP4.
You can also play with various frame rates like interval recording from 2x to 1200x normal speed or if you’re into cinematic effects, you can go for the native 24p capture rate. The Canon VIXIA HF G21 Full HD camcorder even features a highlight priority mode to capture detailed colors, which is best appreciated in bright LCD TV displays.
Viewing, Handling, & Controls
Designed to shoot on the go, the Canon VIXIA HF G21 Full HD camcorder features a 3.0” touchscreen LCD display for ease of viewing and controlling the camera’s settings. The camcorder also features Canon’s signature slow and fast motion effects that you can play with in different frame rates.
It also features a smart, optical image-stabilization system that lets you enjoy Powered, Dynamic and Auto On/Off modes perfect for action footage or smoothing out long lens shooting.
Accessory ready for better shooting
The Canon VIXIA HF G21 Full HD camcorder already comes with a built-in microphone and speaker, but it also has a mini advanced shoe where you can attach accessories like a light or additional microphone to capture better audio while shooting.
Bigger storage for more videos
To make sure that you can make the most of every shoot, the Canon VIXIA HF G21 Full HD camcorder features two media slots that can accommodate SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards. You have the option to record simultaneously to both cards so you have a backup in case the other one fails or do relay recording to extend your shooting time. The XA11 features two built-in slots for SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, which gives you different options for recording.
You can go for dual recording to film the same scene but using different codecs and bitrates saved to each of the cards. Another option is double–slot recording where you record footage into one card then back it up in the other. The last option is relay recording where recording automatically shifts to the other card once the first one is full.
Other must-know specs
Aside from its bigger features, the Canon VIXIA HF G21 Full HD camcorder also has the following specs:
- 91 MP video effective pixels
- 09 MP sensor resolution
- 67 to 73.4mm focal length
- f/1.8-f/2.8 maximum aperture
- 8”/2.0cm minimum focusing distance
- 20x optical and 400x digital zoom
- 58mm filter size
- 460,000 dots screen resolution
- .24” EVF screen size and 1,560,000 dots EVF resolution
- 12,000 second shutter speed
- Auto, beach, fireworks, low light, manual, night, portrait, snow, sports and spotlight shooting modes
- ¼”-20 tripod mount
Final Thoughts
For all its amazing features, the Canon VIXIA HF G21 Full HD camcorder definitely brings good value for money at $949. What you’ll get with the purchase includes the camcorder, a Canon BPO-820 lithium-ion single battery pack, a Canon CA-570 compact AC power adapter and a lens hood with lens barrier. This product also comes with a limited one-year warranty in line with Canon’s guarantee of quality and customer satisfaction.
So if you’re looking for a camcorder that gives you all the basic features and then some, the Canon VIXIA HF G21 Full HD camcorder is definitely one of the best options—and maybe even the cheapest—you have in the market today. And if you’re asking if its’ worth the investment, we say that it is.
Test Footage
Specification
Standard Definition or High Definition
Power Supply (rated)
Television System
Video Recording system
File Format: AVCHD Ver 2.0 Compliant (AVCHD Progressive), MP4
Audio Recording system
MP4: MPEG-2 AAC-LC (2ch)
* 28 Mbps or 24 Mbps video recording modes only; 16-bit resolution.
** Dolby Digital (5.1ch) is provided when the 5.1-Channel Surround Microphone SM-V1 is used.
Image Sensor
Total Pixels
Effective Pixels
Lens
Focal Length: 3.67-73.4mm (35mm equivalent: 26.8-576mm with Standard IS/IS Off, 28.8-576mm with Dynamic IS)
Zoom Speed: Variable speed / Constant speed (16 levels); Fast, Normal or Slow
Max. F/Stop: f/1.8-2.8
Focusing System
Hybrid AF Controls: Instant AF, Medium AF
Manual Exposure
Programmed AE
Manual Mode: P, Tv, Av, M (Manual Exposure), SCN (Portrait, Sports, Snow, Beach, Sunset, Night, Low Light, Spotlight, Fireworks)
Cinema Mode: P, Tv, Av, M
Max Shutter Speed
Minimum Focusing Distance
White Balance
Frame Rate
MP4: 60p, 30p, 24p
Minimum Illumination
Low Light Mode: Approx. 0.1 lux (shutter speed 1/2 sec.)
Image Stabilization
Control Modes: Dynamic IS, Powered IS*, Macro IS, Tripod Mode
IS Modes other than Intelligent IS: Standard IS, IS Off
* During Intelligent IS (Auto Mode), Powered IS can be set to On or Off.
Filter Diameter
Viewfinder
LCD Screen
Microphone
Recording Media
USB Terminal
Video Terminal
Accessory Shoe
* The Remote Control Adapter RA-V1 is not supported. The Video Flashlight VFL-2 supports only the video light function.
HDMI Terminal
Microphone Terminal
AV Mini Terminal/Headphone Terminal
Remote Control Terminal
Operating Temperature range
For Operation: Approx. -5-45°C, 60% (relative humidity)
Dimensions
Approx. 4.5 x 3.3 x 9.1 in. / 115 x 84 x 231mm (including lens hood)
All dimensions exclude the grip belt.
Weight
Approx. 1.9 lbs. / 880g (includes lens hood, Battery Pack BP-820 and 1 memory card)
Grip belt included for all values.
Recording Modes
Recording Format | Bit Rate | Resolution | Frame Rate |
AVCHD | 28 Mbps (59.94P)*1,2 | 1920 x 1080 | 59.94P*3 |
24 Mbps*1 | 1920 x 1080 | 59.94i/PF29.97/23.98P*3 | |
17 Mbps | 1920 x 1080 | 59.94i/PF29.97/23.98P*3 | |
5 Mbps | 1440 x 1080 | 59.94i/PF29.97/23.98P*3 | |
MP4 | 35 Mbps (59.94P)*2 | 1920 x 1080 | 59.94P |
24 Mbps | 1920 x 1080 | 29.97P/23.98P*4 | |
17 Mbps | 1920 x 1080 | 29.97P/23.98P*4 | |
8 Mbps*2 | 1280 x 720 | 59.94P | |
4 Mbps | 1280 x 720 | 29.97P/23.98P*4 | |
3 Mbps | 640 x 360 | 29.97P/23.98P*4 |
*1 During audio recording, either linear PCM recording or standard recording (Dolby Digital) can be selected.
*2 Cannot be set in Cinema mode.
*3 In AUTO mode: 59.94i.
*4 In AUTO mode: 29.97P only.
Maximum Recording Time
AVCHD | Recording Mode | |||
Memory Capacity |
28 Mbps | 24 Mbps | 17 Mbps | 5 Mbps |
8GB | 35 min. | 40 min. | 1 hr. | 3 hr. |
16GB | 1 hr. 15 min. | 1 hr. 25 min. | 2 hr. 5 min. | 6 hr. 5 min. |
32GB | 2 hr. 30 min. | 2 hr. 55 min. | 4 hr. 10 min. | 12 hr. 15 min. |
64GB | 5 hr. 5 min. | 5 hr. 55 min. | 8 hr. 20 min. | 24 hr. 30 min. |
128GB | 10 hr. 10 min. | 11 hr. 55 min. | 16 hr. 45 min. | 49 hr. |
MP4 | Recording Mode | |||||
Memory Capacity |
35 Mbps | 24 Mbps | 17 Mbps | 8 Mbps | 4 Mbps | 3 Mbps |
8GB | 30 min. | 40 min. | 1 hr. | 2 hr. 10 min. | 4 hr. 20 min. | 5 hr. 40 min. |
16GB | 1 hr. | 1 hr. 25 min. | 2 hr. 5 min. | 4 hr. 20 min. | 8 hr. 40 min. | 11 hr. 25 min. |
32GB | 2 hr. | 2 hr. 55 min. | 4 hr. 10 min. | 8 hr. 40 min. | 17 hr. 20 min. | 22 hr. 55 min. |
64GB | 4 hr. | 5 hr. 55 min. | 8 hr. 20 min. | 17 hr. 20 min. | 34 hr. 45 min. | 45 hr. 55 min. |
128GB | 8 hr. | 11 hr. 55 min. | 16 hr. 45 min. | 34 hr. 45 min. | 69 hr. 30 min. | 91 hr. 55 min. |
When AVCHD/MP4 recording has continued for 12 hours, it will automatically stop. A variable bit rate is applicable in each case.
Unboxing
Reviews
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- Genuine Canon 20x high Definition...
- New, advanced HD CMOS Pro image sensor...
- Full HD 1920x1080 recording capabilities
- Outstanding image Reproduction