2009 Canon Video Camera better pic quality than 2015 one...

[Priapism]

I have a Canon Vixia HFS 10 from 2009.

I just bought a Canon Vixia HF R62 a week ago.

The picture quality is staggeringly inferior on the HF R62 and I can not figure out why. Do any of you have any insights or thoughts why this might be? I can plug each one directly into my television via HDMI and you can literally see the pixelation / noise around objects with the newer camera that simply isn't there with the older one.

To the untrained eye this noise would not be a huge deal, but I was looking to get "six years worth" of improved video technology out of this upgrade. Or at the very least - identical image quality. I surely was not expecting inferior.

One comment: I did spend nearly $1,500 on this Vixia HF S10 back in 2009. Is it possible this is simply a higher quality CANON device, and I have purchased a line that never was intended to be as good of quality? Or was that price so high because HD video cameras were brand new back then? I do see there are two Canon HD video cameras that are still in the $1,300 - $1,800 range. Is it possible I've downgraded?

I noticed my 2009 HFS10 has a popup flash / light and this new one has nothing. That seemed odd to me. Maybe this model is considered a lower quality model (HF r62)

Thanks.

[smrpix]

For one thing, the old camera had nearly twice as big a sensor.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/597438-REG/Canon_3568B001_VIXIA_HF_S10_Dual.html
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1110406-REG/canon_0278c004_32gb_vixia_hf_r62.html

(click the specs tabs)

The HFG30 would be more of a crossgrade/upgrade

[newpball]

How about uploading two comparing screen shots?

I take both shots were taken under the same lightening conditions and similar resolution.

....

Hopefully not a screenshot related to your forum name

[hech54]

My iPhone 5 takes better video than my Nikon D90, so does my Canon Ixus 90 portable for that matter.

[_Al_]

You definitely downgraded, you compare different beasts, different categories. 6 years still could not wipe out the difference. Canon's picture at that time was basically superior in consumer market,..., they sure tried to capitalize on it ... chips got even smaller , but hey... more megapixels

Phones give shaky result and jello effect an possible out of sync issues while editing, comparing to regular camcorders. But I use phone all the time as well, they are just always ready, with above mentioned downside.

[racer-x]

The jello effect you can't do anything about, but you can edit variable framerate footage (such as shot with phone/tablet) without sync issues if you use a video editor that can handle them, such as Aviutl.

[Priapism]

Thanks everyone.

Someone in another forum said I shouldn't even be looking at Canon for a camcorder. Which ones do you guys recommend? I can be talked into spending up to $1200-1500 but please remember this is for a casual user. So small size and low weight are relevant. I just want an unbelievable picture quality. I don't need a lot of bells and whistles that movie makers would need.

Above someone suggested the HFG30. I did look at the specs and compared to the R62 it looked like a downgrade! I couldn't believe it. There were a ton of things listed for the R62 that simply were not available on the G30. So Im really confused now

Geez! CNET doesn't even have any "regular camcorder" reviews after 2012. Everything is a sports camcorder / mini that they compare to GoPro. Im not looking for a GoPro alternative.

Thanks

[newpball]

CNET doesn't even have any "regular camcorder" reviews after 2012.......

CNET a review site?

You must be kidding!

[Priapism]

lol - then??

[Eldor]

Priapism, what you wrote sounds like it could have been from me!!

I too just bought a Vixia R62 and I'm VERY disappointed with it. I am a novice with video, but not with photography, and I'm disappointed with the image and audio quality of the R62 and particularly with the autofocus speed and accuracy. It's the pits! Color seems to be "off" as well.

What am I comparing it to?

My Canon Powershot G7x does SUPERB video! In every respect. So do my Fuji X-E2's, my Sony RX100III and my Canon 5D Mark III's. I fully expected a dedicated video camera by Canon to be at least equal to those other cameras. And it's NOT!

So I'm going to be watching your thread with interest to see what camera in the same price range you mention will be the most recommended. At the moment I'm looking at the Sony AX33B... it's a 4K (although I'm really only going to be using 1080p at 30 (sometimes 60) fps.

Cheers!

Thanks everyone.

Someone in another forum said I shouldn't even be looking at Canon for a camcorder. Which ones do you guys recommend? I can be talked into spending up to $1200-1500 but please remember this is for a casual user. So small size and low weight are relevant. I just want an unbelievable picture quality. I don't need a lot of bells and whistles that movie makers would need.

Above someone suggested the HFG30. I did look at the specs and compared to the R62 it looked like a downgrade! I couldn't believe it. There were a ton of things listed for the R62 that simply were not available on the G30. So Im really confused now

Geez! CNET doesn't even have any "regular camcorder" reviews after 2012. Everything is a sports camcorder / mini that they compare to GoPro. Im not looking for a GoPro alternative.

Thanks

[smrpix]

For specific models, user reviews and pricing I find BH Photovideo extremely useful -- easy to compare and navigate. Camcorderinfo is somewhat helpful too. Forget Cnet.