Canon VIXIA HF M300 Review
First off, since the title of my evaluation states, this camcorder is not encouraged for users who don’t want to fiddle with manual controls and just favor to point-and-shoot. If you only use the default software configurations (Software AE form), you’ll be in for the disappointment when utilizing this camcorder indoors. In the default software configurations, this camcorder excessively jacks up the acquire manage and uses a rapidly shutter rate of 1/60s resulting to horrible trailing noise in even somewhat vibrant indoor situations. No trouble on the other hand for vibrant outdoor situations if that’s what you intend to make use of it for. You just can leave it in the default ‘Program AE’ form.
For indoor situations on the other hand and for most other dim lighting situations, I recommend you use the pursuing manual configurations
for your finest video excellent:
1. Shooting form: Opt for Shutter priority with 1/30s shutter rate (1/60s and over is only great for daytime outdoor situations).
Whilst the motion will be somewhat much less smoother having a 1/30s shutter rate vs. 1/60s shutter rate, the slower shutter will permit for far more light in challenging scenarios which will make the camcorder not jack up the acquire manage (AGC) for the optimum location.
2. AGC (car acquire manage): Established this to 16dB or much less. This really is sort of like an ISO location in the digital camera. The higher the location, the brighter the video capture but the far more horrible and visible the trailing noise is. Environment it at 16dB or much less limits the camcorder to manageable noise levels which, in reduced light and upon viewing in my Avia calibrated Sony Lcd tv, is acceptable and really pure seeking (grainy) as opposed to horribly blotchy in appearance which happens when the AGC is fixed too substantial (normally 18dB or higher).
(The higher, the greater blotchy and trailing the noise is when recording in moderate to reduced lighting situations.)
three. Picture form – opt for ‘Custom’ and adjust the configurations as follows for far better colour and detail retention:
Brightness = 1 (far more shadow detail)
Contrast = -1 (much less highlight clipping even with brightness fixed to 1)
Color = 1 (raises colour saturation to compensate for your desaturation brought about by ‘ 1′ brightness and ‘-1′ contrast)
Sharpness = 0 (improves video detail and adjustments the noise characteristics from ‘blotchy’[-1] to ‘grainy’[0] [more preferable])
(A number of you may favor the 1 sharpness location)
4. XV colour form = ON (Established this to ‘ON’ for the wider colour gamut video capture.)
There you have it. Making use of these configurations for your HF M300 camcorder must yield the very best Hi-def video excellent in any indoor lighting situation, at least if you have calibrated your Lcd tv like I do. (I use ‘AVIA guide to house theater’ in calibrating my 1080p Sony Lcd tv.)
If soon after pursuing the advised manual configurations over, you nonetheless really feel the camcorder’s Hi-def video is horrible in indoor/low light situations and you will discover far better selections in existence for your same value range, then go ahead, acquire them rather than this reasonably priced camcorder (at least when as opposed for the Sony XR150 which I also reviewed and returned due to super clean, soft and mushy, ‘upscaled’ Hi-def video).
The Canon Vixia HF M300 is likely the very best performing camcorder for its value (currently at $438.82) in all lighting situations. Simply magnificent in daylight, and really great in reduced light in the event you just test these custom made configurations. Forget about the overpriced $649.99-$1,499.95 Vixia HF 100 (2008 product) plus the $849.99 Vixia HF 200 (2009 product).
They’ve considering been replaced by this ‘touch screen’ ‘XV color’ equipped $438.82 HF M300 (2010 product) at a fraction from the expense from the earlier two models and with far better features. Forget about also about utilizing the MXP (24mbps) form when recording your Hi-def movies with this camcorder. You are going to not see any substantial improvement in video excellent as as opposed for the FXP form (17mbps).
In addition to, utilizing the MXP form will never allow you to melt away your Hi-def films into DVDR for viewing later in its native Hi-def resolution due to the bit rate output limit from the DVD media. (You will have to melt away MXP (24mbps) movies in high priced BDR discs and burners for Hi-def playback in the event you actually want the highest excellent that is practically indistinguishable from the FXP form (17mbps)).
Read more content at Canon VIXIA HF M300 Camcorder Specification.