There’s nothing like looking at a fantastic video from a smartphone or iPhone to remind us of the fun and convenience of having a portable camcorder onhand to capture special moments or any action. It was a delight to give the handheld Canon VIXIA HF R800 a try to see which of the favorite features remain and what the Canon engineers have changed or added in the 2017 model.
The sleek new styling resembles a compact, elongated cylinder. It neatly fits large and small hands. Conveniently check how your photos are framed by observing them on the large screen display that folds out on the left. The exterior is impressive. Curiosity about what’s going on inside the camcorder didn’t disappoint, either!
About the Canon VIXIA HF R800
Much of the HF R800’s right side holds the specialized internal components that account for the quality results delivered by the unit. Its price is far less than that of an iPhone, Android or tablet, leaving the door wide open to get the amazing videos and photos we’ve come to expect from our phones.
Comparison with the Canon VIXIA HF R700
The company has always been a leader in photographic experiences and the Canon VIXIA HF R800 is no different. It carries forward the best features of the HF R700 without an increase in price. The HF R700 and HF R800 have nearly identical features, such as the 3.0-inch touchscreen, flash memory, and 1080p at 24, 30, and 60 fps. The Baby Mode daily filming and picture feature, so popular in the R70/72 and R80/82 camcorders is also present, though it lacks the baby monitor portion because it has no Wi-Fi. The MSRP of $299 varies depending on where it’s purchased. In some cases, the pinch of an increased charge is softened by additional products that add to the camcorder’s ease of use.
Features
Unbelievable imaging performance is delivered by the DIGIC DV 4 image processor. It was amazing to see how the system captured more light even in dark scenes. The result? More noise-free brighter images. Handheld shooting is speedy and provides clear images thanks to image stabilization. Enjoy memories to share and look back upon with the 1920 x 1080 resolution from Canon’s high-resolution 3.28 Megapixel Full HD CMOS Image Sensor. The on-chip noise reduction produces bright clarity for every frame and results in lifelike full HD video with natural color. The experience of playing video back on a large HDTV demonstrates why the camcorder is an enticing product to own.
Just add a high-capacity 32 GB or 64 GB SD card to start taking pictures or video footage on your VIXIA HF R800. Again, there’s no concern about whether Wi-Fi is available in the area where filming since the camcorder has none.
The curiosity or inexperience of others eliminates a good day’s work on the VIXIA HF R800 unless care is taken to keep the camcorder out of harm’s way. File Lock is a simply set function that disables features like copying, deleting, trimming and MP4 conversion. It protects your work while kids, friends and even strangers use the camcorder.
It takes a bit of practice to master using the built-in video editor. The benefit of learning how to crop, edit out and make visual changes to the video prevents the need to export the video to the computer first. Film at will and preserve storage space by cleaning out unwanted and unsatisfactory scenes.
Canon Connect Station CS100 is available at extra cost. Its compatibility with the HF R800 provides up to 1TB of hard drive space for video content and photos. Its USB connectivity delivers features like quick file transfer and easy sorting. Easily use the ability to view Full HD videos and images on an HDTV. Download the app for CameraWindow DC software to import JPEG and MP4 files from the camcorder to a Mac or PC for editing and sharing.
Whether recording the beauty of the forest on a still, sunny day or the action of a child’s softball game, the 57x Advanced Zoom virtually eliminates disruptions while filming. Use it in manual mode to take advantage of the telephoto power, ranging from 32.5mm to the equivalent of 35mm. There are 15 levels of variable Zoom Speed settings. Practice the various results from each level and use them during important shoots to maximize video creativity. The SuperRange Optical Image Stabilizer sounds too good to be true in this relatively inexpensive camcorder. However, it exists! Camera shake is corrected quickly to provide sharp, steady long focal lengths of handheld video. The system continues to provide adjustment regardless of the zoom range selected even when shooting while walking. Rotational camera shake produces virtually distortion-free video during vertical, horizontal and roll axis.
Pros
- Attached hand strap simplifies holding camera
- Easy to use
- Delivers quality HD videos for Vlogs and YouTube
- Image-stabilization
- Memory-card compatible
Cons
- Some loss of picture quality during low light shooting
- Lacks Wi-Fi
- No internal memory
- SD card not included
Conclusion
Canon VIXIA HF R800 delivers an impressive high-definition 1080p camcorder at a low price. Built-in features like adjustment settings and color correction greatly reduce the need to edit by taking care of problems before the shot is snapped. Image stabilization provides a professional video without requiring a lengthy amount of time. The handstrap provides extra grip while carrying the R800 and filming “on the go”. The supplemental app and Connect Station cover the lack of Wi-Fi and make it simpler to create vlogs and picture albums at an affordable cost.