Canon LEGRIA HF S21: Canon’s Best Consumer Camcorder Yet

With digital cameras and micro-HD miniature video recorders bringing HD video into the hands of consumers, the list of reasons not to buy a camcorder is growing every minute. Sub-£200 offerings from Sony, Canon, and Flip (recently acquired by Cisco Systems) have grown massively in popularity, leaving high-end camcorder manufacturers with dwindling sales and an urgent need to revise their strategy.

For Canon, however, the value of high-end camcorders and video equipment remains the same. The Japanese technology and imaging giant has continued to release professional and consumer-level camcorders, capitalizing on the high-end market while at the same time incorporating features from micro-sized pocket camcorders and HD video recorders.

That innovative strategy appears to have paid off with the LEGRIA HF S21. This ‘prosumer’ level camcorder bridges the gap between professional and consumer videography, giving home users a remarkably powerful camera at a price point that’s surprisingly affordable. Released and priced at just £1,200 the HF S21 is unlikely to steal any sales from its pocket camera rivals, but is within reach for high-end consumer videographers and home video enthusiasts.

The camera itself is surprisingly discreet for a piece of high-end technology. Housed in a compact black case, the HF S21 resembles a more compact version of yesteryear’s popular home camcorders. Data is available via a fold-out LCD screen or a viewfinder, while the camera’s many options can be adjusted using a touchscreen interface or built-in buttons.

Users can connect the HF S21 to their PC using a USB cable, saving time when transferring data and eliminating the compatibility issues so often found with consumer camcorders. Sharing footage between two HF S21s is simple – the camera includes white balance and exposure gauges, allowing users to mix and match different scenes without fear of radically different footage.

With 64GB of built-in flash memory, the HF S21 offers a greater level of storage than is standard for consumer camcorders. Users can boost storage by storing up to two SD cards in the camera, improving long-length recording capabilities and making the HF S21 a formidable travel companion. When paired with external storage, the HF S21 can record upwards of 60 hours of continuous HD footage.

Designed for the serious videographer, the HF S21 includes a variety of manual shooting and exposure modes. Pulling focus and changing aperture for different scenes and environments is surprisingly simple, giving users a quick and manageable camera for artistic projects and amateur film making.

The LEGRIA HF S21 is clearly designed for enthusiasts and dedicated videographers, and despite its high price point is unlikely to receive any competition from low-cost models and compact recording devices. The depth of field, smoothness, and detail level on offer trumps any low-cost consumer camera, while the simplicity of operation makes the HF S21 a reasonable purchase for newbie videographers.

If the £1,200 price doesn’t scare you off, you’ll find the HF S21 to be a remarkably powerful and user-friendly camera. Boasting HD recording and one of the best built-in lenses on the market, this is one of the best camcorders out there for video enthusiasts and home filmmakers.

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