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  • Introduction

  • Front

  • Back

  • Left

  • Right

  • Top

  • Bottom

  • In the Box

  • Color

  • Low Light Color

  • Noise

  • Low Light Sensitivity

  • Low Light Noise

  • Low Light Color

  • Motion

  • Video Sharpness

  • Testing Samples

  • Ease of Use

  • Auto Mode

  • Other Auto Features

  • Handling

  • Portability

  • Battery Life

  • LCD

  • Stabilization

  • Manual Focus

  • Manual Exposure

  • Miscellaneous Controls

  • Audio Controls

  • Editing

  • Compression

  • Media

  • Slow Motion Modes

  • Still Features

  • Lens & Imaging System

  • LCD

  • Connectivity

  • Battery

  • Media

  • Still Features

  • Other Features

  • Panasonic HDC-SD60 Comparison

  • Canon Vixia HF M31 Comparison

  • COMP 3

  • Conclusion

  • Photo Gallery

  • Introduction
  • Front
  • Back
  • Left
  • Right
  • Top
  • Bottom
  • In the Box
  • Color
  • Low Light Color
  • Noise
  • Low Light Sensitivity
  • Low Light Noise
  • Low Light Color
  • Motion
  • Video Sharpness
  • Testing Samples
  • Ease of Use
  • Auto Mode
  • Other Auto Features
  • Handling
  • Portability
  • Battery Life
  • LCD
  • Stabilization
  • Manual Focus
  • Manual Exposure
  • Miscellaneous Controls
  • Audio Controls
  • Editing
  • Compression
  • Media
  • Slow Motion Modes
  • Still Features
  • Lens & Imaging System
  • LCD
  • Connectivity
  • Battery
  • Media
  • Still Features
  • Other Features
  • Panasonic HDC-SD60 Comparison
  • Canon Vixia HF M31 Comparison
  • COMP 3
  • Conclusion
  • Photo Gallery

Introduction

Front

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Back

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Left

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Top

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Bottom

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In the Box

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Color

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Despite its categorization as an "entry-level" HD camcorder, the HF R11 did better in our color test than some of the higher-end Canons we've reviewed. The camcorder registered a color error of 3.97 and a saturation level of 85.04%, both of which are good scores that match up very well against the JVC GZ-HM340 and Panasonic HDC-SD60. More on how we test color.

When we looked at the sample images taken by the HF R11, we noticed the colors didn't pop as much as we saw from other models (particularly the JVC GZ-HM340). Still, the camcorder's color accuracy was good, and you can see what particular color tones the R11 did best with by looking at the Color Error Map above. The camcorder has a variety of color modes, examples of which are shown below, but it does not include the custom color control option that is found on higher-end models from Canon (like the HF M31 and the HF S21).

As we said before, we found the JVC GZ-HM340 to have deeper, more vivid colors than the Canon HF R11 in this test, but the two models had similar numbers overall in this category. You can compare the actual colors in our sample test images below. Check out the close-up comparisons to see how much darker and stronger the colors captured by the JVC were.

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Low Light Color

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The HF R11 wasn't nearly as faithful in reproducing colors in our low light test as the camcorder was in our bright light test. In low light, the R11 registered a color error of 6.52, while still managing a decent saturation level of 73.26%. While these numbers aren't very good, they are not much worse than what we saw from the competition. More on how we test low light color.

Even though its color error numbers took a significant hit in our low light test, the Canon HF R11 still managed to capture strong, vivid colors in low light. Its saturation level was the highest amongst the camcorders we compared it to. The chart below illustrates the improvement in color accuracy and saturation level that the camcorder showed when we tested its alternate frame rates. Most significant is the huge increase in saturation level when using the PF24 record mode.

Below you can see the HF R11 compared to the other entry-level and mid-range HD camcorders in this testing set. None of these models produced stellar low light results, but all of them had decent performances in our battery of low light tests. Even though these models aren't high-end camcorders, they can still hold their own when it comes to low light recording.

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Noise

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The Canon HF R11 averaged 0.66% noise in this test, which is a good score and is significantly less noise than the Canon HF M31 measured in the same test. The JVC GZ-HM340 and the Panasonic HDC-SD60 averaged similar amounts of noise to the HF R11. More on how we test noise.

For an entry-level HD camcorder, the HF R11 captured a very sharp image in bright light. You can see what we're talking about by looking at the crops above. Notice how crisp the numbers and lines are in the HF R11's image—it is nearly as sharp as Canon's mid-range offering, the HF M31. We go into further detail about each of these camcorder's sharpness capabilities in the next section of this review.

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Low Light Sensitivity

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In something of a surprise performance, the HF R11 earned a better low light sensitivity score than the competition—including the more expensive Canon HF M31. To reach 50 IRE on our waveform monitor, which is our indicator for a usable low light image, the Canon HF R11 required just 13 lux of light. This is a bit less than the Panasonic HDC-SD60 needed, and a whole lot less than the JVC GZ-HM340 and Canon HF M31 called for. More on how we test low light sensitivity.

The HF R11 put up even better sensitivity numbers when we shot using its PF30 and PF24 alternate frame rate modes. These settings allow the camcorder's sensor to absorb more light because they use slower shutter speeds, so we don't use those numbers in our scoring (our score is based on 60i recording). Still, it is interesting to see how little light the R11 needs if you're planning on shooting with the alternate frame rates.

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Low Light Noise

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The HF R11 averaged 1.595% noise in our low light test, which was the most noise of the camcorders in this group, although not by much. Canon camcorders have shown us some fairly high noise levels in our low light testing this year, and you can see this presence of noise in the crops below. We don't want to make it seem like this 1.595% noise level is terrible, though, as it's really just an average score for an HD camcorder. More on how we test low light noise.

As you can see from the crops above, the HF R11 had one of the sharper images in our low light tests (even if it was one of the noisiest). Just like we saw in bright light, the R11 compared well to the sharpness levels of its more-expensive cousin, the HF M31. Still, in our full sharpness test, the HF M31 came out on top (see results on the previous page).

{{comparison_bars title="Low Light Noise Score Comparison", attribute="Low Light Noise Score", xLabel="Low Light Noise Score"}}

Low Light Color

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The HF R11 wasn't nearly as faithful in reproducing colors in our low light test as the camcorder was in our bright light test. In low light, the R11 registered a color error of 6.52, while still managing a decent saturation level of 73.26%. While these numbers aren't very good, they are not much worse than what we saw from the competition. More on how we test low light color.

Even though its color error numbers took a significant hit in our low light test, the Canon HF R11 still managed to capture strong, vivid colors in low light. Its saturation level was the highest amongst the camcorders we compared it to. The chart below illustrates the improvement in color accuracy and saturation level that the camcorder showed when we tested its alternate frame rates. Most significant is the huge increase in saturation level when using the PF24 record mode.

Below you can see the HF R11 compared to the other entry-level and mid-range HD camcorders in this testing set. None of these models produced stellar low light results, but all of them had decent performances in our battery of low light tests. Even though these models aren't high-end camcorders, they can still hold their own when it comes to low light recording.

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Motion

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The HF R11 did well in our motion test, with the only significant drawback being relatively high amounts of artifacting (compared to other Canon models, at least). Our favorite thing about the HF R11's motion has to be the presence of the camcorder's two alternate frame rates: PF24 and PF30. These frame rates, which are also found on Canon's other models, can be very useful for capturing video if you want a more film-like aesthetic (PF24), better low light performance (PF24 or PF30), or smoother video when uploaded to the internet (PF30). Basically, the HF R11 is one of the cheapest models out there that offers these alternate frame rate options. More on how we test motion.

Video Sharpness

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For an entry-level HD camcorder with a small image sensor, the HF R11 still managed to put up good numbers in our video sharpness test. The camcorder measured a horizontal sharpness of 700 lw/ph and a vertical sharpness of 600 lw/ph. These numbers are identical to what we saw from the JVC GZ-HM340 and only a bit behind the Panasonic HDC-SD60's results in this same test. The higher-end Canon HF M31 did manage to capture a sharper image, which is probably its biggest advantage over the HF R11. More on how we test video sharpness.

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Testing Samples

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Ease of Use

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The HF R11 isn't loaded with buttons and features, so it comes across as very easy to use. The camcorder does have a dedicated auto mode (engaged by pressing the auto button inside the LCD cavity) that locks you from accessing menus or making any manual adjustments. This mode is great for beginners who don't want to accidentally turn on a feature that they never wanted to access in the first place, but it does limit the versatility of the camcorder. Shooting with the R11's regular mode allows you to control all settings automatically, but you can still access menus and turn features on and off if you please. If you are comfortable with that much control, you should be fine with the regular shooting mode.

The menu on the HF R11 is well-designed and easy to navigate, but it doesn't have any built-in tool tips or help boxes. We also don't like the fact that Canon spreads out the options on the R11 into three different menus: there's the main menu, the function menu, and the joystick menu. The main menu and the function menu aren't problems—both are easy to navigate and have well-labeled options—but the joystick menu can be very confusing. Its features aren't labeled very well and it has an awkward design that relies far too much on the joystick for making adjustments.

Auto Mode is confusingly called Dual Shot mode

Auto Mode

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The HF R11 has a dedicated auto mode that locks you from accessing both the main menu and the camcorder's function menu in order to simplify recording. In this dedicated auto mode, the HF R11 also will automatically select a scene mode for the camcorder to used based on the shooting conditions. This feature, called Smart Auto, didn't always work very well.

If you can handle the menu systems on the HF R11, we actually recommend shooting in the camcorder's regular Dual Shot mode. Everything can still be set to automatic control, you just have more options to play around with—including the ability to switch certain features over to manual adjustment. Most of the auto controls on the camcorder worked well in our testing. Autofocus has two options, normal and instant, and both work pretty much how they sound. Normal provides smoother and slower transitions when the focus shifts, while instant gives a snap-like focus adjustment.

The auto exposure control was at times a bit quick and jarring on the HF R11, but the results produced by the camcorder were accurate. The auto white balance was also mostly effective, even in mixed light situations. The camcorder does have face detection, but it does not have any of the AF/AE tracking features that you find on the Panasonic HDC-SD60 and the higher-end models from Canon. The absence of this tracking option is probably due to the fact that the R11 doesn't have a touchscreen interface, which is usually the method used for initiating a tracking feature.

The iAuto mode button is difficult to find, but when you do find it the option for turning on the mode looks like this.

Other Auto Features

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Low noise levels.

Handling

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The HF R11 has a solid, compact design, and its hand strap is nearly as plush and comfortable as what you get on the HF M31 and other high-end Canon models. Where the camcorder fails, however, is with its terrible button designs on the inside of the LCD cavity. Yes, the buttons are large and well-labeled, but they have a "membrane button" design, which means they don't stick out from the surface on which they are placed. This makes them hard to push and they can easily become defective over time.

We do like that Canon kept the button layout on the HF R11 simple. The large start/stop record button on the back of the camcorder is well-placed... but how could it not be? It is the only button located on the back of the camcorder. There's only a few buttons inside the LCD cavity (the previously mentioned "membrane buttons") and the photo shutter button, zoom toggle, and on/off button occupy the top of the camcorder. This is the kind of simple, non-threatening design that should appeal to novice camcorder users.

Of course, if you're an advanced videographer you'll probably gripe about the HF R11's lack of manual control adjustment options. All controls and menus must be navigated via the joystick on the LCD panel. There's no touchscreen interface, no dial, no lens ring—so if you don't like using a joystick to make adjustments then you should stay away from the HF R11. All of Canon's higher-end models feature touchscreen LCDs and its HF S flagship series include adjustment dials.

Using the joystick to make adjustments really isn't all that bad. In fact, we prefer it to many of the touchscreen interfaces we've seen over the years. It helps that Canon includes a fairly well-designed joystick on the HF R11. It's not perfect, but, trust us, there have been camcorders with far worse joysticks and d-pads (most camcorders from Sanyo come to mind here).

Our final gripe about the HF R11 in terms of handling and design is its enclosed battery compartment on the bottom of the camcorder. We don't like anything to be bottom-loading on camcorders because it makes things hard to switch when shooting on a tripod. The fact that the compartment is enclosed is also a problem because it means you cannot insert larger battery packs into the camcorder.

These dedicated buttons give you quick access to aperture and shutter speed controls.

Portability

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The HF R11 is basically the same size as the Canon HF M31, but it does weigh a bit less. On average, the HF R11 wasn't the lightest entry-level model we've seen—and it is certainly a whole lot heavier than an ultracompact camcorder like the Flip, Kodak Playsport, or Sony Bloggie Touch—but the camcorder fits in your palm comfortably and its weight never bothered us. If you want a camcorder you can slip into your pocket, you should check out those aforementioned ultracompact models. But, if you like the design of a traditional horizontal camcorder, the HF R11 is a good fit. The JVC GZ-HM340 is smaller and lighter, but it has half the amount of internal flash memory as the HF R11.

Battery Life

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The Canon HF R11 failed our battery life test on a number of accounts. To start, its provided battery lasted just 71 minutes in our testing, which is simply unacceptable. We hate to see provided batteries that can't even allow their camcorders to record for an hour and a half (90 minutes). More on how we test battery life.

The second problem with the HF R11 in terms of battery life is the fact that its battery compartment is fully enclosed. So, if you were hoping to solve the camcorder's abysmal battery life performance by purchasing a larger battery pack you don't really have much options. There's the BP-2L5 pack that comes with the camcorder and there's the NB-2LH that can be purchased separately for around $70. We're unsure if the NB-2LH will give you longer-lasting performance, but it does hold a larger charge than the BP-2L5 (720mAh vs. 530 mAh).

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LCD

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At first glance, the HF R11's viewing screen (LCD) looks similar to what Canon offers on the HF M31 camcorder. Digging deeper, however, you'll see that the R11 doesn't have a touchscreen interface and its screen resolution has a lot less pixels than its cousin-models. In fact, the HF R11's LCD is one of the least resolute screens we've seen (other than the small screens on certain ultracompact models like the Flip). The LCD does have the standard 2.7-inch size, however, so most people should be comfortable with that.

If you want a larger LCD on your camcorder, you'll have to splurge for a high-end model (many of which have 3-inch or 3.5-inch screens). The same goes if you want access to a viewfinder as well—none of the mid-range or entry-level models we've seen have either of these features.

Stabilization

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We're working on getting our stabilization results for the HF R11, but at the time of this publication we didn't have all the numbers tabulated. As soon as we complete our stabilization test for the HF R11, we'll post the full results here for you to read.

In the meantime, we can let you know the camcorder has a digital image stabilization system (DIS) with two settings: Dynamic and Standard. The fact that the R11 uses a digital stabilization system instead of an optical one is important, as it is something that sets it apart from Canon's mid-range and high-end offerings. Optical stabilization is usually more effective than digital, and it doesn't result in image depredation like DIS can, so it will be interesting to see how well the HF R11's stabilization system works in our testing. More on how we test stabilization.

Manual Focus

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The adjustment dial makes accurate focus adjustments easy.

Manual Exposure

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The manual exposure controls are only found on the Contour app, not on the camcorder itself.

Miscellaneous Controls

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Cine Mode

Cine Mode alters exposure levels during recording by essentially eliminating any use of gain boost by the camcorder. This cleans up the image and gets rid of noise, but it also means you'll need more light to get a usable image.

Image Effects

There's four image effect presets on the HF R11: Vivid, Neutral, Low Sharpening, and Soft Skin Detail. Unlike other Canon models, the R11 does not have a custom image effects setting.

x.v. Color

Lets you record using an expanded color gamut (called xvYCC). You will only be able to see a difference if you view the recored video on an xvYCC-compatible TV.

Flicker Reduction

Use this feature to reduce flicker that may result from recording video under certain kinds of fluorescent light. There are 50Hz and 60Hz options here.

Onscreen Markers

Guidelines to assist with framing can be displayed on the screen with the following options: level (white or gray) and grid (white or gray).

Audio Controls

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Canon is one of the only manufacturers to include mic and headphone jacks on all of their camcorders—including the entry-level HF R11. This is great for people who still want to be able to record strong audio via an external mic setup without having to shell out the extra cash for a high-end model (even most mid-range camcorders lack external mic jacks). The mic and headphone jacks are both located on the back of the HF R11 (the headphone jack doubles as the AV-out port).

In addition to these two audio ports, the HF R11 also has a manual audio level adjustment feature, a wind cut setting, and a microphone attenuator. The built-in microphone is well-placed on the front of the camcorder, and it has the ability to record stereo audio. Simply put, these are some of the best audio features we've seen on an entry-level camcorder.

Editing

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The Canon HF R11 comes with Pixela ImageMixer 3SE video editing software. If you've owned a Canon camcorder before, this software may sound familiar to you because Canon has included it (or a similar version of the software) on most of its previous models. For an overview of the software that ships with this and other camcorders, see our article: Video Editing Software For Your Camcorder{{product.brand.name}}-Included-Software.htm.

The camcorder itself also has a few internal editing features like the ability to divide clips and HD to SD conversion. The SD conversion feature allows for easier uploading to the internet, but it requires a memory card to be inserted into the camcorder for the feature to work.

Compression

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Like most consumer HD camcorders, the Canon HF R11 records using the AVCHD compression system (which is based on the MPEG-4 codec). AVCHD is popular right now, but most casual camcorder users probably have no idea what it is.

The HF R11 has fewer quality options than other Canon camcorders. The most striking absence is the camcorder's lack of a 24Mbps recording option, which is a feature found on the HF M and HF S series of Canon camcorders. The HF R11 still has one 1920 x 1080 Full HD record mode, however, but it tops out with a 17Mbps bitrate instead of 24Mbps. The other three record modes capture 1440 x 1080 HD video, and there are no standard definition record modes available. Read more about the advantages and disadvantages of various high definition compression types.

Media

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The Canon HF R11 has 32GB of internal flash memory in addition to its memory card slot that fits SD or SDHC memory cards. While the 32GB of internal flash memory is great to have, it also costs a lot of money. The HF R11 has a $699 price tag, which is $300 more than the HF R10 (8GB of internal flash memory) and $320 more than the HF R100 (no internal memory; card-only). So, if you have extra memory cards lying around, there's really no reason you should shell out the extra cash for the HF R11 over its sibling models—unless you really like the idea of having a huge chunk of internal memory you can record to.

Having the internal memory does allow you more record time and it means you don't have to remember to pack little memory cards with you everywhere you go. But, if you shop wisely, you can usually find 16GB SDHC cards for less than $30. This means you could by ten of them for the amount you'd save by going with the HF R10 instead of the HF R11 (and the R10 still comes with 8GB of internal memory!). Read more about the advantages and disadvantages of various media types.

Slow Motion Modes

Still Features

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Canon scaled back on still image capabilities with the Canon HF R11, which doesn't bother us too much. We doubt most people will end up using the still features on their camcorder anyway, so we usually don't value these options too highly. The camcorder doesn't have a dedicated still image mode, but you can capture photos in the regular dual shot setting (the camcorder's default mode). Something to note, however, the HF R11 does not have the capability of capturing still photos during recording.

The camcorder has three size options for photos: 1920 x 1080, 1600 x 1200, and 640 x 480. None of these sizes is particularly large, so you shouldn't expect to get the best image quality from photos snapped with the HF R11. The camcorder does have three quality options as well: Super Fine, Fine, and Normal. There's no flash, continual shooting mode, or ISO control on the HF R11, but the camcorder does have a 10-second self-timer and you can use most of the controls that are available for shooting video when taking photos as well.

The HF R11 put up similar numbers in our still color accuracy test as the camcorder did in our bright light video color testing. The camcorder earned a color error of 3.87 with a saturation level of 100.3%—both of which are strong numbers. The thing is, the rest of the camcorders we compared it to managed nearly identical results, so there wasn't anything setting the HF R11 out from the crowd here.

The R11 captured a brighter still image than some of the competition, which gave its photos a washed-out look (particularly when viewed side-by-side with the JVC GZ-HM340). We thought the photos looked decent, though, so we don't really have anything to complain about in this category.

Noise levels measured around 0.73% on the HF R11. This is statistically identical to the amount of noise the JVC GZ-HM340 measured in its still images, while the Panasonic HDC-SD60 and Canon HF M31 had levels hovering just under 1%. This is a good noise level for a camcorder with limited still image capabilities, so, again, we don't have much to complain about here.

The HF R11 is an entry-level camcorder with a small image sensor, so the fact that it didn't do very well on our still sharpness test isn't surprising. The camcorder measured a horizontal sharpness of 977 lw/ph with 0.9% oversharpening and a vertical sharpness of 919 lw/ph with 7.1% oversharpening. Compared to what other entry-level models offer in this arena, the Canon HF R11 was actually somewhat of a big-shot. Many low-end camcorders (e.g. the JVC GZ-HM340) earn no points in this test because of their abysmal still sharpness numbers.

Lens & Imaging System

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The Canon HF R11 has a 20x optical zoom lens and a 1/5.5-inch CMOS sensor. This sensor is of normal size for an entry-level HD camcorder, but if you compare it to mid-range or high-end models you'll notice it is much smaller. The zoom on the HF R11 is longer than the zoom on Canon's higher-end camcorders, but other manufacturers include zooms in the 25x - 35x range on their entry-level products.

LCD

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At first glance, the HF R11's viewing screen (LCD) looks similar to what Canon offers on the HF M31 camcorder. Digging deeper, however, you'll see that the R11 doesn't have a touchscreen interface and its screen resolution has a lot less pixels than its cousin-models. In fact, the HF R11's LCD is one of the least resolute screens we've seen (other than the small screens on certain ultracompact models like the Flip). The LCD does have the standard 2.7-inch size, however, so most people should be comfortable with that.

If you want a larger LCD on your camcorder, you'll have to splurge for a high-end model (many of which have 3-inch or 3.5-inch screens). The same goes if you want access to a viewfinder as well—none of the mid-range or entry-level models we've seen have either of these features.

Connectivity

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We like the simple placement of the ports on the HF R11, mainly because they are all grouped together on the back of the camcorder. The camcorder has more connectivity features than most entry-level models, with the only glaring omission being the lack of an accessory shoe.

The HF R11's ports and terminals are all on the back of the camcorder and are arranged in two groups. Both sets of connections are covered by sturdy plastic doors that snap into place when you push them with a bit of force. The covers don't get out of the way perfectly, so things can be a bit crowded if you have multiple cables connected at once (but this is a minor complaint). Running down vertically, the collection of ports on the left are as follows: USB, HDMI, and Component-out. These ports are very well labeled on both the plastic cover and next to the ports themselves.

On the right side you'll find the mic input, AV-out port (which doubles as a headphone jack), and the DC-input. The AC adapter that connects to the DC-input is different from what you'll find on other Canon models (like the HF M and HF S series), which we found a bit strange. On the bottom of the camcorder is where you access the enclosed battery compartment that is covered by a sliding door that locks into place. The memory card slot, which works with SD or SDHC memory cards, is also located inside this compartment.

Battery

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The second problem with the HF R11 in terms of battery life is the fact that its battery compartment is fully enclosed. So, if you were hoping to solve the camcorder's abysmal battery life performance by purchasing a larger battery pack you don't really have much options. There's the BP-2L5 pack that comes with the camcorder and there's the NB-2LH that can be purchased separately for around $70. We're unsure if the NB-2LH will give you longer-lasting performance, but it does hold a larger charge than the BP-2L5 (720mAh vs. 530 mAh). Find out how the product:model/product:model performed in our battery life test.

Media

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The Canon HF R11 has 32GB of internal flash memory in addition to its memory card slot that fits SD or SDHC memory cards. While the 32GB of internal flash memory is great to have, it also costs a lot of money. The HF R11 has a $699 price tag, which is $300 more than the HF R10 (8GB of internal flash memory) and $320 more than the HF R100 (no internal memory; card-only). So, if you have extra memory cards lying around, there's really no reason you should shell out the extra cash for the HF R11 over its sibling models—unless you really like the idea of having a huge chunk of internal memory you can record to.

Having the internal memory does allow you more record time and it means you don't have to remember to pack little memory cards with you everywhere you go. But, if you shop wisely, you can usually find 16GB SDHC cards for less than $30. This means you could by ten of them for the amount you'd save by going with the HF R10 instead of the HF R11 (and the R10 still comes with 8GB of internal memory!). Read more about the advantages and disadvantages of various media types.

Still Features

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Canon scaled back on still image capabilities with the Canon HF R11, which doesn't bother us too much. We doubt most people will end up using the still features on their camcorder anyway, so we usually don't value these options too highly. The camcorder doesn't have a dedicated still image mode, but you can capture photos in the regular dual shot setting (the camcorder's default mode). Something to note, however, the HF R11 does not have the capability of capturing still photos during recording.

The camcorder has three size options for photos: 1920 x 1080, 1600 x 1200, and 640 x 480. None of these sizes is particularly large, so you shouldn't expect to get the best image quality from photos snapped with the HF R11. The camcorder does have three quality options as well: Super Fine, Fine, and Normal. There's no flash, continual shooting mode, or ISO control on the HF R11, but the camcorder does have a 10-second self-timer and you can use most of the controls that are available for shooting video when taking photos as well.

The HF R11 put up similar numbers in our still color accuracy test as the camcorder did in our bright light video color testing. The camcorder earned a color error of 3.87 with a saturation level of 100.3%—both of which are strong numbers. The thing is, the rest of the camcorders we compared it to managed nearly identical results, so there wasn't anything setting the HF R11 out from the crowd here.

The R11 captured a brighter still image than some of the competition, which gave its photos a washed-out look (particularly when viewed side-by-side with the JVC GZ-HM340). We thought the photos looked decent, though, so we don't really have anything to complain about in this category.

Noise levels measured around 0.73% on the HF R11. This is statistically identical to the amount of noise the JVC GZ-HM340 measured in its still images, while the Panasonic HDC-SD60 and Canon HF M31 had levels hovering just under 1%. This is a good noise level for a camcorder with limited still image capabilities, so, again, we don't have much to complain about here.

The HF R11 is an entry-level camcorder with a small image sensor, so the fact that it didn't do very well on our still sharpness test isn't surprising. The camcorder measured a horizontal sharpness of 977 lw/ph with 0.9% oversharpening and a vertical sharpness of 919 lw/ph with 7.1% oversharpening. Compared to what other entry-level models offer in this arena, the Canon HF R11 was actually somewhat of a big-shot. Many low-end camcorders (e.g. the JVC GZ-HM340) earn no points in this test because of their abysmal still sharpness numbers.

Other Features

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Pre Record

Do you always seem to hit the record button too late, thereby failing to capture crucial moments with your camcorder? If so, then Pre Record is a feature that can bail you out. With Pre Record turned on, the HF R11 will continually store three seconds of footage in the camcorder's memory buffer. So, when you do end up pressing record, the camcorder has already captured three seconds of footage (footage it recorded before you hit the record button!). This can be great for recording action sequences or sports where things happen faster than your reaction time is used to.

Video Snapshot

Canon offers Video Snapshot on all of its 2010 models. You turn the feature on by pressing the Video Snap button inside the LCD cavity and it allows you to record clips of a specific length. This length can be 2, 4, or 8 seconds (you choose in the menu) and a blue progress bar makes its way around the perimeter of the LCD to show you how much time you have left with the clip. Overall, this feature is less fun than Canon makes it out to be.

Digital Effects

The HF R11 has one fade, one wipe fade, a black & white mode, and a sepia tint. All of these options can be found under the digital effects tab on the Function Menu.

HD-SD Conversion

Since the HF R11 doesn't have an SD record mode, the camcorder's HD-SD conversion option can be very useful. Unfortunately, using the feature is rather difficult. You must record your clip to the camcorder's internal memory or a memory card, then go into playback mode and select the clip. Before pressing the "Web" button to activate the HD-SD conversion, you must make sure you have a memory card inserted into the camcorder for the conversion to work. This card could either be empty (with space on it to fit the converted file), or it could contain the clip you want to convert to standard definition (which will then be stored on the R11's internal memory). This feature is so confusing and time-consuming to implement that we doubt many people will ever try.

Panasonic HDC-SD60 Comparison

When pitting the HF R11 against the JVC GZ-HM340, the Canon comes out on top. However, the fact that the GZ-HM340 is roughly $200 cheaper than the HF R11 makes this head-to-head comparison a bit more complicated. Our recommendation: if you are put off by the Canon's high price tag, you should check out its cheaper sibling-models, the HF R10 or the HF R100. Those camcorders are identical to the HF R11, except they have different amounts of internal memory (8GB on the R10 and card-only on the R100). Their price tags are much lower, though, and they end up being a better deal than the JVC GZ-HM340 (and the HF R11) for that reason.

With that news out of the way, let's get down to why the HF R11 is the better camcorder here. For starters, it produced a better image in our motion test and its videos looked a bit crisper in bright and low light. The Canon HF R11 also has the advantage of its multiple frame rates (PF24 and PF30) and the inclusion of an external mic jack. Both camcorders offer similar amounts of manual controls, but we like the HF R11's classic joystick navigation system more than JVC's quirky Laser Touch Strip. The HF R11 also has a better hand strap that makes the camcorder more of a pleasure to hold for a long period of time.

The JVC does have some strong advantages here, including better battery life and more accurate colors. The battery life note may be of particular importance, as the Canon HF R11 features an enclosed battery compartment (which means you can't load larger batteries into it) instead of an open-ended compartment like you'll find on the JVC GZ-HM340. Still, the overall edge here goes to the Canon HF R11. But, remember, for models that are more comparable in price, we suggest looking at the Canon HF R10 or HF R100 instead.

Canon Vixia HF M31 Comparison

The Panasonic HDC-SD60 has a larger image sensor and more controls than the Canon HF R11, which puts it in the mid-range category rather than entry-level. The fact that the SD60 comes with a $449 price tag, however, makes it a very good comparison to the Canon HF R11 (or the Canon HF R100, which is cheaper than the R11, but has no internal memory—just like the Panasonic HDC-SD60).

The Panasonic HDC-SD60 outperformed the Canon HF R11 in most of our tests, although there were some exceptions. The Canon, with its multiple frame rate options, did better in our motion test, and the two models had similar numbers in our low light tests overall. Where the Panasonic really comes out ahead is with its wide selection of manual controls, which includes a full set of aperture and shutter speed options, as well as a gain control setting and some color controls. The Panasonic uses a touchscreen interface that doesn't have the best or most precise design, so we rank it slightly lower than Canon's joystick navigation system. The HDC-SD60's touchscreen does allow for more advanced auto controls, though, like Panasonic's great AF/AE tracking system.

Because of its more impressive internal components, the Panasonic HDC-SD60 is the better camcorder here. It produced a slightly sharper image in our test and we like its more advanced set of controls. We don't really think the SD60 is the best bargain, however, considering it is a card-only camcorder with no internal memory. Its sibling model, the Panasonic HDC-HS60, includes a 120GB internal hard drive for just $250 more. Whether that much internal memory is worth it to you is essentially up to you... but we'd say it is. Unless you have lots of extra SDHC memory cards laying around, of course.

COMP 3

The Canon HF M31 is a strong camcorder, but in our review we complained about its high price tag and weak low light performance. The second of those complaints definitely still holds water, but the price of the HF M31 has fallen dramatically (if you shop around) since the release of the Canon HF M32 a few months ago. The M32 is basically identical to the HF M31, except for the fact that it has double the internal memory (64GB) and it includes SDXC memory card compatibility. Nowadays, you can easily find the HF M31 for $200 - $300 less than its launch price of $799, which we'd label is a pretty good deal.

In short, the HF R11 is a very watered-down version of the HF M31. The two have similar menu systems and similar features, but the HF R11 doesn't capture as high-quality video as the HF M31. The M31 also has more manual controls (shutter and aperture control), optical image stabilization (instead of digital), and can record video at a higher bitrate (24Mbps). Its LCD also features a touchscreen interface that works reasonably well and is better than most touchscreens we've seen on consumer camcorders.

If you can find a deal on the HF M31 you should definitely spring for it over the HF R11. It is a better camcorder that can do everything the HF R11 can do, but a whole lot more as well. The HF M31 is Canon's mid-range offering, so it makes sense that it has more features and better performance than the entry-level HF R11. Still, in the mid-range category, the HF M31 has some stiff competition from Panasonic (the HDC-SD60 and the HDC-HS60), Sony (HDR-XR350V), and JVC (GZ-HD620).

Conclusion

The Canon HF R11 may be an entry-level camcorder, but it has many features that are seldom found on camcorders of its class. For starters, it has an external mic jack, multiple frame rates (PF24 and PF3), and 32GB of internal flash memory. Of course, the HF R11 also has a price tag of $699, which puts it on the far end of the spectrum in terms of entry-level models.

Because of its high price tag, we should let you know immediately that Canon has two far cheaper entry-level options available: the HF R10 and the HF R100. Both have essentially identical features to the HF R11, except they have less internal memory (8GB on the HF R10 and none on the HF R100). Since they have less internal memory, they also have far lower prices that are roughly $300 - $320 less than the HF R11. We highly recommend checking out these sister-models to the HF R11 if you're strapped for cash—especially if you don't have a strong need for lots of internal memory.

As for performance, the HF R11 is decent, but it does lack the clarity and sharpness that you get from mid-range HD camcorders like the Canon HF M31 and the Panasonic HDC-SD60. Its low light performance was nonetheless impressive and it still did reasonably well in our bright light testing. One big disappointment was the camcorder's dismal battery life, which lasted for just 71 minutes in our test.

With the HF R11 you are getting a well-designed, easy-to-use camcorder that doesn't have all the bells and whistles associated with higher-end models. We'd like its price to be cheaper, but we do understand that the HF R10 and HF R100 fit that bill instead.

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Meet the tester

Jeremy Stamas

Jeremy Stamas

Managing Editor, Video

@nematode9

Jeremy is the video expert of our imaging team and Reviewed.com's head of video production. Originally from Pennsylvania and upstate NY, he graduated from Bard college with a degree in film and electronic media. He has been living and working in New England since 2005.

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