Canon's entry-level camcorders get cheaper

This year's Vixia HF R series models seem to be a little cheaper, but with no signs of being worse, than last year's.

Lori Grunin Senior Editor / Advice

I've been reviewing hardware and software, devising testing methodology and handed out buying advice for what seems like forever; I'm currently absorbed by computers and gaming hardware, but previously spent many years concentrating on cameras. I've also volunteered with a cat rescue for over 15 years doing adoptions, designing marketing materials, managing volunteers and, of course, photographing cats.

Expertise Photography, PCs and laptops, gaming and gaming accessories

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Lori Grunin

Jan. 5, 2011 6:59 a.m. PT

This year's entry-level Canon camcorders incorporate a higher resolution sensor than last year's--3.28 megapixels--for an effective video resolution of 2.07 megapixels. Canon is actually using enough pixels this go round to hopefully capture decent video. As long as you're not using the Dynamic IS setting. Sigh. The Vixia HF R21, R20, and R200 also seem to be priced a little lower than they're predecessors were at their launch: $499.99, $399.99, and $379.99, respectively for 32GB, 8GB, and 0GB configurations.

The lens remains a 20x optical zoom, and the LCD display size has been bumped up to 3 inches from 2.7. They all have dual SDXC slots and support the new Touch Decoration feature for overlaying graphics on the video. The R20 will come in black, red, and silver. Look for them in Feburary.