Canon's VIXIA HF M300 Flash Memory Camcorder is a 1920 x 1080 high definition camera that records up to 12 hours of video (LP mode) to SD/SDHC memory cards. The HF M300 also doubles as a digital still camera with the ability to shoot 3.3MP stills, along with Dual Shot capture and capturing stills from already shot movies, among other functions.
At the heart of the HF M300 is the 3.89MP Full HD CMOS sensor and Canon's DIGIC DV III Image Processor. Other tools, like the Canon HD Video Lens, Dynamic SuperRange Optical Image Stabilization, a 2.7" LCD, and 18x Advanced Zoom all help to capture your videos with ease.
Other beneficial features include 24Mbps AVCHD recording, 24p and 30p frame modes, and microphone and headphone terminals. Features like Touch & Track, Face Detection, Advanced Video Snapshot, and Instant AF all take the guesswork out of getting just the shot you want. And last but not least, the HF M300 provides you with a video light and built-in flash for low-light shooting of both video and stills.
To further enhance focusing capability, the VIXIA HF M300 also features Focus Assist. This helps in capturing your subject in razor-sharp focus. It works by providing a 2x magnification of your subject, which is automatically cancelled when you start recording
In addition, a specific face may be selected as the main subject for continuous tracking. This feature can be used to search for clips featuring that specific subject's face. In search and playback, use of the Face Index will display frames with the chosen face as a thumbnail in each shot in which it appears. The selected face can be linked as a timeline to further identify footage containing that subject
In addition to the standard interlaced video frame rate of 60i, you may choose to set the VIXIA HF M300 to capture video in 30p Progressive Mode, (30 progressive frames, recorded at 60i) which is particularly useful for footage to be used on the Internet. Excellent for action and sports shots, this setting gives enhanced quality to still images captured after recording
| Optics | |
|---|---|
| Sensor | 3.89 Megapixel 1/4" CMOS |
| Lens |
4.1 - 61.5 mm f/1.8 - 3.2 |
| Zoom |
Optical: 15x Advanced (Optical): 18x Digital: 300x |
| Filter Size | 37 mm |
| Recording | |
|---|---|
| System | NTSC |
| Recording Media |
SD/SDHC Up To 32GB Video/Image
1
Please Note:not included close |
| Recording Time |
SD/SDHC LP: 12 hours, 15 minutes SP: 9 hours, 35 minutes MXP: 2 hours, 55 minutes |
| Video Format |
High Definition MPEG AVC/H.264 1920 x 1080 (24/60/30 fps) |
| Still Image Resolution | JPEG: 3.3 Megapixel |
| Audio Format |
2-Channel Stereo
2
Please Note:5.1 channel with optional SM-V1 5.5 Channel Surround Microphone close |
| Display | |
|---|---|
| Display Type | LCD |
| Screen Size | 2.7" |
| Touchscreen | Yes |
| Features | |
|---|---|
| Image Stabilization | Optical |
| Lux | 0.4 (Low Light mode) |
| Built-in Mic | Yes |
| Built-in Speaker | Yes |
| Built-in Light/Flash |
Light - Yes Flash - Yes |
| Accessory Shoe | Mini Hot |
| Tripod Mount | 1/4" |
| Input/Output Connectors | |
|---|---|
| Inputs | 1x 1/8" (3.5mm) Stereo Mini |
| Outputs |
1x USB 2.0 1x Component Video (out) 1x Composite Video (out) 1x HDMI C (Mini) 1x A/V 1x Headphone Out |
| Microphone Input | Yes |
| Headphone Jack | Yes |
| General | |
|---|---|
| System Requirements | Not Specified By Manufacturer |
| Battery | Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery Pack |
| Power Adapter | 100-240VAC, 50/60HZ |
| Dimensions (WxHxD) | 2.7 x 2.4 x 4.8" / 68.58 x 60.96 x 121.92 mm |
| Weight | 13.4 oz / 379.89 g |
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
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Most Liked Positive Review
Great Camera and I should know!!!
I did own a Panasonic DVX 100A that I used for professional use. Well, anytime I wanted to use it for family stuff to capture our baby, my wife would get frustrated because it...Read complete review
I did own a Panasonic DVX 100A that I used for professional use. Well, anytime I wanted to use it for family stuff to capture our baby, my wife would get frustrated because it was too much camera for her. But I LOVED the 24P option and didn't want to give that up. Honestly I did want to upgrade to HD without spending a lot of money. So I researched a lot of cameras for less than $500, and finally settled on this one. I shoot a Canon 1D Mark IV for my professional photography so I was picky about this purchase. I decided on this camera because it has the optional 24P, which a lot of other cameras did not, and it still shot HD! I liked that it took an SD card and not having internal memory didn't matter.
I read people's complaints about the touch screen menu. It's not as sensitive as I had hoped but it's fine. I didn't have any problems navigating the options or making my choices by touching what I wanted. The only reason I gave it 4 stars is because I don't feel that any product is ever perfect. There are always improvements to be made somewhere and the battery life is an area of improvement for this camera. However, I did buy an extended life battery (OEM) and it has been amazing. It only cost me $17 so search an online auction (that I can't name) before spending $70 on the same battery but with Canon's name on it. I would have given it 4.9 stars if that were an option. Great price, great camera, and great quality of picture in low light, of course bright light, and easy to edit files. You really can't go wrong with this camera.
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Most Liked Negative Review
This camcorder records very clear video
I bought this camera to take video of family occasions. This is my first camcorder of any kind. I intend to mostly use this camera on a tripod. I will usually perform post-processing on...Read complete review
I bought this camera to take video of family occasions. This is my first camcorder of any kind. I intend to mostly use this camera on a tripod. I will usually perform post-processing on the video I record from this camera before burning to blu-ray discs.
I spent many, many hours researching camcorders before settling on this one. The low price was a very important factor, considering that I wanted to purchase, in addition to the M300, a robust video editor (Vegas), ND filter, and a fluid tripod head.
Video is very clear and silky smooth in 1080/60i recording mode. Based on the dozens of samples I saw of video from various camcorders during my research phase, the video from this camera stacks up very well. I will, in the (hopefully) distant future, replace this camcorder with one that has an electronic viewfinder. The LCD can be difficult to see in bright light. I expected this, or course, but I was keen on keeping my costs down.
The M300 is very easy to use. One could jump right in without any camera experience and take excellent video. Better, though, to learn about manual exposure adjustments to squeeze the best possible performance from this camcorder.
Reviewed by 149 customers
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Comments about Canon VIXIA HF M300 Flash Memory Camcorder:
Bought the M300 as a gift for my wife as it appeared to be easy to use, had good image quality and a decent bitrate for an HD cam of this size. Hard to use this without comparing to ENG cams and larger form factor cameras I have used which have far more buttons and manual controls, but for what it is, it does a pretty good job: It's a light and compact HD cam with proper 3.5mm input for an external mic. Nice for travel video.
Saturation and contrast are good in most shooting conditions, but tends to become noisy in lower light. Recommend manually tweaking exposure in the menus for better results, or purchasing an LED light panel to help your cause. AF is fast and smooth with decent face detection.
The downsides are that there are so few buttons that you are stuck using a touchscreen menu that is not always very responsive. The battery (as supplied) has a relatively short battery life, and I would definitely recommend purchasing a high capacity replacement for shooting sessions over 1 hour. The file type is also a GIANT pain, as it requires conversion to be used in iMovie or Creative Suite on a Mac. Cannot say what compatibility is like on Windows.
Overall, it's a decent little unit, but 3 stars for me because of the file type woes (conversion time not much more efficient than capturing HDV footage) and the battery guzzling tendencies. The still images are smaller than I get on my Blackberry, so not a very useful feature either in that respect when compared to latest Sony NEX cameras in similar price range.
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Comments about Canon VIXIA HF M300 Flash Memory Camcorder:
I teach a video production class. The camera is easy to use and great quality.
The students are able start using it immediately and get great footage.
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Comments about Canon VIXIA HF M300 Flash Memory Camcorder:
I am pleased and impressed with the image quality and usability of this camera. Default settings are, well, default, but all settings can be customized to give good results in special conditions. The on-screen menus are not perfectly intuitive but half an hour's RTFM was enough for me to find my way around. On-screen zoom is a bit superfluous as it would be hard to use without jogging the camera and there's a perfectly functional button on the device anyway. Built-in sound is better than average but does have limited frequency response: it can be improved with a plug-in stereo microphone. Am also very please with the price: I bought a refurbished unit at half the retail price.
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Comments about Canon VIXIA HF M300 Flash Memory Camcorder:
I bought the camera to use for recording interviews. So far have used it in natural sunlight with a lav mic. (I have not tested the camera in low light or with the studio lights.)nnBeautiful picture and clear sound. Instructions for downloading to a Mac does not exist, but for those who ask, simply use iMovie to do the job. It converts the files to .mov. iMovie also converts the project to XML for transferring to Final Cut.
I am a professional producer and bought this for the convenience of shooting interviews when I need without hiring a crew. I understand that the Vixia HF M300 is not accepted as a primary camera for broadcast quality video, but is accepted for including as supplemental material.
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Comments about Canon VIXIA HF M300 Flash Memory Camcorder:
I use the camera to relay video and audio from the sanctuary to a different room through HDMI over Cat5e cable.
The camera is compact and really portable. I haven't used the battery, so I don't know how long it will last.
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Comments about Canon VIXIA HF M300 Flash Memory Camcorder:
I use this camera for small video editing. I am very happy with it so far
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Comments about Canon VIXIA HF M300 Flash Memory Camcorder:
Great Camera for the price. I got it in the mail 3 days before my wedding and used it there - it is so easy to use, yet has lots of options! I watched it the next day and the quality of the sound and video was pretty good, though sometimes it's hard to understand people in a crowded setting.
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Comments about Canon VIXIA HF M300 Flash Memory Camcorder:
Just bought this and I am very impressed so far. I haven't used it a ton yet, but the image quality is excellent. Not to mention I was surprised at how small it is. If you have owned previous Canon video records the menus are pretty intuitive.
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Comments about Canon VIXIA HF M300 Flash Memory Camcorder:
This is a nice little camcorder with lots of features. It shoots nice full HD video (granted, not as nice as a Canon DSLR), but great for the money. It even shoots at 24p and has manual control over aperture and shutter speed. Granted, the 24p is recorded at 60i, which is a downer (which separates its quality from the DSLRs), and if you're going for a film look, then you'll need to tweak the frame blending or fields to smooth it out. (ALSO, a note to Mac peeps: before you get this camcorder, be sure that your video editor can open AVCHD video files, or that you have a way to convert them.)
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Comments about Canon VIXIA HF M300 Flash Memory Camcorder:
Moved up from a mini-tape player that died. Research showed that the M300 (last year's model) was better quality and a better deal price wise. Also found a retailer with and instant $200 off which B&H photo price matched. Total savings was 50% off last year's price of [$].Touch screen is great and was able to navigate without really looking at the book.Shot a short video and was amazed at the clarity of the picture (true HD). Didn't come with a SDHC card, but picked one up $27 (8 GB class 10). Customer service said that the M300 could utilize the class 10 additional speed.Tried the bundled Pixela software, but it allowed the options of doing almost nothing so I uninstalled it. Researched, downloaded trial versions of other programs and bought Corel Video Studio Pro X4 at half off under an the offer from the trial version. Be sure to get the X4 version as it corrected the issues listed in previous versions and carries very high ratings.Next is trying to burn a DVD; not sure if I can burn the AVCHD from a regular DVD burner or not.Would highly recommend this camcorder.
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Comments about Canon VIXIA HF M300 Flash Memory Camcorder:
I purchased this camera for a high school video program. This is an amazing camera, albeit very small. My only real complaint is that I would like a beefier camera to hold onto as even a teenager's hand almost wraps around it when handholding. That being said, this has been a fabulous camera that captures excellent quality video in a variety of situations. The students love working with it as it is so easy to run in basic mode and yet gives good manual controls for other situations. We use Final Cut Studio 3 and it works seamlessly with that for capture and editing. I am hoping that this camera does not go out of production before we are able to purchase additional units for the program. I am very happy with this camcorder and have not had a single problem with it yet.
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Comments about Canon VIXIA HF M300 Flash Memory Camcorder:
Great product for what I as a student need it for.
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Comments about Canon VIXIA HF M300 Flash Memory Camcorder:
This camcorder is very small and fits right into your hand very easily. It's light weight and very easy to use. It has a touch screen to make maneuvering simple. Reviewing your footage is equally as simple as it stores each segment into a thumbnail or clip. Though one small issue I found is that I somehow seem to rest my finger on the record button while holding the camcorder. Also you may need to purchase another battery that extends the life of your recording time. The one that comes with this product is about 1 1/2 hrs.
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Comments about Canon VIXIA HF M300 Flash Memory Camcorder:
I am impressed with all of the on board features. Very quick study of the menu made it easy to make adjustments without having to refer to the manual. Screen clarity is great. Battery life very nice. So far I can't find a thing to complain about. Even with the recall issue of the tiny screw on the body getting too hot;not an issue, besides who operates this camera holding their finger near that screw anyway?
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Comments about Canon VIXIA HF M300 Flash Memory Camcorder:
I use this product for testimonial interviews. It has a great zoom and easy to use. I've never dealt with this technology prior to my purchase but it was easy.
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Comments about Canon VIXIA HF M300 Flash Memory Camcorder:
This is an easy to use camera that produces great HD images. The image stabilization and auto focus both work very well and battery life exceeded by expectations. It's compact enough to fit in my wife's purse so it's gotten a lot of use as we travel with our kids.
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Comments about Canon VIXIA HF M300 Flash Memory Camcorder:
I am simply dumbfounded at the value I got from buying this camcorder. This is my first camcorder since the tape days, and I'm amazed at what this camera can do in such a small package.
I needed a camera that can be used at a Prosumer level. Manual exposure. Manual Focus. External Microphone. You got all this along with wonderful auto modes so you can just turn it on and shoot while having the option to do more cinematic/film shooting.
As many have mentioned, the low light performance is poor, and the on camera mic has a lot to be desired. However, those points I believe apply to most cameras.
It took me a little while to get used to the touch screen interface, however, now I can navigate and select painlessly. So for me, it was just a learning curve as opposed to something worth penalizing for.
I have not used the photo/still image features at all so I can't comment on them.
I plan on purchasing at least another one of these cameras to use as a 2nd/3rd camera for my short films.
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Comments about Canon VIXIA HF M300 Flash Memory Camcorder:
I ordered this camera looking for something that could handle some rough outside work, and didn't want to destroy a camera that is more expensive - but still needed HD quality. This camera delivered!
It was used to document flooding in South Dakota this spring, we have used it in studio work as an extra camera and it worked fine for this as well.
This camera does not like to record in low light, all my scenes were outside or well lit tv stage, it does alot VERY well, but low light is not one of them.
I spent the extra money on filters- another worthwhile investment. I'd buy one again if I destroyed this one!
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Comments about Canon VIXIA HF M300 Flash Memory Camcorder:
Its Great for my Family Videos!!!
Comments about Canon VIXIA HF M300 Flash Memory Camcorder:
I researched for a few days on which HD video camera to buy. When i decided on the Canon Vixia HF M300 i knew I was buying a great camera. Right out of the box, the camera is ready to use and the very simple to understand. I would recommend this camera to anyone!!
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