web analytics

Product Review: Canon VIXIA HF M52 Full HD 10x Image Stabilize Camcorder Wi-Fi Enabled with 32GB Internal Drive Plus Dual SDXC Card Slots and 3.0-Inch Touch LCD

20130409tu-canon-vixia-hf-m52-full-hd-10x-image-stabilize-camcorder-wifi-enabled-32gb-internal-drive

Summary. Shown above is the Canon VIXIA HF M52 Full HD 10x Image Stabilize Camcorder Wi-Fi Enabled with 32GB Internal Drive Plus Dual SDXC Card Slots and 3.0-Inch Touch LCD. This is a good video camcorder for those wanting high quality video at a lower price. This page provides product information. [Buy Now]

Product Description

Small and light with a sleek new design, the Canon VIXIA HF M52 Camcorder has 32GB of internal memory to record up to 12 hours of stunning HD video. Image quality is unsurpassed, thanks to the camcorder’s newly designed, professional-level Canon HD CMOS Pro Image Sensor. Intelligent IS and SuperRange Optical Image Stabilization designed for the Genuine Canon 10x HD Video Lens make every scene clear and steady. Additional features include 3.0-inch Flat Touch Panel LCD, recording in AVCHD or MP4 format, SD/SDHC/SDXC compatibility, built-in Wi-Fi, and DLNA Compliance.

Product Features

  • Genuine Canon HD Video Lens with 10x Advanced Zoom and SuperRange Optical Image Stabilization
  • Newly Designed Canon HD CMOS Pro Image Sensor is a professional-level 1/3-inch native 1920×1080 image sensor
  • Built-in Wi-Fi for wireless video transfer to a PC or online sharing sites likes YouTube and Facebook
  • 3.0-inch Flat Touch Panel LCD with a new GUI (graphical user interface) for easy touch control
  • AVCHD recording for the highest quality viewing on an HDTV or archiving, or in MP4 format for easy sharing with mobile devices or cloud applications
  • 3-inch LCD display
  • Newly Designed Canon HD CMOS Pro Image Sensor is a professional-level 1/3-inch native 1920×1080 image sensor with a new GUI (graphical user interface) for easy touch control
  • AVCHD recording for the highest quality viewing on an HDTV or archiving, or in MP4 format for easy sharing with mobile devices or cloud applications.Built-in 32 GB memory and 1 additional SD/SDHC/SDXC memory card slot

Pro Image Quality with Compact Convenience

Small and light with a sleek new design, the VIXIA HF M52 camcorder has 32GB of internal memory to record up to 12 hours of stunning HD video. Image quality is unsurpassed, thanks to the camcorder’s newly designed, professional-level Canon HD CMOS Pro Image Sensor. The high-sensitivity sensor provides outstanding resolution, better low-light performance, and beautiful, natural detail in both shadow and highlight areas. Intelligent IS and SuperRange Optical Image Stabilization designed for the Genuine Canon 10x HD Video Lens make every scene clear and steady, and new built-in features make it easy to give your videos added creativity. Operation is fun and simple with a Flat Touch Panel LCD you’ll control with your fingertips. This camcorder has the flexibility you crave: enjoy the convenience of recording in AVCHD or MP4 format to the internal flash drive or to a removable SD/SDHC/SDXC memory card. And now with built-in Wi-Fi™, you can immediately upload video directly to YouTube™, Facebook™ or your own home computer. Upload video anywhere with your iPhone™, iPad™ or iPod Touch™, and enjoy wireless viewing on your DLNA™-compatible TV.

Genuine Canon 10x HD Video Lens

Building on Canon’s decades of optical excellence, the VIXIA HF M52’s 10x HD Video Lens produces extraordinary images. The high-performance Canon HD Video Lens uses low-dispersion glass to suppress chromatic aberration, delivering crystal clear video with excellent resolution, even at the telephoto end of the zoom. Super spectra coating technology lowers flare and ghosting. The lens also features an iris diaphragm. Normally found only on professional-level camcorders, the iris diaphragm produces highly expressive video with sharply focused subjects and beautifully blurred backgrounds.

Newly Designed Canon HD CMOS Pro Image Sensor

Equipped with the same high-powered image sensor found in professional models, the compact VIXIA HF M52 camcorder captures 1080p Full HD video with the rich, vivid quality of a much more upscale camcorder. The professional-level 1/3-inch native 1920 x 1080, HD CMOS Pro Image Sensor has a large pixel size that captures more available light to deliver superb imaging. Technical refinements including a thinner on-chip microlens, improved color filter transmittance and deeper, wider photodiode allow 20% higher light transmittance*. Additional light to the sensor means that video shot in low-light situations is brighter and clearer, with better noise suppression. The newly extended dynamic range is exceptionally wide, producing enhanced gradation and natural, lifelike realism in high-contrast scenes.

*20% improved low-light performance compared to the Canon HD CMOS Pro Image Sensor used in Canon’s 2011 VIXIA Camcorders.

Record to Internal Flash Drive or SD Memory Card

The camcorder’s internal 32GB Flash Drive holds up to 12 hours of crisp, high-definition video safely and securely. With no moving parts, flash memory technology is perfectly able to withstand camcorder jolts or drops. You can also record to a removable SD memory card, making it easy to share your video with friends and family. Conveniently sized and readily available, SD cards give you up to 64GB (24 hours) of recording capacity for a combined capacity of 96GB or 36 hours. For added flexibility, you can even back up your video directly to an external hard drive by using the optional UA-100 USB Adapter.

VIXIA RECORDING TIME CHART

AVCHD


Recording Mode
1920 x 1080 Recording
1440 x 1080 Recording
Memory Capacity MXP Approx. 24 Mbps*
FXP Approx. 17 Mbps*
XP+ Approx. 12 Mbps*
SP Approx. 7 Mbps* LP Approx. 5 Mbps
4 GB
20 minutes
30 minutes
40 minutes
1 hour 10 minutes 1 hour 30 minutes
6 GB
30 minutes
45 minutes
1 hour 5 minutes
1 hour 45 minutes 2 hour 15 minutes
8 GB
40 minutes
1 hour
1 hour 25 minutes
2 hours 20 minutes 3 hours
12 GB
1 hour 5 minutes
1 hour 30 minutes
2 hours 10 minutes
3 hours 35 minutes 4 hours 35 minutes
16 GB
1 hour 25 minutes
2 hours 5 minutes
2 hours 50 minutes
4 hours 45 minutes 6 hours 5 minutes
32 GB
2 hours 55 minutes
4 hours 10 minutes
5 hours 45 minutes
9 hours 35 minutes 12 hours 15 minutes
64 GB
5 hours 55 minutes
8 hours 20 minutes
11 hours 30 minutes
19 hours 10 minutes 24 hours 30 minutes
* When recording has continued for 12 hours, it will automatically stop and then start automatically.

MP4


1280 X 720 Recording
**The maximum video recording time with the MP4 format is 30 minutes, and the maximum file size is 4GB, and when either of these conditions is met, recording will stop automatically.
9 Mbps**
4 Mbps**
4 GB
55 minutes
2 hours 5 minutes
6 GB
1 hours 25 minutes
3 hours 10 minutes
8 GB
1 hours 55 minutes
4 hours 10 minutes
12 GB
2 hours 50 minutes
6 hours 20 minutes
16 GB
3 hours 50 minutes
8 hours 25 minutes
32 GB
7 hours 40 minutes
16 hours 55 minutes
64 GB
15 hours 25 minutes
33 hours 55 minutes

SDXC Compatibility

In addition to SD memory cards, the VIXIA HF M52 camcorder is compatible with super-high capacity Secure Digital Expanded Capacity (SDXC) cards. The same convenient size as a standard SD card, an SDXC card can hold up to 2,048 GB, and provides ultra-fast data transfer. It’s an excellent option for family reunions, vacations and any time you know you’ll require extra memory.

Relay Recording

With Relay Recording, you never have to worry about whether you’re reaching maximum capacity on the camcorder’s internal flash drive. When the internal drive is full, the system automatically switches recording over to the SD memory card. This reassuring backup system means you’ll never miss capturing an important scene again.

Connect Directly to External Drives

When it comes to saving your memories, the VIXIA HF M52 camcorder offers plenty of flexibility. In addition to traditional file storage methods, you can connect the camcorder directly to an external hard disk drive by using the optional UA-100 USB adapter to store video files safely and securely without a computer, an economical option for high-capacity storage on vacations or other trips. Using a USB connection, you can even play video on a TV via the camcorder.

Manufacturer Series Model Capacity
Western Digital WD Elements Desktop WDBAAU0010HBK 1TB
My Book Essential WDBAAF0020HBK 2TB
Seagate FreeAgent Series STAC1000100 1TB
Expansion External Drives ST30500EXA101-RK 500GB

Record in AVCHD or MP4 Format

The VIXIA HF M52 camcorder gives you the flexibility of dual codec recording, allowing you to record in AVCHD or MP4 format, so you can pick the format that best suits your needs. AVCHD’s higher bit-rate and finer resolution will yield the highest quality video for viewing on an HDTV or archiving to Blu-ray™. And for use with today’s most typical video applications, the camcorder lets you record in MP4 format, too. MP4 format produces files you can share right away – with no need for conversion. Video is immediately available to upload to social networking sites like Facebook™ or YouTube™, view on an iPhone™, iPad™ or iPod Touch™.

Built-in Wi-Fi: Shoot It, Send It, See It – Wi-Fi™ Makes It Easy!

Built-in Wi-Fi™ opens up a world of new possibilities, giving you the connectivity and immediacy you expect today. The VIXIA HF M50 camcorder is a sharing device, ready to send your video wherever you like: delight faraway relatives with video of a wedding seconds after it took place; share video of your travels as they happen; post event-documenting videos online more. If you’re in an Internet hotspot, you can post video to YouTube™, Facebook™, and other sharing sites. The free Canon iOS Movie Upload app lets you upload video from the VIXIA HF M50 camcorder to your iPhone™, iPad™ or iPod Touch™ virtually anywhere. And when you send video to your smartphone or tablet, you’ll find it conveniently filed where your other videos are stored. Shoot video in your living room, and save it to the PC in your home office over your home network. Wireless setup with the VIXIA HF M50 is as quick and easy as it is with your other devices, and you can register and store up to three networks for immediate retrieval any time. Refer to the reference chart below for wireless usage details. (Click to enlarge)

20130409tu-canon-vixia-hf-m52-wireless-usability-table

DLNA™ Compliance

DLNA, the Digital Living Network Alliance, is a standard designed to increase connectivity between consumer devices of all types and brands. The VIXIA HF M52 camcorder is DLNA-compliant, and now so are many HDTVs. That means that you can use your home network to access the video stored in your camcorder with the remote control of a DLNA-compliant TV. Even if your HDTV is not DLNA-compliant, the devices connected to it (including game consoles and Blu-ray™ players) may be, which will allow you to take advantage of this feature.

Intelligent IS: Steady Shooting in Any Situation

Intelligent IS makes it easy to shoot clear, sharply focused video, even in situations that typically cause camera shake. The Intelligent IS system analyzes the shooting situation for you, then automatically switches to the image stabilization method best able to produce sharp, steady video. Four IS systems cover the gamut of shooting situations. Dynamic IS corrects minor movement and the shaking caused by walking while shooting. Macro IS delivers perfectly steady close-up shots. Powered IS comes into play when you’re using the camcorder’s powerful zoom, correcting shake that can occur in telephoto shots. Tripod Mode stops IS when the camcorder is stationary.

Increased Clarity, Adjustability: Superb Audio in Any Situation

The VIXIA HF M52 camcorder’s audio is an excellent match for its pristine image quality. The microphone has updated elements that increase clarity at medium and low frequencies, so even faint sounds are recorded clearly. Three microphone positions let you adjust recording to suit the position of the zoom or your subjects: front for monaural recording; regular for normal stereo effect; and rear for a wider, more enhanced stereo effect. Frequency response characteristics can be adjusted for the scene with several options. You can balance all frequencies for normal recording, emphasize low frequencies for impactful live music recording, attenuate low frequencies to reduce ambient noise, emphasize mid frequencies to focus on voices, or emphasize low and high frequencies to record live music with balanced lows and highs.

Normal Records with a balance throughout all frequencies.
Emphasize Low Frequencies Record scenes of live music or the like with impact.
Attenuate Low Frequencies Reduce ambient noise and sound of traffic outdoors (wind, cars, etc.)
Emphasize mid frequencies Record focusing on people’s voices
Emphasize Low and High Frequencies Record live music with balanced lows and highs

Audio Scene Select

Audio Scene Select offers five modes that automatically optimize settings based on the recording situation, making it easy to record realistic, immersive audio in a range of situations.

Optional Audio Accessories

Canon’s optional WM-V1 Wireless Microphone allows you to record high-quality audio without wires from up to 164 feet away (50m), making it ideal for ceremonies and recitals. For the ultimate home theater experience, the optional 5.1-channel Surround Sound Microphone SM-V1 captures audio quality that matches the stunning realism of your HD video. Five distinct pickup sensors capture sound from all directions, making your home movies look and sound more lifelike than ever before.

3.0-inch Flat Touch Panel LCD

Big and bright, the VIXIA HF M52’s 3.0-inch Flat Touch Panel LCD provides super intuitive control that feels instantly familiar. With a touch, you can shift focus immediately to any subject. Exposure for any area of the screen can be controlled with a touch as well. And with Touch & Track, you simply place your finger on a moving subject and the focus will follow that subject. “Pressable” buttons are also available for selecting settings and controlling camcorder operations on-screen. A new Home button on the camcorder takes you to the main LCD screen, where clear explanations of shooting modes and recording settings help you make informed choices for an exceptionally simple and enjoyable shooting experience.

Smart AUTO and Auto Tele Macro

Smart AUTO lets you capture clear, bright, well-focused video while the camcorder takes care of all the details. The system recognizes 38 shooting situations based on numerous factors, then automatically chooses the optimal settings for the situation. When you shoot a nearby subject in telephoto zoom mode, Auto Tele Macro gives your video the high-end artistic effect of a well-focused subject against a beautifully blurred background.

Cinema-Look Filters

Giving your videos more creativity is easy with new Cinema-Look Filters. Cinema Standard subdues brights and enhances darks for the feel of film. Vivid accentuates primary colors for a cheerful effect that’s perfect for kids’ birthday parties. Cool adds a bluish tint for a futuristic feel. Nostalgic recreates the look of 1970s TV shows. Sepia adds a distinctive fade and antique tint. Old Movies imparts the aged look of early cinema. Dynamic B&W creates dramatic high-contrast grayscale. Dream adds a magical look (soft-focus) for dream-like scenes. Memory produces a faded, misty look—great for flashback scenes.

Cinema Standard Recreates the warm tones and muted highlights of classic film.
Vivid Accentuates primary colors for a bright, cheerful look.
Cool Adds a bluish tint for cool, futuristic-looking scenes.
Nostalgic Recreates the look of old ‘70s TV programs.
Sepia Applies a sepia tint for an antique, faded look.
Old Movie Gives video the aged look of old cinema.
Dramatic B&W Creates bold black-and-white movies with high contrast and grain.
Dream Adds a magic soft-focus effect for dream-like scenes.
Memory Produces a faded, misty look—great for flashback scenes.

Touch Decoration

Using the camcorder’s LCD screen and an included stylus, you can embellish your recorded video freehand: draw graphics, write words, it’s completely up to you! With a choice of 27 different frame graphics, clip art and animated effects, you can give your video a whole new dimension. New, easy-to-understand icons have been incorporated that make options for animated effects clear at a glance.

Story Creator: Easy Steps to Better Videos

Creating a compelling video that truly documents an important event can be challenging, so the VIXIA HF M52 camcorder steps in to help with Story Creator. The feature is even easier to use than ever, so now even beginning videographers can cover an event with confidence. Before shooting, you’ll see a list of scenes you’ll want to be sure to catch for several different types of occasions. And now each scene selection includes specific shooting tips that help with scene structure and composition, including suggestions for wide-shots, close-ups, even recommendations for length of shots. After shooting, you can watch your video in coherent story order based on each scene’s theme, as opposed to the order in which each scene was shot.

24p Cinema and 30p Progressive Modes: Sophisticated Shooting Modes

The VIXIA HF M52 camcorder’s sophisticated shooting mode options offer superior creativity and functionality. 24p Cinema Mode gives your video a film-like feel, making it look as if it were shot at the same frame rate as movie film, with a frame capture rate of 24p recorded at 60i. The camcorder also gives you the option of recording in 30p Progressive Mode, which is ideal for clips you intend to post online.

Microphone and Headphone Terminals

The VIXIA HF M52 camcorder offers exceptional audio flexibility with microphone and headphone terminals. The microphone terminal allows you to capture professional-quality sound with an external microphone and manual audio level control ensures proper volume for any situation. In addition, you’ll find a dedicated headphone terminal, ideal for remote communication with the optional Wireless Microphone WM-V1 and other applications.

What’s in the Box?

  • VIXIA HF M52
  • Battery Pack BP-718
  • Stylus Pen
  • Compact Power Adapter CA-110
  • USB Cable IFC-300PCU/S
  • HDMI Cable HTC-100/S
  • Bundled CD-ROMs:
  • Pixela Video Browser / Network Utility Software Disc
  • ImageBrowser EX / Image Mix /
  • Music Data Disc

Canon Product Page

Below is information from the Canon product page for the VIXIA HF M52.

Features

  • A Genuine Canon 10x HD Video Lens with SuperRange Optical Image Stabilization provides unsurpassed, professional-looking image quality.
  • Newly designed Canon HD CMOS Pro Image Sensor is a professional-level 1/3-inch native 1920 x 1080 image sensor which delivers outstanding video resolution, improved low-light performance*, and a wide dynamic range.
    • *20% improved low-light performance compared to the Canon HD CMOS Pro Image Sensor used in Canon’s 2011 VIXIA Camcorders.
  • Record up to 12 hours of crisp high-definition video to a 32GB internal flash drive or directly to a removable SD memory card (SDHC/SDXC compatible); Relay Recording automatically switches video recording to the memory card when the internal drive becomes full.
  • Choose to record in AVCHD for the highest quality viewing on an HDTV or archiving, or in MP4 format for easy sharing with mobile devices or cloud applications.
  • Built-in Wi-Fi® allows you to wirelessly share your images and video through CANON iMAGE GATEWAY*; on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube or send to a PC. Upload virtually anywhere on your iPhone®, iPad®, or iPod touch® device with the free Canon Movie Uploader app, and enjoy wireless viewing on your DLNA compatible TV or through other DLNA devices.
    • *CANON iMAGE GATEWAY Online Photo Album available starting February 14, 2012. One-time registration is required. To use CANON iMAGE GATEWAY, a camcorder firmware update (Version 1.1.0.0) and Canon CameraWindow software update (Version. 8.8) is required.
  • Intelligent IS automatically chooses from four different modes to optimize image stabilization for the shooting condition.
  • Audio Scene Select enables easy operation and setup for outstanding audio that complements the pristine image quality.
  • 3.0-inch Flat Touch Panel LCD with a new graphical user interface (GUI) offers fast and easy control right at your fingertips.
  • Smart AUTO makes shooting great videos easy by intelligently selecting the best settings from 38 predefined situations including Auto Tele Macro that provides spectacular close-ups and the dramatic look of a video shot with shallow depth-of-field.
  • Cinema-Look Filter offers nine different built-in filters to create video with a variety of professional cinematic looks and Touch Decoration allows you to superimpose and record a variety of fun and exciting images for a creative flair.
  • Story Creator provides a list of suggested scenes that have improved shooting tips to help you produce your own masterpiece.
  • 24p Cinema Mode provides the look and feel of a Hollywood movie and 30p Progressive is ideal for clips intended to be posted on the web.
  • Microphone terminal with manual audio level control, and headphone terminal provide exceptional flexibility.

Main Unit Specs

Standard Definition or High Definition High Definition
Television System NTSC
Video Recording system AVCHD/MPEG-4
Image Sensor 1/3-inch HD CMOS PRO, RGB Primary Color Filter
Total Pixels Approx. 2.37 Megapixels
Effective Pixels Video: Approx. 2.07 Megapixels (1920 x 1080)
Photo:Approx. 2.07 Megapixels (1920 x 1080)
Maximum recording Time 32 GB Internal Flash Drive in AVCHD:LP (5Mbps):
12 hours 15 minutesSP (7Mbps):
9 hours 35 minutes

XP+ (12Mbps):
5 hours 45 minutes

FXP (17Mbps) – Allows 1920 x 1080 recording:
4 hours 10 minutes

MXP (24Mbps) – Allows 1920 x 1080 recording:
2 hours 55 minutes

32 GB Internal Flash Drive in MP4:
4Mbps: 16 hours 55 minutes

9Mbps: 7 hours 40 minutes

Lens Zoom Ratio:
10x Optical/200x Digital*Focal Length:
6.1-61mm35mm Film Equivalent:
Optical Zoom: 43.4-436mm (in both movies and photos)Zoom Speed:
Variable / 3 Fixed Zoom Speeds
Max F/Stop: f/1.8-3.0
Focusing System TTL (Through The Lens) + Instant AF
Manual Exposure Yes
Programmed AE Auto, Manual*1, Cinema Mode*2*1 P, Tv, Av, SCN*3
*2 P, Tv, Av
*3 Portrait, Sports, Snow, Beach, Sunset, Night, Low Light, Spotlight, Fireworks, Underwater, Surface
Max Shutter Speed Movie: 1/2000 sec.
Still Image: 1/500 sec.
Minimum Focusing Distance When tele macro is in effect: 10 mm to ∞ (wide end), 1 m to ∞ (intermediate zooming range), 40 cm to ∞ (tele end) When tele macro is not in effect: 10 mm to ∞ (wide end), 1 m to ∞ (entire zooming range)All figures given are for the distance from the lens front.
White Balance Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent H, Fluorescent
Minimum Illumination NTSC: 1.2 lx
0.1 lx in Low Light Mode (shutter speed 1/2 sec.)
Image Stabilization Optical System (Lens-shift system) Intelligent IS in Auto mode:

– Dynamic IS (default)
– Powered IS
– Macro IS
– Tripod Mode

IS Modes other than Intelligent IS; Dynamic IS and Powered IS settings can be made manually in Manual/Cinema Mode:

– Standard IS
– IS Off

Filter Diameter 43mm P0.75
Viewfinder Not Available
LCD Screen 3.0-inch Widescreen Color Touch Panel LCD (Approx. 230,000 dots)
Recording Media Built-in 32 GB memory and 1 additional SD/SDHC/SDXC memory card slot**
USB Terminal mini-AB: Hi-Speed USB supported
Video Terminal Composite (output)
Audio AVCHD: Dolby Digital AC3 (2 Channel)
MP4: MPEG-2 AAC-LC (2 Channel)Sampling Frequency: 48 KHz
Accessory Shoe Mini Advanced Accessory shoe availableHowever, only the video light function is provided by the VFL-2 video light flash (the Flash function has no effect).
Supplied Video Editing Software Video Browser Editing Disc
ImageBrowser Disc
Network Utility Disc
HDMI Terminal Available; Mini connector, CEC, x.v. Color supported
Microphone Terminal 3.5 mm dia. stereo mini-jack
AV Mini Terminal/Headphone Terminal 3.5 mm dia. 4 pole mini-jack (video/audio output only)
Operating Temperature range 23° to 113° F, 60% relative humidity32° to 104° F, 85% relative humidity (performance)
Dimensions (W x H x D) 2.7 x 2.5 x 4.8 in / 68 x 64 x 121 mm (Not including the grip belt)
Weight (not including battery pack and memory card) Approx. 12.3 oz. (350g)
Weight Approx. 10.9 oz. / 310g (Not including grip belt)
Approx. 12.9 oz. / 365g (Including BP-718, memory card and Grip Belt)
* Movie mode only.
** Use of Class 4 or above (4, 6 or 10) memory cards is recommended for recording MXP or FXP (1920 x 1080 pixel recording) movies. For other recording formats, a Class 2 or higher card is recommended. Also, movie (AVCHD/MP4) recording requires cards with 128MB of memory or more.

By Greg Johnson

Greg Johnson is a freelance writer and tech consultant in Iowa City. He is also the founder and Director of the ResourcesForLife.com website. Learn more at AboutGregJohnson.com