Canon Legria HF S21

The Canon HF S21 is a loaded camcorder that comes with a huge 3.5-inch LCD, an electronic viewfinder, and an alternate frame rate for capturing HD video (50i, PF25). The Canon HF S21 did well on much of our testing, but the JVC GZ-HM1 actually beat it out in color accuracy and stabilisation. The biggest differences between these two models, however, may be the fact that the Canon costs £200 more (while offering the same amount of internal memory as the GZ-HM1).

While we like the design and feel of the HF S21 more than the GZ-HM1, we must concede that the JVC is actually the better camcorder when it comes to video performance. The GZ-HM1 does not record HD video in any frame rates other than 1080/50i, however, so if you have the need for a 25p mode then you should go with the Canon HF S21 instead. Don't be fooled by the GZ-HM1's three high-speed frame rate recording options—they don't capture high-quality video (and the clips are limited to a specific length).

Making the choice between these two models comes down to what you need from your camcorder. If you require alternate frame rates or a viewfinder, then the Canon HF S21 should be on your radar. If you're just going to be recording footage at 50i and you don't care too much about durability and chic design, then the JVC GZ-HM1 is the better choice.

	Comparison Specs
	Canon HF S21	JVC GZ-HM1
Price	£1199.99	£1093
Primary Recording Media	64GB internal flash memory	64GB internal flash memory
Secondary Recording Media	2x SD/SDHC memory card slots	SD/SDHC memory card
Image Sensor	1/2.6-inch CMOS	1/2.3-inch CMOS
Effective Pixel Count	6.01 megapixels (video) 8.02 megapixels (photo)	Unknown (gross pixel count: 10.62 megapixels)
Mic Input	Yes	Yes
LCD	3.5-inch with 922,000 pixels	2.8-inch with 207,000 pixels
Viewfinder	0.27-inch with 123,000 pixels	No
Weight	520g with battery	485g with battery
Dimensions	75 x 74 x 148mm	67 x 72 x 141mm
HD	Yes	Yes
Frame Rates	50i, PF25	1080/60i (with three low-quality slow motion modes)
Compression	MPEG4-AVC/H.264 (AVCHD)	MPEG4-AVC/H.264 (AVCHD)
Maximum Bitrate	24Mbps	24Mbps
Optical Zoom	10x	10x
Stabilisation	Optical with Dynamic and Powered IS settings	Optical with active mode

Noise at 60 lux Auto
Canon HF S21 100% Crop	JVC GZ-HM1 100% Crop

Noise Score Comparison