Canon Legria HF R606 Camcorder - Image Stabilization?

Hi all,

I'm thinking about buying a Canon Legria HF R606 Camcorder because handheld moving footage is always really shaky on my Canon 700d.

Has anyone got this camcorder and can you say if the image stabilization is good enough.

I intend to use it as a kind of steadicam for walk-and-talk shots for factual documentaries, filming a presenter addressing the camera while walking along.

Many thanks,

D

I don't have that but we use the HF-G30 and XA25 on various GlideCams. On the HF R606 remember the lens only goes to 32.5mm on the wide end (if using Canon's "Advanced Zoom"), otherwise it's 38.5mm. While consumers want the maximum zoom and telephoto possible, in real life you often need the widest possible angle.

Steady hand held footage while walking is difficult with almost any camera. In most cases a small DSLR (or similar mirrorless) with an optically stabilized lens on a Glide/Steadi Cam can do OK for brief clips. A camcorder is better but the footage looks more videoish and DOF is deeper. That said we often use the XA25 even on the big GlideCam X10 vest and HD4000. However I'm increasingly not a fan of the camcorder "look", esp. if intercutting with larger-sensor material.

If you're thinking about doing it without any external stabilization, that is really hard. The superior optical stabilization of a camcorder would be better. Using that plus digital stabilization in post can sometimes yield some usable material but it's better to stabilize it at capture time.

If your 700D doesn't have an optically stabilized lens that might be the problem. If it does and you aren't using a small external stabilizer (e.g. GlideCam HD1000 or 2000), that's another option vs getting the camcorder.

We use a GlideCam with several different cameras and love it.