Even though camcorders are not as popular as they used to be, the Vixia HF R700 is still a great alternative for anyone that’s looking to shoot a lot of short videos often. The Vixia HF is ideal for families, fun times, and travel memories. Its 3.28 megapixel Full HD CMOS Image Sensor allows you to capture your moments in a crisp 1920 x 1080 resolution, and its battery life lasts about 180 minutes, which is about the same as the Zoom Q3HD camcorder.
The video camera is also equipped with a DIGIC DV4 image processor, which allows you to record brighter dark scenes and records in AVCHD and MP4 formats for easier sharing. With these features, it just might be the best vlogging camera you find at that price.
Why We Like It – Canon Vixia HF R700
Launched in 2016, the Canon Vixia HF R700 is an entry-level camcorder that offers a lot of value for its sub $200 price tag. It comes with a 32x optical zoom lens, making it very suitable for shooting long-distance action without interrupting the scene. If you’re not sure if these features are right for you, take a look at our guide on how to choose the best digital camera.
- Touchscreen LCD
- 57x Digital Zoom
- Zoom Framing Assist for keeping objects in the frame
- No WiFi
Performance
The 57x advanced zoom isn’t the only trick that the Vixia HF R700 Camcorder has in store. It also features a Zoom Framing Assist setting that allows you to keep track of your subject, Intelligent Image Stabilization where involuntary camera movements and shaking get corrected, and a Super Range Optical Stabilizer which maintains continuous adjustment when shooting at wide-angle focal lengths. The Canon Vixia can get you those crisp, clear shots, especially with the SuperRange Optical Image Stabilizer corrections, but the camera’s rather limited in onboard storage memory. Due to a lack of onboard memory, the HFR700 directly records into a memory card, but if an SD card isn’t enough, the camera also accommodates SDXC cards, which have a capacity of up to 2048 GB. It however doesn’t have 4K video recording capabilities like the Panasonic Lumix LX10 or the Sony FDRX3000.
Design
This camcorder is designed to fit very well in your hands, and like the Canon PowerShot G7 X, it comes with a 3-inch touch panel LCD screen that is quite easy to navigate. It looks great even when outside, and also bears a very intuitive user interface. The camcorder weighs about half a pound, which is great especially if you’re holding it to vlog. On its front, you’ll find its 3.28 Megapixel lens that is powered by a Full HD CMOS Image Sensor. It also features built-in optical image stabilization for steady shots. For good audio, owners can choose to connect an external mic through its audio jack, but they’ll have to fully rely on an external SD Card since there’s no WiFi or Bluetooth for media sharing. Visit our Canon Vixia HF R72 review if you want to record in 1080p.
Value
One particular feature that you don’t get with many cameras is the Canon Vixia’s Advanced Baby Mode. When selected, the Full HD camera optimizes your settings to easily capture the earliest stages of your baby’s development, and creates a diary of the videos for your own easy reference. As mentioned before, the Canon Vixia has also employed different technologies to help ensure you capture a steady shot and maintain top-level video quality. The 3.28 Megapixel Full HD CMOS Image Sensor, image processor, good optical zoom lens with digital zoom, and other specs all work smoothly together to contribute to Vixia’s great video quality. These are Super Range Optical Image stabilization and the Intelligent Image Stabilization setting. These two features are key, especially whenever you decide to make full use of its 57x digital zoom capability, which you won’t find on the Nikon D3400. As mentioned previously, the Vixia does not support WiFi or Bluetooth connectivity, so you may need to invest in extra memory cards like SD cards or SDXC cards to store and transfer your data. Also, the battery life isn’t too short, but with most cameras, you wish it could last a bit longer than it actually does. If you want another budget-friendly camera, then read our Canon Vixia HF R800 review.
Canon Vixia HF R700 Wrap Up
In as much as this review has focused on the video recording capabilities of the HFR700, the camcorder also delivers a very good image quality thanks to its Full HD CMOS image sensor. This means you can take good pictures with it, even though it is primarily designed for video recording. With all of its great features, like the SuperRange Optical Image Stabilization, Image Processor, advanced zoom capabilities, and Baby Mode, the Canon Vixia HF R700 Camcorder is a great video camera to consider for time with friends, family outings, etc. that also has an easy-to-carry design so you can easily capture all the memories you’re making with reliable video and image quality.
