Vixia HF R400 - Grainy video at higher resolutions! Normal?

[spfttt]

Hi folks. I am wondering if this is typical of this product. Playback of video is crisp and colorful, but VERY grainy when recorded at the highest resolutions i.e.: 35 mbsp (MPG-4 @ 60p). I recorded indoors in low to medium to medium-high lighting. My card is Sandisk Pixtor SDHC Class 10 32 gb. I viewed the playback on a hi res TV with HDMI connection. I can also see the grain in the camera's screen.

I would like to know if this is typical so I can decide on getting a different camcorder. Thanks much!

[GeorgeC]

Hello,

I have the same issue with a Canon Legria HF R46 that I recently got. I am curios for the reason this is happening and if I should hurry back to the store and change it !!!!

[spfttt]

Well, I did exchange the HF R400 for another HF R400 and get the same exact results.

[GeorgeC]

I am by far no expert in camcorders but having this grainy issue on a HD declared device is worrying !

Is there any expert on these forums (maybe a Canon representative) that could at least explain this to us so we can sleep well at night ? 🙂

Edit: I also forgot to mention that I have the grainy effect also on the camcorder screen and on all resolutions. True that it is harder to spot on the small screen but when played on a TV or a 21" monitor the effect is clearly present. I tried both the MP4 and AVCHD movie formats and the same effect is present...

[Yella]

It sounds like noise. That is typical in low light situations when the camera is at the limits of it's sensitivity. It is normal.

[GeorgeC]

Thank you for your imput. True that it is more obvious in darker situations and upon further research on the web it seems that at least what I have seems to be normal.

Thank you!