Legria HF S11

The basics

The LEGRIA HF S11 is a full-HD (1920x1080 pixels) camcorder that offers manual video and audio controls, 8MP stills and Dual Flash Memory – giving you the option to record to either built-in memory (for up to 24 hours of footage) or SD/SDHC cards. There’s also a 10x optical zoom for getting close to the action.

The good

Progressive recording is the mode favoured by high-end digital cameras such as the Red but it’s also on the LEGRIA HF S11, where it’s known as 25p Cinema mode. This helps to give videos a more cinematic quality.

The mode’s also good for boosting the results when shooting in low-light conditions and the inclusion of an optical image stabiliser keeps shots steadier without affecting image quality. Videos themselves are knockout, with sharpness and clarity courtesy of an f1.8 lens, while the manual controls give almost total image and audio control.

The bad

The inclusion of so much functionality and expensive flash memory on the LEGRIA HF S11 means it’s a significant investment and warrants a lot of moviemaking from you. Functionality is, on the whole, good but the joystick controller on the 2.7in LCD screen will cause inexperienced users a few problems – as it’s fiddly.

Headphone and microphone terminals are here but there’s no optical viewfinder – a feature video enthusiasts are often drawn to: for more professional framing of shots.

The bottom line

Exemplary images and a range of menu options that puts creative control at your fingertips means the LEGRIA HF S11 is a joy to shoot with. The addition of a viewfinder and some improved functionality would only improve the overall picture.