Help choosing video camera

Forgive me if I'm in the wrong category.

I'm searching for a video camera and narrowed down to the four choices you'll see in the link provided. I'm trying to determine why one camera is a much greater price when it appears the features of it are less than another camera. To be more specific, I'm viewing the Canon Vixia HF R400 (second from left on comparison page) and that of the Vixia HF M52 (far right). The R400 appears to have better optic capability, better video format capability and more input/output connections than the HF M52, yet the HF M52 is roughly $500 more.

Can someone explain what I'm missing?

Thank you

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …3B838772-REG%3B838769-REG

The sensor on the m52 is significantly larger with larger photosites which equates to much better low-light performance.

Bob

Is that enough to warrant a $500 price difference?

Well, Canon thinks it is! If you are going to be shooting in low-light conditions, it could mean the difference between a clean image and a noisy mess. If you will always shoot in bright daylight it might not mean as much. The sensor is arguably the most important part of the camera. You're asking about a $500 difference in price; there are other cameras where a different sensor makes a $10k difference.

http://www.red.com …rade#stage_epic​-x-upgrade

Bob

Wow, I didn't realize such.

Is there any way to determine the definition of "low light"? Or perhaps a spec sheet of some sort calculating the specs on a camera and what low light specs it equates with.

Thank you.

Meanie wrote in post #16396388
Wow, I didn't realize such.

Is there any way to determine the definition of "low light"? Or perhaps a spec sheet of some sort calculating the specs on a camera and what low light specs it equates with.

Thank you.

It is right there in your comparison chart. Look for "Lux". Then read this:

What is Lux?

Bob

Ok, one last question as I hate to be a pest, but when reading the specs on the M52, it states the LUX @ 1.2 for regular mode and .1 in low light mode. Does that mean the lowest it'll go is 1.2 and still maintain a good quality (no grain or less grainy) and the same if set to low light mode?

Thank you again for helping me understand.

I'm going to guess that low-light mode is infra-red. The picture will be colorless.

If you go to Canon's website, you should be able to download the manual for any camera you are looking at.

Bob