LEGRIA HF M506 is equipped with a 1/3-inch 2.37-megapixel HD CMOS PRO image sensor featuring a RGB color filter. The HD CMOS PRO image sensor inherits some of the best CMOS technologies from the renowned EOS digital SLR camera. Gapless microlenses is incorporated and the distance between the microlenses and photodiodes are narrowed down in order to strengthen light-gathering capabilities. With a pixel-pitch of 2.75μm and a photodiodes structure design that enhances photoelectric conversion rate, signal to noise ratio is also improved, guaranteeing images with wider dynamic range and minimal noise. The wider dynamic range can retain more image details in light and dark areas even in high contrast situations, best for capturing the delicate skin tone.

LEGRIA HF M52 features DIGIC DV III Digital Image Processor optimum for HD videography for quick processing of massive HD 1080i data. The processor handles video and image data in separation with enhanced algorithm speed and efficiency. The captured HD video and images are guaranteed with image sharpness and rich colors in excellent tonal gradation.

LEGRIA HF M52 is compatible with SD, SDHC & SDXC memory cards as recording media to bring expanded and more flexible recording capacity. Unconstrained recording can be achieved through unlimited memory expansion simply by replacing the memory cards. Users no longer have to worry about the limited recording memory even when access to computer is unavailable. The dual memory camcorder LEGRIA HF M52 features a built-in 32GB Flash Memory respectively which enables recording up to 12 hours or 3 hours of HD video under LP mode. LEGRIA HF M52 also supports Relay Recording function. When the Flash Memory is used up, the camcorder will automatically shift to SD, SDHC or SDXC memory cards to continue the recording, ensuring no single moment will be missed even for long time recording. In addition, as Flash Memory involves no mechanical structures, the new camcorder possesses advantages of fast start-up, low-power consumption, silent operation, compact body and vibration resistance. Reliable and steady video performance is thus guaranteed.

LEGRIA HF M52 features a new Audio Scene Selection for simplified audio setting customization. 5 Audio Scenes are available for selection, including Standard, Musical Performance, Speech, Forest & Bird Sound and Noise Suppression. Once selected, the camcorder will automatically adjust to the optimal audio setting to provide the best possible microphone recording direction, audio frequency response as well as sound level for different recording scenes. With quick and easy operation, you can achieve realistic and immersive audio effect for your videos. Manual audio setting is also provided for more precise controls to meet the specific requirement in other situations.

LEGRIA HF M52 adds an extra dimension of creativity to the videos with Cinema-Look Filters, Story Creator and Touch Decoration:

Built-in Cinema-Look Filters
9 Cinema - Look Filters including:
Cinema Standard - adjust the lighting contrast for enhanced cinema style
Dream - a soft focus feel for a magical effect
Old Movies - reproduce the simulated scratch lines and jitters
Sepia - use sepia tint for an antique and faded look
Nostalgic - recreate the look of old 70s TV programs in high contrast and low saturation
Memory - a misty look for a flashback feel
Vivid - bright and cheerful colors
Cool - a bluish tint for a futuristic look
Dramatic Black & White - a high contrast monochromatic look

Story Creator provides 5 themes to choose from, including travel, kids and pets, party, ceremony and blog, for your easy creation of video stories by combining clips. Users can simply select a topic when shooting and follow the guidance to tell their stories. Video clips shot at different times will be re-arranged automatically based on the correct scene order during playback so users can enjoy a story-telling video well composed and edited. Every scene allows multiple video clips that can be graded for easy selection. Also, background music and songs can be added during playback, so users can create short video stories effortlessly with minimal post-production works.

A Touch Decoration function is added to the LCD touch panel. Users can draw directly on the LCD with the included stylus pen to add text and drawings for video embellishment. A range of frames, stamps, date, time and animation effects are available for selection. You can even mix the effects together to achieve the desired result easily.

LEGRIA HF M52 features 38 Auto Scene Detection Modes. Simply by pointing the camcorder to the subject or scene, the system will combine human subject, shooting distance, brightness, color temperature and movement information to analyze, and automatically select the optimum shooting scene out of as many as 38 different pre-set scene modes. Detecting not only general subjects like people, landscapes or macro objects, it can also detect daylight, night scenes or backlit conditions and adjust to different shooting modes. What’s more, it can recognize blue skies and sunsets to capture beautiful blue skies and magnificent sunsets in rich colors by adjusting color saturation and expanding dynamic range. Even the subjects are moving under a bright, backlit or blue skies, the camcorder can still automatically determine the optimum shooting setting. Focus and exposure, as well as white balance, ISO settings and dynamic range can be adjusted automatically with no manual setting needed. Best results of vivid and sharp videos can be achieved effortlessly. In addition, a Tele Macro mode will be enabled automatically when taking macro shots of nearby subjects in telephoto zoom range. Tele Macro mode supports shooting of subjects as close as 40cm, bringing the subjects closer to the camcorder and is best for telephoto shooting in narrow spaces for impressive compressed effect and shallow depth of field. This can also avoid blocking of light due to close-range shooting for enhanced shooting flexibility.

LEGRIA HF M52 is equipped with a new Intelligent Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) where the camcorder will automatically switches among 4 types of stabilization modes including Dynamic IS, Powered IS, Marco IS and Tripod Mode according to shooting conditions. This can minimize camcorder vibration or hand shake to ensure steady and smooth videos at all times.

Supported by the accurate and rapid processing technology of DIGIC DV III digital image processor, LEGRIA HF M52 features Face Detection function. Coupled with the ultra-fast Instant AF System combining an external AF sensor with a built-in TTL auto focusing system for instant focusing, the function can ensure focus and exposure to be stabilized and aligned instantaneously by tracing the faces to improve the accuracy and speed of focusing. The metering system can adjust for exposure setting automatically to correct back-lit, over or under exposed images, which guarantees natural and sharp video even recording under unfavorable conditions.

For convenient and direct saving of videos to external hard disk, LEGRIA HF M52 supports direct backup to external hard disk simply via USB connection. Video backup can be done easily without the need of a computer.