Canon HG10 AVCHD High Definition Camcorder with Optical Image Stabilizer by Canon
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Digital camera reviews of Canon HG10 AVCHD High Definition Camcorder with Optical Image Stabilizer
Digital camera Review: Excellent Camera
Summary: 5 Stars
I purchased this camera for myself prior to a trip to Europe, and, although my review is based on preliminary observations, I have to say, I am really impressed. The camera is easy to operate - it takes the hard drive about 3-10 seconds to warm up. The flipout LCD's menu is intuitive, and the picture is *fantastic*. I was considering the Sony hard drive based camera, but I'm really glad I chose this one and saved a considerable amount of money.Digital camera Review: Excellent Camera
Summary: 5 Stars
We bought this camera in anticipation of the birth of our first child. It is everything we expected. With adequate light, the video is crystal clear. There are quite a bit of noise in poorly lit environment but that is expected. Another advantage is that this camera share the same battery footprint as my Canon DSLR (Rebel XT) so I gain an extra charger and spare batteries, even if they are at lower capacity; which is good to have in a pinch.
The software is adequate and we have no problem converting them into DVDs.
Digital camera Review: Excellent Compact HD Camcorder
Summary: 5 Stars
I have been using the Canon HG10 for a month now and couldn't be happier with the quality of the recordings. This camcorder has many useful features and no fatal flaws. I'm basing the five stars on the price/performance ratio. I'm not basing the rating on the supplied software and editing capabilities because there are too many variables with computer configurations and I just want to focus on the camera's performance. I have owned an 8mm and two Mini DV camcorders over the last twenty years and have never seen results that are anything close to what I get with this camcorder. Most of my shooting has been done with full automatic mode.
Here are the features and characteristics I really like:
First and foremost, color saturation and accuracy. Even if this wasn't high definition, I'd be pleased with it for the realistic color rendition alone.
It has very good low light shooting capability. Don't expect the crisp, smooth, colorful images you get under bright lighting, but this will pick up viewable images (albeit very grainy and low contrast) under candlelight and outside images at night under a bright moon. It works well under normal indoor lighting at night which is where I shoot a lot of video.
The auto focus is lightning fast. You won't see a lot of "hunting" to focus. The image stabilization works amazingly well. My videos haven't looked this steady since I was using my big, heavy 8mm camcorder years ago. The automatic white balance is very fast and accurate too.
The hard drive is quick, quiet, and a real convenience after dealing with tapes for years. All of the important data is embedded in the video. No more writing time and date information on tiny cassette labels. Finding a particular clip by viewing thumbnails is a huge improvement over winding a tape back and forth.
The controls are well placed and easy to use. The variable speed zoom is excellent and I really like having the option of using a viewfinder or LCD screen when shooting.
There are many more manual options than I'm used to seeing in a compact camcorder. You can control focus, aperture, frame rate, shutter speed, and more. If you've ever used a Canon digital still camera, you'll be in familiar territory with the menus, manual settings and effects. Check out cinema mode. It looks great but it does reduce the contrast and brightness slightly.
The still photo mode produces very good pictures. At about 2.7 megapixels, it won't compete with current dedicated digital still cameras for resolution, but the results are fine if you don't blow the pictures up too big. The excellent optics and image sensor really help here.
A few things I don't like:
Having to plug in the AC adapter to transfer video files to a computer. I know this is to protect the hard drive, but it is a nuisance. Still images can be transfered under battery power.
Mini SD card for storing still images. Storing still images on the hard drive would be convenient but would probably complicate playback. My gripe is that you have to use a mini and not a regular SD card. Regular SD cards are generally cheaper and easier to find. The memory card was not included. Including a small capacity card wouldn't add much to the cost of the camera and would mean the still photo mode will work right out of the box. I had to order a card and wait an extra week before I could use the still photo mode. Not a big deal, but I think everything should be ready to go right away.
Specialized connections for HDMI and component video. For HDMI, it uses a Mini to standard HDMI cable which is not included. Mini to standard HDMI cables are more expensive and harder to find than standard to standard HDMI cables. Component video is accessed by a special type of mini plug for the camera. The cable is included, but if it's lost or damaged, it could be difficult to find a replacement. Using the composite video output downconverts the resolution from 1080i to 480p. Even at 480p, the video still looks very good. The composite A/V cable is also included.
I consider these minor drawbacks; not quite enough for me to dock the rating by a star.
A couple of things I'm neutral on are the flash and the built in microphone. The built in microphone I would consider good, but average. The flash works well for still images but seems to have a somewhat shorter useful range than the built in flash on a lot of dedicated digital still cameras. It won't help much beyond eight to ten feet. You can attach a stronger flash to the hot shoe.
To sum everything up;
Stunning video quality. Good still images are a bonus (see customer images).
Good sound. Can be improved by using an external microphone.
Easy to use. Good control layout. You can hold and operate it with one hand. Image stabilization really helps with one handed operation.
Automatic mode works really well and there are lots of manual control options if you want to tweak them.
For the first time, I'm getting video that looks as good or better than anything I see on broadcast television!
Digital camera Review: Excellent Value
Summary: 4 Stars
This camcorder has everything I needed...high definition video quality, internal hard drive (AND flash drive), user-friendliness, etc. Using to create training videos at work.Digital camera Review: Excellent camcorder with few issues...
Summary: 4 Stars
I was looking for a Camcorder that:
a) Did both still images and video reasonably well
b) Gave me the ability to walk into any event with only one device to carry (kids soccer games to parties to a 2 week vacation)
c) Easy to use, with good picture quality
d) Minimal hassles all the way from shooting the video/stills to downloading and modifying the video/stills.
d) Wasn't bleeding edge! So, I was paying through my nose.
e) Wouldn't be outdated in a matter of a year.
This lead me to the Canon HG10. It is an excellent Camcorder with really good video capture. The optics on this camera are great. The 10X optical zoom was just at the edge of recording steady video while holding it.
Highlights:
1) Stunning video
2) Still images look very good (not great)
3) Zoom serves our needs for most indoor shooting. Not great for outdoor but adequate and we have not run into a need where the action was not captured in detail.
4) Video compression using AVCHD makes for ample recording time on the 40 GB hard drive.
5) Image stabilizer works well and removes any shaking (trembling)
6) Easy to use menu system that did not require me to consult a manual
7) Basic connectors to laptop, TV part of package
8) Charges with both 220V and 110V power source (important for vacations)
9) Price is lesser than most comparable quality cameras
Lowlights:
1) Feels a bit combersome to use if you have bigger hands
2) Not as small or light as the other newer camcorders that have hard drives
3) Video software is unintuitive
4) Zoombrowser is not as good as Picasa (freeware from Google) for most still image tasks.
5) The AVCHD video is unrecognized by Windows Media but plays on it once you manually configure it.
6) Not a lot of editing capabilities for HD video
7) This is not true 1080P (I was not looking for it though)
8) There are very few functions that are available in still mode (so it does not do more than Aim, Zoom and Shoot)
9) You have to splurge on a MiniSD card (additional $40) for still images (otherwise that mode is disabled)
10) HDMI cables are extra and cost a pretty penny (true for most camcorders)
This camcorder served most of our requirements but for good still images, I will still have to reach for a camera. For most casual shooting, this is a perfect camcorder/camera and we are loving it!