Canon VIXIA HF10 Flash Memory High Definition Camcorder with 16 GB Internal Flash Memory and 12x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom by Canon
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Digital camera reviews of Canon VIXIA HF10 Flash Memory High Definition Camcorder with 16 GB Internal Flash Memory and 12x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom
Digital camera Review: Excellent HD camcorder...I hope you have a good computer...
Summary: 5 Stars
Like others here, I was also in the market for an HD camcorder to take advantage of my HDTV, and because I didn't want to spend $300 for a standard-def camcorder now, only to have to upgrade a year or two later...so I took the plunge.
I actually originally purchased the Canon HG-10, because it received excellent reviews. Within a couple of days of playing around with that camera (which had a HDD rather than Flash memory), I was less than blown away by the quality. It was GOOD mind you...just not GREAT.
Amazon was EXCELLENT with their return policy, and I shipped it back and ordered the Canon HF-10.
As is ALWAYS the case with Amazon, not only did they give me ZERO hassles with my return, I also received my new camcorder fast and in perfect condition. Seriously, KUDOS to Amazon. They are my most trusted online purchasing site...hands down.
Anyway, I went with the HF-10, because I truly believe that Flash memory is the way to go. I've noticed recently in stores like 6th Avenue, the salespeople really are pushing the HDD camcorders, and their reasoning is recording time. That you can get X amount of hours on a 60GB HDD, whereas you only get X amount on a 16GB Flash.
Big deal. First, the battery is only going to last around an hour to an hour and a half. Second, most of my filming is done in about 1 to 5 minute clips. Thirdly, and the part they really don't like to mention in the stores, is that Flash memory is completely expandable. The cost of cards has come WAY down. So, if you're on vacation, and you don't have a computer to transfer your video to...just pack a couple of extra memory cards. With an HDD camcorder...if you fill it, you're screwed.
Of course, I don't mean to say HDD camcorders are not good, they're great. I just prefer the Flash. It's more versatile.
Another reason I went with Flash memory, is its resistance to damage.
We've all had computers whose HDDs have crashed at some point, or gotten corrupt.
I wouldn't feel too good spending $600 bones only to have my HDD fail on me. If that goes, the camera is useless.
If your Flash memory goes...pop another card in.
Less moving parts = less chance of failure or damage. Pretty simple.
Now as for the HF-10 itself, it's a small, comfortable, elegant design.
The built-in 16GB of internal Flash is PLENTY of space for day-to-day use.
If you go on vacation, you will probably want to pack 1 or 2 more cards with you...but honestly, how many hours of tourist movies are you going to make?
The video quality is SUPERB. Beautiful colors, but best taken in adequate lighting. Low-light quality is not that great...but it's really not that great on ANY consumer-level camcorder. At least I haven't found one.
AVCHD. This is the real issue with HD recording. The new ULTRA-compressed video format.
The one that wreaks utter HAVOK on most computers. In fact, I had to buy a new computer just to edit my video. I was using a 4 year old, single core Emachines computer that just wasn't up to the task of editing my HD video.
But the HDD was going anyway, so I had to buy a new computer recently.
I picked up an HP Pavillion Elite Quad-Core with a 750GB HDD.
Now, I can edit AVCHD EFFORTLESSLY.
So, bottom line...if you want to take HD movies, the Canon HF-10 is a beautiful, elegant and powerful camcorder for the average consumer.
But make sure your PC is up to the task. Believe me...it makes a HUGE difference.
You WILL be frustrated with an older computer.
If you have the PC...this is a MUST BUY.
Digital camera Review: Excellent Quality - some unfortunate characteristics
Summary: 3 Stars
I would easily give this a 5 star - I work with video in my industry so I can manage with some of the little frustrations that any format or camera that shoots it can bring with it but when...
1) ...recording on the fly is a must, this camera on occasion right after hitting the record button will pause for about 3 or 4 seconds to read the memory card. DO you realize I just missed my daughter's first step? Or her first word? Or something that will NOT happen again??? This was a MAJOR disappointment to me. The accessing of the SD card is SLLLLOOOOWWWW!
2) Software on the Mac cannot play this format in real time - too much data. So I figured I will send it off into a DVD recorder and simply play it out through the camera - it plays each file without pauses in between. Well there's some information in the display that shows up when you play it and it cannot be turned off. Another MAJOR frustration!
3) For some reason, when I am shooting footage and the camera goes through an area with low light, the picture gets VERY grainy and drops to about 5 frames per second until the light returns. What the heck is that all about? Don't downgrade the frames on my footage!!!!! I'd rather just have the graininess!
I'm not pleased with the above mentioned AT ALL. It seems like a "Duh" factor as to that fact that is should be resolved. BUT, if you get this camera in a well lit environment with lots of vivid colors and set your white balance, the clarity, color and definition is beyond gorgeous.
If I were to start over with the purchase of an HD video camera, I would rethink this one, knowing what I know about it and try to find a camera that avoids the issues listed above. Those things are just too important to an active videographer like me. I want something that is ready to go when I am.
Digital camera Review: Excellent camcorder
Summary: 5 Stars
Just bought this camcorder recently and it is excellent. I can easily shoot high def video onto the internal flash drive and then copy to a removable flash drive. Using my iMac, I simply copy the video files onto my hard drive and then stream them in their native format to my PS3 for playback on my high def plasma TV. If I want to edit videos, then I can easily use iMovie (although when pulling the videos over from the camcorder they are converted to another file type which is larger in size than the native AVHCD files). Overall, this is an excellent device with superb video quality, compact size and portability. Easily to use, but invest in a second battery as the primary battery lasts about an hour before it needs to be charged again.Digital camera Review: Excellent camera! Beautiful video images
Summary: 4 Stars
The Vixia HF 10 is the best video camera I've ever owned. The controls are easy to use, the screen is clear and crisp, and the sound is clean. I'm surprised at the quality for the price. I took video at a party that was loaded with florescent lights and I had no noticeable color shift. Everything looked clean and clear even using the auto focus feature. I mean this thing locks in perfectly on the subject matter. The new AVCHD format is wonderful. I like the fact that the camera has the option to use a SD card. I am also impressed that it takes still shots that I can actually look at without cringing. Back in December I purchased the Sony DCR-SR45 and it was a bad choice for me. I ended up giving it to my 13 year old. I'm not slamming the SR45 because it was never meant to compete at the HD level. It just fell short of my personal expectations. Canon could have gone cheap with features but they kept the quality factor in. They managed to give you an external mic jack and a headphone out. This flash based video camera is an excellent value and it delivers exactly what they promised, and more.Digital camera Review: Excellent camera, almost all i hoped for, software is a little weak...
Summary: 4 Stars
This is an excellent camera, it fulfills all my needs, I'd have really appreciated a few more options but I can't really complain.(I wanted to be able to mount the camera upside down or sideways and would have liked a feature to flip the video so that the resulting pictures were always the correct orientation when played back... but the feature is not there... ah well), I'd also have liked a 'stop frame' mode, take a shot every 10 seconds and pull them together as a movie...
Other than these 'missing' features the camera is excellent, the small size, the ruggedness, the battery life, the video clarity, the image stabilization, and the low light behavior are all excellent (you will notice graininess at low light but all cameras do this and this is not the worst by any means)
My only gripe is that the video standard used in the resulting movie files is not very widely used yet so finding programs that can edit the video is difficult or expensive.