 Great camcorder and much improved from the last iteration | | Review Date: June 5, 2009 | | Reviewer: Peter Singh, New York, NY | By way of background I own a few other camcorders including the Canon HV20, the Canon HF10 and the Flip Mini. My shooting is primarily home video. I don't use the still picture capabilities all that much although they are nice to have.
I have been working with the HFS10 for a little while now and have the following observations.
Positives:
1. Video - First and foremost the purpose of the unit is to take good looking video in Full HD or lower formats and pick-up good sound. I find the quality to be sharp with a lot of detail. I do see a little noise or features in low light type environments with a lot of movements but minor and you have to go looking for it. The camera more than makes up for it when you take it outside on a sunny day when the color and the detail is staggering.
2. Sound - Like its predecessor the HF10 I find the internal mic to be excellent and it picks up most audio in the scene including things you didn't hear while shooting. Also I don't hear any of the whirring or machine noise I sometimes heard in prior models. I own an external mic but for the amateur shooting I do the audio quality is great and its nice not to have to lug accessories around.
3. - A lot of attention has been focused on the dual memory and the higher recording capacity at 32GB. For me 32GB is more than enough before I archive so I don't use external SD cards. What is nice is that the transfer to and from the camera seems to be a little faster than older models which to me means that the internal flash memory is faster.
4. Ease of use - There are a number of usability features that I really like. First and foremost this is a very easy to use camera since my 8 year old niece picks it up and takes excellent video with it. The improvement that I really value over the HF10 is the dual shot mode where you can take a picture while you are shooting video. While I prefer the picture quality of my dedicated camera to be able to do both at the same time and produce good looking pictures with a lot of detail is a very nice feature. The screen is clear and crisp.
5. The lens - A lot has been written about the igh quality CMOS sensor and the professional albeit entry level professional lens and it does translate into good video and photo. A almost frivolous observation, side by side with the Canon HF 10 this lens looks like its twice the width.
What I don't like:
1. Controls are still not as intuitive and easy to use particularly the controls on the screen but they are by no means difficult. In my perfect world this would come with an IPOD touch like interface on the screen but we are not there yet.
2. I hate AVCHD. OK maybe hate is a strong word and I don't really need to edit but it would be nice. All I want to do for the most part is archive and save my memories permanently and watch them. I have figured out a workflow that works for me including saving to my NAS box and outputting on my PS3 but it took a little more work and research than I would have liked and is in my opinion is not consumer friendly enough for the typical user. Editing is a different story altogether since on both Macbook Pro and Windows using Pinnacle these files take long to work with and particularly to export using Full HD. I really want someone to come up with a solution to editing and exporting Full HD to share in a quick manner but I think that's still a little ways away.
This is not a Canon issue though since tapeless is definitely the way to go you will have these issues with just about any AVCHD camcorder.
All in all a great camcorder, highly recommended with a gentle warning to be sure to reseach an appropriate AVCHD workflow for you if you intend to shoot and watch Full HD type video.
| Quality Camera, Five Stars! | | Review Date: June 4, 2009 | | Reviewer: Ms_Ladi, | My rating is five stars to start. My only previous experience with digital video is the clips I used to take on my point-and-shoots and a one-week test of the Canon FS100.
This camera is hefty, but not too heavy, and very "cute" (yes, I'm a girl!). Immediately easy to use after charging the battery. It doesn't show fingerprints right away, but keep a cloth nearby. I first took a video of my house and immediately plugged it in to see the results. My television is not HD, but the results were clear, picturesque, and made me want to go out and do some more filming. The colors popped. Imagine what it would look like with an HD?
During zooming, it took a little time to focus when I zoomed--a second longer than I'd like--but from what I've seen with my friends' lesser quality Panasonics and Sanyos, this focuses ten times quicker than theirs. I would have been seriously frustrated had I not had this Canon.
Oh, taking still photos. I'm not a fan of the combo camera-film. It's convenient at times, but I have my SLR for that. The photos, though are great quality. I had no complaints about the quality of photo--but still won't use that feature much since I prefer taking pictures with a real camera.
The software was easy to use and I was able to save the film into a usable video format. I have one in mp4 and another in mpeg4 (same thing?). It worked, and that's my only concern. As far as battery, I was able to stop and start video taping during a 5-hour day trip, but I definitely needed to plug in the charger as soon as I got home. Serious videographers should get an extra battery. I use a Sandisk flash card, but I *LOVE* the included flash memory. To other buyers of this camera, I wouldn't rush out to buy a flash card *just yet*. Having 32GB is plenty for the first few days of shooting (in my opinion). I used the flash card for the few pics I took.
Cons? It's bigger than I would imagine a top quality flash video camera would be. | Missing the mark... | | Review Date: June 1, 2009 | | Reviewer: D. Cozza, Cambridge, MA | Pros:
- Fantastic HD recordings in high light situations.
- Superb 8 Megapixel still images in photo mode, in high light situations.
- The ability to grab 6 Megapixel stills while recording an HD movie.
- Mini video light for those somewhat dark and close shots.
- Silent zooming... no noticeable motor noise.
- Great stereo recordings.
- Insanely close-up, fully focused, macro shots.
Cons:
- Poor low light performance (stills and video).
- MUST have power adapter connected when camera is attached to USB port.
- Menus and Functions are unavailable in Dual Shot mode.
- Sounds like a loose marble inside when the lens cover is closed.
- Mini video light appears bright, but is not powerful enough.
- Mini video light makes images and recordings appear with bluish tint.
- Self timer buried in menus and has to be turned on for every use.
- No stitching mode for still images.
- Camera is incapable of focusing in low light situations (stills and video).
- LCD display only rotates 270 degrees.
- Good luck finding a "correct" spare battery.
- Shoulder/neck strap not included.
- Flash blows out image when too close.
- Menu system is not intuitive and can be confusing.
- DC IN and AV OUT terminals located in a clumsy location.
- DC IN and AV OUT terminal covers awkward to work around.
- Remote does not allow switching between play and record modes.
- Raw .MTS movie files are not directly playable on a Mac (lack of a QuickTime codec).
- Non-removeable hand strap.
- Lack of image and movie editing and stitching software (for Mac).
- Somewhat slow playback processor.
- Focal length for wide angle shots, is way too close.
If you are looking for a basic camcorder to do HD recordings, this cam may be what you are looking for, but don't count on it for much more than that.
Going by all the reviews and hype, I was excited about receiving my new S10. But after working with it for a while now, I can safely say that I am somewhat disappointed with this camcorder. It blatantly "misses-the-mark" on pricing and several key features. Many of the features it does offer are buried in the "Functions Menu", are difficult to locate and just don't work the way you would expect.
The biggest and worst problem I have with this camcorder is the focal length. In the fully zoomed out position, subjects are still far too close up for any type of useful shooting. This applies to still images and video. You are forced to step back about an extra 8 feet in order to get the same type of focal length that you would get with any standard digital camera. This causes MAJOR problems when shooting in close quarters, like a small room or within crowded surroundings.
The camera also has a major problem when using the flash. I have tried numerous settings, but the camera refuses to adjust the intensity of the flash. If you attempt to do any type of close up stills and you require the flash, this camera just won't do what you need it to do. Close shots are consistently blown out, unless you are standing about 5 feet away from the subject.
I was forced to speak with 3 different people at Canon (First a Tech Support rep, next a supervisor and finally a Customer Relations rep), for a total of 1.5 hrs on the phone. Due to Canon's inability to supply consumers with the proper information, via the Canon website, to make an informed decision on purchasing accessories for the new Vixia HF-S10, I purchased 2 incorrect batteries and was unable to return 1 of the them. The Customer Relations rep was finally able to correct my frustrations with this problem.
I am seriously disappointed with Canon for releasing a mainstream product, such as the S10 and NOT having the correct accessories in stock and available for use with this camcorder. On top of that, going by the website, all the accessories that are marked as "compatible", are NOT truly compatible for this camcorder. Listen up Canon, just because an accessory, in this case a battery, may fit and power on a camcorder, does NOT mean that it is "compatible". The batteries that I purchased and now are stuck with, do NOT properly fit in a Vixia HF-S10 (BP-808 and BP-809). The Canon website did not provide the appropriate information to make an informed decision about which battery to buy. Also, the battery that is correct and shipped with that camera (BP-807), is NOT EVEN AVAILABLE for purchase separately and from what I was told, it will never be available. If you need a spare battery, spend the extra bucks and purchase the BP-819. It fits the best out of all batteries offered and gives a higher mAh for extended recording times.
I could go on and on about the pitfalls of Canons latest and greatest endeavor into the consumer HD market. From my perspective, it appears that Canon rushed this product to the masses in order to get in on the HD ground floor marketplace and to keep paces with some of the other major HD camcorder manufacturers.
Bottom line: In my honest opinion, if you must have a Canon product and you are looking to jump into the HD realm, either wait for the next revision of this camera and let Canon iron out some of the issues or look elsewhere to fill your HD appetite. | Superbly ready to use Auto features out of the box that lets you gradually learn the advanced features at your pace. Rattles | | Review Date: May 31, 2009 | | Reviewer: Anonymous, United States | Superbly ready to use Auto features out of the box that lets you gradually learn the advanced features at your pace.
The lens cap rattle is actually normal and by design and only happens when the cap is closed and shaken vigorously.
Out of the box, it does its best to make you the best photographer, this is a great second camcorder for those ready to graduate to the next level or a good first version for those who appreciate features
One of the most compelling aspects we noticed, the auto features aren't "mode centric", in other words alot of consumer / prosumer cameras and camcorders have only FULL MANUAL mode forcing you to tune and experiment with every feature to get an acceptable shot, then they have pre configured auto Modes, such as "Portrait", "Landscape" "Sport/Action" forcing the shot w/o options and Nikon owners know this very well.
But, the Canon enables you to mix which modes you'd like to manually set and which modes you'd like Auto or "Assist" to handle, this allows you to even manually focus the shot while the aperture, shutter and flash / light assist are handled for you. The combinations are literally limitless and most people probably won't need as much complexity but once in a while you'd like to create an artistic silhouette or push the exposure and the Canon lets you do it easier than other imaging devices.
It has made our family of devout Nikon owners consider Canon, read on if you'd like more detail.
One superb piece of optical gear:
+ Fastest auto focus we've ever seen, focuses faster than a Nikon D60, D80 and our friends D90.
+ BMW solid case, the grip and sturdiness of the case is immediately evident.
+ GLARE PROOF LCD, standing in the early morning and late evening sun to our back, you can still read the LCD without glare.
+ Feels nearly like an SLR, Canon seemed to incorporate some solid features from their EOS and EOS Rebel's, such as the simple to use menus that lay everything out like a wide buffet so the operator just has a few sub options to pick from. Nikon owners can relate to frustration of drilling down through trees of options to change a setting, the Samsung's and this Canon has clear quick menus.
+ Machine gun shutter, the "High Speed Continuous" still mode was able to fire off 30 - 50 still frames in short order as if you're filming a cartoon, and the LCD is sharper than most HDTV's so you can accurately review and pick your blurry photo's on spot.
BUT, AND HARD TO BELIEVE, there is a known rattle when the lens cap is closed and this happened within two hours of operation, we were afraid we'd broken it or received a defect but it turns out this is a known issue so in case you're a tinkerer,...put your screwdrivers away because there's nothing rattling lose behind the scenes.
The rattle noise is the sound of the semi circular lens cover lips slapping eacheother when shaken vigorously like a martini. Since it requires a few power cycles / openings and closes to loosen up then rattle, the owner reasonable assumes their new camcorder is defective then call Canon Tech Support to cuss while driving back to BestBuy for a refund.
When using the USB cable, our model still demands power before interfacing with the PC over the cable regardless of how well charged the battery is. The power brick isn't annoying or oversized by anyone's standard and this is mentioned just as point of note and doesn't seem worth complaining about.
Everything else still redeems it for a five star rating, after our first two weeks with it, it still impresses this house of budding photographers and is giving us more reasons to keep our Nikons in their drawers. | Look up WOW in a thesaurus and find Canon VIXIA HFS10! | | Review Date: May 29, 2009 | | Reviewer: Kaio, Los Angeles, CA | Easy enough for a novice yet top caliber expected by experienced shooters. I've been a loyal Canon user since I made my first film on the XL1. I since upgraded to the XL2 and also own a prior incarnation of this VIXIA HFS10 (the HF10.) Why have I been such a loyal Canon user? Because true quality brands are few and far between. Canon is reliably cutting edge, has a solid reputation, superior optics, and is considered amongst the very best in the indie filmmaking world. And the Canon VIXIA HFS10 doesn't disappoint!
The Canon VIXIA HFS10 was all the rage at CES (Consumer Electronics Show) this year and I was itching to get my paws on one and test it in the field. I must say, this little powerhouse was well worth the wait! And the video clarity is stunning. The HFS10 has officially blurred the line between "pro-sumer" and standard consumer cams. And Canon packed a lot of punch into this tiny thing! The feature set is rich and too exhaustive to go into detail in the limited space of a review, but I'll name a few of my faves:
>Top Quality Lens (as usual from Canon):
No matter the brand or price tag, what sets a great video camera apart from the rest is the lens. Think of a lens as the camera's eye - it can only record what it sees, and if it doesn't see well, then it doesn't record well either. Most people put little thought into lens quality; if anything, they just want it to be small. But when it comes to top quality optics, modern thinking of smaller = better doesn't apply. When was the last time you saw a telescope with a 3mm cell phone lens? No technology in the world has yet improved upon the tried and true mechanics behind focal length and quality glass lenses. Note I stipulated glass, not plastic. Plastic lenses are cheap and light for a reason. They have their place and applications, but if you're shopping for a quality video camera that delivers stunning footage, then HD resolution alone isn't enough. You need a quality glass lens and that's exactly what the Canon VIXIA HFS10 delivers. Quality optics is what sets apart Canon's pro-sumer XL series cameras, and the same holds true for the VIXIA HFS10, making it the top cam in its class. You simply won't find a better HD video camera on the market. Though for me, coming from a filmmaking background, buying the optional wide angle converter is a must in order to give visual variety and versatility to my shots. It's just a good idea for anyone really. Again, one of those options most believe they don't need, but trust me, you'll be glad you got one. The versatility and results speak for themselves.
>Image Stabilization:
I've never used image stabilization in any video camera I've owned. I'm of the mindset that electronic image stabilizers degrade image quality and I've never been willing to make the sacrifice. But the VIXIA HFS10 truly has broken that barrier for me. Nothing compensates for an experienced hand, but this stabilizer comes close and doesn't sacrifice image quality. The secret seems to be in combining multiple technologies as opposed to most cams which rely solely on digital compensation, hence the degradation of image quality.
>32gb internal memory:
The basic difference between the VIXIA HFS10 and its predecessor, the HF10, is "more" - more memory capacity, more mega pixels; though it has a slightly shorter focal length of 10x as opposed to 12x on the HF10. A minor trade-off I guess. But with double the internal memory the VIXIA HFS10 makes shooting more convenient. As always, I recommend you get additional SD cards. Think of them as video tapes - you don't just want one tape; and you'll want more than one memory card. Obviously you'll reuse the memory cards, but give yourself the flexibility of having at least one or two SD cards. Personally, I always buy the largest capacity available at the time of purchase. I never want my shooting to be constrained by available storage. And flash memory works similar to hard drive performance - the more free space you have, the faster and better they perform. For video, you generally want double the capacity you expect to use. A drive that's packed full to capacity with data responds more sluggishly than one with plenty of available space. And memory has dropped significantly, so the expense isn't what it used to be. So do yourself the favor of getting at least one SD card and max out your camera's capability. You'll be glad you did. Just be sure to get a extended life battery too!!
>8 mega pixels - Digital Cameras are Officially Obsolete:
The VIXIA HFS10 eliminates the need to own both a digital camera and a video camera. Why lug two different devices around? For a while now, I've been wishing someone would create a quality video camera that takes quality photos as well. I mean, they both work on essentially the same technology, and now that everything's gone digital and storage capacity is cheap and plentiful, it's really gotten to the point were there's no excuse to not fuse the products together into one. I imagine manufacturers would rather sell you both items separately, and perhaps that justifies the higher price tag on the VIXIA HFS10. But at the end of the day, it's well worth it to have one quality device that shoots superior HD video and 8mp pics too. It's really the best of both worlds.
>Simultaneous Video/Photo Recording:
The VIXIA HFS10 improves on previous models by allowing higher mega pixel photo captures while shooting video. That's right, shoot video AND pics at the exact same time!! Very cool little feature! You can also extract any frame of video as a digital image. Frame captures to pics has always been possible with any video editing software but now it's easier than ever. And there are situations like sporting events or even weddings where shooting simultaneous pics and vids is just more convenient and less time consuming. Just be sure to get plenty of memory like I mentioned before. More SD cards = more versatility!
>Simple for everyday users. Versatile for discerning Indie Filmmakers:
The true test of any product's user friendliness is apparent right out of the box -- can you just pick it up and start using it, or is reading that big thick User Manual a prerequisite? Personally, I liken User Manuals to a dictionary - you don't need to read every word in there, but every word needs to be defined in case you want to look up its meaning. Similarly, any electronic device should be easy to use out of the box with the User Manual being a reference tool only if you have questions or need more details. Every electronics device should be simple, straightforward and easy to use with no explanation required. The VIXIA HFS10 is simple enough for the everyday user and versatile enough for discerning indie filmmakers. Beginners can keep everything set to automatic and just point and shoot. While experienced pro-sumer users will be pleased with the level of control and feature rich capabilities of this cam. The VIXIA HFS10 is easy to use but complex enough to handle most any need. So go shoot a birthday party or your next independent film for Sundance!
>Form Follows Function:
The VIXIA HFS10 fits nicely into my hand with a good feel and fit. The buttons and controls are intuitively placed and simple to operate. The buttons feel solid, responsive and durable. Touch sensitive zoom controls will give you professional looking camera work. The onscreen menus are easy to navigate and understand. The joystick button has always been a personal fave on any device and this one makes menu navigation a snap. The video screen is crisp and clear from most any angle. I love the automatic lens cap! Not to mention the automatic video light and flash that pop open with the push of a button! Cool! And the stereo mics are placed on either side of the lens delivering truer separation. The mics are actually quite good for everyday use, though you'll still want to plug in a boom or shotgun for more professional applications.
>Solid Entry Level Software:
Any serous filmmaker will want Final Cut or Premiere, but the good news is, the VIXIA HFS10 comes with great software for everyone else. Importing and editing video is a snap. And you can print digital pics right off the camera too. Truth is, for certain applications I find Canon's software a simple alternative if I just want to post something fast to YouTube, do simple conversions or burn something to DVD. If you're just starting out, the software is more than adequate and actually pretty versatile. It's not necessary to spend extra money on editing software unless you have the need for a professional editing suite.
>The Latest Technology:
I officially equate video tapes to the now defunct 8-track or VCR. Anyone with a TiVO or DVR understands the tedium of a VCR by comparison. Well, the same now holds true for a video camera that uses tapes as opposed to flash memory or hard drives. The future is here with the VIXIA HFS10 and there's no going back!
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