From CES 2008: Canon re-names its consumer HD camcorder line... all single-chip HDV and AVCHD camcorders will live under the "VIXIA" name, including the new HV30 and the current HR10 and HG10, as well as their new flash memory line (the HF series camcorders).

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CANON U.S.A. INTRODUCES THE VIXIA FAMILY OF HIGH-DEFINITION
CAMCORDERS FOR THE ULTIMATE CONSUMER EXPERIENCE

Models Include Breakthrough Use of Dual Flash Memory, Genuine Canon Optics, And Other Proprietary Technologies, Expanding Consumers’ Recording Options

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., January 7, 2008 – Canon U.S.A., Inc. proudly announces the VIXIA family – a new lineup of consumer High-Definition camcorders embracing Canon optical and imaging technologies for superior image quality and flexibility – at the 2008 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas (Booth #12606).

The new HD camcorder family – the Canon VIXIA HF10 Dual Flash Memory camcorder, VIXIA HF100 Flash Memory camcorder and VIXIA HV30 HD camcorder – reflects Canon’s commitment to High-Definition imaging excellence. In addition, the previously released HG10 AVCHD Hard Disk Drive camcorder and HR10 AVCHD DVD camcorder join the VIXIA family, giving consumers a variety of formats to choose from, all of which deliver a superior High-Definition experience. Also being introduced is the DW-100 DVD Burner*.

“We are very excited about our new VIXIA family of camcorders, as well as being an innovator by offering Dual Flash Memory,” said Yuichi Ishizuka, senior vice president and general manager, Consumer Imaging Group, Canon U.S.A. “Consumers are actively investing in HD televisions and they’re discovering the value of capturing memories in HD. Whichever format consumers may prefer, including our revolutionary Dual Flash Memory, all VIXIA camcorders share Genuine Canon Optics and a host of Canon technologies allowing precious moments to be preserved with unrivaled color and clarity.”

VIXIA Core Technologies

All VIXIA camcorders feature Canon core technologies to create HD video that possesses the highest level of image quality – a Genuine Canon HD Video Lens incorporates over 70 years of optics experience in professional broadcast and photography; a Canon designed and manufactured HD CMOS Image Sensor for Full HD (1920 x 1080) image capture; the Canon-developed DIGIC DV II Image Processor for superior color and clarity; Instant AutoFocus for fast and accurate auto focusing, crucial for HD; and SuperRange Optical Image Stabilization, which corrects a wide range of camcorder vibration for virtually shake-free images.

Dual Flash Memory – The Ultimate Consumer Convenience

Canon’s breakthrough use of Dual Flash Memory – the ability to record to an internal Flash drive as well as a removable SDHC memory card – allows consumers to experience a new level of performance, style and flexibility. Dual Flash Memory allows consumers to record video to the camcorder’s internal Flash drive even if they do not have a memory card. When the internal Flash drive becomes full, footage can be easily transferred to an SDHC memory card and when it comes time to view their video, the card is simply placed into a memory card reader in a computer or HDTV for instant viewing. Furthermore, having a SDHC memory card slot allows for expandability, since greater capacity can be added in the future by purchasing additional cards.

Flash Memory boasts a number of advantages and end-user benefits for maximum convenience and flexibility. Since Flash Memory is a solid-state memory format and has no moving parts, the camcorder can be smaller, more compact and lighter than ever before, allowing it to be carried anywhere. Additionally, Flash Memory is a highly stable method of storage, and as a result, accidental jolts to the camcorder are significantly less likely to result in failure or data loss. Consumers will also enjoy the camcorder’s low power consumption, which leads to longer battery time. Compared with other types of storage, Flash Memory camcorders are able to read and write data faster, so users can start recording faster and have immediate access to their recorded scenes.

VIXIA HF10 Dual Flash Memory and VIXIA HF100 Flash Memory Camcorders

Despite their compact size, the VIXIA HF10 Dual Flash Memory and HF100 Flash Memory camcorders are packed with advanced technology and a wealth of features to create stunning quality video. The VIXIA HF10 Dual Flash Memory camcorder offers the flexibility of recording up to 6 hours of High-Definition video to a 16GB internal Flash drive, as well as the option of recording to an SDHC memory card. The HF100 Flash Memory camcorder features an SDHC memory card slot only. The SDHC slot provides future storage expandability with both models. These camcorders also offer other sophisticated new features, including a newly designed Genuine Canon 12x HD Video Lens, a robust Canon 3.3 Megapixel Full HD CMOS Image Sensor, and Full HD Lens-to-Screen (1920 x 1080 Full HD resolution to capture, record and output).

In addition to 24p Cinema Mode, which allows users to mimic the look of Hollywood-style movies, the VIXIA HF10 Dual Flash Memory and HF100 Flash Memory camcorders offer a new feature called 30p Progressive Mode. Canon’s 30p Progressive Mode, once exclusive to pro-level camcorders, delivers clarity for fast action events, such as sports or news, and is the perfect frame rate for clips intended to be posted on the Web. A 2.7” Widescreen Multi-Angle Vivid LCD offers a wide viewing angle, making it visible from any direction. It also offers an expanded color range to more accurately reflect what users will see later on their HDTV. The models use an Intelligent Lithium-ion Battery, which indicate the remaining battery time down to the minute. Furthermore, the VIXIA HF10 Dual Flash Memory and HF100 Flash Memory camcorders offer a newly designed Mini Advanced Accessory Shoe, providing cable-free connectivity to an optional Canon microphone or video light. A microphone terminal with manual level control delivers additional audio flexibility and a fully functional 3.1 Megapixel digital camera is built right in, allowing consumers to capture high-quality still images with a wide selection of Advanced Photo features.

VIXIA HV30 HD Camcorder

As the successor to the highly acclaimed, award-winning Canon HV20 HD Camcorder, the VIXIA HV30 HD camcorder provides consumers with the ability to record HD quality video to MiniDV cassettes. Wrapped in a sophisticated black exterior, the VIXIA HV30 camcorder features a Genuine Canon 10X HD Video Lens, Canon 2.96 Megapixel Full HD CMOS Image Sensor, DIGIC DV II Image Processor, a 30p Progressive Mode (and 24p Cinema Mode), and a 2.7" Widescreen Multi-Angle Vivid LCD. In addition, the VIXIA HV30 camcorder is compatible with Canon’s high capacity BP-2L24H Lithium-ion battery.

DW-100 DVD Burner

The Canon DW-100 DVD Burner is the perfect companion for Canon Flash Memory camcorders and Canon Hard Disk Drive camcorders. It allows a consumer to burn all, part or previously recorded video from a compatible Canon camcorder to a DVD. In addition to burning Standard Definition DVDs, the DW-100 can also burn AVCHD DVDs which can be played in compatible Blu-Ray players. The DW-100 DVD Burner has only three buttons: power, record and eject, making operation fast and easy. Unlike other similar yet daunting devices, the DW-100 DVD Burner is designed for one-touch operation: connect via USB, set and burn. The DW-100 can also act as a player itself by connecting to an HDTV through the Canon VIXIA HF10, VIXIA HF100 or VIXIA HG10 camcorders.

Available in late April, the VIXIA HF10 Dual Flash Memory and VIXIA HF100 Flash Memory camcorders will have an estimated retail price of $1,099 and $899, respectively.** The Canon VIXIA HV30 is scheduled to be available in late February for the estimated retail price of $999. The Canon DW-100 DVD Burner is scheduled to be available in late April for the estimated retail price of $269.

hmmm... an HV30. Wish they had more specs for it in that. I see it does 30p, but is there anything else different from the HV20? If not, then I don't feel so bad about the HV20 I have coming in the mail tomorrow.

See my HV30 thread here: http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=111808

HV20 owners are safe; the biggest differences are 30p and an improved flip-out LCD.

Please take all HV30 discussion to the link I provided... thanks,

I will be buying the HF10 come April...these look AWESOME!!!!

Thanks Chris!

Specs looks solid. I presume these are 1/3" cmos sensors. In any case, it would be interesting if there are any improvements in low light capability with these cameras. Or how they will stack up with the Sony counterparts.

I also wonder what the 35mm equivalent zoom range is.

These are exciting times!

The Burner looks interesting. Wonder if it'll function as an external USB burner on a PC also.

Is 30P better for Action and slowmotion ? I hate slowmotion ghosting . And is 30P actually 60I and needs pulldown ?

Is 30P better for Action and slowmotion ? I hate slowmotion ghosting . And is 30P actually 60I and needs pulldown ?

30p shouldn't have any pull-down added. 60i converted to 60p would actually be better for action and slow motion.

Wonder if it'll function as an external USB burner on a PC also.Sorry Wes, the DW100 will *not* function as a standalone burner for a PC or Mac. It is usable only with the five flash-based camcorders (VIXIA HF and FS series) and the HG10 hard drive camcorder.

Sorry Wes, the DW100 will *not* function as a standalone burner for a PC or Mac. It is usable only with the five flash-based camcorders (VIXIA HF and FS series) and the HG10 hard drive camcorder.

That's what I figured. I don't blame Canon for not wanting to add another level of support. I think a burner that 'just works' and has one touch operation will help AVCHD. Just make the thing do one thing right instead of a gazillion different tasks.

See my HV30 thread here: http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=111808

HV20 owners are safe; the biggest differences are 30p and an improved flip-out LCD.

Please take all HV30 discussion to the link I provided... thanks,



UMM.... AND IT'S BLACK!!!!!!
That alone is worth the upgrade!

Damn it... Now I have to buy a Sharpie and make my HV20 black.

Sharpie? Takes too long. A can of spray paint, and if you're a real man, you won't use any masking tape.

Sharpie? Takes too long. A can of spray paint, and if you're a real man, you won't use any masking tape.

Take it apart and chrome plate the enclosure. I really dig the black/charcoal look of the Sony SR12. Gun metal is also a great 'color'.

Seems like the majority of camera upgrades (at least for tape... is this the end...?) this year are pretty inconsequential...

HV30 = HV20 in black
HC9 = HC7 in black...

I suppose this means we'll see a silver CX7 replacement, since it's already black? And what of the FX7? What to do with GRAY?!?

Maybe next year...

Was just wondering... if 30p and black is what they get in NTSC land... what do we get in PAL land. A Black body that has a "3" instead of a '2' on it? Hardly worth releasing IMO.

Now if it had of had 50p to mem card or something like that instead. Now that would have been cool. Or even normal record modes to a mem card and a modified/better focus setup. Sorry to be the only one that has a bit of a "WTF" view on this. Just can't see why everyone is so excited about this classic "None RED" typical mentality "update" we have here.

Canon has them up on their site: http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ProductCatIndexAct&fcategoryid=173

Was just wondering... if 30p and black is what they get in NTSC land... what do we get in PAL land. A Black body that has a "3" instead of a '2' on it? Hardly worth releasing IMO.

Now if it had of had 50p to mem card or something like that instead. Now that would have been cool. Or even normal record modes to a mem card and a modified/better focus setup. Sorry to be the only one that has a bit of a "WTF" view on this. Just can't see why everyone is so excited about this classic "None RED" typical mentality "update" we have here.

I've found the hv30 pretty underwhelming too(I'm in Pal land)
We also get an improved lcd screen but nothing in extra features

I plan on getting an hv20 in the next couple of days as this is not worth waiting for.

I'm still so stoked about my HV20. I can't believe Canon sold this to me!

Having said that I think if they had just put a little more effort into this revision and added a few things that many people want they'd be selling a ton of HV30s to current HV20 owners. Instead most of us will just keep our HV20's I'd guess.

To see how flash based recording is being rolled out in consumer camcorders, it makes me impatient to see what will be rolled out at NAB April, 2008 in professional camcorders.

A great time to be shopping!

To see how flash based recording is being rolled out in consumer camcorders, it makes me impatient to see what will be rolled out at NAB April, 2008 in professional camcorders.


Yes, so am I.

I think we should all hold our opinions with respect to video quality till we see the results. They are not 25mbps but maybe 17mbps may be good enough for most application save the most demanding shoots, which require the more expensive cameras anyway. I think AVCHD, if implemented well, even if not to the max of 25mbps may still deliver very good results. I think the encoder has a big bearing on this and should not be taken lightly.

What is important is we are slowly moving to a tapeless solution and let's just hope that these cameras perform well or very close to the tape versions.

I am eager to see how Sony and Canon match up with each other. I also wonder how Panasonic stacks up as well!

Good times are back again!

I think we should all hold our opinions with respect to video quality till we see the results. They are not 25mbps but maybe 17mbps may be good enough for most application save the most demanding shoots, which require the more expensive cameras anyway. I think AVCHD, if implemented well, even if not to the max of 25mbps may still deliver very good results.
Some technical references suggest that AVC/H.264 encoding is usually 1.5 to 2.0 times more efficient than MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 simple profile compression. If that's true, then a 17mbps AVCHD stream may not represent any degradation in image quality compared to a 25mbps HDV stream recorded to tape.

But in the real world, one naturally fears that higher compression will introduce unwanted artifacts, even if it is more efficient. Given the constant "specsmanship" competition among manufacturers to maximize sensor pixel count, it's strange that they aren't striving to expand the AVCHD bitrate to the limit allowed by the format. I hope this subject will be explored in more depth here, because obviously the reduced bitrate of current AVC implementations is bothering some people.

The latest product announcements certainly seem to indicate a major industry commitment to the AVC standard for flash-memory camcorders.

Some technical references suggest that AVC/H.264 encoding is usually 1.5 to 2.0 times more efficient than MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 simple profile compression. If that's true, then a 17mbps AVCHD stream may not represent any degradation in image quality compared to a 25mbps HDV stream recorded to tape.


And that could be a problem for the manufacturers as they try to keep some distance between the consumer & professional products. Why buy the high-end when the el-cheapo will do the job? As one current example: How many sales has Canon lost from the XH-A1 to people using the HV20 as a B camera?

Extending on the example above, AVC/H.264 25Mbs should be equivalent quality to ~35Mbps MPEG-2. Would that step on some toes? Ouch!

Indeed, this could be one reason why they are going crazy adding features like 5 - 10 MegaPixel still picture capture. It is a feature that will appeal only to the consumer, the pro will never touch it. And it results in teeny-tiny pixel-sites with high noise and poor low light sensitivity.

Are there any clips out there from this series of camera to look at on the board anywhere?

Are there any clips out there from this series of camera to look at on the board anywhere?

You have considered looking here, I hope:

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/forumdisplay.php?f=139

I had looked, but was looking in the wrong place, thank you for pointing out my folly ;)