Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging technology, announces an exciting new line of five VIXIA high definition and six standard definition camcorders, which are available in a variety of different recording formats, including Flash Memory. The camcorders retain Canon's core technologies, but add a wide selection of new features for enhanced image quality and added flexibility for sharing an storing memories.

At this time, pricing and availability is not available, but will be announced after today's announcement (official date TBD). Once we receive pricing and availability, we will forward to you in a separate email.

Canon camcorders will be on display at both MacWorld (booth #1702) and CES (booth #12606).

See original at About Canon: Press Room > Press Release (http://www.usa.canon.com/templatedata/pressrelease/20090105_camcorders.html)


CANON U.S.A. PACKS A PUNCH WITH A POWERFUL NEW CAMCORDER LINE-UP FOR 2009

New Camcorders Offer Advanced Technology for Higher Image Quality and Easy Operation Across a Variety of Recording Formats

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., January 5, 2009 – Canon U.S.A., Inc, a leader in digital imaging technology, announces an exciting new line of five VIXIA high definition and six standard definition camcorders, which are available in a variety of different recording formats, including Flash Memory. The camcorders retain Canon’s core imaging technologies, but add a wide selection of new features for enhanced image quality and added flexibility for sharing and storing memories.

Highlighting the list of new features is Canon’s newest and most sophisticated image processor, DIGIC DV III. The new HD processor is featured in select VIXIA models and delivers stunning color reproduction, clarity and enhanced noise reduction. The newly upgraded processor’s high-speed engine powers a variety of other new camcorder features including: 8.0 Megapixel photo capture, Genuine Canon Face Detection Technology, and an advanced Auto Exposure system.

Also new to Canon’s video line-up is Video Snapshot Mode, which enables users to capture the highlights of a once in a lifetime trip, or a family milestone, with the same ease as taking photos. Consumers can now record a series of four-second video clips, and along with supplied software which includes various background music compositions, blend in background music to create an exciting movie that will hold everyone’s attention.

“Canon’s latest camcorder lineup features an exciting new array of advanced technologies that deliver superb image quality and easy operation,” said Yuichi Ishizuka, senior vice president and general manager, Consumer Imaging Group, Canon U.S.A. “These new camcorders are available in a variety of recording formats, providing consumers a camcorder choice that complements any lifestyle or situation.”

VIXIA High Definition Camcorders:

All VIXIA camcorders feature Canon’s trinity of core technologies that create the highest level of high definition image quality - a Genuine Canon HD Video Lens; Canon designed and manufactured HD CMOS Image Sensor for Full HD image capture; and Canon-developed DIGIC DV II and DIGIC DV III Image Processors. Additional features found on select VIXIA models include Instant AutoFocus, SuperRange Optical Image Stabilization and 24Mbps Recording – the highest bit rate in AVCHD.

The same high quality Genuine Canon Face Detection Technology used in Canon digital cameras is now available in Canon VIXIA high definition camcorders. Up to 35 faces can be detected automatically, and nine detection frames can be displayed at one time. The system is so intelligent that it will even recognize faces that are turned down or sideways. Consumers can select a face they would like the camcorder to continuously track. While in playback, consumers can access specific scenes based on chosen faces.

Canon VIXIA HF S10 and VIXIA HF S100 Flash Memory Camcorders

Canon’s top-of-the-line high definition Flash Memory camcorders, the Canon VIXIA HF S10 and VIXIA HF S100, boast an impressive range of new and advanced features. The VIXIA HF S10 offers the option of recording video to a 32GB internal Flash drive or directly to an SDHC memory card, while the VIXIA HF S100 records to an SDHC memory card only. Both models feature the new DIGIC DV III Image Processor, an 8.59 Megapixel Full HD CMOS Image Sensor, Genuine Canon Face Detection Technology, an advanced Auto Exposure system and Video Snapshot and Dual Shot Modes. In addition, both models deliver stunning 8.0 Megapixel digital photographs.

Canon VIXIA HF20 and VIXIA HF200 Flash Memory Camcorders

Canon’s most compact high definition Flash Memory camcorders, the VIXIA HF20 and VIXIA HF200 are powerhouse options for anyone looking to take their HD camcorder with them wherever they go. The VIXIA HF20 offers the option of recording to a 32GB internal Flash drive or SDHC card slot and the VIXIA HF200 records to an SDHC memory card only. Additional features include a 3.89 Megapixel Full HD CMOS Image Sensor, newly designed Genuine Canon 15x HD Video Lens, advanced Auto Exposure system, and Video Snapshot and Dual Shot Modes.

Canon VIXIA HV40 HDV Camcorder

The Canon VIXIA HV40 HDV Camcorder, a replacement to the highly acclaimed VIXIA HV30 camcorder, shares the core components found within the VIXIA line, but also offers a Genuine Canon 10x HD Video Lens and 2.96 Megapixel Full HD CMOS Image Sensor. What’s more, the camcorder allows consumers to record in native 24p Mode, a feature previously found only on Canon’s professional camcorders. Native 24p allows consumer to capture and record 24 progressive frames per second to a HDV tape, a big advantage for the serious filmmaker. Another add-on feature, Custom Key Mode, enables consumers to assign commonly used functions to a single button on the camcorder for easy access.

Standard Definition Camcorders:

Standard definition camcorders offer consumers the ability to capture and watch high quality video, even if they do not own a high definition television at home. All Canon standard definition camcorders come fully equipped with Canon’s core expertise in optics and image processing.

Canon FS22, FS21 and FS200 Flash Memory Camcorders

The Canon FS22, FS21 and FS200 Flash Memory camcorders are ultra-sleek and compact – up to 17 percent smaller than previous FS series models. The FS22 and FS21 Dual Flash Memory camcorders incorporate 32GB and 16GB of internal Flash memory, respectively and can record video directly to an SDHC memory card. Additionally, these two models feature Genuine Canon 48x Advanced Zoom, which is great for capturing sideline action from the bleachers. The FS200 Flash Memory camcorder records video directly to an SDHC memory card and comes in three fashionable colors - Misty Silver, Sunrise Red and Evening Blue.

Canon DC420 and DC410 DVD Camcorders

The DC420 and DC410 DVD camcorders are perfect for consumers who want the convenience of recording their memories directly to DVD. The DC420 offers 48x Advanced Zoom, while the DC410 offers 41x Advanced Zoom. Both feature a DIGIC DV II Image Processor and Widescreen Recording, as well as the flexibility of optional add-on features, such as filters and lens accessories, to help achieve a designed look.

Canon ZR960 MiniDV Camcorder

For consumers who wish to record video to MiniDV, the ZR960 MiniDV camcorder is perfect. This easy-to-use option is a beginner’s go-to product. While still incorporating Canon’s core technologies and optics, this model provides 41x Advanced Zoom, great for capturing far-away shots, as well as a microphone terminal for better audio control. Additionally, the flexibility of add-on features, such as filters and lens accessories, help to achieve a designed look.

About Canon U.S.A., Inc.

Canon U.S.A., Inc. delivers consumer, business-to-business, and industrial imaging solutions. Its parent company, Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ), a top patent holder of technology, ranked third overall in the U.S. in 2007†, with global revenues of $39.3 billion, is listed as one of Fortune's Most Admired Companies in America and is on the 2007 BusinessWeek list of "Top 100 Brands."

New VIXIA model pricing... subject to change though:

HF S10: $1400
HF S100: $1200
HF20: $1000
HF200: $850
HV40: $1000

A few pics...

I'll continue my discussion here, as it seems appropriate. I'm curious to see how Canon prices these new units. Additionally, I'm also curious as to how well APP 4 will handle the higher resolution pictures that these cameras offer.

So, the HV40 records native 24p, meaning no pulldown removal process in post? No more Prores conversion? Plus the zoom is better? Okay, that's cool. The biggest pain with my HV20 was having to download all the HDV footage, then do the Prores 24p conversion, and then start editing. Took up so much time and effort. Still, they don't mention anything about the manual exposure issue. Oh well, can't have everything I suppose.

Unfortunately, I'm waiting to see how the next DSLR videocamera goes. I'm curious to see what filmmakers do with these new models, seeing as how they are the best low-end $1,000-ish HDV 24p cameras for filmmaking, when their main competition is the Nikon D90 for around the same price. Plus, Micro 4/3 video DSLRs are coming out soon too, so things could get really interesting. Now, would I upgrade to an HV40? Sure! 1080p is one of the things I miss from my HV20.

It looks more like a "features" upgrade than an image quality improvement. At least that's what I'm hoping considering I just bought an HG20! The most interesting thing seems to be the 24p in the HV40...

Edit: It looks like some of those new cameras have a custom control dial similar to the one on the Sony SR12. That's cool!

Well the only differences between the HV30 and HV40 seem to be:

24P Native recording to tape
Custom Function Button

Everything seems the same.

But since native 24P is being laid to tape, the full 25mb will be used on all 24 frames as opposed to the current HV30, where you are throwing it away when you do a reverse telecine.

I also wonder how the much larger pixel count in their new HF S10 and HF S100 models will affect low light?

But those new models have alot of new stuff - 58mm lens, DigicDVIII, 1/2.6" CMOS Sensor ...

There's also colored peaking for focusing. They even added gain control! nice.

The only wish I had on these models is an improved hi-res 920,000 dot LCD, like the one on the Sony models ...

Keep your eye on the HF S10/S100. Canon claims 900 lines of resolution out of that little guy, that's more than their professional HDV line-up. I saw some footage from a demo unit in Japan, and it was simply outstanding.

JB

So the HV40 doesn't have a higher pixel count and a larger lens? Just the flash models?

Native 24p, so does that mean 24F? That would be very nice and finally make the camera easy to use as a secondary camera for 24F shooters. What about 30F? Even though native 30p isn't needed as much you still get better color compression with native progressive mpeg2 then you do with field based mpeg2 compression.

from their tech specs (http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=177&modelid=17992):

"24p Cinema Mode enables all aspiring moviemakers to achieve a professional "film-look." You can change the camcorder's frame capture rate to 24p (recorded at 60i), which provides the appearance of the same frame rate as movie film"

and:

"Frame Rate: 60i, 24p Progressive (records at 60i), 30p Progressive (records at 60i)"

so it looks like 3:2 pulldown is still used (at least with the SD-based cameras).

edit: Other than that it looks like the HF S100 should be a really nice camera - they've finally added manual gain control and peaking, as well as the custom control dial. Hopefully that can be used for manual focus, I find the joystick-based focusing on their previous generation to be very difficult to use. Now that these have full manual control the only complaint I'd still have is the pulldown for progressive modes. However I'm thinking this might be a good companion to my 5D for longer shoots (maybe even as a replacement for my XHA1), etc, so 30p in 60i isn't difficult to deal with.

If the CMOS sensors follow suit with still cameras, the higher pixel count in the HFS10/100 will result in noisier images in low light unfortunately. The lower line models may turn out to be the ones to buy because of less grain and noise in lower light since they have the less dense imagers.

Canon has an interesting strategy here. Between these new low end consumer camcorders and on the higher end, the 5D MKII, they have basically almost negated their traditional "pro" video camera line, XL-H1, XA-H1, etc. as far as I am concerned. Sure, these new ones lack XLRs, rotating focus and zoom rings, etc. But for our web and Blu Ray crazed world, I suspect a lot of low end pro work can be done with these camcorders.

Some of the impressive standouts...

1. Dual zebras?
2. Color peaking?
3. 3 sec Pre-rec on the flash-based camcorders?
4. Mic jack with manual audio levels and 24 segment metering?
5. 1/2.6" sensor?
6. 0, 6, 12 and 18dB gain settings?
7. 24 and 30p (too bad I think it is still over 60i and not native like P2n)
8. I cannot tell but they allude to a "gradation ND filter" Does that mean it has a -3dB, -6dB and -9dB ND filter built in?

The list goes on...I am pretty impressed with the professional features they are putting on these tiny consumer camcorders. It will be interesting to see the prices when they post them. There are always more pro features we might want (native frame rates with VFR with speed ramping would be pretty cool) but for travel, car cam, reality TV usage, a lot could be accomplished with these little cams. I am sure I will be buying one to experiment with.

Dan

January 5, 2009 11:07 AM PST
Canon makes minor update to consumer HDV camcorder
Posted by Lori Grunin Font size Print E-mail Share Post a commentYahoo! Buzz
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Canon HV40: same as it ever was.

(Credit: Canon USA)
I'm not sure if it's a commentary on Canon, prosumer HDV, or the quality of the original HV20, but with 2009's Vixia HV40 it's going to be three generations of essentially the same product. There wasn't much difference between the HV20 and its successor, the HV30, and this year's HV40 has basically the same design, same 1/2.7-inch 3-megapixel CMOS sensor, and the same 10X zoom lens. All that's new is support for a native 24p mode plus a user-definable custom key.

Though Canon hasn't yet determined pricing, it's slated to ship in March 2009. I don't expect the price to be as low as the HV30, however, and given the minor changes in the new model, I'd snap up one of the older versions, which can be found for less than $600, before they disappear from the market.

. Senior Editor Lori Grunin has been covering digital imaging for two decades, but her memory's kind of sketchy on the details. You can hear about it every week on Indecent Exposure, the podcast she co-hosts with Matt Fitzgerald.

There seems to be some conflicting info regarding 24 fps recording on the HV40. The announcement indicates that it's real 24f, like the XH series. My HV30 does 24p within a 60i wrapper.

I tried going to the technical link on the Canon Web site posted earlier in the thread but the site seems to have had a nervous breakdown.

So if I have my facts right, the HV40 does 24f without a pulldown to 60i. The HV30 does not.

I think some of the posted links don't work correctly for on-the-fly generated pages (AJAX or whatever they use), but if you navigate directly in your browser, the Canon site works properly.

In any case, the answer is that the 24p is written as 60i to tape as with all the other small Canon camcorders, including the solid state 'corders. BUT, the wildcard is the specs page SEEMS to indicate BOTH 2:3 and actual "native 24p." Indeed, an interesting, if confusing spec sheet. I don't see why they'd put both in the camera -- if I shoot 24p I can't imagine I'd ever want it to be written to 60i -- but maybe there's a reason.

Update: Tentative prices, see http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/989182-post2.html

Have pics, will try to get them up tonight (heading out to dinner now).

I'm stoked... I'll be getting a vixia HF S10 or S100.

I was just telling the wife last night I'm holding out a few more days on getting a HF11 avchd camcorder to replace her HV20, because CES is just around the corner.

Also I should get two of them; she hates it when I leave her HV20 in 24p mode... she's a 60i type of gal. If I had two and made a custom mount, I could record everything in 24p and 60i at the same time :)

Bob C

Also note that these new camcorders announced today (except the HV40) have HDMI 1.3 (x.v.color)... if that means anything to anybody.

Bob C

How would the S100 compete with the Pana HC150?

By virtue of a 58 MM lens and larger CMOS chip there will be increased resolution. It does make me wonder how well the signal to noise ratio will be since the camera is still a single chip camera and excessive grain could be an issue due to amount of pixels.

Keep your eye on the HF S10/S100. Canon claims 900 lines of resolution out of that little guy, that's more than their professional HDV line-up. I saw some footage from a demo unit in Japan, and it was simply outstanding.

JB

I am an HV20 owner, but I am really loving the look of the HF S10

If the CMOS sensors follow suit with still cameras, the higher pixel count in the HFS10/100 will result in noisier images in low light unfortunately. The lower line models may turn out to be the ones to buy because of less grain and noise in lower light since they have the less dense imagers.



Dan, the old rules for still cameras don't necessarily apply here. For example, it looks like the image sensor in the HF S10 and S100 is 1/2.6", which is substantially larger than the 1/4" sensor used in the S20 and S200. What this means, along with the larger diameter lens used in the S10 and S100, is that the total amount of light hitting the S10/S100 sensor will be greater. Now, with a higher pixel density, individual pixels may receive fewer photons, but in a 1920X1080 image taken from an 8.59 Megapixel sensor, numerous sensor pixels will be combined/averaged to create individual pixels in the 1920X1080 image. So, theoretically, the S10/100 should be able to have better low light performance than the S20/200. I don't know the details of Canon's Digic processor, but I would be surprised if the S10/100 has low light performance worse than that of the S20/200.

Keep your eye on the HF S10/S100. Canon claims 900 lines of resolution out of that little guy, that's more than their professional HDV line-up. I saw some footage from a demo unit in Japan, and it was simply outstanding.

JB


It even can record bars/tone. Pretty neat.

Canon VIXIA HF S10 and VIXIA HF S100 Flash Memory Camcorders

Both models feature the new DIGIC DV III Image Processor, an 8.59 Megapixel Full HD CMOS Image Sensor.

Video: Approx. 6.01 Megapixels (3264 x 1840)

What exactly does it mean? Does it provide external record 3k as the announced Red-Scarlet?

Video: Approx. 6.01 Megapixels (3264 x 1840)

What exactly does it mean? Does it provide external record 3k as the announced Red-Scarlet?

No, it means the active area on the chip uses 3264x1840 sensor sites which are sampled to produce the final 1920x1080 image, hopefully resulting in higher resolved resolution than a chip which used only the actual 1920x1080 resolution. Since this is a single chip camera the additional resolution should also allow results closer to that of a 3 chip camera... the drawback of course being that with more sensors crammed into a smaller area the light hitting each site is less and low light performance may suffer, but we won't know for sure until test footage comes out.

Is the gain control independent or have they just done what Panasonic do and label when the exposure control moves into gain after the iris is full open. Nice to see but if one knows where the guide mark is for zero gain this has been available all along. I have a mark on my Sony's roughly where 0 is as Sony foolishly don't indicate. It is available because on playback data code reports all the information!!!! If the control is really independed( ability to set gain at 9 db and iris at F4) then this will be really great.

Ron Evans

Gain control is independent.

HF S10 pics added to first three posts of this thread... menus, displays, etc.

Well, aside from a missing a "real" focus ring, I think this cam is much better than the old Panasonic GS400 from several years back (in terms of manual control).

Chris, that looks like an AGC Gain limit control rather than an independent gain control. I would like to maximize the depth of field by independently setting gain and iris. ie fix gain at 6db and then set exposure with iris at say F4 or F5.6. A limit control is still very handy to stop too much gain introducing grain.

Ron Evans

Hard to tell from the menu - can you only assign one function (i.e. focus or exposure) to the custom dial, or can you use the button next to the dial to cycle through the various choices? My first generation Elura used a small thumb wheel which could be toggled between focus and exposure and it was actually a very fast/convenient way to operate the camera.

Also interesting to note is the face detection... it apparently identifies up to 35 faces in the scene and you can track a single face or search for a particular face across clips on your memory card. Seems like this would be more useful on the computer than in the camera unless you keep all of your footage on sd cards. Apple just announced a similar feature in the new iPhoto, but it doesn't look like it's in iMovie yet.

Face detection huh? What exactly can you do with that?

I must say that this HFS100 camera excites me very much - an indies dream.I reckon recorded to Cineform through a blackmagic design intensity,this may well look like footage from a camera many times its price.Canon have let the cat amongst the pigeons here.I mean an 8.5 megapixel sensor - that is insane.Canon claims better dynamic range as well - one of my gripes about the SR11.Blown highlights way to early.I know there are concerns about lowlight performance but on the product features page the suggestion is that it will be awesome.Perhaps the still imaging department (the 5D guys) are talking to the video .How good is the 5D in low light....and I do recognise that it is mainly due to the large sensor. I think that this camera has everything that I wish my SR11 had.The main difference for me will be the really good LCD touch screen the SR11 has.

As soon as this baby comes out I will have a series of tests with my portable intensity capture station with my impending SGblade and I reckon that it may well surprise a few people at its potential.I have been very,very impressed with the intensity footage that I have been able to get out of the SR11.Now with this sensor that has a resolution that is almost 3k downsampled,there is a lot to be excited about.I have been a Sony man for a while but it may be time to jump ship.I was also thinking of Scarlet but this changes things for me.I honestly think so although time will tell.For now on paper this looks like the front-runner for those of us in the sub £ 1200 price point.Quick workflow using Cineform and excellent quality.Just wish Blackmagic design could make an expresscard version of their intensity.

Waiting to hear what Sony have to announce on the 7th but it has to be good to change my path..

Well, aside from a missing a "real" focus ring, I think this cam is much better than the old Panasonic GS400 from several years back (in terms of manual control).

And the same price as the GS400 when it was new! I really hope this is as good as the paper says. I'm very excited about this guy :).

...exposure and focus.

Well, one can dream. :)

Seriously though. I've been looking at going HD from my DVXb cams and since we bought a house, well, the HMC150 just isn't in the cards. Too bad. :P

But the HFS10/100?

This could very well be what I'm looking for to go HD for my recitals and shows.

ian

Ian,

If you're coming from the DVX's then the little cameras might frustrate you a good bit with their operation. I'd play around with one extensively first to see if you'll want to throw it out the window or not. You'll probably be happy with the image quality, especially in decent lighting or if you're setting up your own lighting, but operating the little guy might make you want to scream.

All of my early camcorders starting in the late 1980's were viewfinder only, and I became very familiar with that. My more recent camcorders are both viewfinder and LCD screen, for example the HV20. I find that I use the viewfinder more often than the LCD screen. All of Canon's new flash memory based camcorders have LCD screens only. What are other's thoughts on this? Are most of you primarily using the LCD screen only and find that is OK? I tend to use the LCD screen when tripod mounted or with certain hand held shots, but for other hand held shots I find myself using the viewfinder. Certainly the brightness and contrast of LCD screens has been steadily improving, so that is becoming less of a concern.

David -
I too like having a VF... among the plusses with the SR11. Although I do end up taking the little CX12 along more often than the SR11... so you CAN live without the VF, but it's not the greatest - I've had a couple situations where the LCD just couldn't cope with the bright sun outdoors, and the VF was mighty handy!

The specs on the new Canons HF-S series certainly are impressive though, gotta like the big lens and higher rez sensor, manual controls look at least a bit better... And 24 and 30P... not bad at all...

Being more of a Sony guy myself, I'm hoping Sony will come out with something comparable so I can hang on to my accessories! Looks like Canon has another winner, if it holds up to the specs once it arrives - seems a bit price-y though, but street and post release pricing could fix that pretty fast! The HV30 selling at around $600 is quite a bit below the original MSRP.

Ian,

If you're coming from the DVX's then the little cameras might frustrate you a good bit with their operation. I'd play around with one extensively first to see if you'll want to throw it out the window or not. You'll probably be happy with the image quality, especially in decent lighting or if you're setting up your own lighting, but operating the little guy might make you want to scream.

Heh.

Yeah. I hear you, Ethan.

The DVX is a dream to run but it's faux 16:9 SD footage is just...not good enough. For me anyway. Certainly not on an HDTV.

I'm hoping the Canon will meet me halfway in regards to operation.

I've always just locked the shutterspeed anyway and "floated" the exposure depending on the zebras. Looks like I can still do that with the HFS but with my Pannys I use the Varizoom controller. Very nice.

I was thinking, based on a pic I saw of an HV20 rigged with a rubber wheel (http://www.gearninja.com/ADS/BECTEK01.html) against the rolling controller at the front, of cobbling together a device that would use reversible motors to move the zoom controller and the roller wheel at the front of the cam with a control box on the tripod handle.

A bit more work then I'd like but if it gave me a modicum of "remote" control then why not?

Looks like I could put a pair together for under $100...with a little help from my tech-head brother-in-law.

No plans as of yet but I'm working on it.

ian

To me a hand held needs a viewfinder and for tripod use a wired remote with variable zoom control. These new Canon's have neither. I too am hoping that Sony bring out a more manually capable SR11 which already has viewfinder, remote control, face recognition and 10Mpixel stills and which I am quite pleased with at the moment.

Ron Evans

No problem, just turn the LCD display into an EVF (see attached pics)... Hoodman USA

All of my early camcorders starting in the late 1980's were viewfinder only, and I became very familiar with that. My more recent camcorders are both viewfinder and LCD screen, for example the HV20. I find that I use the viewfinder more often than the LCD screen. All of Canon's new flash memory based camcorders have LCD screens only. What are other's thoughts on this? Are most of you primarily using the LCD screen only and find that is OK? I tend to use the LCD screen when tripod mounted or with certain hand held shots, but for other hand held shots I find myself using the viewfinder. Certainly the brightness and contrast of LCD screens has been steadily improving, so that is becoming less of a concern.

YES this is a very good point in my opinion. I only JUST before Christmas bought the HG21. And then this announcement I saw today and I thought "OH NO!!!!!", but to me, the viewfinder really is a big issue, I simply feel I NEED a viewfinder. I'm not gonna diss the fantastic new features, lens, sensor, face detection all the superb inclusions on this new cam, but lack of viewfinder was, in my case, a bit of a relief and everyone else's LOSS. (OK OK there are plenty of GAINS too! :) )

If it had a viewfinder, BAM HG21 out the window brand new.

Hey Chris,

Does the HFs10 have zebras and peaking also?

Thanks,
Paul

Zebras at 70 or 100 IRE and peaking in choice of three colors (R,Y,B).

See menu pics at beginning of this thread.

Yes...I saw the pictures...just making sure they were from the HFs10 and not the HV40.

Anyway....thanks for the info!!!!!

Can't wait to get one of these new cams!

Paul

how do these new cams compare tot he HG21 I just bought 3 weeks ago?

Face detection huh? What exactly can you do with that?

Well, in addition to the aforementioned search functionality the primary use for this is autofocus - the camera will autofocus on faces rather than the background, and it sounds like you can choose a face to track with autofocus. If this actually works reliably I might actually have a use for autofocus!

All of Canon's new flash memory based camcorders have LCD screens only. What are other's thoughts on this? Are most of you primarily using the LCD screen only and find that is OK?

I've been shooting with an XHA1 for the past couple of years and I'd have to say I've used the viewfinder maybe half a dozen times - I shoot almost exclusively with the LCD, occasionally using a small hoodman shade in bright sunlight. With the 5D it's not even an option but I haven't found myself missing it yet. With the availability of the new hoodman viewfinder Chris posted I don't see the lack of a viewfinder as a big drawback, especially considering the LCD screens on some of these new cameras are significantly better than the viewfinder displays.

I'm really excited about the hfs100 - I'm seriously thinking it may replace my XHA1 for situations where the 5D doesn't work out. I'm looking forward to Scarlet but I was really disappointed that they didn't deliver what they'd originally promised - a 'professional pocket camera'. The HFs100 is getting close, and should fit into a single lens pocket in my camera bag.

So, would Class 4 SDHC cards be more than sufficient for this cam?

ian

No problem, just turn the LCD display into an EVF (see attached pics)... Hoodman USA

Chris, is that a one-off custom modification of Hoodman's current HoodLoupe or is it something that Hoodman is bringing to market soon?

Also, if the camcorders get any smaller, the HoodLoupe will start to dwarf the camcorder.

New VIXIA model pricing... subject to change though:

HF S10: $1400
HF S100: $1200
HF20: $1000
HF200: $850
HV40: $1000

Would everyone agree that "usually, not always", street prices average about 20% less?

Dan