Peter Macletis
September 24th, 2006, 09:37 PM
I got my HV10 from a local dealer. I will be doing some shooting in the next couple days and converting the footage to 24p to post here.
In the meanwhile, let me tell you upfront, this camera is simply sensational! From what I quickly shot today just to learn the functions of the camera, the image quality this thing delivers is simply astonishing. Side-by-side with footage from my Panasonic HVX200, the color detail, sharpness and overall image depth puts the $5500 HVX200 to absolute shame. Of course I can do just about anything with the HVX200 as far as controlling the image, it shoots 24p and it writes video conveniently to a solid state P2 card, while the HV10 leaves you wishing for "real" control and some "practicality"... oh well... so it goes...
Overall, for a point and shoot, manual controls are surprisingly good but I do miss a basic auto exposure compensation feature. Using manual exposure one has to correct it for every shot. Its acts basically more as an Exposure Lock function than adjusting the exposure. If you pan from a dim subject to a bright one you adjusted the exposure for, you end up with a totally overexposed washed out result at the end. .. not really "point-and-shoot" shooting. Also, the camera tends to overexpose everything by I'd say about 1/2 an F/stop somewhat so manually controlling it is very beneficial.
On a good note, it is VERY SIMPLE to keep the camera's gain on low by simply setting it for night/ fireworks mode along with a manual white balance. The high-gain grain will never come out this way, though on low light situations you'll be left in the dark quite fast as soon as a lot of available shooting light is gone. Also, low light shooting is much better than I thought... I was expecting a total disaster from what I have read so far... not true at all... it holds well enough for most of the situations.
Also, despite a lot of talk about the mic, it grabs great sound and the choice for its placement at the top facing the opposite of the tape at the bottom is a very smart one as it nearly totally eliminates tape head drum noise.
Auto-focus is simply p*h*e*n*o*m*e*n*a*l (too quick and jumpy actually sometimes... this thing is instant). The new Optical Stabilization System is also sensational.
Both LCD screens' quality (flip and viewfinder) are only OK, not amazing brightness and resolution wise...they just do the job.
Ergonomics are below average. All buttons seem to be in the wrong place, awkward to reach and way, way too small... great for Japanese fingers... not for bigger hands :) Basically, its one of those cameras you'll need to get used to using... nothing is intuitive or "out-of-the-box" about it.
Battery life is poor. Very poor. I purchased 1 extra battery pack and still was left empty of juice very quickly... when (if) Canon makes a 3-chip CMOS prosumer camera, they'd better soup up their batteries because it will suck amps like there is no tomorrow.
Overall, this is the best point-and-shoot I have ever shot with. By far. The image quality has to be seen on a big screen to be appreciated. Canon has done a great job and I cannot recommend this camera enough. Having personally shot with a Sony HC-1 (and owning an HC-3) this is a different league with what it delivers on screen. Its quirks and many (many) limitations aside, the HV10 conveys high-definition imagery that looks killer and rivals 3-CCD products.
I am on B&H's pre-order list for the XH A1 for my "serious" shooting as soon as its out that I intend to be the replacement for my HVX200 that I have been fairly disappointed with in many ways. I cannot wait so see how the little HV10 compares to the A1.
Summing up, it is hard to imagine packing more technology in such a small package that looks so good on screen. Ironically the weakest point of this camera is not anything with the camera itself, but the limitations of the HDV format itself that mercilessly restricts what the camera could do if it could fully register the full 1920x1080 and with a better color space... oh well...
I'll post some clips shortly (all in 24p).
Kudos for Canon for their little HV10.
In the meanwhile, let me tell you upfront, this camera is simply sensational! From what I quickly shot today just to learn the functions of the camera, the image quality this thing delivers is simply astonishing. Side-by-side with footage from my Panasonic HVX200, the color detail, sharpness and overall image depth puts the $5500 HVX200 to absolute shame. Of course I can do just about anything with the HVX200 as far as controlling the image, it shoots 24p and it writes video conveniently to a solid state P2 card, while the HV10 leaves you wishing for "real" control and some "practicality"... oh well... so it goes...
Overall, for a point and shoot, manual controls are surprisingly good but I do miss a basic auto exposure compensation feature. Using manual exposure one has to correct it for every shot. Its acts basically more as an Exposure Lock function than adjusting the exposure. If you pan from a dim subject to a bright one you adjusted the exposure for, you end up with a totally overexposed washed out result at the end. .. not really "point-and-shoot" shooting. Also, the camera tends to overexpose everything by I'd say about 1/2 an F/stop somewhat so manually controlling it is very beneficial.
On a good note, it is VERY SIMPLE to keep the camera's gain on low by simply setting it for night/ fireworks mode along with a manual white balance. The high-gain grain will never come out this way, though on low light situations you'll be left in the dark quite fast as soon as a lot of available shooting light is gone. Also, low light shooting is much better than I thought... I was expecting a total disaster from what I have read so far... not true at all... it holds well enough for most of the situations.
Also, despite a lot of talk about the mic, it grabs great sound and the choice for its placement at the top facing the opposite of the tape at the bottom is a very smart one as it nearly totally eliminates tape head drum noise.
Auto-focus is simply p*h*e*n*o*m*e*n*a*l (too quick and jumpy actually sometimes... this thing is instant). The new Optical Stabilization System is also sensational.
Both LCD screens' quality (flip and viewfinder) are only OK, not amazing brightness and resolution wise...they just do the job.
Ergonomics are below average. All buttons seem to be in the wrong place, awkward to reach and way, way too small... great for Japanese fingers... not for bigger hands :) Basically, its one of those cameras you'll need to get used to using... nothing is intuitive or "out-of-the-box" about it.
Battery life is poor. Very poor. I purchased 1 extra battery pack and still was left empty of juice very quickly... when (if) Canon makes a 3-chip CMOS prosumer camera, they'd better soup up their batteries because it will suck amps like there is no tomorrow.
Overall, this is the best point-and-shoot I have ever shot with. By far. The image quality has to be seen on a big screen to be appreciated. Canon has done a great job and I cannot recommend this camera enough. Having personally shot with a Sony HC-1 (and owning an HC-3) this is a different league with what it delivers on screen. Its quirks and many (many) limitations aside, the HV10 conveys high-definition imagery that looks killer and rivals 3-CCD products.
I am on B&H's pre-order list for the XH A1 for my "serious" shooting as soon as its out that I intend to be the replacement for my HVX200 that I have been fairly disappointed with in many ways. I cannot wait so see how the little HV10 compares to the A1.
Summing up, it is hard to imagine packing more technology in such a small package that looks so good on screen. Ironically the weakest point of this camera is not anything with the camera itself, but the limitations of the HDV format itself that mercilessly restricts what the camera could do if it could fully register the full 1920x1080 and with a better color space... oh well...
I'll post some clips shortly (all in 24p).
Kudos for Canon for their little HV10.