Canon HV10 HDV reviewed

So you've already read the big bad New York Times review of Canon's latest consumer HD digicam, the HV10 HDV. And let's face it, you were left wanting to know more about some of the more arcane details of the HV10, weren't you? Fortunately, the biggest camcorder geeks that we know of -- the good people at CamcorderInfo -- recently penned a staggering near-12,000 word tome on the device. Even more fortunately, our bros at HDBeat managed to distill it down to a fine paragraph for your reading pleasure. So what was unearthed? CamcorderInfo liked the camera overall, but didn't fall head over heels for it, given that it doesn't shoot well in low light or the vertical form factor, nor does it have an HDMI or DVI jack. Fin.

[Via HDBeat]

[Jack @ Sep 20th 2006 5:58AM]

While we're all hungry for the latest technology, I think this is another case where we are better off waiting until it's been cooked a bit more.

[NapkinSketch.org @ Sep 25th 2006 2:46PM]

This will be the camcorder I purchase simply for its size as its going to be my everyday camcorder. Id like the Sony HD-1 but they had to replace it with the not so hot HD-3.

[lance @ Oct 10th 2006 11:19PM]

Thanks for the review, which will definitely help buyers to make a more informed decision when selecting high-definition consumer products.
I would like to add one comment, though. The review states that "Canon HV10 records in 1080/60i, that�s a resolution of 1920 x 1080 at 60 interlaced fields per second", which is not accurate. Although the full resolution of 1080i ATSC standard is indeed 1920x1080 pixels, but HDV resolution is limited to 1440x1080. The pixels are anamorphic, i.e., they are stretched horizontally to provide 16:9 aspect ratio of the whole picture.

Lance
http://www.camcorder-battery-shop.com

[Mark D. @ Dec 5th 2006 2:56AM]

I bought an HV10 about 6 weeks ago. I already had a Sony HVR Z1U HDV, but needed two more HDV cams (less expensive ones). After a few weeks of learning the HV10, here's the scoop: it works ALMOST as well in low light as my PD150 but requires using 1/30th of a second shutter speed. The stuff you're reading about the HV10 and low light is obviously written by people who haven't really learned to use the HV10. No camcorders work as well in low light as they do in really good light-- that's why all the studios and networks have lots of lights even though they have $200,000 cameras. I've made my tests using a 37 inch LCD HD monitor, comparing broadcast HD to what I shoot on the HV10 (and the Sony Z1U). The HV10 produces really good HD that compares favorably with most HD broadcast pictures-- sometimes, it's better. NOTE: there is a broad range of HD quality differences in broadcast HD: it's obvious some shows use lesser cameras and/or the picture is degraded in editing and processing, or in some cases, they're up-sizeing standard def to HD. I didn't know this until I got the 37 inch LCD monitor (for HDV editing and proofing). I of course found out broadcast HD looks pretty good, and so does the HV10. I now have two of them. Issues: No mic input (how can I get a schematic to add one?) but I often record audio in multitrack anyway so it's not a huge deal for me, and last, no HDMI is not a big deal either: the component out going into my LCD monitor is very good and is what I'm using to make the favorable A/B comparisons between broadcast and HV10 output. The DV (straight digital signal) should be even better than the component, and that should show up in HDV edited final product output (when Blu Ray gets more common and we're outputting HD DVDs). Reviewers who spend a very few days with a new camera are not always going to do an adequate job of learning a product's full strengths and weaknesses. I did learn that especially in low light using the 1/30th shutter speed it's important to use manual white balance. The automatic white balance doesn't do a good job in low light (flourescents go greenish and incandescent is often too red) but the manual white halance does work nicely, and in mixed light sources. Give yourself 3 or 4 weeks of learning this little cam and you'll be amazed.

[RHPro @ Jan 13th 2007 3:22AM]

Any input on using this camera with final cut pro? Is it compatible?

[Liam Dalzell @ Mar 7th 2007 10:44AM]

Hard to keep up with how good these little things get. I'm a filmmaker who likes to use them as sketch cameras. Abbas Kiarostami, the Cannes Palme D'Or-winning Iranian filmmaker swears by them.