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1. 

   Edison
   April 23rd, 2010 - 11:57

   really nice camcorder for its price.

   But I would like to get one with HDD instead of MiniDV tape. Last time I brought a Canon camcorder with MiniDV for $1600, and it did not last long due to the tape head failure. So I would not get another camcorder that requires tape.

   Canon is lagging behind other brand to produce camcorder using hard disk drive. I wish they have one, since its optics are so good and its sensor also good in quality.
   Rating: 4 / 5
2. 

   L. Schrader
   April 23rd, 2010 - 13:20

   This Canon camera has poor quality interlacing artifacts all though out, on a 1080p monitor. I have used other HDV format cameras, and they were much better. The low light level recording was filled with fairly large digital grain. If you use a 1080i tube then it will probably look ok in high light, but still plauged in low light.
   Rating: 1 / 5
3. 

   KDC
   April 23rd, 2010 - 15:48

   Generally a good camera but why miniDV? I had to switch to HD based rather then winding through tapes
   Rating: 4 / 5
4. 

   Joseph Huxford
   April 23rd, 2010 - 18:14

   I just received the Canon HV10 today. The first problem was simple. The remote device battery pocket refused to open. I tried in every way to open it to insert the battery with no luck. I called Canon and the lady there said yes it was very difficult as she had similar complaints. I finally opened it scaring the plastic case with a sharp knife. Second was the manual. Poorly written and too small for these old eyes. I will have to download it as a
   
   PDF file and print it in larger type. The third problem is that there were four very noticable white spots and four black spots on the picture when projected on my 61″ screen. I called Canon again. The tech man said look at the LCD screen on the camera to see if they were there and indeed they were so back the camera goes. Other than that the pictures even at 61″ were good HD.
   Rating: 3 / 5
5. 

   Kerry T. Givens
   April 23rd, 2010 - 19:56

   I was forced to upgrade our family VHS-C camcorder (at least this is the story I offered my wife) because of my son’s science fair project, which involved capturing incoming video from a CCD video camera coupled to a microscope, and recording the capture to DV tape. Our old VHS-C camcorder didn’t have any video-in capability, and obviously wasn’t DV. This unit from Canon also offered the opportunity to film in high-def. That wasn’t critical for our project, but I figured this is where all camcorders are going to end up, as we fill our homes with new HD TVs, and our landfills with old lo-def CRT-based TVs. I’m all for future-proofing a purchase.

   First problem: no firewire DV cable included with camera. If Canon can include a mini-USB cable, what’s the big deal to throw in the firewire cable? C’mon, Canon—I expect more with a thousand-dollar camera.

   Second problem: no video capture software included in the box. At the time of my purchase, there was a mail-in promo that entitled you to get a free copy of Pinnacle DV. Who knows how many weeks that may take to arrive. It also required that you cut the UPC off the box—not something I’m happy about doing until I’m positive I won’t be returning the camera to the store and picking out a different one. If digital cameras can include a copy of Adobe Photoshop Elements in the box, why can’t Canon make arrangements to put Pinnacle in the box too? Irritating hoop-jumping for the customer.

   Third: agree with other owners that the provided battery (and lack of a standalone charger) is also skinflint on Canon’s part. Honestly, I’m not surprised, since pretty much every camera manufacturer I’ve ever seen plays the let’s-make-some-extra-dough-on-worthwhile-accessories game these days.

   Ultimately, it’s all about picture quality, and I haven’t been disappointed in this regard. Took some family footage to break-in the camera, and showed it on our hi-def TV—terrific. The image stabilization worked pretty well. Didn’t stress the camera with low-light shooting, so I can’t comment on that. Agree with others that the tiny size of this camera makes for lots of itsy-bitsy buttons crowded together, which not everyone will like. I’m getting used to that. Now the main issue is learning all the features. It can take awhile to punch your way through the setup menus if you want to remove the date stamp, step down from 1080p to a lower def, or do anything else in the way of configuration. Ultimately the processes are all pretty logical, but the camera has so many options, expect to spend some time wading.
   Rating: 4 / 5

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