Canon HG10 AVCHD High Definition Camcorder with Optical Image Stabilizer

Canon HG10 AVCHD High Definition Camcorder with Optical Image Stabilizer
This light & easy 2 carry camcorder is amazing, & the price was unbeatable! The images are sharp & clean, & it's very easy 2 use, with very little help from the directions (which I keep handy in case I get stuck, because I'm constantly finding new things it will do - things I wouldn't miss if Canon hadn't thought of them, but which I'm really happy 2 discover. Truthfully, I'll probably never use all the features, because I'm an amateur, but it's nice 2 know they are there & that you don't have 2 learn all the technicalities of advanced use in order 2 get good service from this great camera. I love being able 2 store tons of stuff right on the hard drive so that I'm not pressured 2 process the videos 2 make room 4 more. That fits in with my busy, crazy life! The battery life is very satisfactory as well. I'm sure this video camera will give me years of great service!

In the past I have been quite loyal 2 Sony products. I bought this after reading great reviews about how this is superior 2 Sony. Additionally, I gave in 2 the lower price. However, although I think this camcorder is worth the price I paid, I do not agree with others that it is the greatest camcorder ever. The auto mode over corrects in back lighting situations & the color cannot compete with the vibrant color of Sony. In some situations it doesn't even feel like HD.

the camecorder is great , but softwear truly sucks, after hours of fighting with the Corel product I give up, do not even download into your comp. just throw it away

Overall I've enjoyed this camera, but there are a couple of shortcomings:

1. AVDHD codec (.m2ts file extention)is not supported by the majority of popular players & editing software, including WMP & quicktime. Additoinally, the software included with the camera, which ostensibly provides basic viewing & editing/disc authoring functions, is terrible 2 the point of being virtually useless. If you buy one of these cameras you will need 2 buy some fairly expensive editing software if you plan on viewing your footage on anything besides the camera itself.

2. Some parts of the camera have a cheap feel, such as the pull-away dust covers over the aux microphone & output jacks - these do not fit snugly on my unit & will come out of position, exposing the jacks, just from shaking the camera. The selection dial next 2 the screen is too small 4 average man-size fingers & it's action has a loose, undapened (cheap) feel 2 it. Although I can't complain with the performance of the camera, it's dissapointing that a product that purports 2 be made in Japan has such a low-end feel 2 it.

3. Will not store still photos 2 the HDD!! What is that about? I don't understand why Canon not only forces you 2 use a serperate storage media 4 stills, but also chose the 'mini SD' format (halfway between standard SD & micro SD), which is arguably the rarest of card formats around. Even sony's proprietary 'memory sticks' are easier 2 find. The only way I could get a 'mini SD' card 4 my HG10 was 2 buy an adapter that accepts a 'micro SD' card.

Aside from these few complaints, this is a great camera & I have enjoyed using it 2 record hours of precious memories with nary a glitch in performance. Good battery life & brilliant picture quality in either HD mode. Considering it rivals some cameras in the $1000 range 4 performance & features, this is an excellent value. The OIS is possibly the best feature, & it quells the jitters from hand-held shooting even at the lense's longest focal lenth.

It was August 10th, 2008 when this camera's price got lowered $100-$150. I had 2 jump on that deal asap, & I haven't looked back since. The quality is everything you would deam of, & the sound, despite what some reviews say, is great. There are some things 2 consider before buying though. The battery that it comes with will only last around 2hours...(Maybe a little more if you lower the quality).. Also, the packaged software doesn't have a lot of editing options. It is basically just cut & put on DVD..If you are on windows, you might want 2 check out Pinnacle Studio Plus ($90...which isn't bad at all)..Also, I had some problems with getting the activation code 4 the Corel software. I am guessing that the website is only up during business hours, because the next day I was able 2 connect & get the code...So, if you are having trouble getting the activation code...Take a deep breath...try again the next day at various times, & you should get through eventually. If not, you can call support & get the run-around by Canon & Corel...Their customer support (When dealing with this software) is insulting...but then again, so is the software...heh..All in all, though..The video & sound is beautiful! Just try 2 activate the software during business hours or get better software all together. With this price, you seriously can't go wrong.

The Canon HG10 AVCHD Format Hard Disk Drive Camcorder delivers high definition technology with the effortless ease of recording video directly onto a hard disk. Incorporating the latest AVCHD (Advanced Video Codec High Definition) format, it puts superb image reproduction & advanced features at your fingertips in a compact AVCHD Format HDD camcorder, which means you'll carry it everywhere you want 2 capture the special moments in your life in true HD. Among the Canon Exclusive features on the HG10 are Canon's own Full HD CMOS sensor & advanced DIGIC DV II image processor. More exclusives are SuperRange Optical Image Stabilization, Instant Auto Focus & our new 2.7" Widescreen Multi-Angle Vivid LCD. With the Genuine Canon 10x HD video zoom lens & a host of other advanced features the HG10 is the right choice in HDD camcorders. Zoom Ratio 10x Optical/200x Digital - Focal Length 6.1-61mm Canon Exclusive - DIGIC DV II Canon SuperRange Optical Image Stabilization Canon Exclusive - Instant AF 24 fps Cinema Mode HDD Photo Grab from Video 2.7 Multi-Angle Vivid Widescreen LCD Superb Shooting Control Advanced Photo Features 2 3 Megapixel Programmed AutoExposure modes Minimum Focusing Distance 10 mm (wide)/ 1m (tele) White Balance - Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Fluorescent H Image Stabilization - SuperRange Optical (lens shift) Viewfinder - Widescreen 0.27 Color Viewfinder/ (Approx. 123,000 pixels) Recording Media - Hard Disk Drive 40 GB (Internal) Audio - HD - Dolby Digital 2ch (AC-3 2ch) Effective Pixels - Movies (HDD) - Approx 2.07 Megapixels (1920 x 1080); Still Images (Card) - 4 - 3 mode - Approx 2.76 Megapixels (1920 x 1440); 16 - 9 mode - 2.07 Megapixels (1920 x 1080) Lens accepts optional 43mm filters Dimensions - (WxHxD) 3.2 x 3.0 x 5.1 inch; Weight (not including lens & battery pack) 1.1 lbs.