Canon HV10 review

Canon HV10 Review

Reviewed by: Lori Grunin

Reviewed on: 20 October 2006

In fact, the HV10 has quite a lot in common with its more expensive relatives. Like the XH series, it implements the Super-Range Optical Image Stabiliser, a hybrid optical-electronic system in which the processor provides feedback to the optical stabiliser in order to fine-tune its corrections. Canon has also added Instant AF -- the focusing system calculates the distance to the subject before attempting to lock -- to improve autofocus performance. Unfortunately, Instant AF can do little to improve focusing in low-light situations -- the range finder still needs enough contrast to locate the subject.

The HV10 also uses the same Digic DV II HD processor as the other models, which bolsters colour processing and noise reduction, as well as enabling photo features such as continuous shooting and simultaneous recording and 2-megapixel still capture. 
 

You get both a video light and a flash on the HV10, and the video light works for still photos. That's really helpful, since the flash tends to overpower relatively close subjects

 
Although you can operate the HV10 like a point-and-shoot camcorder, on full automatic or using one of the handful of scene modes, there's a surprising amount of flexibility for fiddlers, too. Aperture- and shutter-priority exposure modes, two levels of Zebra stripes (for judging blown-out exposures), variable and fixed-rated zoom modes, and peaking (which emphasises edges for easier manual focus) should address most of your video needs. Stills capture to Mini SD cards, and in photo mode you can choose from among three metering schemes, as well as continuous-shooting operation.

There are some notable omissions, however. The HV10 lacks an HDMI output connector -- though it supports component out for TV playback, HDMI generally delivers a much higher quality digital picture. Nor does the HV10 ship with any editing software.

Performance
The Instant AF lived up to its billing -- unless we were too close to the subject or moving too fast (in a taxi driving through the a city centre), the focus rarely missed. In a few cases it focused on the wrong subject, such as the bars of a cage rather than the occupant, but focusing manually via the jog dial was quick and easy. 
 

The microphone sits above the viewfinder, so it does a better job of picking up the videographer's voice than that of whomever is being taped. Since the HV10 lacks a microphone input and an accessory shoe, you're stuck with that omnidirectional sound