Canon HR10 Camcorder Reviewby Michael PerlmanPublished on Oct 25, 2007 10:00 AM
|
|||||||||||||
Comparison
Canon HG10 (Review, Specs, Recent News, $598.33)
Canon’s debut HDD titan is a fierce contender. The HG10 ($1,299) features the same prized chipset as the HV20 (Review, Specs, Recent News, $903) and HR10 (Review, Specs, Recent News, $775.00), but is capable of a higher 15 Mbps data rate compared to the HR10’s 12 Mbps max. The HG10 wowed our socks off in the testing room with an image that channeled the greatness of the HV20. However, the HG10 faltered during 24P shooting, rendering the feature all but useless. The HR10 cranks out a similarly beautiful image, as well as the 24P weakness.
Here’s where the road forks. The HR10 is a stripped-down version of the HG10 in many ways. The HG10 features an extendable viewfinder, advanced zoom rocker, LCD scroll wheel, mic and headphone jacks, and a hot accessory shoe. Architecturally, the HR10 is just a pimped out DC50 (Review, Specs, $649.99), lacking all of these features and sporting an enclosed battery design. At just $100 more, the HG10 is the ultimate alternative to the omnipotent HV20.
Panasonic HDC-SX5 (Review, Specs, Recent News, $0.00)
The HDC-SX5 is actually a scaled-down version of its gargantuan first generation predecessor, the HDC-DX1 (Review, Specs, Recent News, $1119.99). Despite the weight-loss program, the HDC-SX5 ($899 MSRP) is still the biggest DVD camcorder on the market. It’s not fun to hold, features a mammoth battery that juts out of the back end, and takes forever to open the disc hatch. The HDC-SX5 offers a great picture in bright light, but struggles in low light. Between the HDC-SX5 and HR10, it’s no contest. Canon has dominated the HD market this year, and the HR10’s stunning video performance is testament.
The HDC-SX5 does offer a hot shoe, more user-friendly menu structure, and excellent audio level control. In addition, the HDC-SX5 can record HD video to either a disc or an SD/SDHC card. Other perks include a telescoping viewfinder and outstanding battery life. Is this enough to lasso in consumers? One look at the HR10’s video performance will steer you away from the clunky HDC-SX5, despite its $300 price drop.
Sony HDR-UX7 (Review, Specs, $1079.99)
Ah, now this is a real contest. The HDR-UX7 is the Mercedes Benz of its class. It features a solid construction, stellar handling, and an intergalactic ease of use factor. In terms of video performance, the HDR-UX7 produced an image closest to its first generation sibling, the HDR-UX1 (Review, Specs, Recent News, $729.95). The HDR-UX7’s 1/2.9-inch CMOS chip cranked out a beautiful image in bright light, though AVCHD compression was fairly noticeable. As the lights dimmed, so did quality, and the Canon HR10 showed its edge over the competition.
Although no AVCHD DVD camcorder can compete with the HR10’s video performance, the HDR-UX7 has it beat by a landslide when it comes to handling. The HDR-UX7 touts a 3.5-inch LCD screen, rotating viewfinder, and a Cam Control dial. The HDR-UX7 will not offer the level of manual controls found on a Canon or Panasonic, but it’s a point-and-shoot all-star. Of course, we have to side with a beautiful image, but those who care more about comfort will want to look into the HDR-UX7. It’s also $200 less.
Hitachi DZ-BD70
The mad scientists at Hitachi’s laboratories have been running rampant. Their final result: the world’s first Blu-Ray camcorder — two of them, actually. (We’ll have that review coming up soon). Yes folks, hide the small children and animals. The DX-BD70 (1,350 MSRP) is actually the second-tier model, the top model being the DX-BD7H ($1600 MSRP), which records to both Blu-Ray disc and a 30GB HDD. The DX-BD70 is closer in price to the HR10, but it’s still a formidable financial hill to climb. We haven’t gotten the DX-BD70 into our labs yet, but until then, here’s what the DX-BD70 has to offer. The DX-BD70 is capable of recording one hour of 1920 x 1080 Full HD video to a single-sided 8cm Blu-Ray disc. It features a 1/2.8-inch CMOS sensor, mic jack, LCD-mounted joystick, and a finalize button. Stay tuned for an in-depth review of this monster.
Who It’s For
Point-and-Shooters
Internally, the HR10 beholds the same ultimate power as the HG10, but handling is another story. Point-and-shooters will be graced with stunning video quality if they can figure out how to use the HR10.
Budget Consumers
The HR10 is well beyond any budget consumer’s range. The cheapest high definition DVD camcorder is the Panasonic HDC-SX5, and that will run you $900.
Still Photo / Video Camera Hybrid
The still features offered on the HR10 are bountiful. As far as hybrid functionality, the HDC-SX5 can shoot to both disc and SD/SDHC card. That’s not the case with the HR10.
Gadget Freaks
The HR10’s peculiar copper highlights may lure a few gadget freaks to the Best Buy stand, but aside from stunning video quality and excellent manual controls, the HR10 is the runt of Canon’s AVCHD litter. Any geek in good standing will opt for a hard drive or flash memory model.
Manual Control Freaks
Although Panasonic offers gain control, in addition to a hearty line of manual controls, Canon implements enough quirky manual controls in its high-end AVCHD trio to keep power shooters happy.
Pros / Serious Hobbyists
The video quality is astounding for a consumer camcorder, but the second a pro hears the word “DVD,” all bets are off.
Conclusion
Canon comes close to perfection this year when it comes to video quality in its consumer high definition camcorders. Every media category in which they have a product – tape, DVD, and hard disk drive – its camcorders offer the best-looking image. That said, a camcorder is made up of more than its video quality. Convenience, ease of use, manual controls, handling, and features all factor in, as well.
On these points, the Canon HR10 leaves a lot to be desired compared to its cousins. The DVD media is founded on the principle of simplicity. People like the familiar shape and the fact they can pop it into their home DVD players with little complication. That was the case with standard definition. The AVCHD high definition format robs DVDs of nearly all their convenience. Capacity is limited to 15 minutes on a single-sided disc. Many home DVD players are not compatible with the format. AVCHD files are large and complex chunks of data; even robust computers require a lot of processing time. Also, the number of compatible editing software programs is severely limited. While we wait for supporting technology to catch up, the camcorder might have to serve as your sole playback device, which decreases the lifespan of the device.
In addition to the inherent flaws in the DVD media, the Canon HR10 has an internal battery design, precluding an expanded battery pack. The viewfinder, as ever, is hard, plastic, and stunted. There are no audio options – no mic or headphone jack and no accessory shoe. The overall body design is not bad, but tends to lean left due to a poorly-placed hand strap.
Our conclusion is this: if you want a high definition camcorder, don’t even consider DVD for the time being. Tape-based HDV camcorders offer the highest video quality and, generally, the lowest price – we like the Canon HV20 and the Sony HDR-HC7 (Review, Specs, Recent News, $1128.56). If you’re dead-set on a high definition DVD camcorder, look at the Sony HDR-UX7 – it works better as a complete package. The Canon HR10 offers the best video quality, but not much else.