Canon HR10 Camcorder Reviewby Michael PerlmanPublished on Oct 25, 2007 10:00 AM
|
Advertisement
|
|||||||||||
Still Features (9.25)
The HR10 records still images to a MiniSD card in the following sizes: 1920 x 1080 (LW), 2048 x 1536 (L), 1440 x 1080 (M), 848 x 480 (SW), and 640 x 480 VGA (S). Both 16:9 image sizes (1920 x 1080 and 848 x 480) can be recorded simultaneously to a MiniSD card and disc. Images can be captured in Super Fine, Fine, and Normal quality. The HR10 is equipped with a flash and video light, which are decent options to have in insufficient lighting. Images can also be captured from video playback at 1920 x 1080 by pausing a clip and pressing the photo capture button.
The HR10 includes three shooting modes: Evaluative, Center Weight Average, and Spot. Evaluative mode is most appropriate for backlit scenes as the HR10 divides the screen into several individual boxes. The light in each box is then measured in all of the boxes to garner a proper exposure. Center Weight Average takes in all light and averages it within the center of the screen, highlighting a subject in the foreground. Spot just hones in on one particular area of the screen and adjusts the exposure according to its light metering.
AF Priority is also available in Camera mode. When AiAF is selected, the screen is segmented into as many as nine boxes. One or more AF boxes are automatically selected and focused on. In Center AF mode, a single focusing box is located in the middle of the screen and the focus automatically adjusts to its composition.
Still images can be captured in four different speed modes: Single, Continuous Shooting, Hi-speed Continuous Shooting, and Auto Exposure Bracketing. In Single mode, images are captured one at a time. Continuous Shooting allows the shooter to capture numerous images with 0.3 second intervals. Hi-speed Continuous Shooting is reportedly faster than Continuous Shooting (though we didn’t notice a difference). Auto Exposure Bracketing captures three images — one at a normal exposure, one at a lower exposure, and one at a higher exposure.
Each image is accompanied by a histogram that shows the dynamics between shadows and highlights. A slew of other information is available as well, including size, shooting mode, white balance, aperture, image quality, date, and time. A Self Timer function is available within the Administrative menu that can be set to 10 seconds or 2 seconds with the wireless remote. The HR10 offers the most advanced level of still features within its price range.
The menu system can be a bit tricky for beginners, but the inherent order becomes apparent over time. Most of the manual controls are located in the Function menu, accessed by hitting the function button on the left side. Other controls, such as Self Timer, are also available in the Administrative menu.
 |
 |
|
|
Photo playback screen |
Photo playback screen with an individual photo |
To access Photo Playback mode, push down on the mode switch on the back of the camcorder. Stills appear as thumbnails – six to a screen. All still images are accompanied by a histogram and a plethora of image information such as aperture, quality, and size, to name a few. Up on the joystick rotates the selected image 90 degrees and down controls delete options. Images can also be viewed in a thumbnail menu structure by pressing the zoom out button on the LCD panel (the zoom toggle also functions the same way). When an image is selected, you can zoom in or out using either zoom control.
The Photo Playback mode’s Function menu can be accessed by pressing the function button. Here, you have the following options: Slide Show, Protect, Print Order, Transfer Order, and Menu. The Photo playback menu contains the following options:
|
Photo Function Menu |
|
| Still Image Operations | Erase All Print Orders, Erase All Transfer Orders, Erase All Images, Card Initialize |
| Display Setup | Brightness, Language |
| System Setup | Wireless Remote, Beep, Component Out, HDMI Status, Firmware |
| Date/Time Setup | Time Zone/District, Date/Time, Date Format |
| Close | |
Still Performance (7.82)
The still performance of the Canon HR10 was tested by shooting a GretagMacBeth Color Checker chart at an even, bright light, then running the stills through Imatest imaging software. At best, the camcorder was able to produce a color error of 7.67, a noise level of 1.4425, and a saturation level of 111.2 percent. These scores were average to slightly below-average compared to other camcorders in its class.
As with most camcorders, the HR10’s most accurate colors do not appear when shooting in Auto mode. Typically, the exposure must be lowered, as was the case here. We found the best results after dropping the exposure compensation by three increments to -0.75EV.
In practice, the images from the Canon HR10 did indeed appear noisy, as testing indicated. It also seemed to lack the color and vivacity of the video. While a 2048 x 1536 image seems large for a camcorder, that’s only about 3.15 megapixels, which pales in comparison to even low-end digital still cameras.
Still Resolution (27.1)
The still resolution was tested by shooting an Applied Image ISO 12233 resolution chart and running those stills through Imatest imaging software. At best, the Canon HR10 was able to produce an approximate horizontal resolution of 1425 line widths per picture height (lw/ph), with a clipping of 1.34 percent and an oversharpening of 3.91% - and a vertical resolution of 1319 lw/ph, with a clipping of 1.5 percent and an oversharpening of 2.52 percent.
We raised the exposure compensation by three increments to +0.75EV to get this best score.
|
Advertisement
|