Canon HV10 Camcorder Reviewby David KenderPublished on Sep 19, 2006 4:00 AM 
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The problem is, we don’t think we can recall a single head to head match up where it was closer. Both camcorders are very strong in some areas and both are very weak in others, and it’s generally the same areas. Let’s look at all the important areas of analysis. In normal video performance in full light, both are gorgeous full resolution HD images with great color. The Sony HDR-HC3 (Review, Specs, $969.99) is slightly oversaturated and as a result we like the natural colors of the Canon HV10 (Review, Specs, Recent News, $814) a bit more. In low light, both are CMOS chips, and this being Canon’s first CMOS camcorder their lack of experience shows with the Sony performing much better in low light.
When it comes to manual control, the Canon is pretty healthy, letting you control the features you need to through a pretty good real button system, while the Sony lacks some important controls. The next important area we’d look to would be audio, and here both camcorders pretty much get an F. The Canon has no external audio options and the only thing Sony has is the “intelligent” accessory shoe which is proprietary and not that good. Neither camcorder has a microphone jack.
At this point in the comparison you’re probably think Canon is going to have the slight edge, but Sony has their trump card, the HDMI jack. While some people might discount this, it’s a big deal. The HDMI jack on the HC3 lets you hook the camcorder up to your television and other devices in full digital. It’s seems a bit silly that in this digital world Canon doesn’t give you all the jacks you need to use the camcorder in a full digital mode.
But then, when you start to handle the camcorders, you remember why matchbox style / vertical camcorders fell out of favor – they are awkward and a poor design choice. The Sony HC3 certainly wins here. On ease of use, both are pretty strong, though we do think Sony is a bit easier to use.
So which do you pick? Both camcorders are clearly targeted at point and shoot ease of use users. They just don’t include any of the needed prosumer features to be used for indie filmmaking or the diverse shooting conditions that advanced users face. If you just look at the HC3 and the HV10 in a context of point and shoot users, we’re going to have to pick the Sony by a slight edge. At the end of the day, Sony is easier to use, and is going to be better at shooting video in a variety (read: low light) of conditions. However, if you are a point and shoot user who wants portability the HV10 is a much better choice.
To be honest, both camcorders are horrible for anything advanced beyond point and shoot simplicity so neither one can be declared a clear winner. I’d qualify these as "rich doctor camcorders." No offense to all the doctors out there who know what aperture is and appreciate mic jacks – but these camcorders are for people who want to brag they are shooting in HD for their new HD plasma TV, and have gobs of money to buy a camcorder this expensive. It’s a bit ironic though, because HD is all about quality, and neither company gives you the features you need to really get a quality movie made.
Sony HDR-UX1 (Review, Specs, Recent News, $729.95)
We can’t do much a video performance comparison against the UX1, except to say that the compression on the UX1 makes the video generally look not very good when compared to the HV10. We haven’t done tough tests on the UX1 low light and video performance yet but they are likely in line with the HC3. Where the UX1 fails compared to the HV10 though is the over-compression of the AVCHD codec. At the end of the day, the HV10 is MPEG-2 at 25 Megabits per second which means there is at least double the data in the image as there is on the HV10.
However, other than on performance (which of course is a huge area) the HDR-UX1 is very strong compared to the Canon. On the HDR-UX1, Sony has offered way better manual control through their great combo ring which lets you control focus, zoom, exposure and white balance shift. It’s a really nice ring and we love it. The HDR-UX1 also offers separate dedicated mic jacks and a headphone jack which our regular readers will know makes us swoon. On top of the that the camcorder has an HDMI jack and some major ease of use benefits over the HV10.
From a features perspective the UX1 clearly trumps the HV10 and it offers some of the same ease of use benefits. But, if you want the best in video you’re going to have to skip AVCHD this time around. Again, like the HC3 comparison it’s a very tough choice. If the UX1 had an HDV deck in it instead of the AVCHD to DVD deck in it; it would be a no brainer. This is a tough one, but we’re going to say if you’re a manual control semi prosumer user like us, go with the UX1, it’s a strong camcorder with some video performance weaknesses. If you’re a point and shoot beginner, and you’re 100% positive you don’t need those advanced features, you should look at the HV10 (or the Sony HC3), not because they are easier to use than the UX1, but because they do not sacrifice video quality like the UX1. That being said, we think most people should buy camcorders with manual control and mic jacks if only so you can have the option to upgrade in the future, so, generally, we’d pick the UX1 over the HV10.
Sony HDR-SR1
There’s not much to say here that wasn’t covered in the UX1 comparison. The SR1 is the same camcorder as the UX1 except it records to hard drive instead of DVD and offers a slightly higher data rate. At this point we can’t say whether that extra data is going to make a huge difference on performance. As for the hard drive, generally, we think that it’s a neat technology but at this point the capacity is too small to buy it over DVD. So, if you fell into the UX1 category instead of the HV10, stay with the UX1.
Sony HDR-HC1 (Specs, $2295)
This is the only comparison that is easy here. While the video performance in full light of the HV10 beats out the HC1 slightly, in all the other categories of control and external options we like the HC1. But the sad thing is you can’t really buy the HC1 anymore because it’s not available on the market. We recomend eBay.
Who It’s For
Point-and-Shooters (4.0)
The Canon HV10 is the point-and-shoot for the jet set crowd; it's a high definition gadget that takes great video and fits in your pocket. Easy on, easy off.
Budget Consumers (2.0)
Budget-minded shoppers will need to likely hold off until HD can at least crack the $1000 floor.
Still Photo / Video Camera Hybrid (3.0)
The HV10 takes great looking stills, but that's probably not a good enough reason to buy this camcorder, and just as well; better hybrids can be found for less money.
Gadget Freaks (8.0)
HD is still on the gadget freak's want list, unless they splurged for the privilege of being an early adopter.
Manual Control Freaks (6.0)
The manual control set is essentially the same as any upper-end consumer Canon, with Aperture and Shutter Priority modes, and the added benefits of external buttons for focus and exposure compensation. It's not as good as Panasonic, but Panasonic doesn't have consumer HD yet.
Pros/ Serious Hobbyists (5.0)
Pros looking for a weekend camcorder that allows them to leave the bulky bag at home may be pleased with the Canon HV10. It's little, but it delivers HD-quality video. The handling pales in comparison to a pro camcorder, more so than most consumer camcorders, though.
Conclusion
Now for the section you all probably jumped ahead to: our verdict. To be honest, we had a hard time with the Canon HV10. Everyone wants high definition, but everyone wants it at the price and convenience of the camcorders they’re used to. Canon seems to have met so many of those needs with the HV10. It’s highly portable, easy to use, and under $1500.
But there were some serious issues that give us pause. The upright, pistol-grip body produces some very real handling issues. For anything but point-and-shoot operation, making adjustments can be a pain, and upset the picture stability. More seriously, the low light performance was terrible. You’ll be shooting in “low light” more often than you think, as camcorders require a lot more light than the human eye, which makes this category so critical. Bright light video looks great, but you have to consider the whole package. The weakness in audio is also a huge killer for us.
Compared to the Sony HDR-HC3, it’s a very tight race. We loved the Sony’s ease of use and handling, both of which trumped the Canon, but Canon’s manual control set is a crucial upgrade for many users. At the end of the day, if you're a point and shoot user, the HV10 is likely going to satisfy your needs better than any user group out there. If you want something that is a bit easier to use, go with the HC3, but, if you want something that is ultra-compact (which many people do) the Canon HV10 is a good choice.