Canon Vixia HF G10 Camcorder Review

Panasonic HDC-TM700 Comparison

The Canon HF G10 is the first camcorder to give the Panasonic HDC-TM700 a serious run for its money. Don't take this phrase to mean the HF G10 is a better bargain than the HDC-TM700—it's not—but it may be a better camcorder overall. Canon's new model outperformed the TM700 in our low light testing and in a number of our other performance tests as well, and that is saying something. Of course, the HF G10 does lack a 1080/60p record mode, so that is one feature where the HDC-TM700 holds an advantage.

In our overall scoring system, the Canon HF G10 earned a slight edge over the Panasonic HDC-TM700. The Panasonic had better scores for its compact design and easy user interface, while the Canon was the better true performer in terms of video quality. We also like the Canon HF G10 more if you're a pro looking for a top-notch camcorder. The G10 has more manual controls and its controls are more flexible. For example, Canon allows for making adjustments to most controls during video recording. This is something the Panasonic HDC-TM700 is often incapable of.

If you're looking for a camcorder that straddles the line between professional and consumer, the Canon HF G10 is the strongest model we've seen in a while. It has its faults, and its image may not be as sharp as the competition, but its overall video performance was excellent across the board. If you're a home video shooter who wants a top-of-the-line product, the HDC-TM700 may be your best bet. Like the HF G10, it too has lots of controls and features, but the camcorder excels more when it is used as an automated device. It's cheaper price tag is also a boon for those who aren't looking to break the bank on a new camcorder.