 Listen |
| Review Date: April 16, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Regular Guy, Athens, GA United States |
I've done more research on mass-marketed high-definition camcorders than any person with a job really should. After weeks of combing and considering the pros and cons of AVCHD vs. HDV, HDD vs. tape vs. flash, I decided on the HV30, since I was persuaded by arguments about and examples of video quality, especially in low-light. Got the HV30 and, indeed, the picture quality is stunning. The sound, though, was a great disappointment. Since I'm fond of capturing quiet moments - the subtle sounds of, say, my four-month-old daughter sleeping - the high-pitch whine of the tape motor present in my recordings with the HV30 proved to be a deal killer. (I'm well aware of wide range of solutions to this problem, from external microphones to post-production techniques, but I'd ideally like to avoid carrying around additional equipment and I only have so much time to spend on this hobby - I'll leave in-depth editing to those more dedicated, working towards different ends, and/or without family commitments.)
I should have stuck to my gut instincts and bought the HF100 the first time around. After sending the HV30 back (thanks to Amazon's excellent return policy), I purchased the HF100 and am simply delighted. Video *and* audio are pretty darn good if not excellent. Maybe someone can split hairs and demonstrate the "artifacts" present between video recordings of this AVCHD camcorder vs. an HDV one, but I simply can't see a difference when played at normal speed. The difference in sound recordings between this flash-based camcorder and comparable motorized machines is, to my ear, both obvious and dramatic. So if you're sensitive to white noise or if you're interested in minimizing/eliminating sounds from the recorder, think hard about the kind of camcorder you buy and what you're willing to tolerate or accommodate in terms of additional equipment or post-production.
A final note/aside on my own take on the HF10 vs. the HF100: I appreciate the allure of the black-body HF10 in terms of aesthetics, but I actually find the dual flash memory feature to be a turn-off. I'd personally rather just manage a single, removable media card. Seems like a minor inconvenience to deal with both internal memory and removable cards when recording hours of footage before transferring/backing-up to a PC (while traveling, perhaps?). I'd preferably swap and label cards. But this, of course, is a matter of individual preference and habit; I include my thoughts here in case anyone hadn't given this aspect some consideration. |
Best of the AVCHD Camcorders
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| Review Date: April 14, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Lon J. Seidman, CT |
I spent a very long time researching small SD based high def cameras and ended up choosing the Vixia HF100. This after owning a Panasonic SD3 for a brief period last year. After a full weekend playing with the HF100 I am quite pleased with my decision.
My motivation for choosing this camera over the competition was Canon's very wise decision to include a standard microphone input (and manual audio controls). Why other manufacturers are removing this feature from consumer camcorders baffles me since good audio is such an important part of making good video! Canon also includes a mini hot shoe on the top of the device, and there's already a mini shotgun mic available (Canon 2591B002 DM-100 Directional Stereo Microphone for HF10 and HF100 Camcorders).
In many ways the HF100 is not much different from its competition. It's about soda can sized (although not as tiny as the new Panasonic SD9), has no view finder, and records video onto SDHC flash memory. Flash memory is so cheap right now that spending the extra money for the HF10 (with the on board storage) really isn't worth it.
VIDEO QUALITY & OPTIONS
Excellent and consistent with other cameras in its class. Color quality is rich and perhaps a little over-saturated (as most consumer cameras are) but there are settings to wind back the saturation a bit (like switching into cinema mode). Artifacts are minimal but remember that AVCHD is a highly compressed video format. Those looking for the absolute best quality in a consumer camera will want to look at an HDV tape based solution. There are settings for manual white balancing as well.
Low light performance is so-so.. Gets a bit grainy but you can make adjustments to compensate both in frame rate and shutter/aperture settings. There's also a mini-video light that can be turned on but it won't have room-filling range to it.
The camera has multiple video quality options but you'll want to select the highest quality as it's not on by default. I am getting about an hour of video on an 8 gig SD card in the highest quality mode.
The camera also includes three frame rate options: 60i, 30p, and 24p. All of these are processed at 60i so you'll need an editor that can remove the pulldown for true 24P.
BATTERY LIFE
Like every other camera in its class, the included battery is pretty lousy. It charges quickly but you'll only get about an hour or so of recording time. Canon does make an extended battery which I plan on purchasing soon.
CONNECTIVITY & EDITING
I am a Mac guy so those of you using Windows will have to comment below on your success with it. On the Mac side both iMovie '08 and Final Cut Pro 6 recognize video from this camera even if I'm just popping the SD card into my USB card reader.
If you're coming from the HDV tape-based world, capturing video from an AVCHD camera takes a little longer than you'll be used to. I've found multiplying the original video length times two is usually about the length of time it takes to capture with iMovie on my Mac Pro (I haven't timed Final Cut's conversion yet but will update this review soon). I'm sure this will improve over time as computers and software get faster, but don't expect instant gratification when you're ready to bring some video over to edit.
CONCLUSION
I bought this camera to supplement some of the work I do shooting HDV video on a 'prosumer' Sony HDV camera. If you're serious about producing HD video you might still want to consider an HDV tape based camcorder like the Canon HV20 or HV30. You'll get better and more consistent quality along with nearly universal editing compatibility. Those cameras transfer video back to the PC or Mac over firewire, a standard that's been around for over a decade. The HDV cameras can also run live video back to the PC for editing or webcasting, something you can't do currently with an AVCHD cam.
If, however, you're in the market for a small flash based camera look no further. The inclusion of a mic port along with the multitude of shooting options make this a great choice for beginners and enthusiasts alike. |
My first camcorder and the HF100 did not disappoint!
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| Review Date: April 26, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Jerry Tieng, Southeast Asia |
This is my first video camera and I am a geek so please pardon me if I get a little technical as I'm the kind of guy who shops simply by comparing specs.
Before this, my only experience with video cameras where those that I borrowed from friends and family over the years to cover the occasional family event - I prefer shooting with a still camera. I have been shooting with SLR's for the past 25 years (all Nikons from the FM2 to the D3) so I am biased towards prints presentation and web sharing. This makes me a johnny-come-lately into the camcorder world.
2008 saw the confluence of our first HDTV, Canon's release of an affordable true HD-resolution camcorder, and cheap flash-memory storage. So it finally hit me that *right now* is the time to get into recording life's sweet moments on "tape." (And at 16:9 1920x1080 resolution at that! I'm a geek remember?)
I live in a developing country in Asia where new gizmos are always late to market and priced 30-50% more so the only way to find what I want is to shop online by specs. I've compared and read every user review of all the available models from Sony, JVC, Panasonic, and Canon and the recently-announced and released HF100 sure got everything right on paper! I received my Amazon package 2 days ago and I'm happy to report that this little gem is EXACTLY what I wanted and expected!
These are what I was looking for and which, happily, I got:
1. Flash-memory based recording on SD
I can't deal with tape nor am I comfortable with a spinning drive inside a piece of equipment that I might drop. Sony's Memory Sticks don't fit my world and with Transcend Class 6 16Gb SD cards priced at only $74, the HF100 is perfect for my workflow! (I spend 10-16hrs a day in front of a PC.)
I've decided to shoot all my material using FX mode and a 16Gb card is good for 2hours worth of video. (Side note: the standard BP809 battery is good for only about 1hr so you better get an extra one.)
2. True HD quality
I still have to get myself a HDMI cable but the component-out signal on my LCD is crisp and more than what I expected! To my eye, it's as good as the prosumer-level models that I've been wanting to get but can't justify.
3. Fast focus
The focusing works darn well. It's not 100% but it's very close. And this is from a guy who's spoiled by the fast- and multi-point focusing of pro-level DSLR's and lenses.
4. OIS
Generally works, you gotta give it a half-second or so to stabilize and the LCD viewfinder is a great way to balance the unit with 2 hands. Once you zoom all the way to 12x though, I recommend using a tripod esp when shooting for long periods of time (like stage performances).
5. Output files
The files are saved in MTS format and after Googling for half an hour, I was able to download a couple of freeware transcoders and converted a 46-second 89Mb 1920x1080 clip and downsized it into a 16Mb 848x480 XVid AVI which is gentler on my Mediagate MG-350 hard disk media player. I intend to archive all originals on BluRay and downsample the files to make it easier to share, think YouTube, Windows Media Player, hard disk media players, iPhones, etc...
6. Size and build
Yep, it's really the size of soda can and very, very insconspicuous. It has metallic gun metal finish and, although not as aesthetically pleasing as the black HF10, it's better-looking than the pics on the web. The size is a welcome change from the routine harassment I get from overzealous mall security who thinks I'm out to make a quick buck selling pictures of mall scenes and/or architecture everytime I fish out my so-called 'professional' DSLR. I shot all day today and no one even noticed. The build is perfect, like what we're used to expect from high-quality, super-miniaturized products from Japan. For what it's worth, the unit I got is labeled Made in Japan.
7. User interface
I haven't read the manual yet as the basic camcorder stuff is easy. But I concur with the observation that the START/STOP and CAMERA/VIDEO RECORD/PLAYBACK switches could have been designed better. I prefer the Sony approach where a rotating collar representing the different modes rings a big round red button. The on-screen menu can be better but it's liveable. I'm so used to the intuitive interface of Nikon cameras so I guess I shouldn't be surprised that (just) some of the quirkiness of Canon's camera interface design can also be found on their camcorders. For example, there are way too many clicks to get a clip deleted. I also wish that scrolling through the clips is fast as browsing through a digicam's thumbnails.
8. Optics
Based on what I see on the LCD TV, they're great! I'm a wide-angle shooter so my next purchase is a 0.5x wide angle converter, but I'm now hesitating against buying the $50 models as they may not do justice to the camcorder outstanding optics. Information on photographic lens quality such as resolving power, MTF charts, etc.. are readily available online but there seems to be less on video-related optics so I gotta spend some time finding the right one for this.
9. Control layout
I think the layout is okay. The AV jack, HDMI jack, and composite jacks are on 3 separate sides, I hope they can put them all on one side in the next iteration. Oh, the tactile feel, location and size of the photo capture button is awkward. Coming from a DSLR, how I use/misuse this button often results in blurred pictures esp when in dim light. There's just no way of releasing the shutter without causing camera shake. But then again, why use a camcorder as a camera? :P
10. Audio
I think the audio recording is okay, it records my narrative clearly. I haven't shoot enough to judge how audio from the subject sounds like but I will attend a beach wedding in a couple of weeks, so I'll report back on how the wind filter and audio pickup performs in such an environment.
I'm truly happy with this purchase. After 2 days with it and experimenting on post-production workflow, I'd rate this product a 10/10.
Get one!
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2008.05.01 Update
Start up time from stand-by is 1sec. Start up time from dead cold is 6 seconds regardless of your flash capacity (I tried it on 1, 4, and 16Gb) and regardless of how many clips are already in it.
Finalists on my list before I got the HF100 are the Sony HDR-CX7 and the Panny SD9. They're worth taking a look and the reviews should tell you why I chose the HF100 instead.
I've just finalized my AVCHD to DVD workflow and it basically involves transcoding from MTS > AVC (Using DGAVCIndex) > MPEG2/DVD (Using ConvertXToDVD & AVISynth). I don't have a Blu-Ray player yet so I'll figure out that workflow some other time. Checkout www.videohelp.com for all the tips and tricks you'll ever need.
I think my DSLR's will see a lot less action in as far as shooting family is concerned. :)
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2008.05.03 Update
For easy 1-step conversion of AVCHD files to DVD discs, one probably has to use commercial software such as iMovie, Nero 8, ULead 11, etc...
The geek in me was somehow drawn to open source/freeware software I found via the www.VideoHelp.com forum, specifically as illustrated in this thread - http://forum.videohelp.com/topic346331.html.
I learned (over the past few days) that AVCHD recording saves your material as an MTS file which you'll find in the STREAMS subdirectory. MTS files combine the actual AVC video (MPEG4/H264 format) and AC3 audio into a single 'stream.' As such, you need to demultiplex or split up the streams into their individual video and audio components before you can get any transcoding done (conversion from one format to another).
To demux the MTS file, I used a software called DGAVCIndex (downloadable via a link in the above thread) and a utility called AVISynth which acts as a frameserver or translator to a final software that creates your final output. The final software I chose to use are VirtualDub for creating DivX- or XVid-encoded AVI files which you can view on your PC. On the other hand, I use ConvertXtoDVD to create DVD discs that I can view on any DVD player out there.
Yeah, that made my head spin too!
Anyways, that's DGAVCINDEX to split, if you don't split you won't get anything done. AVISYNTH to act as a pre-processor for the split files - add fade-in/out, resize, sharpen, adjust color, etc... CONVERTXDVD takes that pre-processed files and convert/burn the output directly to DVD.
Those are all freeware but the commercial stuff aren't too expensive either. I just hope that the little explanation helps you better understand/appreciate the conversion process. I heard that it wasn't this easy dealing with AVCHD files as late as a year ago.
Happy shooting! |
EXCELLENT
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| Review Date: April 13, 2008 |
| Reviewer: D. D'Eugenio, Palm Beach, United States |
I can't speak to the tech side of the camera, in the end it's about, does it do what I need it to do at the price I'm willing to pay? After reading and reviewing 102 cameras (yes I did), I was more confused than ever. I finally I had to admit my short coming with this type of technology and consult a video/mac (I'm a MAC user) professional with no bias. After hearing what my needs are and I use MacBook Pro (with the Intel chip) he strongly recommended the Canon HF100. the reasons he gave:
Seamless with Mac computers and ALL PC based computers
Works very well will all editing software. (I'm using Final Cut Express)
No moving parts (were are sportsmen and want an HD that is durable (there is a higher risk with a tape drive or DVD camcorder of failure)
Removal of the 16gb SD(separate purchase $140.) Plug it in to a computer and download your video. While you continue to shoot by using a second chip (time saver)
Only 1 second between pushing the rec button and recording.
Lightweight (no hard drive)
The tech stuff and features are outstanding, however, what mattered is it going to perform for me. We took it out on our boat for the day with seas 3-4 ft. The Canon HF100 performed extremely well. The stability in relation to a lot of swells was great, the color (brilliance), longevity of the 16gb SD, the battery (BP-819 not included, Canon includes the BP-809) were also incredibly!
You can read all the tech stuff online and narrow it down based on specs. Sorry I can't help with that. What I can share with you is what happens after you buy it and whether or not it performs. This camera is the new standard. It will perform.
This camera is featured on the apple.com website, confirming its compatibility.
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HF100 Review HF100 VS HF11 and AVCHD vs HDV All what you need to know about HD Camcorders
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| Review Date: July 22, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Hassan B. Bn Hadhram, |
With this review I will tell you everything you need to know to pick best camcorder for you
First of all about the HF100
Sound,Size,Video,Value are all perfect to be honest the video is crystal Clear and the sound is unbeatable even without an external mic
There is no viewfinder but the LCD is extermely bright,Battery 1Hour~, and its very light/small camcorder i simply put it inside my jeans
You need to know that HF100 do not record in SD (Standard Definition) or 720p "it only records 1080 videos"
So if you want the options to record in SD or 720p then you might reconsider another Camcorder
So lets start first of all Yes I wrote HF11 in the title its not a Typo Canon just announced TODAY (22 July 2008) that they will release HF11 very soon "September" (Only in Japan for now as I write this review) Which use 24MB/S instead of the 17MB/S max that the Current HF100 use (That's around 30% video BITRATE Boost over HF100/HF10)
So before I starts Some might say The hell with HF100 I will just wait for HF11 which have 24MB/S AVCHD
Well you need to understand First what does the 24MB/S means
1-There is a million Camcorder that use HDV tapes with 25MB/s recording yet HV30 wins hand down without any other camcorder getting close to its quality/price because HV30 lens, sensor, etc are way better than other camcorders in the market, Same goes here HF100 and HF11 both have the EXACT SAME lens, sensor, optical zoom, pixels 1920x1080i (or p) and even the body design!!!! So don't expect serious changes in video quality at all (Lens, sensor, etc matter the most than the codec of the video) what was changed in HF11 is that Canon added 32GB memory and new processor to record the new 24MB/S AVCHD (which of course require faster processor to play/record in the camcorder) (I am not saying 24MB/s is useless however I AM saying that HF11 wont be the camcorder to use the true power of the 24mb/s avchd
2-You CAN NOT copy these files to a DVD and share them with family/friends because All DVDS have "18MB/S LIMIT" and sharing 4-5GB files over the internet is something people try to avoid, yes you can edit the video and lower the BITRATE to 18mb/s however this will take a lot of time (AVCHD isn't walk in the park when it comes to editing) and the quality wont be as good as the HF100 17MB/S because HF100 video is unedited
Almost any BLU ray player can play normal AVCHD DVDS! (The PLAYSTATION 3 plays them too) and since BLU ray burners are very expensive (300-600$) and Each disc is around 10$ you don't want to deal with BLU rays for now (Unless you don't mind giving free 10$ discs to friends/family) DVDS cost like nothing these days for 10$ you can buy 100 DVD
3- 24MB/S = you need Bigger hard drives to backup/save your data
17MB/S 2hours and 5min for 16GB
24MB/S 1hour and 25Min for 16GB
4-Bigger files = Require better PC for playback/editing (But not huge jump like HDV to AVCHD editing/playback requirement)
5-HF11 is priced for 1300$ (HF100 is half the price) why waste more money for Same Exact camcorder even if you buy the HF11 trust me next year a new Camcorder will be released which will use the true power of the 24MB/S AVCHD but as of now HF11 lens and sensor is very limiting and wont use AVCHD 24MB/S real power Canon is just using the 24MB/S for Marketing~ save your money and get HF100 if you want memory based camcorder
Now AVCHD vs. HDV (HV30 VS HF100)
HV30 = Best Tape HD camcorder
HF100 = Best HD Camcorder that use Memory to record videos
HF100 pros over HV30
1-Its smaller
2-Record in full HD 1920x1080 (HV30 max recording is 1440x1080)
3-You just copy the files to your PC however with the HV30 you need to plug the camcorder to the pc and LIVE capture (HF100 is way faster and better tech also you can use your pc and browse the net while you wait for HF100 video file to be sent to your pc , but with HV30 using your pc while you live capture from the tape can cause slowdowns and frame drops in your video )
4-You can take your memory of the camera and insert it on any PC/PS3/blu ray player and watch your videos (With HV30 you need to plug the camera... because it use tapes)
5-With HF100 you do not need external microphone for acceptable audio sound which make it very portable since its already smaller than the HV30 however the HV30 without External microphone is completely not acceptable at all you can hear the tape noise and trust me its very LOUD
6-HF100 use AVCHD H264 Codec "To Me" it have better colors it depends on your taste some people do not like the cool blue effect that AVCHD videos use
7-With tapes you have 1hour limit for recoding then you have to switch your tape but with HF100 you can keep recording for hours (Depends on your battery + memory size)
8-With memory based camcorders you can shoot in 1sec!! But with HV30 you cant record fast you need to wait for tape to get active first
9-You can record with any settings/frame rate you want with memory based camcorders but with HV30 recording multi settings/frame rate in the SAME TAPE can cause problems when you capture the video on your pc
10-you can backup your AVCHD files and make them "playable video discs" to any DVD or (BLU ray in the future "now if you are rich") without any EDITING at all!! But with HV30 you are required to Edit/capture , with AVCHD its just drag and drop then burn voila !
11-You can record over hundred and thousands of videos in the same memory without any problems and its free but with HV30 "tapes" first it costs money to buy tapes and secondly you cant repeat recording in the same tape after 3-4 times you will see lot of video quality drops the more you record over same tape also keep in mind that with HF100 all what you need is your camcorder and you are ready to go, but with HV30 you need lot of tapes with you if you going in trips and tapes are big which will kill the idea of having a portable camcorder
Now lets talk about HV30 pros over HF100
1- It have a Viewfinder which a lot of people prefer over the LCD
2- It can record in SD (standard definition) and 720p (HF100 can only do 1080)
3-It use HDV format which is way easier to play or edit in pretty much any pc nowdays
4-HDV format have worldwide support programs wise because its very old almost any video editing program can edit HDV, not the same for AVCHD which is new (Sony vegas 8 pro edit AVCHD just perfect but its very limiting to have few programs that really work with AVCHD unlike HDV any program is fine with it kinda, i guess by the end of the year everything will be solved remember AVCHD is new format"
So after reading all this you should know that waiting for HF11 isn't really good idea and which camcorder is better for you HV30 or HF100
And that's about it I hope it was helpful to you :)
==========================================================================
Update "AUGEST 14" Camcorderinfo.com just confirmed what i was saying from the start about the HF11 you can read there review at there website (heres what they said about HF11)
"Out of the lab, we put the HF11 and HF10 side-by-side in some difficult shooting situations
and examined the playback footage with an extremely critical eye. After much deliberation,
we came to the conclusion that most people can't tell the difference between the two.
You'd have to spend an insane amount of time and energy--as we did--to see a variance." -Camcorderinfo.com
HF11=1299$ HF100=649$ (Half the price of HF11 save your money people ;p) |
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