Digital Home Thoughts: Canon HV10 High-Def Video Camera Revied at Digital Trends

"The HV10 uses the HDV format that records 1080I high-def signals on blank MiniDV tapes, similar to the Sony Handycam HDR-HC3 ($1,399 US)—and much more expensive Sony HDR-FX7 ($3,499 US) and Canon XH A1 ($3,999 US). Video quality is very good. Don’t take our word for it--you really need to see it on new flat panel TV to appreciate it—and some retailers have displays that do just that. Canon was a little late to the HDV game—as they are always laggards when it comes to new video technology. A very conservative company, they’d rather let pioneers take the arrows to determine if there is a market. Once it’s “real,” Canon jumps in. That’s why Canon’s first generation HDV model arrived late in 2006, almost 18 months after Sony’s HDR-HC1, the first really consumer-oriented HDV camcorder. But that’s ancient history. How does the Canon HV10 fare—and should you use it to record your New Year’s revelry?"



For less than $1000 street price, the HV10 looks like a killer offering. When I was in Hawaii last month, I took a bit of video. When I got home and played them on my HDTV... Well, needless to say they looked like crap. Suddenly I was wishing for an HD video camera... This newest model by Canon just might hit that sweet spot between quality and price. However, I still think I'll have to wait until they're sub-$700. :?