The news
The mini flood of consumer and prosumer high-definition camcorders due before Christmas continues unabated. Canon Europe has announced that it's set to launch in September its first HDV model targeted at non-pros, the HV10, and claims that it will be the world's smallest HDV1080i camcorder.
Maddeningly, the anticipated UK street price is £1,299, while the figure for the USA (would you Adam and Eve it?) is, yes, $1,299.
Even accounting for the 17.5% VAT that's included in the UK, that looks like yet another rip off, but we are hoping and expecting that dealers here quickly realise that something more realistic is needed - and to our mind that has to be a good way under a grand.
Among the features that Canon highlights on the HV10 are:
* Dimensions - 56 (w) x
104(h) x 106(d) mm - and weight of 440g
* A 1/2.7in (0.37in) CMOS sensor with 2.96 Megapixels
* "Instant, accurate, high-speed" auto-focusing
* DIGIC DV II image-processing engine for HD - as used on the company's first HDV model, the XL H1, and two recently-announced pro models, the XH A1 & XH G1
* A 10x optical zoom lens
* Super Range optical image stabilizer
* "Advanced 3.1 Megapixel digital still photography" and the ability to simultaneously capture 2.07 Megapixel stills and HD video
* A 2.7in widescreen format LCD colour monitor with 210K pixels
* A 1/2.7in (0.37in) CMOS sensor with 2.96 Megapixels
* "Instant, accurate, high-speed" auto-focusing
* DIGIC DV II image-processing engine for HD - as used on the company's first HDV model, the XL H1, and two recently-announced pro models, the XH A1 & XH G1
* A 10x optical zoom lens
* Super Range optical image stabilizer
* "Advanced 3.1 Megapixel digital still photography" and the ability to simultaneously capture 2.07 Megapixel stills and HD video
* A 2.7in widescreen format LCD colour monitor with 210K pixels
Click for larger imageFull specs of the tape-based camcorder (using MiniDV cassettes) are below - click on the blurry green and blue image to read the small PDF (right-click to download). And, rather than repeat here all the techobabble about the various feature in the HV10, we'd suggest you check out the recent HEXUS.lifestyle.headline on the XH A1 & XH G1.
Also, if you want Canon's take on the HV10, you can dive over to the next page and read the company's press release.
Click for PDF version (54KB)Thoughts on this Canon HDV model for consumers and on the general happenings with high-def camcorders? We'd be keen to hear them in this thread in the HEXUS.community.
HEXUS.links
HEXUS.community :: discussion thread about this article
HEXUS.lifestyle.headline - Canon adds two further 'pro' HDV camcorders
HEXUS.lifestyle.headline - Sony AVCHD hi-def camcorders - coming sooner than expected, costing more than we like
HEXUS at IBC 2005 :: Canon teases visitors with XL-look HDV camcorder mock-up
Press release - Canon enters HDV camcorder market with pro-featured XL H1
Canon UK - home page (Tel: 08705 143723)
Canon Eire - home page (Tel: 01205 2400)
