Canon HG10 AVCHD High Definition Camcorder with Optical Image Stabilizer

Posted by Cheryl P. | 10:00 AM
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Best Canon HG10 AVCHD High Definition Camcorder with Optical Image Stabilizer


I've had this camcorder for about 2 years. It captured the births of both my children and countless pictures and home movies of them both. I've taken my HG10 on a trip to Africa where it went on two safaris, photographed waterfalls, wildlife, & remote villages. I've taken it to Europe and Mexico. So, I think I've established I have lot of experience with the camera.

I have never had a problem either recording movies or taking pictures. It's never failed me. The battery life is long. I can get about two days or so of heavy use without a recharge. The video quality is fantastic high definition. One surprise for me is the high quality still pictures it takes. It's taken the place of my digital still camera ever since I bought it. The 40 GB hard drive is great. Since I've had the camera, I've never needed to clean off my videos. I do back them up regularly, though.

It's also quite compact and light. Easy to travel with.

Really, there are only a few downsides:
1) The camera records to AVCHD files. While software support is better than when I first bought the camera, these files are still not supported by some editing software. And since it's HD, the files get large fast. So, you need a fairly powerful computer to work easily with the files. One good thing is that YouTube accepts AVCHD (.mts) files directly now. I used to have to convert them.
2) Still photos are only saved on a microSD card. They aren't saved on the hard drive. It's not a huge issue. It's just weird that I have this huge hard drive, but can't save still pictures on it.

Bottom line. Great camera. I'm very happy with it. If this one ever dies, I'd by another one or the next version.


Canon HG10 AVCHD High Definition Camcorder with Optical Image Stabilizer Overview


The Canon HG10 AVCHD Format Hard Disk Drive Camcorder delivers high definition technology with the effortless ease of recording video directly onto a hard disk. Incorporating the latest AVCHD (Advanced Video Codec High Definition) format, it puts superb image reproduction and advanced features at your fingertips in a compact AVCHD Format HDD camcorder, which means you'll carry it everywhere you want to capture the special moments in your life in true HD.Among the Canon Exclusive features on the HG10 are Canon's own Full HD CMOS sensor and advanced DIGIC DV II image processor. More exclusives are SuperRange Optical Image Stabilization, Instant Auto Focus and 2.7" Widescreen Multi-Angle Vivid LCD. With the Genuine Canon 10x HD video zoom lens and a host of other advanced features the HG10 is the right choice in HDD camcorders.



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Canon HG10 AVCHD High Definition Camcorder with Optical Image Stabilizer Product Features


  • Record up to 15 hours of high-definition video to 40 GB hard disk drive
  • Canon full-HD CMOS sensor; 24p Cinema Mode
  • High-definition 10x optical zoom lens; 2.7-inch widescreen Multi-Angle Vivid LCD
  • SuperRange Optical Image Stabilizer; simulatneous still-photo capture
  • HDMI terminal; advanced accessory shoe






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Chuckupman - Craig A. Glomstead -
I think the hg 10 is a great camcorder for anyone who is interested. I bought this for shooting videos with my friends and it works great for that. If you want a proffesional camera I suggest you buy something else, but if you want a good quality camera you can dork around with, than this is for you. The only three things I found wrong with it were that the editing software that comes with it is absolutely terrible. It was so bad I was forced to pay another forty dollars to buy a editing software that accually works. Another problem is that the picture quality for some odd reason, sucks at night or in any dark areas. If you are going to be using your camecorder in lowlight situations, than I suggest you buy another one because the hg10 doesnt even have a nightime setting, the only thing close to that is a light you can turn on and off, but the light only really works within 8 feet. The last issue I had with the hg10 is that the sound quality on the mic really sucks, espesialy in windy conditions which cause the mic to only pick up loud fumbling sounds. If you are going to be using the hg 10 outside, at distances greater than 10 ft or for recording music than I suggest you get an external mic, but If you are just taping indoors at close distances, I dont think you will need one. I bought the canon dm 50 and It works really great for the conditions I use it in. So far I am mildly pleased with the hg10 and It has been working pretty good for me so far.








Can't get the recordings to play outside the camera - Aner Benartzi -
I'll start by saying that when I purchased this camera, and first started using it, I was very pleased. The instant-focus is great, the image quality and colors seem true to life. I say "seem" because as great as this camera might be at recording, the result will be worthless unless you only want to watch it play back on the camera's screen.

To begin with, Canon is lying when they say this is true 1920x1080 progressive. If you read carefully, they only say that this is true of the CMOS, but not the video it records -- like that technicality is supposed to get them off the hook. No matter what the setting are, the video recorded is INTERLACED. Also, the proprietary format cannot be played anywhere I have found yet. And I've spend HOURS (probably several man-days) looking for a way to reliably play back the video. Keep in mind, I have a Ph.D. in computer science, and I have given up on being able to watch all the footage I've recorded. The best solution I found is to purchase another program (elecard) for to convert all the footage to mpeg2 (takes tons of storage), and worry about it later.

SO BEWARE: you will have fun recording with this camera, but you will not be able to playback the video without spending a lot more time AND money. I don't mind the money so much, but I don't have the time to convert each recorded sequence to some useful format.

Even the software that comes with the camera is worthless -- the audio and video loose sync.

Why can't camcorder companies do what digital stills do: record to .avi or .mov or some format that can be copied to harddrive and just played back?







HG10 - N. Hozhabri - Arlington, Texas United States
Over a year ago I bought a HG10 and almost forgot to use it all this time. Last week, I attended a school program and hall was packed with parents and students. I had to stay almost at least 50-60 yards from the scene. I recorded some of the programs and performances. I thought that from that distance and in that low level light, the picture quality should not be good. To my great surprise, I was shocked when I reviewed the programs on my 46' HD Sony. The picture quality was great with great details. Pictures were so vivid that I felt programs were recorded from first row..
Bottom line is that this is a great camera for household recording and also very easy to use.





Product Information: May 02, 2010 11:00:06