1. Good Test Results
So far, the tests of AVCHD recorders were in professional journals but rather deterring. In particular, the image quality was consistently mediocre as High Definition (especially in low light). When Canon HF 10/11/100 this to professional tests (eg camcorder info) is different. The HF series 10/11/100 is the first that can be measured with HD camcorders that record to hard disk, DV tape or DVD. Camcorder Info has made even the reference for all HD camcorders, because the recording properties under all lighting conditions (especially in low light) competition were behind him.
2. Separate impression
The positive impression of the test was confirmed by my first impression (HF 10). Both footage and photos are crisp and sharp.
a) General information
On the built-in memory there are 2 hours of video in the highest quality can be recorded (Full HD 1920x1080, 50i or 25p in optional). With an additional 16 GB SDHC card come up to an additional 2 hours added (per card). You have to choose which memory you want to record. If one of the memory full is unfortunately not automatically switched to the other. You can also use for backups of both a memory.
By recording on flash memory, the device is completely silent (no annoying engine noise when shooting).
For easy shooting with no previous knowledge, there is the "Easy Mode", which takes care of all settings automatically. But the operation is otherwise intuitive and easy. The joystick works very well. The fact that the (somewhat small) screen is not a touchscreen, I find quite positive because it would bother me the fingerprints.
An optical viewfinder is missing. This is due to the small type and therefore in order.
The device is about as big and heavy as the Sony CX6 and fits comfortably in your hand. The Panasonic SD9 is smaller and lighter, for my hands but already too small. Positives: the (tiny and 1 hour holding) battery does not protrude out of the housing.
About an accessory shoe and numerous connections (also micro and headphones) can be connected Miscellaneous Accessories. There are almost all the cables. Only an HDMI cable (a mini-HDMI port on the camera side is required) are missing and a Scart adapter.
The batteries are charged in the camera. Unfortunately an adapter to charge the batteries is only available as an optional accessory outside the camera.
b) filming
The focal length range from 42.9 to 514.8 mm (small picture) is ok. Slightly more wide angle would have been even better.
The color scheme is neutral, for my taste at the factory to neutral little / weak, but you can easily set different by the color to "vigorously" switch (you can see the colors even weaken and thus make quite to his liking, other Camcorder, these settings do not).
The device has a built-in movie light, which is not particularly strong, but is still handy to illuminate objects that are not too far away, (the price is a slight blue tinge).
The microphone is mounted at the front and not on top of the case, as with most devices of the competition. This one can not mistake the finger at the mike. This prevents unwanted noise.
c) Photos
With good 3 MP camcorder is also suitable as a digital camera, if you do not want to just create posters.
The focal length is here 39.3 to 471.6 mm (small picture). Again, I would like to see a little more wide-angle.
The photos are available with photo typical aspect ratio (up to 2048 x 1536) or in the screen format to shoot (to 1920 x 1080). Parallel to shoot movies in 2 format.
Canon typically significantly more manual controls on offer than most other camcorders.
A flash (incl. Red eye reduction) is available. Unfortunately, there is both a face detection and (painfully) the ability to correct red-eye in the camera. The Canon can actually both good for some time, as the IXUS cameras show.
3. HF 10, HF 11 or HF 100?
a) HF 10 and HF 100 are identical except for 3 aspects:
- The HF 10 is about 130 to 200 euros more expensive.
- For the HF 10 has 16GB of built-in flash memory
- The HF 10 is black, the HF 100 gray.
b) The HF 11 is the successor to the HF 10 and with this to the following aspects identical:
- The HF 11 allows in MXP mode a data rate of 24 Mbps (that is the Maximun what ACHVD allowed). The HF 10 creates "only" 17 Mbps. The higher data rate can benefits with fast movements have (potentially fewer artifacts). In initial tests (camcorder info) was, however, reported that one must look for differences "with the magnifying glass" and is hardly ever seen in daily use.
- The HF 11 has 32 GB of internal memory (instead of 16 GB at HF 10).
- The duration of the BP 809 has been improved by a good 80 minutes for a good 90 minutes.
- The HF 11 with a newer version of the (still weak) ImageMixer 3 SE software provided (V3 instead V1) that can burn BD.
- The price is about 200-300 euros higher.
c) Conclusion:
- The HF 100 offers the best value for money, since it already from 40 euros gets a SDHC card with 16 GB (see Tips). I've bought anyway the HF 10, because I find it chic (but that's a matter of taste).
- Art fans, patience and a little more money to spare, if necessary, wait for the HF 11, although so far in view of the minimal differences in performance, the HF 10 offers better value for money.
4. Tips:
a) The Transcend 16GB SDHC card (Class 6) is having incl card reader already good for 40 euros and runs just as well in the unit, such as the 2 -. 3 times as expensive cards from other manufacturers. (I bought the same 2. The card is also called "USB stick replacement" class because extremely fast).
b) In the manual, it is described that a flashing at 0.5-second intervals Charging light interpret a defect. That's not true in my experience. If the lamp flashes relatively fast, but the battery will still be loaded, everything is fine.
c) Further information can be found in the manual, which is available as PDF on the Internet. The German website offers this download yet, but you can download an English manual for the NTSC version from the US site that is virtually identical to that of the PAL version.
d) It does not necessarily need a Blu-ray burner to banish HD recording on DVDs. You can record video in AVCHD format Save on normal DVDs (DVD5 holds an approximately 40 minutes in the highest quality, a DVD9 an hour). For a normal DVD burner ranges, including the included burning tool or Nero. These DVDs can be played back on not regular DVD players (you can even block the drawer!), But well (using the supplied software) on a PC with a DVD drive (here is not a BD drive required) and on Blu ray standalone players including the Sony. Playstation. 3
e) It is best to buy the same a second battery. Make sure that there is the BP-809 in black (for HF 10) or silver (for HF 100). The larger battery BP-819 offers more runtime, but is also heavier and stands out backward from the housing.
