Canon HG10 AVCHD High Definition Camcorder with Optical Image Stabilizer
by Canon
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Canon HG10 AVCHD High Definition Camcorder with Optical Image Stabilizer
Customer Review: File-size limit of 2GB - Program to put pieces together.
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought the HG10 around the 1st of the year. Great camcorder, with one problem... it breaks the files up into 2GB pieces. I wrote a program to stitch them back together. Send me an email and I'll send you the program.
Here's my post on the DVi forum (http://dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?p=867117#post867117):
I found this discussion yesterday after searching the web for info on the 2GB size-limited files produced by the Canon HG10. After reading the entire thread, I was happy to see that you had found a work-around solution that didn't corrupt the splice-points of the files. That got me to thinking about writing a Windows-base program to do the same thing. So... I did just that! It's not as slick and robust as it could be, but it does the job. Here's some info...
The program's first dialog allows you to select multiple files from the same directory. These are the pieces that the HG10 broke your files into. You select the files by clicking on the first one to highlight it and the depressing the "shift" key and click on the last one in the list. All of your files should then be highlighted. (this is just standard Windows file-selection stuff here, but in case there's someone that's not familiar...) Alternately, you can press the "Ctrl" key and select individual files until you've highlighted all that are in the sequence.
The program DOES NOT try to figure out if two video files actually belong in the same resultant file. I trust you to identify only the files that made up the original sequence. With that said, my program DOES make sure that the files that you select are processed in the right order. That is, in the numbering sequence as produced by the HG10. For instance, file "00055.MTS" comes before file "00056.MTS".
The second file-selection dialog allows you to specify a directory and file name for the resultant, contiguous file.
Once you've identified all files, the program goes about building the contiguous file. I currently use 10MB buffers for reading and writing data. This allows pretty fast operation. For a couple of segments, this amounts to about 3 minutes 11.5 seconds on my 2.3Ghz Core 2 Duo. It's single-threaded so it ties up one processor. If folks want a more robust operation, I'll try to find time to work on it and smooth it out. I just thought you'd want to get it ASAP...
There are 2 files to this program... the "MTS_FileJoinerProj.exe" file which is the executable and weighs in at about 30KB, and the "borlndmm.dll" file which is only another 24KB. Put them in a folder called "FileJoiner" and hook them up to your "Start" button by moving the folder to "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs". Start the program by clicking "Start->Programs->FileJoiner->MTS_FileJoiner.exe"
I haven't had any problems with it, but cannot guarantee its operation. Test it on copies of your files, just to gain confidence that it's working properly.
If you like it and it helps you, please consider throwing a couple of bucks in my Paypal account (thesuperstitions@gmail.com). Anything collected will be donated to my son's Cub Scout Pack (Pack 618).
Thanks!
Customer Review: HG10 is a great camcorder at a great price
Summary: 5 Stars
First a little background then a detailed review. I am a serious casual video user and a more serious amateur still photographer. I have had two previous camcorders, a full size VHS and then a Sony Digital 8. Going on vacation for two weeks to the Philippines I decided to get this Canon HG10 after reviewing everything I could find on the Net. Bottom line, Sony's were too expensive for the same thing.
I had my concerns about going Hard Drive but this thing worked flawlessly whether it be from bumpy automobiles, small boat rides, or walking and banging on my hip (for a few minutes when I accidentally left it on). And after two weeks of filming on high def setting, I only used 10 of the 40GB.
I've viewed the HD video two ways; directly connecting the camcorder to my HD TV through the HDMI connections which is the most convenient; and making a HD AVCHD DVD and playing it through a HD DVD player connected again to the HDMI ports. The video quality is stunning, as true to life as you can get and I appreciated that especially when filming relatives and really beautiful places like the white sand beach and crystal clear waters on Boracay Island). I've tried viewing via component video set ups and they are not bad either.
I had three batteries and if all I had done was film, I think they would have lasted the entire two weeks but I did a lot of reviewing and playing back which really used up the batteries. The size of this camera is just right, it fits in a medium sized shoulder bag with all my other things and no one around me would ever suspect I was carrying a camcorder. It can even fit in a large pants pocket but that would be too conspicuous and then the thieves would notice. The controls were easy to use and I like the jog wheel on the side of the viewing screen which then stayed clean the entire trip. Tip: this camcorder fits perfectly inside a quart-size ziplock bag which really helped to keep it protected from dust, sand and water.
A feature I never had before was taking still photos and it performed better than I expected. I was most impressed with the lack of shutter lag and the brightness of the built in flash. I didn't miss bringing a digital cam along at all and had so much fun taking video I didn't take all that many stills anyway. I had it set at the highest setting and didn't come close to filling the 2GB memory card.
One little quirk, if the zoom is set to variable setting, the speed of zooming out is much faster than the speed of zooming in using the same finger pressure for each. I don't know if this is on purpose or if my camera is set improperly but I can deal with it by either remember this or switch the speed setting to either slow or fast fixed speed instead of variable which is what I did. I don't like to zoom that much anyway since zooming in and out is often overdone.
All in all I am very satisifed with this camcorder and my purchase through Amazon. I hope this camcorder lasts me a long time. I will never use tape again.
Andy
San Jose, CA USA
Customer Review: Awesome camera for the Normal User
Summary: 5 Stars
After reading many reviews of this product I decided to go ahead and pick it up. Knowing that this isn't a 'film makers' camera since the 24p mode is all but useless due to AVCHD on the fly conversion issues with this mode, I decided to purchase it anyway since it is primarily for documenting my children.
First off, the picture is absolutely gorgeous. On an HD TV the picture just jumps out. Having the ability to view from the camera in either Component Cable or HDMI makes this camera easy to use and show on even older generation HDTVs that were made prior to the HDMI revolution.
Using the VERY nice LCD screen on the camera to navigate scenes and select them as you would a DVD shows the real benefit of using a HDD as the storage. Instantly access or delete the scenes you love or hate. No more waiting on tape to rewind or fast forward.
The hard drive holds maybe 5 hours of the highest res footage. This doesn't sound like a lot but in most cases you aren't going to shoot 5 horus of footage before you are back in a place that you can off load it for storage and backup.
The battery on this camera could be a little better. As with all batteries they never last as long as you think. This is probably the most negative feature to me. I would say that I got anywhere from an hour to maybe an hour and a half of shooting on a full charge. I would certainly recommend having a second battery on those long shooting days.
The biggest feature of the camera is the AVCHD compression it uses. Everyone talks about if this format will take off or not. It really doesn't matter if it does or if it doesn't as applications like Pinnacle Studio 11 take the AVCHD format and convert it in to the current formats of HD-DVD and Blue-Ray. AVCHD uses a lot of processing power and Ram when it is rendering to whatever format so make sure you have the horsepower on your machine before you being editing. Pinnacle Studio 11 lets you output to HD-DVD on standard DVDs giving you up to 25 min of HD Video on normal DVD. This is great for the average user as most videos are less than that length. This is very cost effective as standard DVD's are very cheap now and the availability of HD-DVD burners and media are both expensive and hard to find.
I have owned many cameras over the years and so far this is by far the best one I have used. I always loathed having to transfer tape to my machine to edit. Now with the HDD it is painless and very fast. You can get to editing quickly. Just expect many many hours of rendering when you are ready to produce that Final Disk of your content.
I FULLY recommend this camera to anyone. At just under 1000.00 it is a bargain for what you get.
Viva La HD Révolution!
Customer Review: Another quality product by canon!
Summary: 5 Stars
I always say: Dell computers, and Canon video/photo products and computer peripherals, CANNOT be beat for the price of the product!
This is a high quality product that is insanely good for the price.
I have had a Samsung Mini DV camcorder for a while now. And while the video was ok, I was sick and tired of dealing with the tapes: Which ones did I use? Am i going to overwrite something I haven't put on VHS/DVD? Which tape is spoiled, which is new? Etc...
Hence, I was ready for an upgrade to hard disk!
The camera is absolutely light as a feather, even with a battery that lasts a long time and charges very quickly. The video quality is absolutely like that on Discovery channel, minus the video editing and quality sound. Which brings me to the point of sound quality: After about 30 feet away from the camera, everything becomes quite hard to hear, and I'd reccomend getting an accessory microphone if you really need it.
The menu options are very easy to use and set up, and reviewing and deleting a video is a snap. No more worries about overwriting precious memories!!! You can record about 8 hours full HD video on 40GB, and way more than that in lower quality. And putting everything on your computer is as easy as plugging into your USB drive, it's very fast and convenient. And the video quality on my 4 year old and low-quality laptop is still amazing!
Now, for some cons, although not many. Would've been great if there was a night video capability. If you put this camera on auto mode, during the low light hours it will automatically adjust the setting to allow more light in and really make it look like it's lighter outside than it really is. however, the darker it gets, the granier the picture, and the more "drag" there is as you move the camera side to side. There's no true night-video capability like some other cameras have, quite unfortunate. There is an accessory light you can buy, but it's really quite useless.
Finally, I really am sad to say, that my old Samsung camcorder beat this camera in just one category, and an important one at that: zoom. When I got the samsung about a decade ago, it had 22x optical zoom and way more digital. 22x otpical zoom back then was practically unheard of for a handheld, personal, and realtively cheap camcorder. Nowadays, it's standard. And this camera falls flat. 10x zoom is really nothing, and I'm dissapointed as I do video of beautiful scenery that limits my shots of nature (you can only come so close to an animal before frightening it away).
Besides these two issues, for a normal user this camera is very good nonetheless.
Customer Review: First impressions review
Summary: 5 Stars
The camcorder arrived about a week ago and I have played with it a little bit.
I agree that the video quality is very good - but I have to disagree that it is as good as off-the-air HD TV. I wasn't expecting it to be that good and it is not. I have used only component cables (supplied) to play the video on my HD TV (since I am yet to purchase the mini HDMI cable).
HG10 takes excellent still pictures in good light. It takes very good pictures in low light if the subject is within the reach of the flash and if the camcorder is able to focus well. Yes, you can leave your camera home if you are taking the HG10 with you. Please see the first comment to this review.
I am having problems with the supplied Corel (Ulead) Software for video processing. I have tried multiple times, but I can't successfully install the software on my desktop computer. (It installed fine on my less powerful and older laptop computer). Corel refused phone support (because it was bundled software). I did get a response to my email, but basically the same story. There is no free email support either. I haven't called Canon yet. I was able to download the clips into my laptop and convert them into standard definition MPEG files with ease. I could select several clips (totaling 1 GB) and convert them all to MPEG in one shot. Computer took about 2 hours for conversion. Interesting thing is that standard definition MPEG files are only slightly smaller than the high definition AVCHD files.
You may know that the camcorder sports a video light. It is a tiny white LED and can light up objects up to 5 feet away. I was able to record a decent video in pitch dark (of course with tons of grain) that showed all the colors and details of objects. This was something that is more than what I was expecting. (LED video light itself is very bright to look at.)
I am happy with the product so far.
Update 1:
MPG file that was generated from AVCHD file seems to require a special codec. I had given a short clip to a friend and he said he couldn't play the video on his computer. I tried a couple of videos on my work computer, and sure enough, Windows media player says "failed to download the codec." Other mpg files downloaded from the Internet play fine.
Update 2:
Camcorder sports a safety feature called drop sensor which detects accelaration and stops recording and tries to protect the hard disc.
You can take a snapshot of a scene within the camera while playing a video clip.
A neck strap isn't supplied.