Performance

The Canon HR10 is equipped with the same imaging system that made the HV20 and HG10 producers of such great video. Inside is a single 1/2.7 CMOS, with a gross pixel count of 2,960,000. The effective pixel count in 16:9 mode is 2,070,000; in 4:3 mode, the effective pixel count is 1,555,000. Sorting out all of those pixels is the Digic DVII processor. Ten months into the year, we’re absolutely certain Canon was right to settle on this particular imaging system. While the dueling codecs (HDV versus AVCHD) have drawn out some variances in artifacting and motion, the general sharpness and color can’t be beat.

1080/60i

To test the Canon HR10, we first shot our DSC Labs Color Checker chart at an even 3000 lux. Not to our surprise, the image was essentially identical to the Canon HG10, its sibling HDD camcorder. The color performance, once again, is fantastic. Everything in the image pops, and the dynamic range looks great. The sharpness is perhaps the most impressive aspect of the shot compared to other AVCHD camcorders. Every edge is incredibly crisp. Unfortunately, it still doesn’t match the Canon HV20, which has a superior HDV compression. The AVCHD compression creates artifacts that have a noticeable impact on apparent resolution. See the images below.

Comparatively, the Sony HDR-UX7 showed nearly the same level of sharpness. The colors were also very good. However, the UX7 produces much higher levels of noise, as well as more ghosting along areas of high contrast. Canon managed to produce an overall cleaner image. The HDC-SX5, Panasonic’s second generation AVCHD camcorder, did not show any more noise than the Canon HR10, but lacked the sharpness. Part of this seems to be due to increased compression artifacting.

1080/24P

In static shots, the 24P mode showed a slightly higher exposure than 1080/60i. As a result, the colors looked brighter and more vivid. But as we saw with the HG10, the blur that occurs at 24P is significant. What’s worse is the stuttering during pans and tilts. The effect is so noticeable that even the most casual audience would notice. While the 24P mode was the "killer app" on the HV20, it’s all but useless on the AVCHD models.

Cine Mode

The HR10, along with the other high definition Canons, comes equipped with a Cine color setting that can be of use in certain types of shooting. The feature shifts the gamma curve, which dictates how the camcorder deals with shadows, mid-tones, and highlights. When activated, the highlights and shadows contain less detail, and more emphasis is put on the mid-tones. (This graph, from the Canon XH A1 manual, explains. The Cine 1 curve corresponds to the Cine setting on the HR10). Using the setting can help you get colors that approximate the look of film, provided you light the scene correctly.

Overall, the HR10 produces the best looking video of any AVCHD DVD camcorder on the market. Of course, that’s a very slender market. It does not rival any HDV camcorder we’ve seen to date. Also, the data speed is behind that of AVCHD camcorders recording to hard drive and memory cards. If you’re dead set on a high definition DVD camcorder, this is probably the one to get, but consider your options first.

Video Resolution* (18.75)*

The video resolution of the Canon HR10 was tested by shooting a DSC Labs video resolution chart, then looking at playback footage on an HD monitor. This test measures the actual outputted video the consumer would see on their TV, not the idealized resolution manufacturers sometimes like to advertise. At best, the HR10 was able to produce an approximate horizontal resolution of 625 line widths per picture height (lw/ph) and a vertical resolution of 600 lw/ph. This is an excellent score.

Low Light Performance* (8.54)*

The low light testing takes places in multiple stages. The first involves shooting a DSC Labs Chroma DuMonde Color Checker chart at an even 60 lux and 15 lux, then comparing the results to the same charts from other camcorders.

1080/60i

At 60 lux, the Canon HR10 showed identical results to the Canon HG10 (no surprise). Again, we were surprised to see that the AVCHD camcorders seemed to produce less noise than the HV20, which records in the sharper HDV codec. It’s possible that the compression artifacting and data loss actually glossed over some of the noise, making it less noticeable. The AVCHD camcorders also looked softer, overall, lacking the sharpness of the HV20.

The HR10 offers shutter control, so we lowered it to 1/30, a speed at which there wouldn’t be too much motion blur. The image brightened up considerably, and the colors looked more accurate.

At 15 lux, the Canon HR10 fell apart, as most camcorders do. Noise increased, which was expected, but there was also some considerable discoloration. Areas that should have been neutral took on a slight sepia tinge.

At 15 lux with a 1/30 shutter speed, the image showed a definite improvement. The noise wasn’t diminished by much, but the discoloration disappeared.

1080/24P

As stated above in Video Performance, the 24P mode on the HR10 creates a serious stuttering effect that kills most shots. In very select instances, however, like shooting an evening turtle race (with a tripod), the 24P mode could come in handy. In this mode, the image looked much brighter than in 60i, due simply to the fact that the default lowest shutter speed is 1/48. As long as the image remained static, everything improved – color, sharpness, noise, and brightness.

The next part of our low light testing involves shooting the DSC Labs Chroma DuMonde color chip chart while steadily lowering the light. We watch a waveform monitor until the camcorder is able to output a peak 50 IRE (an measurement of exposure). The Canon HR10 was able to output a peak 50 IRE at a light level of 8 lux – exactly the same light level as the Canon HG10 and a very good score compared to the competition.

Finally, we shoot a GretagMacBeth Color Checker chart at an even 60 lux, then output frames to Imatest imaging software to determine color accuracy, noise, and saturation. We found the Canon HR10 produced a color error of 10.5, which is very good at this light level. The noise level measured 0.8125 percent, also a good score, and the saturation measured 85.49 percent.

Overall, the Canon HR10 is a solid low light performer. It’s a shame the 24P mode produces such ill side effects, as it has great potential benefits for low light shooting, and proved to be a boon for the Canon HV20.

Stabilization* (7.43)*

We tested the effectiveness of the HR10’s optical image stabilization (OIS) by using our custom-built shake emulator. The camcorder was tested at two speeds similar to typical, everyday shooting patterns. Speed one simulates light handheld recording while standing or walking lightly down the street. Speed two is a bit more intense, along the lines of a light jog or bumpy car ride.

The HR10 exhibited an 85.7% shake reduction at Speed One and a meager 40% shake reduction at Speed Two. This is most likely due to the camcorder’s tall, thin frame. The DC50 performed better at Speed Two with a 60% shake reduction, but at Speed One it was only capable of a 75% reduction. The Panasonic HDC-SX5 and Sony HDR-UX7 both produced superior OIS scores in comparison with the HR10.

Wide Angle* (9.6)*

We measured the HR10’s maximum field of view by using a vertical laser. The camcorder is set to Auto mode and the zoom is pulled back to its widest angle. Footage is then viewed on an external monitor to attain a true 16:9 picture. The HR10’s maximum field of view is 48 degree, which falls within the median of most wide angle measurements.

 

 

 

 

Format

Compression* (7.0)*

The Canon HR10 compresses video in AVCHD, a relatively new high definition video format. Up until last year, the only consumer HD format was HDV, which only recorded on MiniDV tapes. But tape was being quickly eclipsed by DVD, flash memory, and hard drive as the media of choice. Blu-Ray and HD DVD were still young, and their implementation in portable devices like camcorders was a technological challenge. Then Panasonic and Sony got together and co-developed AVCHD, a space-efficient codec that would record HD video onto the new media.

AVCHD has a lot of promise, but the first generation (and now the second) have fallen short of the sharpness that HDV provides. Part of the problem is that the codec is so space-efficient that the data is highly compressed, resulting in video artifacts. Some camcorders also have a hard time with motion rendering, often creating a blur.

Editing AVCHD is the hardest part. Again, because the compression is so, well… compressed, it takes a great deal of processing power to decompress and edit. Also, compatibility is still in obstacle for most consumers due to the newness of the format.

The Canon HR10 offers four quality settings in high definition: XP+ (12Mbps), XP (9Mbps), SP (7Mbps), and LP (5Mbps). We recommend always shooting in the highest quality setting. The maximum data speed on the HR10, 12Mbps, is slower than that of its hard drive counterpart, the HG10, which records up to 15Mbps. This is due to the slower speed of the DVD writing process – yet another reason to avoid the DVD format.

The camcorder can also record in standard definition MPEG-2 files in three qualities: XP (9Mbps), SP (6Mbps), and LP (3Mbps).

Media* (4.5)*

The Canon HR10 captures video to an 8cm DVD, sometimes called a miniDVD. There are multiple types of this DVD, and Canon has you covered. The camcorder accepts –R, – RW, and –R DL (Dual Layer) discs. Other DVD camcorders offer a wider range of compatible disc types, but this should fit the needs of most users.

A 1.4GB single-sided DVD holds only 14 minutes of video in the highest quality setting (XP+). In XP mode, it holds 20 minutes; in SP mode it holds 25 minutes; and in LP mode it holds 33 minutes. Dual layer discs hold a little less than twice that in each setting.

The whole concept of shooting high definition video onto DVD should be explored, however, before plunging into a purchase. DVDs are severely limited in capacity compared to hard disk drives (HDD) and flash memory. They’re also fragile, scratchable items that don’t have a terribly long shelf life (five to 10 years). Once you group all this information in with the fact that data speed is inherently lower on AVCHD DVD camcorders than other media, it’s hard to find a compelling argument to buy one.

Editing* (4.0)*

Editing video is possibly the most frustrating thing about owning an AVCHD camcorder. Even good computers take a long time to import footage and parse it for editing. In fact, it calls into question the whole point of random access media over tape. If importing AVCHD footage from a DVD takes real time or longer, without offering all the quality benefits of tape, why should we choose AVCHD at all? That’s a question you’ll have to answer yourself. If you plan on shooting video that needs to be edited in the immediate future, AVCHD may not be right for you. If, rather, you have a new baby in the home and you’re simply stocking up on precious moments, you can be reasonably sure the editing solutions will become prevalent over time.

The Canon HR10 ships with two discs: the standard Canon Digital Video Solutions Disk (now up to version 26.0), and the Corel Application Disc ver1.0, which includes Corel GuideMenu, InterVideo WinDVD SE, Ulead DVD Movie Factory SE, and DVD Movie Writer SE. This is a great set of applications that allows you to import, edit, and author finished movies for the Web or DVD. Of course, processing times are painfully slow and the extent to which you can edit is limited.

 

 

 

 

Auto / Manual Controls

Picture & Manual Control
Automatic Control (6.5)

The automatic controls on the Canon HR10 are good – as good as they were on the HG10 and HV20. The full Auto mode responses, in conjunction with the assortment of one-touch image controls, make for a powerful point-and-shoot package with a clean HD video look.

The strongest control on the HR10 is probably the auto focus. Canon equips its HD camcorders with the two-part Instant AF system. An external sensor is located on the front of the camcorder and is used to determine the gross focusing. This leaves the traditional AF system to do only the fine focusing. As a unit, they improve focus time, though not necessarily focus accuracy. The Instant AF system also has a habit of "snapping" the focus into place rather than a gradual shift. If this is not the look you’re going for, you can turn Instant AF off and rely on the internal AF only.

The Function menu contains a series of Program AE modes that can be used for tricky lighting situations. Choices include Portrait, Sports, Night, Snow, Beach, Sunset, Spotlight, and Fireworks. The Canon HR10 also include one-touch correction tools such as the Image Effects tools (described below in Other Manual Controls).

*

Overall Manual Control (6.5)*

The overall manual control of the Canon HR10 is among the best in the small pool of high definition DVD camcorders. The Panasonic HDC-DX1 and HDC-SX5 offer a greater number of true tools that videographers like, such as independent shutter and aperture and gain, but Canon arguably has the better overall system of controls.

Most manual control work is done with the joystick and Function menu, accessed via the menu button on the upper-left side of the body. The joystick is mounted to the rear of the body, as it is on the standard definition DC50, allowing for one-handed operation. However, due to the tall, thin design, using a left hand on the LCD panel to stabilize is advisable. The HR10’s hard drive equivalent, the HG10, received all the design upgrades this year, including a large rocker for zoom control and an odd, spinning wheel control on the LCD panel. We can’t say we miss them too much on the HR10. The handling is fine as it is.

What makes the manual control set on the HR10 so good is that Canon has found the balance between ease of use and powerful controls. Panasonics have independent shutter and aperture, while Canon has an Aperture Priority mode and a Shutter Priority mode. It seems likely that most consumers, even the ambitious student filmmakers, are perfectly happy with the latter set. Panasonic offers gain control, but Canon offers color control in the form of the Cine gamma mode and a suite of image effects for adjusting saturation and sharpening. It seems, again, that consumers would prefer Canon’s controls, despite having a distinctly more "consumer feel" than a "pro feel."

*

Zoom (5.0)*

The Canon HR10’s zoom toggle is located on the top near the back, positioned for the index finger. Though shaped a little oddly, it functions as well as any Canon zoom toggle, offering approximately three speeds depending on finger pressure. The menu also offers an option for locking the zoom to a fixed speed, regardless of finger pressure. There are settings: Speed 1 is a slow crawl, Speed 2 is a medium pace, and Speed 3 is a fast clip.

Zoom Power Ratio (10.0)

The Canon HR10 has an optical zoom of 10, which is the same power nearly every top camcorder on the market is offering. The digital zoom can extend to 200x, or be capped at a moderate 40x.

Focus (5.0)

The focus control on the Canon HR10 is activated by pushing in on the joystick. A small menu appears in the lower right corner of the screen. Toggle through the options until "Focus" appears. Push up on the joystick to engage, then shift the joystick left and right to adjust focus.

If this were the sole means of focusing, we would score the control poorly. The LCD is not large, nor is it a high resolution – both of which make it difficult to tell if anything is in focus. Fortunately, the camcorder comes equipped with Focus Assist tool (activated via the Main menu). When engaged, any time you make a focal adjustment, the screen automatically zooms in about 2x to 3x to help you better see line edges. The zoom is not recorded onto the final footage. Overall, the Focus Assist is good, but we haven’t seen anything as good as JVC’s peaking tool that creates artificial color across all areas that are in focus.

The Focus Assist tool in action

Exposure & Aperture (7.6)

The exposure on the Canon HR10 can be altered with two tools: exposure compensation and Aperture Priority. The exposure compensation is the easier of the two. To activate, push in on the joystick. A window appears in the lower right corner. Page through the menu to get to the "EXP" option, then push up. A scale appears at the top of the screen. Toggle the joystick left and right to adjust the exposure. The scale ranges from +/-11.

The exposure tool in action

The more advanced means of controlling exposure is the Aperture Priority tool. This actually lets you set the iris; the camcorder automatically adjusts the shutter speed to correct for exposure. This is a great tool when you want to play with depth of field – otherwise impossible without a direct aperture control. To activate this control, go to the top line of the Function menu and shift the camcorder from P mode to Av. Aperture settings include f/1.8, f/2.0, f/2.4, f/2.8, f/3.4, f/4.0, f/4.8, f/5.6, f/6.7, and f/8.0.

Shutter Speed (7.7)

The Canon HR10 offers a Shutter Priority mode, which is activated just like the Aperture Priority. Go to the top line of the Function menu and shift to Tv mode. When activated, the camcorder automatically adjusts the aperture to correct the exposure. Unlike most controls, the shutter speed settings vary depending on whether the camcorder is in the 60i or the 24P frame rate. In 60i mode, the shutter settings include 1/8, 1/15, 1/30, 1/60, 1/100, 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000, and 1/2000.

In 24P mode, the settings are: 1/6, 1/12, 1/24, 1/48, 1/60, 1/100, 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000, and 1/2000.

White Balance (7.5)

The white balance settings offer a better variety of choices than most camcorders. Obviously, a manual white balance is always your best bet, but sometimes a white or gray card is not handy. In those cases, you can turn to the following options: Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, and Fluorescent H (fluorescent that emulates daylight). Many brands only offer one outdoor and one indoor setting. Canon provides more flexibility.

Making a manual adjustment is easy. Simple select the manual WB option and push in on the joystick. The adjustment takes about two seconds.

The White Balance menu in action

Gain (0.0)

The Canon HR10 does not offer manual gain, nor does any consumer Canon camcorder.

Other Manual Controls (2.0)
**Cine Mode - The Cine mode settings, located in the Function menu beside the Aperture and Shutter Priority modes, is an alternate gamma curve that accentuates the mid-tones and compresses the shadows and highlights. This is meant to emulate, in the roughest sense, the look of film. Using it means you must be more careful to light properly, as the camcorder will be able to pick up less detail in the shadows.

Image Effects - As with most Canon camcorders, the HR10 offers a series of color correction tools collectively called Image Effects. The camcorder gives you four options from which to choose: Vivid, Neutral, Soft Skin, and Low Sharpening. Each of these can either be turned on or off – nothing more. There is a fifth option, as well, called Custom. When activated, this allows you to create a single custom setting composed of four parameters: Color Depth, Brightness, Contrast, and Sharpness. Each of these can be set to a value of -1, 0, or +1. The camcorder is not very good about remembering your settings, so if you really like it, you’d better write down the values.

The Image Effects submenu

 

Markers - The HR10 can create lines on the LCD screen to help you compose your shot, either a horizontal line across the center or two lines horizontally and two lines vertically, to create nine sectors across the screen. Either line pattern can be drawn in white or gray. The lines are not recorded onto your final video.

 

 

 

 

Still Features

Still Features* (9.25)*

The HR10 records still images to a MiniSD card in the following sizes: 1920 x 1080 (LW), 2048 x 1536 (L), 1440 x 1080 (M), 848 x 480 (SW), and 640 x 480 VGA (S). Both 16:9 image sizes (1920 x 1080 and 848 x 480) can be recorded simultaneously to a MiniSD card and disc. Images can be captured in Super Fine, Fine, and Normal quality. The HR10 is equipped with a flash and video light, which are decent options to have in insufficient lighting. Images can also be captured from video playback at 1920 x 1080 by pausing a clip and pressing the photo capture button.

The HR10 includes three shooting modes: Evaluative, Center Weight Average, and Spot. Evaluative mode is most appropriate for backlit scenes as the HR10 divides the screen into several individual boxes. The light in each box is then measured in all of the boxes to garner a proper exposure. Center Weight Average takes in all light and averages it within the center of the screen, highlighting a subject in the foreground. Spot just hones in on one particular area of the screen and adjusts the exposure according to its light metering.

AF Priority is also available in Camera mode. When AiAF is selected, the screen is segmented into as many as nine boxes. One or more AF boxes are automatically selected and focused on. In Center AF mode, a single focusing box is located in the middle of the screen and the focus automatically adjusts to its composition.

Still images can be captured in four different speed modes: Single, Continuous Shooting, Hi-speed Continuous Shooting, and Auto Exposure Bracketing. In Single mode, images are captured one at a time. Continuous Shooting allows the shooter to capture numerous images with 0.3 second intervals. Hi-speed Continuous Shooting is reportedly faster than Continuous Shooting (though we didn’t notice a difference). Auto Exposure Bracketing captures three images — one at a normal exposure, one at a lower exposure, and one at a higher exposure.

Each image is accompanied by a histogram that shows the dynamics between shadows and highlights. A slew of other information is available as well, including size, shooting mode, white balance, aperture, image quality, date, and time. A Self Timer function is available within the Administrative menu that can be set to 10 seconds or 2 seconds with the wireless remote. The HR10 offers the most advanced level of still features within its price range.

The menu system can be a bit tricky for beginners, but the inherent order becomes apparent over time. Most of the manual controls are located in the Function menu, accessed by hitting the function button on the left side. Other controls, such as Self Timer, are also available in the Administrative menu.

To access Photo Playback mode, push down on the mode switch on the back of the camcorder. Stills appear as thumbnails – six to a screen. All still images are accompanied by a histogram and a plethora of image information such as aperture, quality, and size, to name a few. Up on the joystick rotates the selected image 90 degrees and down controls delete options. Images can also be viewed in a thumbnail menu structure by pressing the zoom out button on the LCD panel (the zoom toggle also functions the same way). When an image is selected, you can zoom in or out using either zoom control.

The Photo Playback mode’s Function menu can be accessed by pressing the function button. Here, you have the following options: Slide Show, Protect, Print Order, Transfer Order, and Menu. The Photo playback menu contains the following options:

Still Performance* (7.82)*

The still performance of the Canon HR10 was tested by shooting a GretagMacBeth Color Checker chart at an even, bright light, then running the stills through Imatest imaging software. At best, the camcorder was able to produce a color error of 7.67, a noise level of 1.4425, and a saturation level of 111.2 percent. These scores were average to slightly below-average compared to other camcorders in its class.

As with most camcorders, the HR10’s most accurate colors do not appear when shooting in Auto mode. Typically, the exposure must be lowered, as was the case here. We found the best results after dropping the exposure compensation by three increments to -0.75EV.

In practice, the images from the Canon HR10 did indeed appear noisy, as testing indicated. It also seemed to lack the color and vivacity of the video. While a 2048 x 1536 image seems large for a camcorder, that’s only about 3.15 megapixels, which pales in comparison to even low-end digital still cameras.

Still Resolution* (27.1)*

The still resolution was tested by shooting an Applied Image ISO 12233 resolution chart and running those stills through Imatest imaging software. At best, the Canon HR10 was able to produce an approximate horizontal resolution of 1425 line widths per picture height (lw/ph), with a clipping of 1.34 percent and an oversharpening of 3.91% - and a vertical resolution of 1319 lw/ph, with a clipping of 1.5 percent and an oversharpening of 2.52 percent.

We raised the exposure compensation by three increments to +0.75EV to get this best score.

 

 

 

 

Handling and Use

Ease of Use* (7.5)*

The HR10, like its AVCHD siblings, features a robust set of manual controls and a relatively complex menu system. The point-and-shooter who wanders outside the cushy realm of Auto mode may be a little overwhelmed. In Manual mode, you'd better know what you’re doing or you could end up with all the wrong settings. (Of course, that’s how you learn, so leave yourself time to experiment.) The thing about high-end Canons is that you have to double check all settings because the menus are filled to the brim. This is time-consuming for the point-and-shooter who just wants to … well, point and shoot. In that case, slip the HR10 into Auto mode and the menu will appear less foreboding.

Actually working with the AVCHD footage outputted by the camcorder, as well as the DVD media, is less than pleasant. AVCHD files are relatively new and have limited compatibility. Files take up a significant amount of space and require a Rolls Royce of a computer to handle. Not many editing programs support AVCHD, and the ones that do are slow and entry-level quality, such as Ulead Video Studio 11. Furthermore, DVDs are the most annoying form of media on the market. In the highest HD quality setting, the HR10 can achieve a maximum of 15 minutes on one disc. That means you have to tote around a bevy of backup discs just to last throughout the day. DVDs also need to be formatted when starting and finalized when finished, which can take up to 10 minutes. We also experienced problems with DVD-RW discs during the battery test. Out of Canon’s three new AVCHD camcorders, the HR10 is the biggest pain to work with.

Handling* (7.0)*

The HR10 remains lodged between Panasonic’s HDC-SX5 and Sony’s well-crafted HDR-UX7. Those who own or read about the HDC-SX5’s handling section know that the thing is bit bloated. On the other end of the spectrum, the HDR-UX7 sits proudly, sporting a solid construction, balanced feel, and a massive 3.5-inch touch screen LCD. The HDR-UX7 is the best handling AVCHD camcorder on the market, and there’s nothing the HR10 and HDC-SX5 can do to change that.

So, what’s it like to man the HR10? Unsurprisingly, it’s just like shooting with the DC50. Structurally, the camcorders are fraternal twins. Both camcorders sport rear-mounted joysticks and a 2.7-inch LCD screen. Both lack accessory shoes, mic and headphone jacks, and an advanced dial or wheels for making manual adjustments (as found on the HV20 and HG10). In addition, the DC50 and HR10 both employ enclosed battery designs, preventing the shooter from upgrading to a extra-long stamina battery packs (Canon does offer one upgraded battery,which is estimated to last a paltry 30% longer) The rest of Canon’s standard definition DVD line features the same cheap architecture, just on a smaller scale. The HR10, however, is the heaviest in Canon’s DVD fleet, though it still manages to weigh less than the HDR-UX7 and HDC-SX5.

In order to attain a reasonable grip on the HR10, you’ll need to play around with the hand strap, which is anchored significantly low in the back to allow clearance for the DVD hatch. As a result, the HR10 will flop to the side while you are not gripping the camcorder tightly. This is not only vexing, but recorded footage could potentially appear like it was captured from in the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Slide that hand in and ratchet that strap tight! You’ll notice the thumb and index finger rest atop the record start/stop button and zoom toggle, respectively. However, the middle, ring, and pinky fingers flounder along the edge of the disc hatch, slipping along the HR10’s smooth plastic body. A rubberized grip panel would have been a novel implementation here. Nevertheless, the HR10 is not as inviting as the HDR-UX7, yet it’s an improvement from the HDC-SX5’s gawky frame.

Canon’s rear-mounted joystick allows one-handed camcorder operation, yet it lacks the refinement of Panasonic’s joysticks. Shifting through the menu with the HR10’s joystick is a crap shoot sometimes — you press the center of the joystick to select an option and cross your fingers you didn’t inadvertently hit left, right, up, or down. While we’re at the grill, let’s talk about the HR10’s viewfinder. The HG10 gave us hope with its telescoping viewfinder. Unfortunately, that’s not the case here. The HR10 is the most stripped-down HD camcorder in Canon’s lineup, and its viewfinder is simply a disgrace. The HR10’s viewfinder is not rubberized and does not telescope out or flip up. In fact, the shallow plastic stump only extends approximately 1/2-inch from the body of the camcorder. This is by far the cheapest, no-frills construction within the price range.

Menu* (6.5)*

The HR10 features three menus which are loaded with options. This is the same menu found on the HV20 and HG10. Compared to Panasonic’s well-organized menu structure and Sony’s user-friendly Home menu, the HR10’s menu might seem too complex. Point-and-shooters will feel bewildered because of all the options and odd icons. After a short learning curve, however, the menu’s thoughtful design becomes apparent.

To access the Joystick menu, press the center of the rear-mounted joystick. A small menu appears within the right corner of the LCD screen. Pressing down on the joystick shuffles between pages, and all selections are governed by the left, right, and up directions. The following options are available within the Joystick menu:

 

The Joystick menu

The Function menu is accessed by pressing the Function button located on the left side of the HR10. A vertical and horizontal panel appears, lined along the left side and bottom of the LCD screen. The following options are available in the Function menu:

 

The Function menu

The HR10’s Administrative menu is accessed by selecting the Menu option in the Function menu. The following options are available in the Administrative menu:

Portability* (6.0)*

The HR10 is the smallest AVCHD DVD camcorder out there, so you can expect it to shine in the portability department. With dimensions of 65 x 93 x 133mm (2.6 x 3.7 x 5.2-inches) and a weight of 530 grams (1.3 pounds), the HR10 fits in a small camera bag with room to spare. This is a vast improvement over the Panasonic HDC-SX5 or mammoth HDC-DX1. Canon includes a DVD disc for you right off the bat, but you’ll need to stock up for shoots that exceed 15 minutes. In addition, it’s important to lug around all included cables just in case you want or need to import from the field. A couple backup batteries are a necessity, due to the HR10’s mediocre battery performance and enclosed battery design.

LCD and Viewfinder* (6.0)*

The HR10 is equipped with a 2.7-inch LCD screen with a 211,000-pixel resolution. The screen extends outward 90 degrees from the body of the camcorder and rotates up to 270 degrees. The HR10’s LCD screen includes a strip of controls along the bottom panel, consisting of Zoom Out/Rewind, Zoom In/Fast Forward, Record Start/Stop/Play/Pause, and Playlist/Stop. The HR10’s LCD cavity is dominated by a cell phone-sized battery that engulfs 95 percent of the vicinity. Canon could have thrown some addition ports within the LCD cavity, like a mic or headphone jack, but you won’t find either of those on the HR10.

The HR10 also features a terrible viewfinder that does not telescope out or flip up and lacks a rubberized eye cup. The viewfinder has a 123,000-pixel resolution and its dioptric adjuster is located along the bottom ridge of the eye cup. Canon is notorious for slapping deplorable viewfinders on its camcorders, and the HR10 is a prime example. The HV20, in addition to Canon’s entire line of standard definition camcorders, fall victim to this lacking design. The HG10 is the only model in Canon’s fleet to show any promise with a telescoping viewfinder, amidst other design innovations. Sony and Panasonic equip most of their camcorders with telescoping or rotating viewfinders, and Canon should take notes.

**

Battery Life*** (10.6)*

Before we get into the HR10’s battery life, it’s imperative to note that this camcorder features an enclosed battery design, just like Canon’s entire standard definition DVD line. An enclosed design means you can only upgrade to a slightly larger pack (the BP-218) that offers 30% more life. While an upgrade is nice, 30% isn't quite what we were hoping for. 

We tested the life of the HR10’s BP-214 battery pack by recording continuously in Manual mode with OIS off and the LCD screen flipped out until the HR10 called it quits. When a disc needed to be reformatted, the external power was connected and the battery was removed. When all was said and done, the HR10’s battery lasted 105 minutes and 34 seconds (1 hour, 45 minutes, and 34 seconds). For a camcorder this size with an enclosed battery design, this is not a bad showing. On the other hand, the Panasonic HDC-SX5’s battery lasted a whopping 153 minutes and 34 seconds, while the Sony HDR-UX7’s battery held on for 121 minutes and 19 seconds.

 

 

 

 

Audio / Playback / Connectivity

Audio* (3.0)*

Audio is a grim subject in regards to the HR10. This camcorder does not have a mic jack, headphone jack, or an accessory shoe to its name. All audio control is limited to a Wind Screen. Talk about consumer-grade audio! The HR10’s built-in stereo microphone does a fair job of picking up sound, but its quality is definitely not up to par for any production beyond a home movie. The HV20 and HG10 are both equipped with mic and headphone jacks and a hot shoe. Canon must have been driven solely by the HR10’s target audience — what soccer mom would ever care about a boom mic or proper decibel levels? Despite Canon’s logic, the Panasonic HDC-SX5 offers a slew of audio controls and features a hot shoe and mic jack. The Sony HDR-UX7 also includes mic and headphone jacks and is equipped with a Sony-brand Active Interface Shoe (AIS). This is pretty embarrassing, Canon.

Playback* (4.5)*

Playing back footage on the HR10 is simple. In order to access Playback mode, just shift the mode switch downward and the camcorder will automatically shift gears. A stylized page appears, containing up to six thumbnails that represent individually recorded clips. Use the joystick to navigate through the thumbnails and the center of the joystick to select a clip. When a clip is selected, it begins playing within the entirety of the LCD screen. Playback controls are located along the bottom of the LCD panel and consist of Rewind, Fast Forward, Play/Pause, and Stop. You can also shuffle between clips using the joystick. Volume is controlled by pressing the center of the joystick and shifting up to make a clip louder or down to make a clip softer. You can also shuffle between clips here as well by using the left and right joystick directions.

In Video mode, pressing the function button cues a set of three icons at the bottom of the clip thumbnail screen: Add to Playlist, Delete, and Menu. The Video Playback menu contains the following options:

**

Connectivity*** (6.0)*

Most of the HR10’s ports are located on the left side of the camcorder. The outcast is the DC input, which hides in the bottom right corner of the right side, below the disc hatch. Canon chose a round connection, which is more prone to disconnecting with a light tug. The DC jack is also bare, so tread lightly at the beach.

The HDMI and AV-out terminals are shrouded by a shield-like hard plastic port cover, located along the back end of the left side. A small strip within the LCD cavity is home to the Component-out and USB terminals. Generally, ports mounted to the left side of a camcorder are not fun to deal with while you are attempting to play back footage on the LCD screen. You won’t find a mic jack, headphone jack, or accessory shoe on the HR10. This thing is highly consumer in terms of audio and connectivity. Just the bare essentials are present.

 

 

 

 

 

Other Features

What’s in the Box?

The Canon HR10 ships with the following items:

-CA-570 Compact Power Adapter and Cord

-BP-214 Battery Pack

-WL-D86 Wireless Controller

-Lithium Button Battery CR2025 for Wireless Controller

-CTC-100/S Component Cable

-STV-100 Stereo Video Cable

-IFC-300PCU USB Cable

-Blank DVD-R Disc

-Digital Video Solution Software CD-ROM

-Corel Application Disc Software CD-ROM

-User Manual

Most manufacturers don’t even bother to include a disc, but the HR10 is ready to roll right out of the box. Although this is a great start, you’ll need a mound of DVD discs and a backup battery to last a full day. If you own an HD television with an HDMI input, you might want to spring for an HDMI cable.

Other Features* (6.0)
**Quick Start- *When Quick Start is engaged, the HR10 can be powered off and then powered right back on with all settings saved by the press of a button. The camcorder remains in a low power Standby mode while powered off.

*Video Light - *The HR10’s video light is just like the rest of Canon’s video lights — a mini bluish spotlight. Use it for odd effects, but don’t count on adequate lighting.

*Digital Effects - *The HR10 is equipped with some fun digital stocking stuffers that consist of two fades (Fade-T and Wipe) and three digital picture effects (Black and White, Sepia, and Art, which is just a nifty posterize filter).

 

Digital Effects menu

*Auto Slow Shutter- *When Auto Slow Shutter is turned on, the HR10 automatically adjusts the shutter speed to compensate for dark shooting environments. The shutter will drop to as low as 1/30 in 60i, 1/12 in 24P, and 1/15 in Camera mode.

 

 

 

 

Comparisons / Conclusion

Comparison
Canon HG10
Canon’s debut HDD titan is a fierce contender. The HG10 ($1,299) features the same prized chipset as the HV20 and HR10, but is capable of a higher 15 Mbps data rate compared to the HR10’s 12 Mbps max. The HG10 wowed our socks off in the testing room with an image that channeled the greatness of the HV20. However, the HG10 faltered during 24P shooting, rendering the feature all but useless. The HR10 cranks out a similarly beautiful image, as well as the 24P weakness.

Here’s where the road forks. The HR10 is a stripped-down version of the HG10 in many ways. The HG10 features an extendable viewfinder, advanced zoom rocker, LCD scroll wheel, mic and headphone jacks, and a hot accessory shoe. Architecturally, the HR10 is just a pimped out DC50, lacking all of these features and sporting an enclosed battery design. At just $100 more, the HG10 is the ultimate alternative to the omnipotent HV20.

Panasonic HDC-SX5
The HDC-SX5 is actually a scaled-down version of its gargantuan first generation predecessor, the HDC-DX1. Despite the weight-loss program, the HDC-SX5 ($899 MSRP) is still the biggest DVD camcorder on the market. It’s not fun to hold, features a mammoth battery that juts out of the back end, and takes forever to open the disc hatch. The HDC-SX5 offers a great picture in bright light, but struggles in low light. Between the HDC-SX5 and HR10, it’s no contest. Canon has dominated the HD market this year, and the HR10’s stunning video performance is testament.

The HDC-SX5 does offer a hot shoe, more user-friendly menu structure, and excellent audio level control. In addition, the HDC-SX5 can record HD video to either a disc or an SD/SDHC card. Other perks include a telescoping viewfinder and outstanding battery life. Is this enough to lasso in consumers? One look at the HR10’s video performance will steer you away from the clunky HDC-SX5, despite its $300 price drop.

Sony HDR-UX7
Ah, now this is a real contest. The HDR-UX7 is the Mercedes Benz of its class. It features a solid construction, stellar handling, and an intergalactic ease of use factor. In terms of video performance, the HDR-UX7 produced an image closest to its first generation sibling, the HDR-UX1. The HDR-UX7’s 1/2.9-inch CMOS chip cranked out a beautiful image in bright light, though AVCHD compression was fairly noticeable. As the lights dimmed, so did quality, and the Canon HR10 showed its edge over the competition.

Although no AVCHD DVD camcorder can compete with the HR10’s video performance, the HDR-UX7 has it beat by a landslide when it comes to handling. The HDR-UX7 touts a 3.5-inch LCD screen, rotating viewfinder, and a Cam Control dial. The HDR-UX7 will not offer the level of manual controls found on a Canon or Panasonic, but it’s a point-and-shoot all-star. Of course, we have to side with a beautiful image, but those who care more about comfort will want to look into the HDR-UX7. It’s also $200 less.

Hitachi DZ-BD70
The mad scientists at Hitachi’s laboratories have been running rampant. Their final result: the world’s first Blu-Ray camcorder — two of them, actually. (We’ll have that review coming up soon). Yes folks, hide the small children and animals. The DX-BD70 (1,350 MSRP) is actually the second-tier model, the top model being the DX-BD7H ($1600 MSRP), which records to both Blu-Ray disc and a 30GB HDD. The DX-BD70 is closer in price to the HR10, but it’s still a formidable financial hill to climb. We haven’t gotten the DX-BD70 into our labs yet, but until then, here’s what the DX-BD70 has to offer. The DX-BD70 is capable of recording one hour of 1920 x 1080 Full HD video to a single-sided 8cm Blu-Ray disc. It features a 1/2.8-inch CMOS sensor, mic jack, LCD-mounted joystick, and a finalize button. Stay tuned for an in-depth review of this monster.

Who It’s For
Point-and-Shooters

Internally, the HR10 beholds the same ultimate power as the HG10, but handling is another story. Point-and-shooters will be graced with stunning video quality if they can figure out how to use the HR10.

Budget Consumers

The HR10 is well beyond any budget consumer’s range. The cheapest high definition DVD camcorder is the Panasonic HDC-SX5, and that will run you $900.

Still Photo / Video Camera Hybrid

The still features offered on the HR10 are bountiful. As far as hybrid functionality, the HDC-SX5 can shoot to both disc and SD/SDHC card. That’s not the case with the HR10.

Gadget Freaks

The HR10’s peculiar copper highlights may lure a few gadget freaks to the Best Buy stand, but aside from stunning video quality and excellent manual controls, the HR10 is the runt of Canon’s AVCHD litter. Any geek in good standing will opt for a hard drive or flash memory model.

Manual Control Freaks

Although Panasonic offers gain control, in addition to a hearty line of manual controls, Canon implements enough quirky manual controls in its high-end AVCHD trio to keep power shooters happy.

Pros / Serious Hobbyists

The video quality is astounding for a consumer camcorder, but the second a pro hears the word "DVD," all bets are off.

Conclusion

Canon comes close to perfection this year when it comes to video quality in its consumer high definition camcorders. Every media category in which they have a product – tape, DVD, and hard disk drive – its camcorders offer the best-looking image. That said, a camcorder is made up of more than its video quality. Convenience, ease of use, manual controls, handling, and features all factor in, as well.

On these points, the Canon HR10 leaves a lot to be desired compared to its cousins. The DVD media is founded on the principle of simplicity. People like the familiar shape and the fact they can pop it into their home DVD players with little complication. That was the case with standard definition. The AVCHD high definition format robs DVDs of nearly all their convenience. Capacity is limited to 15 minutes on a single-sided disc. Many home DVD players are not compatible with the format. AVCHD files are large and complex chunks of data; even robust computers require a lot of processing time. Also, the number of compatible editing software programs is severely limited. While we wait for supporting technology to catch up, the camcorder might have to serve as your sole playback device, which decreases the lifespan of the device.

In addition to the inherent flaws in the DVD media, the Canon HR10 has an internal battery design, precluding an expanded battery pack. The viewfinder, as ever, is hard, plastic, and stunted. There are no audio options – no mic or headphone jack and no accessory shoe. The overall body design is not bad, but tends to lean left due to a poorly-placed hand strap.

Our conclusion is this: if you want a high definition camcorder, don’t even consider DVD for the time being. Tape-based HDV camcorders offer the highest video quality and, generally, the lowest price – we like the Canon HV20 and the Sony HDR-HC7. If you’re dead-set on a high definition DVD camcorder, look at the Sony HDR-UX7 – it works better as a complete package. The Canon HR10 offers the best video quality, but not much else.

 

 

 

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