Canon HF10 review

While some manufacturers are experimenting with innovative shapes and ergonomics, Canon has stuck steadfastly to the tried-and-tested camcorder design with the HF10.

It may be closely modelled on hundreds of models that have gone before, but inside it's one of the best consumer HD cameras on the market.

Optical quality is remarkable, and we found it even fared well in low light thanks to its high-quality sensor and built-in lamp. The full HD 1920x1080 resolution makes playback on even the largest of televisions look crystal clear, and the 16GB of internal storage means you can shoot for hours before you even resort to an SD card. This versatility, combined with the plummeting cost of SD memory, means you could take the HF10 on holiday and shoot as much as you wanted without ever needing to offload footage onto a PC.

The HF10 also impressed us with its design. Canon's advertising stresses its usability, and we can't argue. It may not be the smallest camcorder on the market - try the Sony, left, if that's what you're after - but it fits perfectly in the palm. All the most important buttons fall naturally under your fingers, and the menu is a doddle. You can even continue shooting while you change settings, as the menu only takes up two edges of the screen.

External microphone and headphone sockets make pro quality sound recording possible. The accessory shoe will take an external light if needed.

Once you get your footage back home, viewing it on a TV couldn't be simpler, and with the included remote control you can review clips from the comfort of the sofa.

It isn't the cheapest, smallest or most powerful camcorder, but its design, image quality and features mean the HF10 will serve you far better than a cheaper model while leaving little to tempt you to spend more. Shooting your family videos, or indeed amateur movie projects, in HD gives you a degree of future-proofing, and the high quality lens will make your footage bright and clear.

Author: Matthew Sparkes