Canon HV10 review

At first glance, the HV10 seems like a standard DV camcorder. Turn it on, though, and the letters HDV glow bright blue from the side of the LCD screen, highlighting that this is Canon's first affordable high-definition (HD) camcorder.

The HV10 has a 2.96-megapixel CMOS sensor that produces video at a 4:3 aspect ratio with a resolution of 1,440x1,080, around four times greater than regular DV cameras. This is scaled up to a 16:9 widescreen ratio at a resolution of 1,920x1,080 for playback in the 1,080i format. To make sure you capture the best-quality video, Canon has used a system it calls Instant AF. Standard autofocus systems look at the contrast in the image, as an in-focus image has far higher contrast than a blurry one. The HV10 has an extra sensor that roughly calculates the range to the target. This speeds up focusing immensely, so you get fewer blurry moments and more HD sharpness.

The upright design places the strap diagonally across the body of the camcorder. This makes it ideal for holding in front of your body for casual handheld recording. Canon has fitted the HV10 with optical image stabilisation to help you shoot steadier video. However, to get the best from any camcorder, particularly an HD one, you'll need a tripod. The basic controls are well positioned and clearly labelled. There's an automatic mode to help novices get started immediately.

Despite its high price, there's little for enthusiasts to get excited about. The HV10 is a point-and-shoot-style camcorder. Its compact design leaves no space for an accessory shoe for mounting lights or microphones and the range of manual controls is limited.

The quality of the HD video is excellent, though, making normal DV look soft and fuzzy. Detail is fantastic, bringing scenes to life, and hardly any noise is perceptible. Colours are accurately re-created with no over-saturation. In low-light conditions, it's less impressive, with noise masking some of that detail. You need ideal conditions to get the best out of any CMOS sensor-based camcorder; see our FAQ, left, for details.

If you plan to edit your HD footage, you'll need a powerful PC with lots of RAM and a big hard disk. You'll also need to invest in video-editing software that supports HD video. Furthermore, you'll need an HD TV or high-resolution monitor to fully appreciate the finished results.

The HV10 is an easy-to-use HD camcorder. Features such as Instant AF and image stabilisation help novices get the best possible HD footage. If you want to shoot HD video today, the HV10 is the easiest way to do it. However, the price is high and you'll need plenty of other kit for the best results.