Macworld: Canon rolls out new camcorders ...

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17 Replies Last post: Jan 5, 2009 11:07 PM by bgillander 1 2 Previous Next

Macworld

11,211 posts since
Nov 30, 2007

Jan 5, 2009 1:31 PM

Canon rolls out new camcorders

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TeaEarleGreyHot

247 posts since
Sep 29, 2005

1. Jan 5, 2009 2:02 PM

in response to: Macworld

Re: Canon rolls out new camcorders

Did they announce any pricing? Ballpark?

flybynight

835 posts since
Jul 21, 2006

2. Jan 5, 2009 2:04 PM

in response to: Macworld

Re: Canon rolls out new camcorders

It says in the article "Pricing and availability were not announced..."

Photonerd

266 posts since
Mar 31, 2005

3. Jan 5, 2009 3:18 PM

in response to: Macworld

Re: Canon rolls out new camcorders

I just bought a Canon HD cam, but luckily I don't feel too bad as the optical zoom on the higher end model has dropped to 10x from 12x. I'll take the former over any extra pixels or gizmos. Using Video cameras for still images is a mistake anyway.

Schneb

1,727 posts since
Dec 10, 2002

4. Jan 5, 2009 4:05 PM

in response to: Macworld

Re: Canon rolls out new camcorders

I'll stick with my HV20 until they decide to go with pure progressive scan capture.

elCapiton

162 posts since
Nov 20, 2004

5. Jan 5, 2009 5:13 PM

in response to: Macworld

Re: Canon rolls out new camcorders

I just bought an HF10 this past Saturday. Looks like it's superceeded by the new HF S10 with twice the storage. Hopefully prices come out soon since I have 14 days to return this one.

Bob_Hudson

17 posts since
Apr 13, 2001

6. Jan 5, 2009 5:15 PM

in response to: Photonerd

Re: Canon rolls out new camcorders

"Using Video cameras for still images is a mistake anyway."

That used to be the case but no more.

With today's HD camcorders taking stills is a whole different ballgame than it was with 720x480 DV and other standard definition camcorders. Canon's new low end HD camcorder has a 10x optical zoom and operates at up to 8 megapixels in still mode (its CMOS sensor has 8.59 megapixels). One of Canon's standard definition camcorders (yes they still make them) has 1.07 megapixel CCD sensor that used 800,000 pixels in photo mode.

After I got my Sanyon Xacti HD1000 camcorder there simply was no more need to carry a still camera when I travel. It makes beautiful 8x10 prints even though it "only" has a {font:arial,helvetica}4-megapixel CMOS imager (it uses 3.5 MP in the 16:9 still mode I use to make my stills compatible with the HD video aspect ratio). The HD1000's {font:arial,helvetica}2496 x 1408 still image produces an almost 17x10 inch image when converted to the 144DPI resolution that is best for digital prints. One of the new Canon HF S10's can take a 4:3 still that would print at more than 22x17 inches at 144DPI or almost 23x13 in 16:9 mode.

With that kind of image size, a 10x optical zoom and optical image stablizer, it's more than enough for all but pro photographers and those who just have to make mural-sized prints and just gotta have maximum megapixels and interchangeable lenses.

dreyfus

457 posts since
Jan 5, 2006

7. Jan 5, 2009 5:17 PM

in response to: Macworld

Re: Canon rolls out new camcorders

They should give one of these shiney new HV40s to Jobs and ask him to connect it to one of his even more shiney new Firewire-less MacBooks. According to him all current camcorders have no problem with it.

hmurchison

520 posts since
Apr 29, 2004

8. Jan 5, 2009 5:48 PM

in response to: dreyfus

Re: Canon rolls out new camcorders

Nice zinger Dreyfus!!

You know the flash camcorders are nice but I'm still carrying a bit of a torch for the HV40 and the HDV format. Probably because I think the editing is still easier and there's comfort in having the data locked up on a tape. I guess i'm just an old curmudgeon in this area. Anyways here's hoping Canon makes these models affordable. I'm ready to go HD.

Cecille B. Demille here I come.

KernelG

89 posts since
Jan 25, 2005

9. Jan 5, 2009 5:54 PM

in response to: dreyfus

Re: Canon rolls out new camcorders

dreyfus wrote:They should give one of these shiney new HV40s to Jobs and ask him to connect it to one of his even more shiney new Firewire-less MacBooks. According to him all current camcorders have no problem with it.

From Canon's VIXIA HV40 page, "USB 2.0 Full Speed."

I use Firewire for audio and storage devices alike, and I hope it comes back on the next Macbook models, but it looks like Canon heard the word. And for the SDHC models a card reader is superior anyway.

dreyfus

457 posts since
Jan 5, 2006

10. Jan 5, 2009 6:10 PM

in response to: KernelG

Re: Canon rolls out new camcorders

KernelG wrote:

From Canon's VIXIA HV40 page, "USB 2.0 Full Speed."

Well, the information on the Canon US page is maybe incomplete... The German Videoaktiv magazin published detailed specs, and according to those the HV40 is using USB 2.0 for stills only, video out is still via Firewire (same as with the HV20 and HV30 before). As this camera is also working in standard definition mode, I also do not see how else it should work - sustained throughput of USB is insufficient to capture in real time.

d2hamilton

1 posts since
Jan 5, 2009

11. Jan 5, 2009 6:15 PM

in response to: Macworld

Re: Canon rolls out new camcorders

My question (which I always have a hard time finding) is "is the HD - hard disk / SDHC based - version compatible with iMovie / iDVD?" When I researched in the past, it seemed like it was only the tape based versions which you could import into iMovie.

dreyfus

457 posts since
Jan 5, 2006

12. Jan 5, 2009 6:18 PM

in response to: hmurchison

Re: Canon rolls out new camcorders

hmurchison wrote:
Nice zinger Dreyfus!!

You know the flash camcorders are nice but I'm still carrying a bit of a torch for the HV40 and the HDV format. Probably because I think the editing is still easier and there's comfort in having the data locked up on a tape. I guess i'm just an old curmudgeon in this area. Anyways here's hoping Canon makes these models affordable. I'm ready to go HD.

The AVCHD format (with all the different manufacturer implementations) is a failure and support under OS X is poor - if Apple really wants to remove FW, they should do the homework first (that is support the vast majority of HD/Flash/DVD/WTF camcorders out of the box in OS X, iMovie, FCE and FCP - they do not properly support even half of what is on the market) and THEN discontinue support for a standard that just works. I do like tapeless technologies that do work - I use a Panasonic P2 sytem for all business work and it is dream-like but very expensive, in the consumer space there is simply nothing that can rival DV tape until now. A 60 minute tape is 5 bucks and once it has been captured, just move it to a safe location and you have a backup. Much more painless than any other technology.

elCapiton

162 posts since
Nov 20, 2004

13. Jan 5, 2009 6:25 PM

in response to: dreyfus

Re: Canon rolls out new camcorders

AVCHD imports fine in FCP from the Canon HF10. The only really annoyance is that FCP transcodes it to Apple Pro Res 422 on the fly so importing is not that quick. There's no real way around transcoding because FCP does not seem to want to import AVCHD natively. Can't speak of iMovie but I suppose FCE should work pretty much the same if FCP supports it.

dreyfus

457 posts since
Jan 5, 2006

14. Jan 5, 2009 6:29 PM

in response to: d2hamilton

Re: Canon rolls out new camcorders

d2hamilton wrote:
My question (which I always have a hard time finding) is "is the HD - hard disk / SDHC based - version compatible with iMovie / iDVD?" When I researched in the past, it seemed like it was only the tape based versions which you could import into iMovie.

There is no easy answer to that one. Apple maintains a compatibility list here: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1014 - it is never up to date and it is never complete. Some manufacturers do provide QuickTime plugins with their cameras (unfortunately sometimes not included in the box and well hidden on a Taiwanese, Japanese or Chinese Web site) - these do sometimes work until QuickTime gets updated or not at all. In general: If a camera is not on Apple's list and there is no indication of Mac compatibility on the box: hands off, unless you have personal info from a reliable person (not some anonymous @@@ on the Web) that it does work. With most cameras (as long as you can access the storage, this normally is a given unless the camcorder uses Mini DVD, in which case you could be royally screwed) there are ways to convert the material to something iMovie can read (using MPEG Streamclip and other tools), but even that may prove to be difficult if the camcorder uses an odd resolution or framerate. With quite a few AVCHD formats you can end up with audio and video being out of sync after a conversion... unless you really know how to deal with all these issues... better get something that is officially supported.

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Jan 5, 2009 1:31 PM

Canon rolls out new camcorders

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