Product Reviews

The HV10 is Canon's first compact high-definition (HD) camcorder. It still captures video at a 1440 x 1080 though, and compared to a standard PAL camcorder with a resolution of 720 x 576, you're getting almost four times the resolution. This makes a huge difference to the captured video that looks sharp and incredibly lifelike. You might think this high quality would compromise recording time, but despite the huge leap in image quality, you can still fit 60 minutes of footage on a standard MiniDV tape.

But before you rush out and buy an HD camcorder there are a few things to consider. Firstly, you'll need a powerful PC if you plan on editing your HD footage, along with a big hard disk and plenty of memory. You'll also need to invest in some editing software that supports HD, like Sony's Vegas Movie Studio Platinum Edition 6 (around £65). You'll also need an HD monitor or television if you want to watch the results in their full high-definition glory.

Hey, good looking

The HV10 produces the best-looking video we've ever seen from a camcorder. In bright lighting conditions, the video is sharp and full of detail, and there's almost no noise either. Colours are accurately reproduced, with anything from skin tones to blue skies handled effortlessly. The sensor doesn't work so well in low light conditions, where image noise increases dramatically and colours look duller than you'd expect - it's not a deal breaker, but we had hoped for better.

The controls are clearly labelled and thoughtfully placed, and even novice users will quickly find themselves at home. The menu system is simple

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to navigate as well, though you'll rarely need to delve into it. But while home-users will revel in the simplicity, more advanced users will be disappointed by the poor manual control options and further infuriated by the HV10's lack of an accessory shoe and microphone input. This limits you to using the built-in microphone, which although fine for basic home video use, will prove limiting if you want to shoot anything more serious.

The sharpness of HD footage can be spoilt by shaky camera work or poor focus, but the Canon has some tricks up its sleeve. Handheld use of the HV10 is improved thanks to its optical image stabilisation, which is great for impromptu video shoots, though a tripod should still be considered essential for the best results. Focus problems are also largely alleviated by Canon's clever Instant AF system, which speeds up auto focus adjustments, so you get more sharp footage and less blur.

Tall, dark and handsome

Canon has opted for a tall, upright shape with the HV10. Although it's still very compact, we do generally prefer the traditional longer and squatter designs, as they feel more stable and comfortable to hold. The LCD screen swings out from the upper left-hand side and it's a good display, but with just 210,000 pixels, it simply can't accurately display the video being recorded - another reason why the excellent auto-focus is such an essential feature.

The battery pack fits flush with the camcorder's body just below the screen. It's a neat arrangement, but one that would be spoilt by using a larger replacement pack. The supplied battery lasted for a reasonable 71 minutes in our tests, though this is continuous use without any zooming.

The HV10 records truly excellent video in good lighting conditions, but while the price of HD video is falling rapidly, £823 is still a lot of money. While video-enthusiasts might be willing to fork out these kind of figures, they just won't put up with the lack of good manual control and the absent microphone input. However, if you can afford it, the Canon will capture those priceless moments in crystal clarity with a minimum of hassle - and that's something we can see people paying for.