Introduction

Update: The Canon HF S11 was our 2009 runner-up for Camcorder of the Year (behind the Panasonic HDC-TM300). To see why we selected it and read about our other awards, check out the 2009 CamcorderInfo.com Select Awards.

Design

Front

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Back

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Left

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Right

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Top

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Bottom

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Size & Weight Comparison

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In the Box

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Performance

Color

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The color performance of the Canon HF S10 was almost identical to that produced by the HF S100. This is exactly what we expected, considering the two models are employing the same lens, sensor, and processing. More on how we test color.

Below, you can see crops of the various color modes available on the HF S10. To read more about how Canon's top-of-the-line models performed in our bright light color testing, read the Color sections of the HF S100 and HF S11 reviews.

For the HF S10, we selected some different comparison models, including the Sony HDR-CX500V. The toughest competition in color performance came from the JVC GZ-HM400. As we discovered when we reviewed this model, the 2009 JVC camcorders are turning in unprecedented color performance. Neither the HF S10 nor its sister models can quite keep up in this department. Of course, the HM400 also lacks any kind of custom color controls, but we don't mind being 'stuck' with such excellent colors.

As for the others, Sanyo turns in virtually identical performance with its VPC-HD2000 and Sony is really the weakest link in this test. The manufacturer's HDR-CX500V had only mediocre color accuracy when compared to the other high-end camcorders.

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Low Light Color

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Low light color performance for the HF S10 is just about average for a high-end consumer camcorder. Its color error measured 5.20 and the saturation was just 58.57%. These results are significantly worse than those produced by the camcorder in bright light. More on how we test low light color.

We also tested the HF S10 in its alternate frame rates (30p and 24p) and achieved slightly better results. Even these scores can't compete with the excellent numbers produced by the Sanyo VPC-HD2000, which had excellent low light performance across the board. To read more about Canon's low light color performance this year, see the Low Light Color sections of the HF S100 and HF S11 reviews.

There weren't a lot of surprises among the competition for the HF S10. The HM400, with its incredibly high resolution sensor, has a darker image than many camcorders and its low light color accuracy and saturation suffer as a result. The Sony HDR-CX500V performed about the same as its hard drive equivalent, the HDR-XR520V. Both Sony models produce results similar to those of the Canon lineup. And, as mentioned previously, the Sanyo HD2000 simply outperforms all the rest when it comes to most of our low light tests.

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Noise

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The HF S10 had excellent noise results, just like the HF S100 and HF S11. In bright light, nearly every top-of-the-line camcorder aces this test. However, competition is stiff. You may not see much noise in the crops below, but the HF S10 registered 0.78% noise—more than was measured in the JVC GZ-HM400 or the Sony HDR-CX500V. More on how we test noise.

To read more about the noise performance of the HF S10's sister models, see the Noise sections of the HF S100 and HF S11 reviews.

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Low Light Sensitivity

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The Canon HF S10 required 15 lux to reach 50 IRE in our low light sensitivity test. These are essentially the same results we recorded in the HF S10's sister models. That's not a terrible performance, but it's also not exactly the best either. Many of last year's camcorders performed better than this and models from Panasonic, Sanyo, and Sony all surpassed the Canons on this test. More on how we test low light sensitivity.

The good news is that the HF S10 offers 30p and 24p frame rate options, which improve sensitivity significantly. To read more about how the HF S10 and its sister models performed in this test (including results at the alternate frame rates), see the Low Light Sensitivity sections of the HF S100 and HF S11 reviews.

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Low Light Noise

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The Canon HF S10 fared very well in our low light noise test, measuring just 0.98% noise at 60 lux. These are better results than those from most of the Canon's competitors. Despite these noise scores, we have to say the CX500V looks the best in low light. Its footage is brighter, clearer, and sharper, as you can see in the crops below. The Canon lineup may be without noise, but you can see discolored compression artifacts marring the image that are all but absent in the CX500V footage. More on how we test low light noise.

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Low Light Color

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Low light color performance for the HF S10 is just about average for a high-end consumer camcorder. Its color error measured 5.20 and the saturation was just 58.57%. These results are significantly worse than those produced by the camcorder in bright light. More on how we test low light color.

We also tested the HF S10 in its alternate frame rates (30p and 24p) and achieved slightly better results. Even these scores can't compete with the excellent numbers produced by the Sanyo VPC-HD2000, which had excellent low light performance across the board. To read more about Canon's low light color performance this year, see the Low Light Color sections of the HF S100 and HF S11 reviews.

There weren't a lot of surprises among the competition for the HF S10. The HM400, with its incredibly high resolution sensor, has a darker image than many camcorders and its low light color accuracy and saturation suffer as a result. The Sony HDR-CX500V performed about the same as its hard drive equivalent, the HDR-XR520V. Both Sony models produce results similar to those of the Canon lineup. And, as mentioned previously, the Sanyo HD2000 simply outperforms all the rest when it comes to most of our low light tests.

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Motion

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The high-end Vixia camcorders from Canon are definitely some of the best motion performers we've seen all year. Footage is sharp and smooth, while bright light motion is marred only by a fractional amount of trailing. When watching the videos below, keep in mind they have been heavily compressed by YouTube in the uploading process. Check out the linked HD versions of each video to get a slightly better idea of their quality.

The excellent motion we observed from the HF S10 was indistinguishable from the video captured by its sister models, the HF S100 and HF S11. To read more about the motion performance of these camcorders and the 24p and 30p options they offer, visit the Motion sections of the HF S100 and HF S11 reviews. You can also visit our YouTube channel to see videos from dozens of competitive camcorders.

While all the high-end camcorders we've tested have captured motion very well, the JVC GZ-HM400 is probably the best. Its motion is impeccably smooth, amazingly crisp, and has very little noticeable artifacting. Our only complaint is that the camcorder doesn't have any alternate frame rate options for HD video. JVC does include three slow motion options, but the quality and resolution of these shooting modes is extremely limited.

The Sony HDR-CX500V rendered good motion, but the camcorder can only capture HD video at a 60i frame rate. The CX500V does have a low-quality slow motion option, but it's less versatile than what is offered on the JVC GZ-HM400. We found the HDR-CX500V's 60i motion to be quite smooth and very crisp. It had a tiny bit more artifacting and motion trailing than the Canon HF S10, but, overall, the two camcorders had similar performances in this test. The Canon HF S10's superior score is largely a result of its 30p and 24p frame rate options.

The last camcorder in this group was the Sanyo VPC-HD2000. The most noteworthy achievement for the HD2000 is its ability to capture native 60p video. The progressive 60fps frame rate really pays off when it comes to smoothness, producing motion that rivals even the HM400. It's certainly smoother than the flagship Canon camcorders. This motion isn't perfect, however. The Sanyo footage is less sharp than that of the HF S10 or the JVC GZ-HM400. It also shows more hints of compression artifacting.

One final complaint of the HD2000 is its lack of a 24p frame rate option. If you want to capture a more film-like aesthetic, the HD2000 isn't the camcorder for you. Even the 60i and 30p alternatives on the HD2000 are recorded at a slightly lower bitrate, suggesting that Sanyo really expects you to use the 60p setting for the highest quality video. More on how we test motion.

Video Sharpness

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The Canon HF S10's sharpness results were identical to the Canon HF S100 and HF S11. All three camcorders measured a horizontal sharpness of 800 lw/ph and a vertical sharpness of 650 lw/ph. These are excellent scores, even compared to the very elite competition among other manufacturers. Of the other camcorders we've tested this year, only the impressive JVC GZ-HM400 and JVC GZ-X900 produced better sharpness results.

To read more about how the flagship models from Canon fared, see the Video Sharpness sections of the HF S100 and HF S11 reviews. More on how we test video sharpness.

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Testing Samples

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Usability

Ease of Use

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Canon has made a couple of befuddling changes in this year's lineup that we find hard to praise. The conspicuous 'Easy' button that used to be right in the middle of the LCD cavity is gone. There's still an auto mode, but it's strangely labeled as 'Dual Shot' mode on the rear dial. The name has very little to do with reality; you can take photos in regular video mode too. We're not sure how Canon designers arrived at this design decision, but we miss the Easy button, which was a much more intuitive feature for novices.

Taking the place of last year's Easy button is the new (superfluous) Video Snap button. This imposes a four-second clip limit, supposedly encouraging you to create a fun, music-filled slideshow out of the clips you record. We're not impressed by the new feature and would much prefer an obvious Easy button.

In Dual Shot mode, the user is essentially locked out of anything that could get a novice in trouble. No manual image controls or menu options: just point... and shoot. The good news is that Dual Shot mode actually allows you to capture either maximum quality 4:3 photos or maximum quality 16:9 video without switching modes. The bad news is that you can't change the quality setting of either photos or videos without swapping to the appropriate mode and making the adjustment in the menus there. Why isn't there a Dual Shot mode with full menu access? Why isn't there a clearly marked easy mode version of video or still mode?

If easy mode—or Dual Shot mode—is a little too simplistic for you, the regular video and still modes are also at your disposal. Be warned that everything is packed into a pretty dense menu, where the sheer volume of options can be pretty overwhelming. There's also the smaller function and joystick menus, but these options are all represented by sometimes esoteric icons, which novices might find intimidating.

The overall menu structure can be one of the HF S11's most confusing aspects, spreading everything across several different menus. Some options appear in more than one menu, but most live in just one of the three different menus: the main administrative menu, the function menu, and the joystick menu. This makes the camcorder a bit cumbersome even for more experienced users. To adjust white balance, just pop into the function menu. To shift exposure, use the joystick menu. To shift AGC limit, navigate to the second tab of the administrative menu.

Of the four major manufacturers (Canon, Sony, Panasonic, JVC), Canon offers the least in the way of tool tips, descriptions, or other contextual aids. Panasonic's Info feature can be activated to bring up a short explanation every time you select something in the main menu. Sony has a similar feature for their main menu, plus short text descriptions inside the camera settings menu. JVC has scrolling descriptions of the features within their menus. That just leaves Canon, with no scrolling text, tool tips, or menu help of any kind. If you don't know what a feature does, you'll probably need to refer to the instruction manual.

Requiring this kind of mastery over the menu navigation really places the HF S11 out of reach for less tech-savvy beginners that are considering venturing into the realm of manual controls. Experienced users will adjust quickly, but first-time videographers will probably want to look elsewhere. The one saving grace is the excellent instruction manual.

The Canon HF S10 features the same complicated, multi-layered menu system that is seen across Canon's entire high def lineup this year. Options have been spread across three different locations, leaving you to guess which place to look for a particular feature. The more significant image adjustments are located in the Function menu, where you select a recording quality, bitrate, and image effects. This is also where you can access Aperture and Shutter Priority modes.

For quick adjustments that need to be made on the fly, the HF S10 has a quick menu. Manual exposure and focus can be accessed via this joystick guide—assuming you don't use the custom dial for these features.

The rest of the camcorder's features are lumped into a single administrative menu. The menu is quite large and organized about as well as you might expect. Navigation of the menu, however, can be a real frustration. You cannot simply push left and right on the joystick to switch between tabs; if you're down in the middle of one tab, you have to use the joystick to return up to the top of the tab, then move left and right to select a new tab. The problem is worsened by the finicky joystick that makes you feel as though every click needs to be very deliberate.

These navigation issues are minor on their own, but they exacerbate the troublesome split menu design: you often have to hunt for the option you want and you can rarely conduct this hunting quickly. For instance, if you're looking for the gain control, you might strike out in the joystick guide (even though that's where focus and exposure are located), then strike out again in the Function menu (even though that's where you control aperture, shutter speed, and white balance), then finally land in the second tab of the administrative menu at a feature called AGC Limit. On top of all this, Canon doesn't provide tool tips or text descriptions of any of these features. If you don't know what 'AGC Limit' is, you'll need to consult the operating instructions or just leave that feature alone. The same goes for BLC (backlight compensation), tele-converter, and several other features.

This may only be a minor nuisance to the experienced videographer, but it can make the technology a lot more daunting to first-time users. Fortunately, Canon does provide a very thorough instruction manual, so if you're willing to spend the time reading up on your purchase, you may be able to take advantage of the depth of controls available on the HF S10.

For a little bit of added flexibility in your menus, there are two font size options (the captures above use the smaller of the two sizes) and 23 language options.

Auto Mode

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For most consumer camcorders, auto mode is the most commonly used operational style. Even though the Canon HF S10 is a high-end product, people will still end up shooting a great deal of their footage with automatic controls.

Dual Shot mode, which is the camcorder's dedicated auto mode, is Canon's new version of easy mode. We don't particularly like the confusing naming convention of 'Dual Shot' mode. On last year's models, Canon called this same setting 'Easy' mode, which is a lot simpler for a new user to comprehend and find. Despite the name, Dual Shot mode is not the only setting for capturing video and stills simultaneously. You can do that in video mode too.

Dual Shot mode is simply a poorly named easy mode, where all menus and manual settings are hidden away to make operation simpler. The only thing you can do with the camcorder is zoom, record, and press the shutter button to take photos. Switching over to regular video mode allows you to manipulate any of the camcorder's settings. You can, however, let any setting be handled automatically if you only need access to one or two options.

As for how the HF S10 handles specific functions automatically, let's begin with focus. The HF S10, like many Canons, has two autofocus modes. The first is called instant AF: a secondary autofocus sensor (located beneath the lens) provides an immediate, snap-like focus. We found the instant AF to work well in most cases, but it can be problematic if you're dealing with lots of motion. If you prefer a more traditional autofocus style, the normal AF system on the HF S10 provides a gradual focus adjustment.

The HF S10 also has face detection, which is a new feature this year for Canon. With the setting activated, the camcorder will automatically detect faces within the video frame and adjust focus and exposure accordingly. During playback, any clips shot using face detection can also be organized and sorted based on whose face is in the clip. Canon claims the HF S10 can detect up to 9 faces at once and 35 faces in all, but we couldn't get the camcorder to pick up more than a few faces at any given time.

The auto exposure worked great, adjusting to various light sources with gradual ease. The camcorder offers alternate metering methods in still mode, but only one auto exposure setting is present for videos. There are a number of white balance presents on the camcorder, which we discuss in more detail in the white balance portion of the review. Auto white balance was quite effective, although not perfect, and we saw consistently better results when using a manual white balance.

Rounding out the auto controls is an auto slow shutter feature that can be turned on and off in the camcorder's menu. Turning the feature on allows the camcorder to use shutter speeds down to 1/30 of a second, which will produce a blurry, trailing effect in low light. With auto slow shutter off, the HF S10 won't drop below 1/60 of a second shutter speed.

Low Light Modes - There aren't any dedicated low light modes on the Canon HF S10, although there is a night scene mode that drops the shutter speed to as low as 1/2 of a second. The camcorder also has a built-in video light that will help a little if you need to film in the dark. The more recently released HF S11 has two low light modes: one that increases gain but keeps the shutter speed high, and one that drops the shutter significantly. Footage in these modes is either too noisy or too blurry, so we don't think you're missing much by sticking with the HF S10.

Scene Modes - The HF S10 has the same set of scene modes as the Canon HF20 and HF S100: Portrait, Sports, Night, Snow, Beach, Sunset, Spotlight, and Fireworks. This is a decent amount of scene modes, and competing models have a similar amount.

Other Auto Features

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Noise levels are higher than many competing camcorders.

Handling

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The Canon HF S10 has the same large barrel design that the other top-shelf Canons have this year. As such, the giant cylinder is what you grasp for normal operation of the camcorder. Some may find this shape easier than the bulky hard drive on some high-end models or the small, narrow surface of less expensive camcorders. We'll be honest... this is a sizable device to carry around all day, despite the comfortable hand strap. The round contour that fits rights under your palm is a very welcome nuance in the design.

This design makes the HF S10 easy to hold, but the resulting location of the accessory shoe is inconvenient. If you plan to use a microphone or video light here, expect your grip to be significantly compromised. The front of the camcorder may be a common location now for accessory shoes, but we prefer the position that was on last year's Canon models: pushed further back, your accessories won't be quite such an obstruction to proper grip and won't weight down the front of your camcorder.

We have few complaints with the button layout of the HF S10. Most of the switches and buttons respond well and are conveniently located. The one weak point is the small and finicky joystick. It's better than the ambiguous action of the joystick on the Sanyo VPC-HD2000, but it certainly doesn't make menu navigation fun. Thankfully, manual image adjustments that require more control—like focus—can be made using the custom control dial. For more on how the dial handles, see the Handling section of the HF S100 review.

Portability

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The Canon HF S10 is approximately the same size as most high-end consumer camcorders: it's too big to fit in your pocket, small enough to slip into a camera bag or purse. If you're hoping to carry your camcorder around on a regular basis, there are more compact options, including the Sony HDR-CX500V and the Sanyo VPC-HD2000. That's mostly a result of the huge lens that dominates the body of the HF S10—a lens larger than anything you'll find on top-of-the-line models from Sony, Panasonic, or JVC.

If you're comparing the HF S10 to its sister models, the HF S100 and HF S11, media capacity might have a significant impact on portability. The HF S100 records exclusively to SDHC memory cards, so you'll have to carry a few of those in order to match the recording times of the other models. The HF S10 has just 32GB of internal flash memory, but the HF S11 has 64GB. Either of these should be sufficient for a long day of shooting, as long as you're vigilant about transferring files at the end of the day. And both have an extra SDHC card slot for additional footage.

Battery Life

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The Canon HF S10 lasted 1 hour, 31 minutes, 25 seconds in our battery test. This is virtually identical to the battery performance of its sister models and is just about average for high-end camcorders. The models we've selected for comparison, however, happen to have exceptionally good longevity in this department. The JVC GZ-HM400 managed to last two hours on a single battery. If you need a little more from your battery, the HF S10 has an open battery compartment, so you can simply purchase a larger battery pack. More on how we test battery life.

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LCD & Viewfinder

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The Canon HF S10 features the same 2.7-inch color LCD as the rest of Canon's current HD models. The screen resolution is also the same: 211,000 pixels. While this is a decent size and resolution for an LCD, it is nothing compared to the 3.2-inch, 921,000-pixel screen found on Sony's HDR-XR520V (or even the 230,400-pixel 3-inch screen of the Sony HDR-CX500V). It is, however, average for most consumer camcorders.

This year's top Canons also have a new design to the LCD panel. The buttons are a huge improvement: the finicky membrane buttons from 2008 have been replaced by more responsive physical buttons. The new screen has one flat, glossy bezel covering most of the panel. It should keep dirt and scratches off the LCD, but it's also sure to cause a few glare problems. Fortunately,the LCD screen's brightness can be adjusted with 44 increments of control. While adjusting the brightness, a grayscale display appears at the bottom of the screen so you can calibrate the brightness to match your shooting conditions. In addition to the brightness adjustment, the screen has a dimmer feature that can be turned on and off. Using the dimmer, or running the LCD with lower brightness should save you help the camcorder's battery life.

Unfortunately, adjusting the appearance of the LCD is the only weapon you have to combat glare. None of the camcorders in the Canon lineup include a viewfinder. Some more experienced users might find this to be a significant omission from an otherwise excellent top-of-the-line camcorder.

Stabilization

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The HF S10 didn't perform particularly well in our stabilization testing, especially compared to other high-end models with optical image stabilization (OIS). The good news is that the HF S11 didn't really fare any better—despite Canon's new Dynamic setting. If you were thinking of upgrading from the HF S10 to the HF S11 on the basis of stabilization alone, you can save your money. To read more about the HF S11's Dynamic stabilization performance, read the Stabilization section of the HF S11 review. More on how we test stabilization.

In our low shake test, the HF S10 managed to reduce 28% of the shake. When we cranked things up to high shake, the OIS reduced 29% of the shake. These aren't horrid numbers, but we expected better. The stabilization will certainly have some impact, but it's not as effective as what you'll find on top models from Sony and Panasonic.

The charts above show how much the HF S10 shook during our stabilization testing. The blue lines represent the movement of the image without stabilization, while the orange lines show the movement with image stabilization turned on. As you can see, the patterns of the blue and orange lines are virtually identical; the OIS didn't do a very good job in correcting shake.

The video above is an example of the Canon's stabilization capability at low shake levels. When watching this video you can notice a slight improvement with OIS engaged, but the difference isn't huge. Overall, the stabilization system on the HF S11 didn't perform as well as the JVC GZ-HM400 or the Sony HDR-CX500V, but it is a significant improvement over the Sanyo's electronic image stabilization.

Manual Focus

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Manual Exposure

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Miscellaneous Controls

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Tele-conversion

Digitally enlarges the center of the screen by roughly 1.7 times—essentially producing the same effect as a tele-conversion lens. This is a digital image effect that lowers the effective pixel count from 6.01 megapixels to 2.07 megapixels.

Color Bar

Displays an original set of SMPTE color bars that can be recorded as footage and used for calibration later. The camcorder can also produce an audio reference tone with the color bars.

Zebra

Zebra is a common professional feature that assists with manual exposure adjustment. With the setting activated, black and white stripes will appear in overexposed areas while you are shooting. (The stripes won't end up on your final footage.) This helps you manually adjust exposure levels to make sure nothing in the frame is blown-out from over-exposure. You can set the sensitivity of the zebra setting to 70% (slightly overexposed) or 100% (very overexposed).

Onscreen Markers

Onscreen markers, or guide frames, on the Canon HF S10 can be displayed as a single horizontal line in white or grey, or as a nine-quadrant grid also in white or grey. These lines won't be in your recorded footage and are simply used to assist with framing.

Audio Controls

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The Canon HF S10 has more audio controls than your average consumer camcorder. Unfortunately, the most basic audio feature, the on-board microphone, is not one of the camcorder's strengths. The microphone is a Dolby Digital 2-channel, where many high-end camcorders feature 5-channel sound. The is also poorly placed, flanking the camcorder's lens on both the left and right side. The mic on the right side is easily scuffed by the hand gripping the camcorder; the mic on the left side is just asking to be hit every time you operate the custom control dial.

Near the very front of the HF S10 is a 1/8-inch external microphone jack. This is an adequate position for the jack, but the port itself has no covering or protection of any kind. We're surprised Canon would leave this important port completely exposed, particularly when the Canon mid-range HF20 offers much better port protection. The audio levels can be manually adjusted for both the built-in and external microphone, which is a good feature to have if you're planning on using the HF S10 to shoot concerts, plays, or any event where good sound recording is vital.

When adjusting audio, the camcorder doesn't display any hard numbers or actual decibel gain levels. Instead, you are provided with a long bar that can be raised or lowered, almost like you're adjusting a volume knob on a radio. While this is still a useful feature, it can be a hassle if you're trying to adjust audio to a specific gain level. The HF S10 does have an audio level display, however, with markers set at -40dB, -12dB, and 0dB—so you can still get an idea of where your audio levels are peaking. If you plan to spend a lot of time adjusting audio levels, you can assign audio levels to the custom control dial and use the dial for finer control. (Just beware that your finger isn't scuffing the microphone in the process.)

Editing

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Like its sister models, the Canon HF S10 simply comes with too many software discs. There's the 'transfer utility' disc, the 'video tools' disc, the 'video software' disc, and the instruction manual. Four discs is enough to make you pull out your hair, even if you aren't easily intimidated by technology. The instruction manual disc might be self-explanatory, but you'll probably spend too much time figuring out what the other three discs are.

Our suggestion is to slog through installing all three—even if you don't think you'll need the software. When you first plug the HF S10 into your computer, you'll probably also have to install a driver. Windows will hopefully help you do this; otherwise, you'll need to get it from one of these discs. (Probably video tools?)

Once you install all three discs, you'll have access to the transfer utility, as well as software for editing both photos and videos from the HF S10.

ImageMixer 3 SE is the heart of the software package. The most important task handled by the program is transferring your files from the camcorder to your computer. You can't simply drag and drop AVCHD files. This program, however, makes the transfer process very easy. This is especially important when you're working with internal memory camcorders that should be backed up from time to time. ImageMixer also allows you to transfer footage from your computer back onto your camcorder.

The Editing/Authoring portion of ImageMixer is a little more complicated to use, but it has several options that intermediate video editors will welcome. You can adjust the volume of your video, add your own audio files, add text/titles, or do some basic splicing and trimming.

Though ImageMixer is at the core of the HF S11's software, it also comes with a separate photo viewer/editor and a program for transferring your own audio files onto the camcorder (for use with playlists and Video Snap). For an overview of the software that ships with this and other camcorders, see our article: Video Editing Software For Your Camcorder{{product.brand.name}}-Included-Software.htm.

Features

Compression

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The Canon HF S10 records video in the standard MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 compression codec. This is the same codec used by nearly every high definition camcorder these days. (Tape-based camcorders still use HDV compression.) However, Canon packs this compression codec into AVCHD, a format that puts some extra information—and constraints—into the files.

AVCHD files are a little more complicated to use than generic MPEG-4 files, and they can be more demanding on your computer's processing power. You can't simply drag and drop the files onto your desktop, but AVCHD files are compatible with most editing software these days. Just make sure your computer can handle the large files.

Canon is one of the handful of manufacturers that has reached the 24Mbps bitrate ceiling of AVCHD. Tech savvy videophiles are lamenting the fact that Panasonic and Sony have yet to make the jump to 24Mbps, while Canon introduced its first 24Mbps camcorder last year. The HF S10 has two 1920 x 1080 recording modes: one at 24Mbps and one at 17Mbps. Read more about the advantages and disadvantages of various high definition compression types.

Media

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The Canon HF S10 records primarily to 32GB of internal flash memory. We love flash memory, especially when it's embedded into the body of a camcorder. The HF S100 records only to SD/SDHC memory cards, while the newer HF S11 has a total of 64GB of internal memory. All three camcorders have a memory card slot, though many owners of the HF S10 and HF S11 will likely use this as their secondary recording destination. Flash memory, in general, is more durable than hard drives and tapes, but memory cards do experience a small amount of wear every time you insert, eject, or throw the card into your camera bag. Read more about the advantages and disadvantages of various media types.

Slow Motion Modes

Still Features

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The Canon HF S10 has a wealth of photographic features and, as we found out in our still testing, it can function rather decently as a still camera. The camcorder can take photos in any mode: dual shot, photo mode, movie mode, and even during video playback. Full photo options, however, are only available in dedicated photo mode. Here, you can adjust image size with options ranging from 3264 x 2456 to 640 x 480, choose an image quality setting, or select a metering mode from evaluative, center-weighted average, or spot.

In addition to the extra metering mode, photo mode gives you access to the same shutter-priority and aperture-priority modes that you find in video mode. Most manual controls that work in video mode are also applicable with photos. There's a continuous shooting mode that will keep taking photos for as long as you keep the shutter button pressed (a hi-speed continuous feature does the same thing, only with a faster shutter), and an auto exposure bracketing option that takes three sequential photos, each with varying adjustments to exposure. Rounding out the HF S10's still features are a self-timer and an auto rotate feature, which will display correctly any images that were captured with the camcorder on its side.

Even though you may not be able to spot it at first, the camcorder does have a built-in flash. It's embedded inside the body of the camcorder, in the portion just above the lens. When you activate the flash, it automatically pops up out of its compartment. The flash can be set to auto, red-eye reduction, always on, and always off. Behind the flash is a hot accessory shoe that can be used to attach an external flash or video light.

In movie mode, you can turn on an option for simultaneous recording. With this option activated, photos can be captured while you record video (with photo size options of 3264 x 1840 or 1920 x 1080). In dual shot mode, simultaneous recording is automatically engaged, with the photo size always set to 1920 x 1080. In playback mode, the HF S10 has an option for capturing a still image from a recorded video. All you need to do is pause the video and hold down the shutter button to take the photo. In the camcorder's playback menu, you can set the quality of these captured images (from super fine, fine, or normal), but the image size must be set to 1920 x 1080.

The still playback screen looks just like the video playback screen. Photos are arranged as thumbnails and selecting an image brings up a full-screen view of the photo. Also displayed on the LCD screen is a large blue histogram and an information box with details about the photograph: shutter speed, aperture setting, image size, etc. Using the zoom toggle during still image playback allows you to digitally magnify a 3264 x 2456 photo up to five times.

The Canon HF S10 measured a color error of 4.22 in its still photos, which is close to the 3.42 it scored in our regular video color testing. The saturation level was recorded as 96.85%. This is a decent score for still images, but not quite as good as the superb color performance evidenced in the still photos of the Sony HDR-CX500V (2.80 color error) or the JVC GZ-HM400 (3.08 color error).

The Canon HF S10 had difficulty with dark blues and some yellows and oranges in our still color test. This is not the same trouble that we observed in the camcorder's video color testing. Video footage recorded less accurate reds, while it performed quite well with blue hues. These discrepancies aren't troubling, since the camcorder uses different processing for still and video mode. However, that may be something to look out for if you're concerned about the colors matching up on videos and photos.

The Canon HF S10 measured high noise levels in its still photos, averaging 1.23% noise in our tests. This isn't terrible, but it's too high for a still image recorded in bright light. It's higher than any of the camcorders we selected for comparison, including the Sanyo VPC-HD2000, which came in at just 0.77% noise. Fortunately for the Canon lineup, noise is really the Achilles heel of an otherwise solid still performance on the HF S10.

The Canon HF S10 has a big, high resolution CMOS sensor—something that really comes in handy for taking large, sharp photos. The camcorder recorded an excellent horizontal sharpness of 3146 lw/ph with 6.10% oversharpening. Things didn't fare as well with vertical resolution, which measured 1909 lw/ph with 1.2% oversharpening from the same image in our test. This discrepancy between horizontal and vertical matches the results we got in our video sharpness test, which also showed the camcorder performing better on its horizontal measurement. Still, these are both very good scores overall, and the Canon HF S10 has one of the strongest still sharpness measurements we've seen. The JVC GZ-HM400 also put up good numbers here, with 2329 lw/ph horizontal and 1800 lw/ph vertical.

Lens & Imaging System

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The Canon HF S10 has the same lens and sensor as its sister models, the HF S100 and HF S11. In fact, the lens has the same filter diameter as the GL2—a professional camcorder from Canon. Fortunately, both lens and sensor offered excellent performance on the models we tested earlier this year.

The automatic lens enclosure opens whenever you power on the camcorder.

LCD & Viewfinder

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The Canon HF S10 features the same 2.7-inch color LCD as the rest of Canon's current HD models. The screen resolution is also the same: 211,000 pixels. While this is a decent size and resolution for an LCD, it is nothing compared to the 3.2-inch, 921,000-pixel screen found on Sony's HDR-XR520V (or even the 230,400-pixel 3-inch screen of the Sony HDR-CX500V). It is, however, average for most consumer camcorders.

This year's top Canons also have a new design to the LCD panel. The buttons are a huge improvement: the finicky membrane buttons from 2008 have been replaced by more responsive physical buttons. The new screen has one flat, glossy bezel covering most of the panel. It should keep dirt and scratches off the LCD, but it's also sure to cause a few glare problems. Fortunately,the LCD screen's brightness can be adjusted with 44 increments of control. While adjusting the brightness, a grayscale display appears at the bottom of the screen so you can calibrate the brightness to match your shooting conditions. In addition to the brightness adjustment, the screen has a dimmer feature that can be turned on and off. Using the dimmer, or running the LCD with lower brightness should save you help the camcorder's battery life.

Unfortunately, adjusting the appearance of the LCD is the only weapon you have to combat glare. None of the camcorders in the Canon lineup include a viewfinder. Some more experienced users might find this to be a significant omission from an otherwise excellent top-of-the-line camcorder.

Connectivity

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The HF S10 has all the most important connectivity options, providing the user with nearly everything he/she would find on most consumer camcorders. On the downside, many of the ports are poorly placed. To start, there's the port collection on the right side, which is stuffed underneath the hand strap. On the one hand, the door is cleverly hidden from view; on the other hand, the ports are very difficult to access. Also on the right side of the camcorder is a completely exposed microphone input. Without any kind of cover or door, this connection is dangerously vulnerable to dust, dirt, and water.

On the back of the HF S10 (just above the battery pack) are two more ports: the DC input on the left and the AV-output on the right. Both are protected by their own flexible plastic coverings that remained tethered to the camcorder when you pull them out. These ports are well located and the covers provide decent protection—at first. We noticed that these covers stopped making tight seals around the ports as they got more wear and tear.

The AV-output doubles as a headphone jack: you can select its function by visiting the appropriate tab of the camcorder's administrative menu.

Over on the left side of the camcorder you will find a few more quirky design issues inside the LCD cavity. The most glaring is the camcorder's battery release switch, which is located here, rather than anywhere near the actual battery. Its placement above the card slot makes it seem like a switch for opening that hatch, instead of the releasing the distant battery. In fact, the flip down door protecting the SD/SDHC card slot requires no switch to open and—annoyingly—cannot be opened when the camcorder is attached to a tripod or if the LCD screen is closed. This is a minor nuisance, however, and at least Canon provided a good cover to protect the slot.

Finally, there is the hot accessory shoe that is covered by a sliding shield of plastic on the top of the camcorder. The shoe is powered, but it's only compatible with Canon's proprietary mini-shoe accessories; it won't work with traditional shoe-fit devices without a third-party adapter.

Media

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The Canon HF S10 records primarily to 32GB of internal flash memory. We love flash memory, especially when it's embedded into the body of a camcorder. The HF S100 records only to SD/SDHC memory cards, while the newer HF S11 has a total of 64GB of internal memory. All three camcorders have a memory card slot, though many owners of the HF S10 and HF S11 will likely use this as their secondary recording destination. Flash memory, in general, is more durable than hard drives and tapes, but memory cards do experience a small amount of wear every time you insert, eject, or throw the card into your camera bag. Read more about the advantages and disadvantages of various media types.

Still Features

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The Canon HF S10 has a wealth of photographic features and, as we found out in our still testing, it can function rather decently as a still camera. The camcorder can take photos in any mode: dual shot, photo mode, movie mode, and even during video playback. Full photo options, however, are only available in dedicated photo mode. Here, you can adjust image size with options ranging from 3264 x 2456 to 640 x 480, choose an image quality setting, or select a metering mode from evaluative, center-weighted average, or spot.

In addition to the extra metering mode, photo mode gives you access to the same shutter-priority and aperture-priority modes that you find in video mode. Most manual controls that work in video mode are also applicable with photos. There's a continuous shooting mode that will keep taking photos for as long as you keep the shutter button pressed (a hi-speed continuous feature does the same thing, only with a faster shutter), and an auto exposure bracketing option that takes three sequential photos, each with varying adjustments to exposure. Rounding out the HF S10's still features are a self-timer and an auto rotate feature, which will display correctly any images that were captured with the camcorder on its side.

Even though you may not be able to spot it at first, the camcorder does have a built-in flash. It's embedded inside the body of the camcorder, in the portion just above the lens. When you activate the flash, it automatically pops up out of its compartment. The flash can be set to auto, red-eye reduction, always on, and always off. Behind the flash is a hot accessory shoe that can be used to attach an external flash or video light.

In movie mode, you can turn on an option for simultaneous recording. With this option activated, photos can be captured while you record video (with photo size options of 3264 x 1840 or 1920 x 1080). In dual shot mode, simultaneous recording is automatically engaged, with the photo size always set to 1920 x 1080. In playback mode, the HF S10 has an option for capturing a still image from a recorded video. All you need to do is pause the video and hold down the shutter button to take the photo. In the camcorder's playback menu, you can set the quality of these captured images (from super fine, fine, or normal), but the image size must be set to 1920 x 1080.

The still playback screen looks just like the video playback screen. Photos are arranged as thumbnails and selecting an image brings up a full-screen view of the photo. Also displayed on the LCD screen is a large blue histogram and an information box with details about the photograph: shutter speed, aperture setting, image size, etc. Using the zoom toggle during still image playback allows you to digitally magnify a 3264 x 2456 photo up to five times.

The Canon HF S10 measured a color error of 4.22 in its still photos, which is close to the 3.42 it scored in our regular video color testing. The saturation level was recorded as 96.85%. This is a decent score for still images, but not quite as good as the superb color performance evidenced in the still photos of the Sony HDR-CX500V (2.80 color error) or the JVC GZ-HM400 (3.08 color error).

The Canon HF S10 had difficulty with dark blues and some yellows and oranges in our still color test. This is not the same trouble that we observed in the camcorder's video color testing. Video footage recorded less accurate reds, while it performed quite well with blue hues. These discrepancies aren't troubling, since the camcorder uses different processing for still and video mode. However, that may be something to look out for if you're concerned about the colors matching up on videos and photos.

The Canon HF S10 measured high noise levels in its still photos, averaging 1.23% noise in our tests. This isn't terrible, but it's too high for a still image recorded in bright light. It's higher than any of the camcorders we selected for comparison, including the Sanyo VPC-HD2000, which came in at just 0.77% noise. Fortunately for the Canon lineup, noise is really the Achilles heel of an otherwise solid still performance on the HF S10.

The Canon HF S10 has a big, high resolution CMOS sensor—something that really comes in handy for taking large, sharp photos. The camcorder recorded an excellent horizontal sharpness of 3146 lw/ph with 6.10% oversharpening. Things didn't fare as well with vertical resolution, which measured 1909 lw/ph with 1.2% oversharpening from the same image in our test. This discrepancy between horizontal and vertical matches the results we got in our video sharpness test, which also showed the camcorder performing better on its horizontal measurement. Still, these are both very good scores overall, and the Canon HF S10 has one of the strongest still sharpness measurements we've seen. The JVC GZ-HM400 also put up good numbers here, with 2329 lw/ph horizontal and 1800 lw/ph vertical.

Other Features

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Digital Effects

When adjusting audio, the camcorder doesn't display any hard numbers or actual decibel gain levels. Instead, you are provided with a long bar that can be raised or lowered, almost like you're adjusting a volume knob on a radio. While this is still a useful feature, it can be a hassle if you're trying to adjust audio to a specific gain level. The HF S10 does have an audio level display, however, with markers set at -40dB, -12dB, and 0dB—so you can still get an idea of where your audio levels are peaking. If you plan to spend a lot of time adjusting audio levels, you can assign audio levels to the custom control dial and use the dial for finer control. (Just beware that your finger isn't scuffing the microphone in the process.)

Video Light

The video light is tucked away inside the top of the HF S10. When you turn on the light from the joystick menu (or activate the flash, which is located in the same spot), it pops up from its underground lair to provide you with a little illuminating aid. The light isn't fantastic and it will eat up your battery life, but its good to have if you do lots of filming in the dark.

Pre-Record

Pre-record is a useful new feature on this year's Canons. When the setting is turned on, the camcorder will constantly record footage in a 3-second memory buffer. So, whenever you press record you've already captured three seconds of video. That's very useful if you're trying to capture an unpredictable event—like the winning soccer goal or baby's first steps. (Of course, you still have to be pointing the camcorder in the right direction.) Like the video light, pre-record does use up a lot of battery power, so don't turn it on if you're going to be away from a power source for a long time.

Video Snapshot

Video Snapshot is also new to this year's Canons, but it's pretty unimpressive. When you press the Video Snap button, a blue border appears around the LCD screen that will begin to illuminate when you press the record button. After roughly 4 seconds, the blue border will have made its way around the entirety of the LCD screen and recording will automatically cease. Essentially, the video snapshot feature is useful for making short 4-second clips one at a time. These clips can then be organized in a playlist, have music added to them, and viewed as a short little film on the camcorder.

Sony HDR-CX500V Comparison

The JVC GZ-HM400 is an interesting foil to the Canon lineup. It offers significantly better video performance than the HD300, which we reviewed earlier this year, and has a lot more bells and whistles than the GZ-X900. This is JVC's offering for more serious videophiles and it is definitely tough competition for the HF S10.In fact, the HM400 proved itself to be a powerhouse of color accuracy and sharp, smooth footage—outpacing the HF S10 in all the bright light testing.

Unfortunately, the HM400 couldn't keep up with the excellent performance in dimmer lighting conditions. Footage was incredibly dark and there are no alternate frame rates to help boost sensitivity. If you plan to do a lot of shooting in darker environments, the HF S10 isn't exactly a champion, but it's a better choice than the HM400.

The HF S10 also excels in manual controls. Aperture and shutter speed cannot be controlled independently, but there is a wealth of extra color and image controls.

Where the HM400 does come out on top is in the stabilization department. Even the HF S11's new Dynamic stabilization mode can't match the testing results of the HM400, which showed significant improvement with its single optical stabilization level activated. If stabilization is important to you, the HM400 is certainly an interesting model to consider.

And, of course, there's one thing that will really compel users to select the top-of-the-line JVC over its Canon counterpart: price. You get a lot of camcorder for just $1000 (or less, if you shop around). This is why we awarded the HM400 our runner-up for best value. A savings of $200 is considerable in this day and age. For people less interested in the bells and whistles offered by the HF S10, that may be $200 you can't turn down.

Sanyo VPC-HD2000 Comparison

In bright lighting conditions, the HF S10 and CX500V are very similar camcorders; both record sharp, clear, vivid footage and have lots of manual controls to keep enthusiasts happy. The HF S10, however, edges out the CX500V in a lot of key areas. Its sensor resolution is higher, resulting in sharper video and still photos, and it's even a hair better than the CX500V in low light. (That doesn't speak well to the Sony's low light performance, since the Canon isn't very impressive in that arena.)

The HF S10 also has a couple key features that experienced users will value highly: a smoother, more maneuverable custom control dial, external microphone input, and multiple frame rates.

There are a couple reasons to favor the Sony. Its 3-inch touch screen LCD is an improvement over the HF S10's smaller, non-touch offering and the optical image stabilization on the Sony model is much more effective. It's also a smaller, more compact camcorder and $100 cheaper than the HF S10 and offers one thing the Canon doesn't: a standard definition recording option.

Advanced users may want the flexibility and HD options of the Canon HF S10, but intermediate users or those transitioning from standard definition to HD may want to save $100 and go with the HDR-CX500V.

COMP 3

The Canon HF S10 is one of Canon's top-of-the-line consumer HD camcorders—and comes with a price tag to match. The HF S10 goes for approximately $1200, which is double the street price of the VPC-HD2000. It's true that in a lot of ways, you get what you pay for. The HF S10 has a better body design, including a smooth manual control dial and sturdier components. It also has more flexibility in color and image controls, focus assistance, and audio controls. And though there's a lot packed into the multi-tier menu system of the HF S10, the organization of these menus is cleaner and more intuitive than the unimpressive menu system on the HD2000.

In terms of performance, however, the gap is not wide. The optical image stabilization of the HF S10 far outstrips the digital stabilization offered on the Sanyo and the Canon's high resolution sensor produces remarkable sharpness results. The HD2000, however, blows the Canon out of the water with its impressive low light performance. The Xacti may not have a 24p frame rate, but it does offer 30p, 60i, and—remarkably—native 60p recording. The HD2000 also sheds the unwieldy AVCHD compression for a simple MPEG-4 format, which can simply be dragged, dropped, and played on most computers.

The HD2000 may not be a conventional choice (or a wise one, for manual control enthusiasts), but it's an incredible bargain for just $600. It's for this reason that we named the HD2000 our 2009 Best Value of the Year.

Conclusion

The Canon Vixia HF S10 (MSRP $1199) is a camcorder with a lot to offer. The 32GB of internal flash memory is a welcome addition over the card-only HF S100 we reviewed earlier this year. Its video—like that recorded by all of Canon's flagship models this year—is remarkably sharp, vivid, and smooth. Models from Sanyo and Panasonic do fare better in low light, but bright light recording on the HF S10 is a beautiful sight.

We miss the presence of a viewfinder and independent shutter/aperture control, and we're not a fan of the some of the port design, but the HF S10 is, overall, an excellent camcorder. Canon has since released the HF S11, with 64GB of internal flash memory and a second level of image stabilization, but we're not convinced that the upgrade is worth the money. Of course, if you're really looking to save money, you could make a couple more sacrifices and end up with an even better deal than the HF S10. It's ultimately up to the consumer to decide whether those sacrifices are worth it.

Photo Gallery

{{photo_gallery "Front Photo", "Left Photo", "Left Open Photo", "Back Photo", "Right Photo", "Top Photo", "Bottom Photo", "Lens Photo", "Lens Photo 2", "3D Lens Photo", "Media Photo", "Easy Mode Photo", "Manual Controls Photo", "Zoom Photo", "Zoom Photo 2", "Ease of Use Photo", "Battery Photo", "LCD Photo 1", "LCD Photo 2", "EVF Photo 1", "EVF Photo 2", "Mic Photo", "Mic Photo 2", "Ports Photo 1", "Ports Photo 2", "Ports Photo 3", "Ports Photo 4", "Ports Photo 5", "Ports Photo 6", "Handling Photo 1", "Handling Photo 2", "Handling Photo 3", "Handling Photo 4", "Box Photo"}}