WVU #38 – Review: Canon Vixia HF S10
Posted On: June 6, 2009
Posted In: best video camera, canon vixia hf s10, hd video camera
Comments: 28 Responses
Posted In: best video camera, canon vixia hf s10, hd video camera
Comments: 28 Responses
In this video, I take a hands on look at a new video camera that has created a buzz among amateurs and professional alike.
Why? Because it shoot gorgeous, broadcast quality HD video…yet is dead simple to use.
The camera is the Canon Vixia HF S10. And for everyone who wants to know “what’s the best camera to use”, this is the camera I recommend (at least for now).
You can get all the technical specs for this camera from the Canon web site by clicking here.
Thanks Dave, this will be my next camera.
dave,
For the first time, this video kept
stalling and finally hung up.
I tried to play it to completion
several times.
I wonder if it
has to do with the flash format, size
or your webserver company.
BTW: Where is this filmed .. absolutely
gorgeous. I was hoping to get to the
part in the video to find if the
camera had a mic input.
@gad – This video is encoded at a higher bit rate than I normally do, to give people a better feel for the quality the camera produces (however, the quality is still dumbed-down considerably for the sake of the web).
Basically, this all means that if you don’t have a fast connection and computer, you’ll likely experience playback issues.
To see how to solve the most common video playback issues, you can go here:
http://www.webvideouniversity.com/videohelp.html
you were obviously using a wireless mic, what wireless system did you have connected on this footage? The picture and sound quality was superb.
Dave,
I’ve been holding off buying a new camera
and I like the Canon products…but
the video is playing like it has periodic
dropped frames…a stutter about every second.
What’s the issue?
@steve – see this video:
http://webvideouniversity.com/podcast/video/2009/01/09/wvu-20-the-equipment-i-use/
@gary – see my answer to @gad above
Dave,
I’ve got Cox Cable, 4mb/sec.
Just wondering Dave.
Is your newly released webuniversity
program an update of your previous
course or is it a complete reworking /
revision. Thanks Dave, and yes, the
location is beautiful in the video but
stalls on my laptop too.
I’m on a fast, wireless, cable tv home
connection.
I just looked at the equipment you
use in that link – Final Cut Pro.
No matter how many formats I try,
for web video (I shoot with a Canon
HV20 and Sony FX1 and use Sony Vegas
to render it) .. I still can’t get
the kickbutt quality and clarity you
get once uploaded to the web.
I videotape in very small spaces and
my arri 650 fresnels are too hot to
use in the summer. Have you ever
experimented with florescents?
And I wonder if you can get the
great skin tones you achieve using
a cooler light source.
Dave,
Thanks so much for this. I still have to look at the comparison video between this and the Flip Mino but you’ve convinced me.
However, like a few others, even after I let the video completely load, then played it, the video was jerky and not at all in sync with the audio. The audio was perfect but this quality didn’t impress me.
I have very high speed access (probably more than my clients will) so I’m wondering if this really is the camera for online work even though I’ll probably still get it?
Terrie
FOR EVERYONE HAVING PLAYBACK PROBLEMS WITH THIS VIDEO:
The playback of this video doesn’t have anything to do with the camera. The camera only records the video and it’s job is done. From there, many things happen to get the video on the web.
I encoded this video at a bit rate 3 times higher than I do normal videos. I did this to help demonstrate the quality of the footage the camera produces.
If you’re having playback issues, this means two things:
1. You need to have a computer with a fast processor and plenty of RAM. If you have less than 4GB of RAM, less than a dual-core processor or have multiple applications running while trying to watch the video, you will get jerky playback.
This is because your computer is straining to play the video (it’s running out of juice). If the audio doesn’t match the video, that means your computer is being strained so much that it can’t keep the two in synch.
2. You need to have a fast Internet connection. While all Internet Service Providers claim certain speeds, that doesn’t mean you always get that. Particularly if you are running a wireless network. Wireless networks are not good for HD video (there is a large difference in speed between wired and wireless networks). To find out what your download speed is, at any given time, test it at this link:
http://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest/
If your Internet Service Provider claims 8MPS download speeds, you should see 8,000kbps in the results.
For this particular video to download smoothly, you’ll need a minimum consistent download speed of 4,000kbps.
And again, you’ll need the processing power and RAM available to play it back while it’s simultaneously downloading.
This video was tested, without any playback issues, on a Mac with an Intel 3.06 Ghz dual core processor, 4GB RAM, Windows XP with an Intel 2.67 dual core processor, 3GB RAM and Windows Vista Home Premium, 64 bit, 2.5 Ghz dual core processor with 4GB RAM.
The “specs” above are typically found on any desktop computer, bought off the shelf, in the past 12 months.
The bottom line is this…HD video is both computer and memory intensive. That means if you plan on shooting and editing HD video, you need a computer with the processing power and memory to handle it.
If you have trouble watching this video, that means you’re going to have A LOT of trouble trying to produce HD video…so an HD camera is probably not the best option for you.
But if you’d like to see a different video, shot with this same camera, yet encoded at a much lower bit rate (so more people can watch it without issues), you can go here:
http://www.webvideouniversity.com/wvu_faq.html
Hope this helps.
Dave
@VIC – The Vixia HF S10 is an AVCHD camera (all HD Flash or hard drive cameras are).
Sony Vegas Pro is about the only video editing software that can handle AVCHD with zero issues (usually). In fact, for this video, I just dragged the footage directly from the camera into the Vegas timeline and started editing.
Final Cut still struggles with AVCHD footage…but they improve with every release.
I shot this video in full program mode, to give everyone a true idea of how it shoots “out of the box”.
I did use a circular polarizing filter on the lens…which tweaks the color a bit…an effect people either love or hate.
I had the filter on there because I planned to shoot around water (and the polarizing reduces the glare)…but I was getting attacked by mosquitoes and horsefly’s so bad I just pulled the camera out, shot everything as fast as I could and got out of there.
How is the Vixia HF S10 compare to the Vixia HV30?
In your last report you recommended using the HV30 because of the Mini-DV tapes and better work flow – is that still true? (I just bought the HV30 last week – mainly for green screen).
thanks,
@Tom – The HV30 is still an outstanding camera. But things move very fast in the camera world. Canon doesn’t even make the HV30 anymore (it was just replaced by the HV40).
Head to head, the HF S10 will shoot slightly better footage. It has a better lens. It has more lines of resolution.
Beyond that, it’s a matter of tape vs. solid state.
With tape, if you shoot an hour of footage, it takes an hour to transfer to your computer.
With Flash, you instantly drag the footage from the camera to your computer.
But like I said in the comment above, only Sony Vegas Pro handles AVCHD footage quickly. Other software can choke on it…or it has to transcode it which takes forever.
With tape, any video editing software will work.
So either the HV30 or HF S10 are your best bet if you want premium quality footage. It’s just that the HV30 is no longer available through retail (though you can find it on Ebay, etc.).
And in all honesty, probably six months from now (or maybe even sooner), there will be a camera that beats them both.
Dave,
Thanks for directing us to your sales page to see the slower rate. I had been impressed when I signed up so that impressed me even more. Thanks also for talking about the differences in your post above. That also helped. I thought I was losing my mind by not being able to find the HV30 even though I could find the other one…Guess I should wait a bit.
Terrie
Thanks for this I just bought a Canon HG 21. It has the sound inputs etc. How does it compare with this camera you are reviewing? I like the HG21 since it has the viewfinder.
BTW just signed up for your program and I am REALLY looking forward to it.
Darla
@Darla – The HG21 is a similar camera except in records to a hard drive. You’ll get excellent quality out of the camera you have…it’s just that the HF S10 is a little more beefed up, which gives it better image quality.
With any video camera, the more you spend, the better quality you get. Don’t worry though, you still have an excellent camera.
Thanks Dave for your reassurance the HG 21 is probably more than I need now anyway I’m just a beginner. Please disregard the comment on the second video. I like your stuff and I am really looking forward to learning and applying your teaching. It’s great that you are doing this training.
Darla
Does this camera have an output that will allow for real-time recording on a computer?
@Steve – It has AV and HDMI jacks. Full specs are available on the Canon site here:
http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=177&modelid=17993
Hi Dave,
I bought the HF S10 the other day, nice Camera.
I just did a presentation of 10 minutes long, and to my shock, my sound is out of sync.
I purchased the DM100 Directional Stereo Microphone Accessory too that cost $220.00, I figured this would help produce better sound, and it seems to be ok, but do you know what is causing the audio to be out of sync by a half of a second or so?
Thanks
Loz
@ Loz:
How are you playing the video back? As a Flash file on the web?
If you’re just playing the file back on your computer, or within video editing software, it’s pretty common to have synch issues because your computer is straining with the HD footage (because the footage hasn’t been compressed yet)…but the actual footage is fine.
Dave i’d like to see a review of the NEW Monster from Canon HFS11 with new whole lot of features LANC control to used with a tripod, 64gb internal memory, New Dynamic OIS just to mention some….. Thanks
Hey when you said invest in a battery with more juice can you give me a link.
Thanks
@Sean – Go to the manufacturer’s web site for details on what to use:
http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=177&modelid=17993#SNAModelSuppliesAct
By this spring i am going to buy a new camcorder (Canon Vixia HF s10)
But is it ok if you send me a footage/video in AVCHD format from your camcorder(HF S10)
to my e-mail to test it out in Sony Vegas
Please
My e-mail is
foradobeprograms@gmail.com
Any footage is fine –
Thank You
@Lisa – Sorry, can’t do that.
Great introduction! I bought it!
ONE BIG PROBLEM.
When recording longer video in HD, the camera splits the video into separate .mts files. The problem is that when it switches to a new file, it DROPS FRAMES!
Now, video can be forgiving and 5-10 frames is not a big deal….. But, when recording classical music concerts, for example, the audio has a clear POP – if you look at the audio wave forms, it’s blatantly clear that data was lost.
I record external audio to mix with my video – for my first concert recording, I synced fine for the first .mts file, but by the end of the video, the audio was off by nearly 2 seconds (about 1/3 of a second of dropped recording between each .mts).
Would love to find a workd around or fix – Cannon support doesn’t seem to understand the proglem.