WVU #39 – Review Canon Vixia HF S10 Part 2
Posted In: canon hv30, canon hv40, canon vixia hf s10, canon vixia hfs10
Comments: 113 Responses
In my previous video (WVU #38) I did a review on the new Canon Vixia HF S10. There were some people who had trouble watching the video, some who had questions about the color of the video, some who wanted to know if it worked with Macs and more.
So I’ve put together a 2nd video on the Vixia HF S10, where I shot all new footage, answered viewer’s questions and produced the video in both high and low formats so everyone can watch without any problems.
This video contains raw footage from the Vixia HF S10. I did not use a filter on the camera lens. I did not apply any effects or filters whatsoever during editing. The footage was taken straight from the camera, pieced together and put on the web. Again, this is raw, untouched footage.
The screen capture portions of the video were recorded in Camtasia and edited in Sony Vegas Pro 8. The entire video was edited in Final Cut Pro. Yes, this video was produced using both Windows and Macs.
If you are unable to watch the high-quality version of this video for any reason, simply click on the “HD Is On” button appearing in the top right hand corner of the video player. This will play the video in a low-quality format than anyone should be able to watch.
If you still have issues watching this video, click here to see solutions to the most common problems.
Hi, Dave,
could you explain why when I go to a commercial site,
like USA Today or MSNBC or CNN, I can watch breathtaking quality video that makes my results pretty
weak on the Canon HF S10. What I’m not getting is what makes those videos so great. Sometimes, they are not even HD, but, seem to look better. Thought when it gets dumbed down/compressed in Flash, it makes high end equipment unnecessary or its impact diminished on the small computer screen of average viewer and computer. But, I guess not?? Somehow, it just looks better and cleaner and more detailed. Is it their $10 or $20 grand 3-CCD pro cameras that make the difference or what? Can it be mimicked or duplicated out of lower end equipment when watched in Flash on a computer? I, sort of, thought, it’s like an mp3. Once it is converted down to an mp3 and
listened to thru mediocre speakers or headphones, it’s just not the same as a DAT quality digital master played back thru studio monitors or high end
BOSE speakers or headphones. You lose the high end audio experience. But, somehow, video dumbed down to FLASH by the pros stands out as superior even when it is NOT HD and viewed on a lower end computer. You can still tell the difference and it is dramatic when it is a video from the big guys vs. a guy like me on a Canon HF S10. Thanks.
@Burt – It’s a combination of the camera, lighting and the recipe used to encode the video for the web (the specific codecs and settings you use when encoding a video for the web can make a dramatic difference).
Hi, Dave, per your response,
1. can’t fix the camera; ain’t got $20-grand
2. lighting; understood; need great lighting conditions
3. codecs and settings; okay, what can I do to upgrade my results on this. Is it technique or software or both? Will the oonversion come out better if I buy Sorenson Spark vs. Adobe Media Encoder in CS4 vs. Final Cut Express vs. I-Movie?
Basically, if a roughly $500 piece of software can make a difference, it would be worth it. Don’t have the extra $3 to $5 thousand or more for the camera, though. Please advise on technique, as well, and codecs. I thought codecs are in the players and per my 1st message, all things being equal, often the video result on same computer, browser, player,etc. is breathtakingly superior off the commercial sites, even in non-HD. Thanks.
@Burt – I cover these things in the training course I offer.
Dave thanks for that great video on transfers from HF S10 camera to pc and Mac.
How can I transfer straight to a capture scratch disk (quicktime) without going into the timeline? I am on a new imac and using the HF S11.
Jaye
Hi, Dave, duly noted. I can’t thank you enough for all the free advice you’ve provided. My budget is hurting right now, but, I’ve already put it on my wish list to take your course, down the road, perhaps, next year.
I think you are like a “secret” that shouldn’t be a
“secret.” I’m sure glad I stumbled onto your site by accident as I explained earlier. Canon support was so
disappointing when it comes to hi-def. I almost returned the camera. Technique aside which is something to be taught,in your course, I’m assuming then that a great engineer like yourself can make a competitive video to the big guys even if handicapped by a consumer grade VIXA HFS-10 which means that it is as much how you use the software in settings that make a difference vs. how expensive and high end your hardware – the camera itself is.
Hi,Dave,
it’s all relative, of course, I understand, to ask if paying $200 is worth the upgrade from IMovie9. Do you think it is, Dave? I would expect a learning curve, but, is there lots more versatility in having lots and I mean lots of more options for choice in titles and transitions, etc? I took a look at the Pinnacle Studio Ultimate 14 which got bad to mediocre reviews, but, I was impressed with the add-on studio packs of titles and transitions choices if you pay extra. I’m so far scared off by bad reviews, but, it seems like you can do a lot with it and those AVID titles and transitions in Pinnacle. Your thoughts….
I’ve also read a lot of comments from people that say that I-Movie 9 is almost equal to Final Cut Express 4 which is due for an upgrade, shortly, and that if you have I-Movie9 it doesn’t make sense to buy Final Cut Express. Your thoughts, as always, helpful. What’s important to me is to have lots of title and transition and creative choices; picture in picture, etc. I know you use and like Sony from this thread, but, ease of use, aside, which of these low to medium software tools offers the most opportunity to create cool stuff, oh, and I guess, reliably. They say Pinnacle crashes a lot, but, that’s usually not enough memory, etc. I have DDR3 memory and a fast processor to work with.
@Burt – See here:
http://stuffdaverecommends.com/2009/09/video-editing-software/
Hope you don’t get tired hearing this; THANKS AGAIN, DAVE!! BTW, just another quickie on the topic. In your piece, you never mentioned AVID Media Composer. Just curious how you rate that for high end pro users compared to using Final Cut Pro and Sony Vegas. May not be for aspiring beginners or intermediate level guys, but, if money was no object and you wanted to produce the next “Titanic” or something, is it necessary and/or really worth double or more the cost of Final Cut Pro or is it just habits, snob appeal based on the past where the other software(s) have now caught up in ability or something else? It’s like if you buy a decent sneaker with support, do you really need $200
Air Jordan sneakers to produce even better all-star basketball? Or are the tools now similar and close in ability? Also, you didn’t mention Adobe Premiere Elements and Pro in the conversation. Perhaps, a reason you don’t prefer them or think the others are a better choice? Thanks, Dave
Hi Dave,
Thanks for the video, I’ve just bought the HFS11, and I’m having some trouble using log and transfer in final cut pro… The camera is showing up on my desktop as a orange external hard drive type thing, but the log and transfer window is totally blank. When I try drag the files in it says “filename” has invalid directory structure. Please choose a folder whose directory structure matches the supported media.
Any tips?
Thanks very much
Cathy
@Cathy – You’d need to contact Apple support for this:
http://www.apple.com/support/
Your tips were great and you answered questions I had. I bought this camera just yesterday and have trouble transfering videos over to my Mac. Thanks!
Dave,
Thanks for the very educational video. I have one problem I still could not figure out after watching it though. I have purchased a Vixia HFS100 for a friend, thus I do not have the camcorder. He is running Vista (on a laptop). The problem is that the device is never detected on the computer. Since I ca not run any tests I’d like to ask you what does it take to have Vista to recognize the camcorder device? (I have no camcorder but my Nikon CoolPix camera (pseudo camcorder) simply shows up as a device when connected to my PC (XP). Does it take some software (you were using Sony Vegas Pro, or possibly the PIXELA ImagaMixer 3 SE shipped with the Vixia) to be able to detect and access the device. Would very much appreciate your advice on this.
Regards!
@Zoltan – Flash-based cameras are recognized by computers (Windows or Mac) as USB storage devices, just like external hard drives, Flash card readers, etc.. So the issue is with Windows Vista or the USB port you are using on the computer.
@Zoltan – I have a Canon Vixia HFS10 myself. I have encountered my HD camcorder not detected by Windows Vista (I have Home Premium 64-bit). This problem occurred even with all of the drivers installed (including the Pixela ImageMixer software installed).
Here are the things I found and I hope they help you:
1. Make sure you install the drivers and software correctly as outlined in the instructions manual.
2. Plug the camcorder (via USB cable) into the rear USB port (not the front USB port). The rear USB port (I surmised) is closer to the computer’s power supply. Even though my camcorder is plugged into the power adapter, it seems the camcorder needs more power when connecting via the USB. I can’t fully explain why this happens but it works.
My problem was basically cleared up by Dave’s info stating that “Flash-based cameras are recognized by computers (Windows or Mac) as USB storage devices”. My own Nikon Coolpix camera behaves that way so it didn’t come as a surprise. However the VixiaHFS10 is a lot more sophisticated piece of machinery and I do not own it. A friend of mine does, (in Europe), therefore I couldn’t make any tests with it. But now I know how it MUST behave (autodetect) and no special setup methods are necessary. Thanks Dave!
I appreciate you comment also @Syndic3d. Your first suggestion (install drivers etc. exactly as instructed is a very sound one, but unfortunately as I said not owning the camera I couldn’t control that process myself either.
The second point you raise, trying connecting to different USB connectors is also a good and an often tried method. I’d like to add though that this Vixia was connected to a laptop and with laptops there is very little (if any) difference between the various USB connectors.
The PC power supply plays no role here. For one thing (and again I don’t own the Vixia but I do not believe that it could be powered by any USB connector or even by external powered USB hubs. It draws too much current therefore you need either a fairly well charged battery or the AC adapter connected to the camera. Without that I don’t think you can even turn it on, much less transfer data to it. The reason you may find in some computers that you get more juice out of the “rear” USB connectors is that those nowdays are typically soldered right into the motherboard, while the “front” connectors are connected from the motherboard USB ports via a short cable to the front connectors. The increased length of the cable may at times be enough to cause some signal degradation. (An external powered USB hub may help this problem in some cases). But under no scenario will the Vixia draw current via the USB bus. It should serve strictly only as a data signal path between the camera and the computer software.
The USB devices in the PC are managed by the Windows OS Device Manager, USB Controllers driver. While it generally works fine, it’s poorly documented by MS and it has on occasions some erratic behavior. At times it may preserve setups of prior installation(s) of other USB devices and when you plug in another device into that particular port Windows may not detect the new USB device properly. Therefore at times one may find that switching to another USB port (previously unused) will remedy a detection/connection problem. Uninstalling and reinstalling USB devices (drivers) may at times also become necessary in these cases.
Can you import AVCHD files in Sony Vegas 8 Pro??
and how if you can.??
Because i have Vegas 8 Pro
would it affect the video (AVCHD) if i have only 3 GB of RAM and not 4???
Please reply
Thank You
@Andy – Yes, you import the files into your project and drag them to the timeline like any other video files. See this blog post about working with AVCHD files:
http://webvideouniversity.com/blog/2009/10/16/how-to-fix-choppy-playback-from-avchd-video-cameras/
Hey dave,
As per Burt’s conversation…should a novice just save the headache and stay away from mini-dv? I know the technology is moving towards hi-def flash, but the right settings, etc…can make the CNN footage look even better.
I ask simply because I have a line on a Canon XL2 for a GREAT price. It definitely would require much more education to learn, but as I’ve read, you teach that as well.
I was a member of Club WVU before, and after a layoff and a job callback…I’m ready to join again, but I do not want to go forth at half speed. I’m either going with the HF S11 or the XLR2 and could use some of your insight as to which would be best to continue with.
And to answer the question I KNOW you’re about to ask…YES it will be a serious pursuit, and not just at the hobby level-LOL (we have a radio show that we plan to start integrating filmed segments on the web. Also, close to camera shots-NOT just close ups-may also be an issue)
Thanx
@Nick – It depends upon the lighting situations and how you plan on using the camera. All consumer level cameras will struggle in low light and require a tripod to hold steady. The prosumer and professional models handle these things better…plus contain better lenses and electronics, producing a better picture.
AVCHD cameras produce more headaches than miniDV cameras in terms of editing. AVCHD footage rarely plays back in real-time in the timeline of video editing software. See this blog post:
http://webvideouniversity.com/blog/2009/10/16/how-to-fix-choppy-playback-from-avchd-video-cameras/
In any event, developing skills/experience with any camera is far more important than the camera itself. In other words, buying the world’s best golf clubs won’t make you a better golfer.
Oh yes…there will be some “remote/on location” shooting as well.
Dave, I am really anxious for your answer to Nick’s question. The thing that is driving me crazy about this is when I read a review of a Panasonic pro-sumer model now at only $1800 from B&H Photo which is only about $600 more than my Canon VIXIA. Yet, my VIXIA does HD and in the hands of someone like you, it delivers incredible video. Is the Panasonic or even the lower end Sonys (still mini-dv) selling around $2000 really going to give me that much better video? The audio without XLR is fine. But, is this stuff worth buying or do you really have to take it further to $3-5000 before you really get a tool that is dramatically better than the video I’ll place on the web with the VIXIA.
@Burt – See my reply to @Nick
Dave,
great answer and understood. it’s an impulse, though, to always want the better toy. Those Air Jordan Nike’s never seem to make NBA stars out of most of the kids that buy ‘em, yet, some kid named Jordan could be wearing the K-Mart special sneakers and outperform the kid wearing the Air Jordan’s. Your answer does clear up the important stuff. If you anticipate challenging circumstances such as low light, etc. then, you might be better off going higher end. Sort of, like making sure you get the Stability Control feature or whatever when you buy the car if you think you’ll be driving in a lot of rain. I’m sure there’s no perfect answer to this one because a lot of it is subjective, but, in reading specs, how do you compare the lens. Per your Vixia Video, this awesome Canon lens in the HF S10 actually was used in some sequences in a Hollywood production. Okay. Got that. Great lens. Perhaps greatest ever in a consumer model. But, I was browsing, as I said, at some low end prosumer models. That Panasonic for $1800 said it had 3-CMOS sensors, I think, at 1/4″. Then, I saw a Sony for a lot more money with 1/2″ sensors. Back to consumer stuff, you’ll see the top of line Sony with the hard drive claiming 12-megapixel stills, etc. Then, you read and find the secret of the Canon is the 8.59 cmos sensor. Even other Canon VIXIA’s don’t have what our Canon HF S10 has. They have a CMOS sensor of about 3.00. So, in buying the next cam in 2010, I’m sure somebody is going to have a 9.00 CMOS sensor or something. 90% of the reviews I read from experts seem to think Canon optics are the best. How do you sift thru this stuff? You can’t take a test drive with the cams at Best Buy. You basically read the spec sheet. What do you look for, be it prosumer or consumer? I’ve read reviews, by the way, which call the Panasonic 3-sensor concept in consumer models a joke and that is the quality of the sensor and not how many sensors there are. Yet, of course, in the high end, everybody uses multiple sensors. BY THE WAY, LOVE THE NEW COLORS ON THE UPDATE TO THE SITE !! HAPPY NEW YEAR, DAVE AND EVERYONE!!
Questions about HF S10
- how do you capture a footage or film by saving into a SD memory card and not the build-in Memory?
i see build-in and SD Memory both sides on the menu.
does it work with only within Build-in memory when you are recording a video?
I have no problem with Photo into SD but i dont know how to do it with video in the menu(camcorder hf s10)
Thank You
@Andy – See the user’s manual, page 42. Or download the user’s manual here:
http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=177&modelid=17993#DownloadDetailAct
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.
That is ok, i got a footage from another camcorder that has AVCHD format but not HF s10
Thx anyway
Dave,
Well…your recommendations were to have a dual core with 4gig of ram and at least 512mb dedicated. I went out and got a quad core with 8gig ram and 1gig dedicated, so I’m assuming I should not have those problems with the HD?
And of course for all around ease of use (as a consumer and not an indie film maker) I’m guessing I will stick with the HF S11.
Thanx for the help…see you inside!!
Nick
Hi Dave thanks for your review. This camcorder doesn’t seem to be available in the UK. How does it compare with the Canon Legria HF S11? Is it the same one?
@Shiona – Legria is the name Canon uses for Vixia’s outside of the United States.
Dave, quick question as you look like the guy in the know. On a mac. Have the HF S10. Have downloaded assorted MTS files to my mac and those files are no longer on the camcorder. How can I get those MTS files back onto the camcorder so I can import to iMovie? Or in the alternative is there any way to convert/import MTS files once on a local mac to other video formats?
@Michael – iMovie can only import MTS files from a connected camera. There are companion files associated with MTS video files that iMovie needs in order to import the clips (this is why copying the MTS files back to your camera won’t likely work…the companion files won’t be there too).
You’ll need 3rd party software that can convert MTS files into usable QuickTime files, like this:
http://www.shedworx.com/voltaichd
@Dave,
I use sony vegas 8 pro for my hf s10
but is there difference of having sony vegas 8 or 9 for this camcorder?
will the video be better when i export it in vegas 9?
i just want to know the effects on the footage(HF s10) if i use vegas9pro
@Andy – Your footage should be the same whether it’s rendered out of Vegas Pro 8 or 9.
Thanks for answering my questions:
Is there a better and other way to render videos in After effect other than MPEG2?
Because every time i render my video, it comes out a video and an audio separately.
Which format is the best for After effect cs4 or cs3??
Andy
@Andy – I cover specific render settings in my paid training at Web Video University
Can you give a link for that?
Details are on the homepage for the site:
http://www.webvideouniversity.com
I’m trying to get Vixia hfs 10 camera footage transferred into FCP CS4 with the highest quality possible at 24 p. Can’t figure the camera setting and codec thing out–getting interlaced and all kinds of quality loss. Is there a workflow for this on my Mac? Thanks.
Hello Dave can you help me out, right now i have a PMW EX3 and i need to buy a small camera like those vixia or a Panasonic AG-HMC40 can you help me out wich VIxia model should i get.
Thanks
Thiago Santanna
Brazil/Boston
@Thiago – I would recommend any of the higher-end Vixia models…HF S10, HF S11, HF S20, HF S21
Dave,
As so many others have already said — much appreciation for the website & information you’ve provide. My questions are hopefully super simple for you and may require only a small moment of your time. I’m very much a novice, so the simpler you can make answers the better. Much of the comments already made in this thread are way over my head.
Can you recommend answers for me based on the following?
1)I’ve never done any video editing. I simply shoot the videos and ultimately when the internal memory is full transfer onto my computer. When I’ve got the HF S10 the playback of videos on the computer is choppy. (I know understand why because of AVCHD).
I simply want to know — what should I do to make the video’s playback smoothly on my computer? I’m not interested in any fancy editing. I just want to be able to press play & watch a smooth video on the computer. What should I do to achieve this? I need to convert the file, correct? What can I use to do that, is there a relatively inexpensive solution?
Is there any warnings or things I should be concerned about with this approach? Any other thoughts or recomendations?
2)Why does all the Pixela & Cannon software that comes with the package basically warn against using anything software or techniques outside of theirs — it scares a person to not do anything different.
Thanks,
Aaron
@Aaron – The only way to get better playback is to increase your computer’s memory and upgrade your processor to a multi-core. More here:
http://webvideouniversity.com/podcast/video/2010/02/26/help-video-from-my-hd-camera-is-choppy-during-editing-wvu-74/
HF S100 not recognized in Platinum 10?
I just got my newly refurbished HF S100 from Canon USA but I cannot get Platinum 10 to recognize the S100 as USB device under either View>Device Explorer or Capture Video. I believe I have both the S100 and Platinum 10 set for HD, 60i. I loaded the software Canon sends with the S100 and Canon seems to imply in their manual you must go through the ImageMixer 3 Transfer Utility software to save the video files to the hard drive. However I’ve seen your demo and the files should show up under View>Device Explorer.
I’m running a new HP with an i7 core and Win7 (64 bit). A Canon(L:) does appear with all files in the Windows library but “No Device” shows up under “View>Device Explorer” and “Capture Video”.
Does anyone have a suggestion(s)?
THANKS
@Steve G – If you’re getting “no device connected”…while Windows Explorer does show the camera as an attached device…you’d have to contact Sony tech support. Or you can just use Windows Explorer to copy the files from your camera to your hard drive, then open the files like any other video file in Vegas.