Canon HG10 Camcorder Packs 40 GB Drive

Canon's new HG10 AVCHD Hard Disk Camcorder features a 10x optical zoom and a 40 GB hard drive capable of storing up to 15 hours of HD footage.

Canon plans to expand its line of consumer-friendly high-definition camcorders with the HG10 AVCHD Hard Disk Camcorder, which features a 40 GB drive capable of storing up to 15 hours of high-definition video footage, along with a 10× optical zoom to make sure users are shooting exactly what they want to shoot. The new camcorder will also feature Canon’s proprietary Digic DV II image processor, "SuperRange" optical image stabilization, and instant autofocus capability.

"The HG10 HD Camcorder is ideal for preserving life’s most important moments," said Yuichi Ishizuka, senior VP and general manager for Canon USA’s Consumer Imaging Group, in a statement. "Whether it is recording the 30 seconds of a grandchild’s first at-bat or nonstop recording time at a wedding from the ceremony through the reception, hard disk drive camcorders are beginning to dominate the High Definition market, and with good reason."

The HG10’s full HD SMOS image sensor captures video at 1,920 by 1,080 pixel resolution, and the camera offers a 24p Cinema Mode to help footage get the look of "real" film. The camera can also capture 3.1 megapixel images to miniSD storage, and a photo-grab function lets users grab 2 megapixel stills (at that 1,920 by 1,080 resolution) directly from video footage as it’s being shot. The camera also features a 2.7-inch LCD display, HDMI connectivity, and a Quick Start function which gets the camera ready to shoot nearly instantly. The HG10 will come bundled with a Windows-compatible video editing software suite from Corel, which enables users to edit movies, add music and audio tracks, and burn either AVCHD or standard definition DVDs.

Canon expects the HG10 to go on sale in October at an estimated price of $1,299.