World’s Smallest HD Camcorder: Canon’s HV10

Canon has announced it new HV10 HDV camcorder, putting 1080i video capture and high-quality optics in a one-handed package weighing less than a pound.

After announcing its prosumer-oriented XH A1 and XH G1 high-definition camcorders last week, Canon has turned its attention to the consumer market, announcing the new HV10 high-definition camcorder. The HV10 combines high-quality optics with image stabilization, a CMOS sensor adapted from Canon’s digital SLR still cameras, and a 10× optical/200× digital zoom capability—all in a package just two inches deep, four inches tall, and weighing just under one pound.

“The Canon HV10 HDV camcorder gives consumers some of the same technologies that are used by demanding professionals in our EOS line of digital SLR cameras and our best selling broadcast television lenses,” said Yukiaki Hashimoto, senior vice president and general manager of the consumer imaging group at Canon U.S.A., Inc. “Consumers who enjoy the premium picture quality of their high definition television sets can now capture their memories and play them back at that same high quality.”

The HV10 is the first to use a CMOS sensor—in this case adapted from Canon’s digital SLR still cameras—which the company says consumes less power, is more versatile, and (naturally) faster than CCD-based camcorders. The HV10 records video to miniDV cassettes, while the camera’s 3.1 megapixel still images can be stored on a miniSD memory card. The HV10 sports a 2.7-inch swing-out LCD viewfinder/display, Canon’s gyro- and vector-based Super-Range Optical Image Stabilization (which ought to perform better than the electronic image stabilization built into many digital camcorders), and instant autofocus. About the only thing missing is HDMI output: instead, you hook the HV10 to your computer via USB 2.0 or FireWire.

The HV10 should hit stores in September 2006, with a suggested price of $1,299.