The wait is finally over for Canon's premiere Full HD camcorder beast. Check out our exclusive Canon Vixia HF S10 review here.
Review summary of the Canon Vixia HF S10:
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 Most of the frenzied camcorder hype seemed to be centered around the Canon Vixia HF S10 this year at CES. Could the HF S10 leap from building to building while solving world peace? We're here to tell you that Canon has made one prodigious stride with the introduction of this AVCHD monster, but we feel that the company sacrificed a lot of prosumer potential for the sake of the consumer crowd. That's not to say the HF S10 is destined for rich dads and soccer moms. Its arsenal of advanced features and dense menus would send newbies running for the hills. You can shoot commercials, short films and b-roll with the Vixia HF S10, but you'll have to find a killer external microphone and invest in a set of professional lights. If Canon added a little more radioactive slime to the vat, we think we'd be seeing a viable alternative to a prosumer cam. In the end, we have a compact camcorder that blesses us with one of the best video performances we've seen in the consumer circuit, but we were left licking our jowls, thirsting for more. Release: March 2009. Price: $1300.
Pros: Great video quality in bright and low light. Built like a miniature tank. Oodles of shooting features, including Cine mode and multiple frame rates.
Cons: Design has the potential to be more omnipotent. Certain low light environments are too noisy. Short battery life.
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Full Canon Vixia HF S10 Review:
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Design - Very Good
The Canon Vixia HF S10 is a gnarly mutation from last year's Vixia HF10, as if the highly acclaimed Full HD machine fell into a vat of glowing neon green and emerged as a super camcorder, accosting the general public with its 24Mbps max bitrate and massive 58mm filter diameter. In fact, we'd like to believe that the "S" in Canon's Vixia HF S10 model name stands for "Super" because this camcorder is a force to be reckoned with. No other camcorder barrels out of the gate with a prosumer-sized filter diamter, and the HF S10 is significantly bulkier than its ultra-portable predecessor. So where did the HF10 run off to? Canon's dual-memory reincarnation is called the Vixia HF20, and it sits at the end of a very distinct consumer-oriented path while the new HF S10 hovers in a realm populated with advanced shooters and budget filmmakers.
That's not to say the Canon Vixia HF S10 is the camcorder to end all camcorders. From a design standpoint, the HF S10 looks as though Canon fused a 2.7-inch LCD onto the side of a giant lens barrel and called it a day. Aside from a sexy concoction of glossy plastic and brushed aluminum, the HF S10 is saddled with fairly minimalist architecture. That was our biggest hang-up with this camcorder. Canon brought the consumer market to an entirely new level with the introduction of this beast, but it's clear that there is a lot of potential lying on the design team's cutting room floor.
Take the Custom button, for example. It's functional, spins like a greased axle in heat, and conveniently located. But look at Panasonic's HDC-HS300. It has a multi-faceted lens ring that controls Zoom and Focus while the HF S10's can only control one function at a time. Sony's HDR-XR520V's Cam Control dial has the ability to control up to four manual controls at once, so where does that leave the HF S10? We want a nice big multi-function lens ring on the next version of the HF S10. Also, Canon omitted a viewfinder on the HF S10, which is pretty silly when Sony and Panasonic both flaunt color viewfinders on their top HD models. The Sony HDR-XR520V also has a nice big 3.2-inch LCD while the Panasonic HDC-HS300 joins Sony in the touch-screen revolution. The HF S10 has a trusty old LCD joystick, but we'd much rather have it mounted in the back.
From a consumer's perspective, our complaints may seem a bit dignified, a sort of Princess and the Pea scenario. However, the Canon HF S10 would be nearly unstoppable if it was built like a miniature prosumer camcorder. The HF S10 is intended for advanced shooters and those looking for the highest quality available before the pro echelon. So, why not be the biggest, baddest thing on two media? We loved the cushy hand strap and ergonomic architecture, for the HF S10 fits like a glove. The zoom toggle rocked (literally as well), and there was nothing cooler than pressing the Set button and seeing the video light instantly pop up. Canon's Mini Advanced Shoe supports proprietary lights and microphones, which will definitely be needed for short films. All in all, this is a solid design, but we want more from Canon and we know they can deliver.
Interface and Menus - Very Good
The Canon Vixia HF S10 inherited the same swanky menu system from last year's Canon Vixia HG21 and Vixia HF10, which is a very good thing. This menu system is the best we've seen in the current industry, hands-down, with Sony's Home menu system coming in at a close second. The level of responsiveness and intuitiveness is unparalleled, thanks mostly to the Function menu, and we were able to rifle through options like Speed Racer. We also love Canon's revamped Joystick menu, which can be accessed by simply pressing Up. A list of options appear in a vertical pane and we had the option to select a particular function and toggle it on and off, even after exiting the menu.
The administrative menus are sleek, easy to follow and stocked to the brim with useful options like Image Stabilization and Frame Rates. However, we'd like those two particular options to have more stage time. We suggest adding the Frame Rates to the Function menu and Image Stabilization to the Joystick menu, where they are more within reach. Using the Joystick was a breeze, but we were surprised at the overall lack of external controls on the Canon Vixia HF S10. With only Video Snapshot and Display/Battery Info buttons located in the LCD, there's a whole lot of unused real estate drifting around. How about White Balance or Exposure buttons? Again, there's so much unused potential! Canon could be miles beyond the competition, sipping Pina Coladas in the Bahamas, but they are still neck and neck with the competition at this rate.
We like the handful of controls found within the LCD panel, such as Zoom and Record, but the 2.7-inch screen just doesn't cut it, especially since it's the Canon Vixia HF S10's only monitor. The screen makes a valiant attempt at resisting posterization at steep angles, but we'd like to see that 211,000 pixel resolution boosted. Other than that, we got the hang of the LCD Joystick combo within minutes, and at least Canon is not toiling with a half-assed touch-screen interface. Overall, this is a safe but functional attempt from Canon.
Shooting Features - Very Good
"Whoah" was the most commonly used word during our time spent with the Canon Vixia HF S10, and we're talking a Keanu Reeves worthy "whoah." It seemed to slip out every time we shot in Cine mode at 24fps due to the astounding image quality, which we'll get to in a few minutes. However, the Canon HF S10 never sold us short on shooting features, and we were nonplussed to find any major deficiencies within the camcorder's arsenal. The multiple frame rates were one of our most commonly used features because it provided a different feel for certain shooting environments. We used 60i for scenes with a lot of motion and 30F and 24F for a cinematic look. Keep in mind that these are not native frame rates, but merely an effect. The Panasonic HDC-HS300 can shoot in native 24P, as can Canon's Vixia HV40, the most recent update to the wildly popular Vixia HV30. Still, the combination of 24F and Cine mode gave us that warm, tingly feeling all over.
A majority of the rest of our time spent with the Canon Vixia HF S10 was in Program AE mode, which automatically adjusted the exposure while we were still able to fiddle with the White Balance and other controls exclusive of shutter speed and aperture. The automatic White Balance performed very well, and we never had to delve into the presets as a result of an overly warm or cool image. We did run into some issues with the manual Focus at close range. At time we were able to almost press an object up to the glass of the lens and it would remain in focus, but depending on the depth of field, the HF S10 will struggle, especially in tricky lighting because of the wide open aperture. Fortunately, the HF S10 offers a stellar manual Focus system, including a Focus Assist magnification feature and Peaking in three different colors. We also took advantage of the Peaking Black and White feature, which made it a piece of cake to manually focus a subject. In addition to Peaking, the HF S10 offers Zebra stripes at 70% and 100% intensities, allowing us to monitor blown-out highlights.
There's no balls-to-the-wall Manual mode on the Canon Vixia HF S10, but rather a slew of advanced functions like Shutter and Aperture Priority modes and Color filters. The HF S10's aperture range is fairly impressive, opening up to f/1.8 and closing down to f/8. The shutter speed was even more impressive, spanning from 1/6 to 1/2000 of a second, but anything below 1/15 was usually a dream sequence or cheesy reenactment scene due to the thick layer of motion blur. Canon introduced an Auto Gain Control feature that is capped at 18dB and can be configured to automatically adjust according to the shooting environment. They're on the right track, and now we'd like to see manual gain on the next incarnation of the HF S10. At night, 24F was our saving grace, and the level of exposure we were able to achieve in Program AE mode was highly impressive. Aside from a few transitions and classic filters, the HF S10 offers an Art filter that posterizes the image. Ordinarily, this is a gimmicky addition to any camcorder, but shooting with Art and Cine mode in 24F was pure awesome, and there were times when our video clips looked like scenes from "Waking Life."
The real gimmick was called Video snapshot, which allowed us to capture video clips in 4-second durations only to be played back in a montage format to a whimsical musical soundtrack. This is definitely a consumer treat. The Pre-Record function works great. We tested it by waving our hand in front of the Vixia HF S10 and then hitting Record a few seconds later. Voila! In playback, there was our hand cameo, flitting across the screen. Playing back video clips on the HF S10 was simple, but rewinding and fast forwarding lacked the precision of a tape deck, performing more like a DVD player. The HF S10's version of an Auto mode is called Dual Shot, which allowed us to capture video and stills in autopilot. We stuck with the full control, and the HF S10 never let us down.
Hardware and Connectivity - Very Good
A massive 1/2.6-inch 8-megapixel CMOS sensor lies at the heart of the Canon Vixia HF S10, offering an effective count of 6-megapixels. While Sony is busy shrinking its chips and relying on enhanced processing, Canon is not taking any chances. The HF S10 was designed to soak up luminance, whether in the crux of a blazing afternoon or the fulcrum of a cool Spring evening. Panasonic has stuck with their 3-chip design, though we experienced a lackluster video performance from the Panasonic HDC-HS300. In the end, we're glad Canon stuffed a jacked CMOS chip in the belly of this beast. The HF S10 is equipped with Canon's new Digic DV III processing, which is apparently faster than the previous generation processing.
The Canon Vixia HF S10 was blessed with a brand new 10x optical zoom HD video lens that was designed for the large CMOS chip. The 58mm filter lens is absurd, matching Canon's classic prosumer MiniDV standby, the Canon GL2. We experienced some jiggling while zooming in, however, which was most likely the suspended lens gyrating within the Optical Image Stabilization housing. The HF S10's OIS performed commendably, especially at full zoom. At times the image would dance around, trying to find its bearings, but the level of steadiness we were able to achieve at full telephoto was substantial.
There are two recording media options on the HF S10, consisting of 32GB of internal memory and a SDHC card slot that hosts up to 32GB of removable flash memory. At maximum quality, 24Mbps, the HF S10 can record almost 3 hours of continuous video on its internal Flash memory, which is a lot of time. However, the Sony HDR-XR520V's 240GB HDD will last for days. We also ran through batteries like M & M's on Halloween. We highly recommend stocking up on backup battery packs in order to last a full day of shooting.
For sound, the Canon Vixia HF S10 has a standard built-in stereo microphone, but serious shooters will want to take advantage of the Mini Advanced Shoe and mount an external boom mic. We recommend going for broke and getting a Beachtek XLR adapter, which should be manufactured soon for this camcorder. Canon offers Mic level control, a Wind Screen and a Mic Attenuator, but these features do not match the Panasonic HDC-HS300's audio control. The HF S10 has Headphone and Mic jacks, which are essential to any high-end camcorder. However, Canon left the Mic jack wide open, neglecting to cover it with a plastic shield. The rest of the HF S10's ports are very well concealed, so this is just baffling. Despite our gripes, the HF S10 is a formidable opponent when it comes to harware.
Image Quality - Very Good
After spending time with the Canon Vixia HF S10, we can safely say that this camcorder churned one of the most impressive video performances we've ever seen. We spent most of our time in Cine mode at the 24F frame rate because we found the combination to be a symbiotic one, like peanut butter and jelly. The gamma shift gave us nice, flat cinematic tones while the 24F simulation created a staggering film look. In bright shooting environments, the HF S10 displayed a solid exposure and rarely did we have to compensate for blown highlights. Of course the occasional glaring sun provided a hefty challenge, but the HF S10 handled contrast very well. Color was punchy and malleable across the board, and we loved fiddling with Art mode.
As far as low light was concerned, we had a positive experience with the Canon Vixia HF S10, better than the Vixia HG21, last year's top consumer HD model. We did endure the occasional tornado of noise, though they were more along the lines of moderate gusts rather than full out twisters. Exposure at night varied, depending on what shooting mode we happened to be in. We usually stayed at 24F and used Program AE when we needed to retain more color. When the light was right, Cine Mode looked dazzling at night, especially coupled with a lower frame rate. The Sony XR520V is currently the only main contender in the low light arena, and we'll have that review next week. Overall, the Canon Vixia HF S10 is a winner.
Scenes
The Intrepid
Brooklyn
Times Square
The first two images were captured in Cine mode, while we used Program AE for Times Square. All clips were captured in 24F, and the playback looked amazing. The level of detail in the Intrepid is admirable, as are the naturalistic colors in the building mural. Color and exposure looks great in Times Square, though the top left corner appears to be slightly blown out. Most camcorders would tend to display a heightened version of what we see in this image, but the HF S10 renders the building discernibly.
Color
Pedro's – Cine Mode
Pedro's - Vivid
The above images present the inherent difference between Cine mode and the Vivid image Effect in Program AE. Cine mode is much softer and more subdued while Vivid jacks up the contrast and saturation. For an effect in a music video, we'd reccommend shooting certain scenes in Vivid. If you're shooting a gangster movie outside of Pedro's, then we'd opt for Cine mode. Regardless of what mode you shoot in, the Canon Vixia HF S10 offers a beautiful, true color spectrum.
Detail
Bring the Funk
The Cat In The Hat
A Torn Memory
Our digital imaging editor was caught in Portait mode at 24F, and we can detect a slight softening within the entire image. We still get a decent amount of detail within the feathered strands of hair and colors and skin tone are right on target. However, there's a little fringing transpiring along the rim of the left ghettoblaster speaker, but it certainly doesn't detract from the awesomeness of the pose. The Cat In The Hat is captured quite well in all his 2D glory, and we can see the fine grit of the underlying mortar along with the texture of the bricks. The third image provides exceptional detail that helps tell the story of what happens to someone when their motorcycle tips off its kickstand and falls on them. Every thread and hair is accounted for, and this image displays what the HF S10 is really capable of in terms of minute detail.
Contrast
Brooklynmobile
This car was glowing in the middle of what seemed like Mordor, casting a sinister glare on all who dared travel past it. We quickly set up camp and captured the video footage in Cine mode at 24F, and much to our surprise, nothing was blowing out during playback. Not only does Cine mode provide a film look to the HF S10's video, but it levels the contrast in many shooting situations. The colors are vibrant and lively, and what seemd like a lost cause suddenly became a usable clip.
Image Effect
R Train in Art Mode
Art was by far our favorite Image Effect, and the results were amazing when we played the video clips back on our Full HD monitor via HDMI. Though this feature can be applied in Final Cut or Premiere, it's nice to have a built-in solution if you're dead-set on a particular filter.
Low Light
New York, New York
Ninja of the Night
Brick Wall
FDNY
There's only one image in this lot that displays the Canon Vixia HF S10's low light weakness, and it's the only one we didn't shoot in Cine mode. The brick wall is pelted with dancing blue noise, but the exposure is impressive. This is a much better performance than the Panasonic HDC-HS300's rendering of a couple trees at night, but Canon still has a little low light work to do in order to make the HF S10 a viable alternative to a prosumer camcorder. As it stands, artificial lighting will assuage most dimly lit shooting environments, especially when configured to Cine mode's gamma plain. The other three images display almost no noise and retain a great deal of color, given the dark shooting environment. We were highly impressed during playback on the big screen, and the HF S10 is without a doubt Canon's best low light camcorder to date.
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