Canon VIXIA 2009 Models Announced!

[Steve Mullen]

I tried using the HF-S1- at CES. First, it is way too tiny and light. Like holding an empty Coke can. Yet, it is still too tint to go in a pocket unlike the "passport" designs used by DV and HDV camcorders.

Second, while I was very excited by the Sony style control dial on the front -- it had three problems.

1) It is less than an inch from the left mic. I would be surprised if folks don't brush the mic when trying to turn the TINY dial.

2) Given Canon's great AF system, I set the dial to control Exposure. At first I didn't think it worked. Seems you have to turn the dial MANY MANY times to make an adjustment!

3) After menu choosing which function the dial controls (bad design), you need to press the Custom button to activate/deactivate the dial. Where is the Custom button? Look at the photos. Do you see it? In fact it is a TINY TINY TINY triangle hidden within in the black design area.

Ergonomics are just not acceptable when size and weight are reduced so much.

And, of course, no VF! Although, given the TINY TINY TINY VF in the HV40 -- perhaps it is not such a big loss. Still.

On the plus side -- I expect the Canon with 900TVL/PH to blow everything else away. Maybe Sony's EXMOR-R will prove to be slightly more sensitive, but that's to be seen.

Now, were Canon to put this lens&chip into a bigger body and sell it for $2499 -- they would have a prosumer hit.

The HV40 seems the better option since it includes a 1920x1080 chip that is scaled-down to 1440x1080. And, no AVCHD to deal with.

[Chris Hurd]

Originally Posted by Steve Mullen

And, of course, no VF!

Here's a work-around for that: http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/990198-post41.html

The HV40 seems the better option since it includes a 1920x1080 chip that is scaled-down to 1440x1080.

The HF S series has a CMOS sensor that's just a hair larger than the HV series (1/2.6" vs. 1/2.7"), and both are native 1920. The HF S can be set to downscale to 1440 if you wish. I don't think there's much of a difference between these two image sensors; so it's primarily an AVCHD vs. HDV thing.

[Robert Morane]

Chris, does the velcro thing comes with the Hoodloop? And how about the stress on the LCD?

[Michael Galvan]

With the sensors being fairly equal in size, yet the pixel density of the HF S10 being so much more, would we see fairly better lowlight in the HV40?

Unless Digic DV III is doing amazng things ...

[Chris Hurd]

Canon USA told me that the new Digic III DSP compensates for that somewhat, but obviously an 8mp chip won't quite deliver the same low light sensitivity as a 3mp. However in my opinion the choice should always be made upon format, not low light sensitivity. I'll take the 3-sec pre-roll record and AGC limiter of the HF S series any day. Those features aren't found on the HV series.

Yes the velcro comes with the HoodLoupe. I doubt it puts much stress on the LCD; it doesn't weigh very much at all.

[Michael Galvan]

I guess it would also be safe to assume that the 24P on the HV40 is like the 24F in their Pro line, in a sense that the full bitrate is used on all 24 frames, since you are not throwing anything away via a reverse telecine.