10 Camcorder Roundup : Canon HF11
4. Canon HF11
Do you really need 24 Mbit/s?
This Canon HF11 is the first memory card based camcorder to capture video using the maximum bit-rate supported by the AVCHD codec--24 MBit/s. Although this now means Canon can no longer blame a low bit-rate for any failings in its video, is so much data really necessary?
When we compared the results on a Full HD TV, we found it very difficult to spot any real differences between a 24 Mbit/s MXP signal and a 17 Mbit/s FXP signal. For the majority of people, upping the bit-rate doesn't change anything visually, but if you look very carefully you might find bright scenes look just a little sharper.
The difference is a lot more obvious when it comes to the size of the files though: a single thirty second clip takes up 60 MB in FXP mode but 86 MB in MXP mode. All of the extra data has a knock-on effect when it comes to editing your video, which is slower with a higher bit-rate input.
- Vixia HF11 32GB Flash...
Two new features have arrived along the way: a 24 Mbit/s mode and twice as much memory: 32 GB instead of 16 GB.
Handling
The Canon HF11 will definitely be a hit with those looking for something small, light and easy to use. It's compact enough to slide into a large pocket and robust enough to rattle around inside a bag. Although miniature, it's not so small as to be difficult to use, though, and all of the buttons are within easy reach.
All told, 'running' the HF11 is easy enough, especially given the presence of an 'Easy' mode which does away with the need to bother with many of the settings. If you want to tweak the settings yourself, though, you can do so using the interface on the LCD screen.
Measuring 2.7'' with 210 000 pixels, it could do with a slightly higher resolution, especially given there's no separate viewfinder.
The menus themselves are well thought-out and it doesn't take long at all to get your head around this camcorder. A few nice little details help, including a small LED lamp that can illuminate night scenes provided the detail is close enough, as well as jacks for both headphones and mic.
Powering it on is quick, and the Quick Start function allows you to start shooting straight away, providing you've left the camera on standby. The camcorder has 32 GB of flash memory built in, and it's possible to expand this with the aid of an SDHC card. Altogether, the maximum capacity is 64 GB.
With the internal memory alone, you can record around 175 minutes of video in the highest possible quality, or around 250 minutes using FXP mode, which occupies 17 Mbit/s. Either way, the battery will only give you around an hour of freedom before it needs charging.
Video Quality
The HF11 captures video at a resolution of 1920 x 1090 using the AVCHD standard.
Like Panasonic, Canon has adopted the High-Profile version of this technology, which allows for a different encoding of each frame according to how complex it is.
This, however, is the first flash memory camcorder to use the maximum bandwidth allowed by AVCHD, 24 Mbit/s, and we talk about whether that's really necessary here.
In the studio, the HF11 produces excellent video, and images are sharp with an impressive level of detail. Colors are sometimes a little too saturated, a problem which seems to effect reds, greens and blues equally. To achieve a more neutral effect, you can try the HF11's Cinema mode. Finally, to avoid the shimmery effect of interlaced video, this is one of the few camcorders that's capable of recording at exactly 25 frames per second.
It does a reasonable job, but there is nevertheless a certain jerkiness that makes the HF11 unsuitable for professional use. When light levels fall, the HF11 does well, but there's far too much chromatic aberration in darker areas, although detail levels remain high. The automatic white balancing is a touch too warm for our liking, but the optical image stabilization is very powerful and means you can make the most out of the 12x zoom.
| Canon HF11 | |
|---|---|
| Pluses | Minuses |
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Small, easy to get hold of and with the best quality video around at the moment, the Canon HF11 is our current top pick for a flash memory based camcorder.
It's a troubling trend that nearly all consumer/prosumer camcorders are ditching the EVF in favor of the LCD, which is useless outdoors. I really liked the Canons, given their feature set and quality, but the lack of EVF was killer (the only model with EVF was the HG21, and that was impossible to find), and so I got a Sony SR12 instead. Great features are useless if you can't see what you're filming, unless you're doing all your work indoors.
I am only part way through the article, but I have to say that comparing the Vado (about $100) with even the Canon DC210 (about $400) just doesn't wash. If you had at least mentioned the price disparity, it might have been acceptable, but the Vado isn't aimed at the same market. Plus, the VADO HD is available, yet the article says, "but we're still waiting for the HD version of the Vado."
For me, this weakens the journalism and therefore weakens the reviews in general. It makes me wonder, did you really do due diligence in the review. Maybe your article lead time is too long, but that's where an editor can add notes, like, The Vado HD was released just after this review was completed.
Just my two cents worth.
I'll stick with my Canon HG10, EVF , 40GB HD, hotshoe, Mic input, perfect HD image....None of these compare.
At first I thought this was an old article that had slipt through RSS a second time, but no it was recent.
The reason is because I would not know for any reason to still review the Panasonic HDC-SD1. It's multiple generations old and you might be hard pressed to even find it. The four generations younger HDC-SD9 would be a lot better candidate even if it is not the latest generation, but it is still a reference with regards to value for money.
I haven't red it entirely, buy giving a '+' for a microphone (7.Panasonic HDC-SD1) is (imho) a joke. You can give a minus for no-audio recording, but giving a plus for a microphone is just too much!
2) You give a minus to Sony HDR-UX3 for lacking Image Stabilisation, and how about Sony HDR-SR11E - does it have IS or doesn't? JVC GZ-HD40 for example got a minus for medicore IS ...
I'd rewrite this article ... to some exent ..
I like digital camcorder very much , this unit looks very nice , how much it is?
Panasonic HDC-SD1 is too old. There were SD5, SD9, and now SD100. The last one is a way better than SD9. So, what is the need to review HDC-SD1?