VIXIA HF S10 has a lot in common with its sister model, the HF S100. The only difference between the two is that HF S100 lacks a built-in memory. HF S10 is designed for people who require a professional camcorder at a reasonable price.

VIXIA HF S10 is Canon’s flagship consumer flash memory camcorder. One of its better features is the professional quality 10x HD Video lens that captures perfect pictures comparable to those taken from a professional camera.  It delivers pictures that are crisp, clear, and with the least flare and ghosting. It is a dual memory camcorder, which means that you can capture video on both the camcorder’s internal flash memory (32GB) and directly to an SDHC Memory Card, giving it the capacity to store up to 24 hours of video. However, there is a catch here, in case one of the cards runs out, while you are shooting, you will have to manually change the card to continue recording, which may cause loss of important recording material. It does not have to wait for moving parts, and hence has a fast response time; you only have to press the record button and you are good to go. It has a descent battery life for a camcorder of its class, but the time to recharge is considerably less. The camcorder is shock resistant, thanks to the flash memory.

VIXIA HF S10 has a 1/2.6-inch, 8.59-megapixel HD CMOS image sensor that captures High Definition videos of 1920 x 1080. One of the added advantages of this camcorder is its ability to deliver brilliant results in low light conditions, thanks to the CMOS censor. The pictures have richer and true-to-life colors. It features DIGIC DV III processor, which renders high quality images to both, video and stills. The image processor does a brilliant job. You can shoot digital photos continuously and process the images faster to the memory card. It also has the ability to record and output images at 1920 x 1080, although a higher SDHC memory card is required for this. It has a 24Mbps recording capability for the best AVCHD videos with high clarity. It features SuperRange Optical Image Stabilization, which delivers steadier and clearer images. It also corrects camcorder shake and gives a very steady looking effect to photos taken from long focal distances. The videos look pretty descent with few blown-out highlights. The audio too, is impressive.

It weighs a little over a pound and is quite comfortable in the hands, with 2.8-inch-by-2.7-inch-by-5.4-inch dimensions, but may not be featherweight. Its typical large size makes it even more comfortable in the hand. On the negative side, shots captured outdoors have a little purple fringing. There also seems to be a color shift in red and blue. It features an Instant AF that helps focus faster. It also has a 2.7-inch widescreen LCD. The lens cover in this camcorder is made of plastic and rattles when closed, making an irritating sound. Its connectors, as the USB and mini HDMI placed beneath the grip, make it difficult to hook up wires as the grip comes in the way. Similar to the Sony HDR, HF S10 has a custom dial that can be assigned to the functions most used, making it easier to operate the camcorder.

One of the biggest setbacks with HF S10 is the lack of an eye level viewfinder. This aspect can drive consumers away from this camcorder. The HF S10 gives you better shutter speed of 1/8 to 1/2000 second and aperture options ranging from f1.8 to f8. With the two, you have more control in your hand. The menu lets you choose the font size. Because of the LCD being the size that it is, it may be difficult for some to read the screen.

The fact that the camcorder has the capability to capture video with up to 900 lines of resolution brings it on par with professional broadcast cameras. It can capture very detailed videos. The menu design for HF S10 is rather simple and intuitive. It is easy to navigate through the menu with the joystick.

The VIXIA HF S10 has top-notch features like Advanced Auto Exposure System, designed to provide accurate exposure settings in a wide variety of lighting conditions. You may want to use the 24p Cinema mode to get a movie-like look. You may use it with the Cinema setting to change the colors and tonal quality of the video or the two, used independently. It has a 30p Progressive mode to get a standard interlaced video frame rate of 60i. For footage on the internet, you may choose to capture video at 30p. This particularly comes in handy for sports or action shoots.

Overall, the HF S10 is a good deal and it features some of the top-notch technologies found in only high-end professional camcorders. It has the potential to deliver better quality videos and stills. Its sister model, the HF S100 may be a better choice for some, due to the difference in their prices and the fact that both have the same features. It seems to be one of the top most entries on the list of state-of-the-art Flash Memory Camcorders.

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