"Pro-sumer" HD camcorder HFS10

Posting my same thread from 1addicts just to get as many opinions as possible.

I have always loved filming things and never really had anything besides a currently 6-7 year old Sony SD hi8 camcorder to record family events, car videos, and pyrotechnic events. The Sony I have is getting old, still going strong, but the quality is nothing compared to some of the camcorders out now. So pretty much I need a new one. Want to make some cool little mini-movies for home.

I've worked for firework companies shooting professional shows and always enjoyed filming them to see & enjoy what I helped to set up. I would also like to create some short films for personal enjoyment and wanted to see if anyone has used/owns the HFS10 from Canon? Reviews seem great for a non-professional HD camcorder.

Also I have a family member who works for Canon and will be getting me a refurbished version from Canon for a good cost. Any thoughts on using a refurbished Camcorder?

I will also be upgrading my 4 year old Mac G5 from 256mb ram (I know I know I need a LOT more) to at least 2gb and purchasing an external HD for use to edit video. Any recommendations for editing?

This should help. http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=177&modelid=17993

 

Firstly, I'd say a Canon employee/refurb would be *perfect*.

If you haven't already, get the G5 up to Leopard (I don't believe SL runs on the G5?).

2GB memory is OK, 4GB would be nicer.

Start out with good ol' iMovieHD (?)

Good luck,
Cheers,
Ian

 

The refurb was pretty much N.I.B.! I LOVE this camcorder. I'm used to my 7 year old SD Sony camcorder that weighs 7lbs and just small enough where it can't rest on your shoulder. The HFS10 is small, lightweight, the quality is crystal clear, and as a beginner just looking to mess around and make short movies for my own enjoyment it is loaded with different features I will be busy with for a while.

In the process of getting 4GB into the G5 and then start transferring some of the video I've shot so far in my 2 days of having it!

Thanks Ian for the recommendation!

 

You're welcome! Glad it's working for you.

Got an external drive yet? - iMovie "likes" using one drive for video input and another for output IME.

One (potential?) problem I've just realized is your G5 version of iMovie doesn't support AVCHD - From their site:

This is for use in iMovie - I *think* (?) QT Pro may be able to convert it to something digestible though......[If not, there are alternatives, but you should have QT Pro installed anyway IMO]

Good luck, post up some stuff once you've messed around!

Cheers,
Ian

 

I do have plans to get a large external HD by the time I have everything else installed/upgraded. I will post my G5's specs when I get home later, but I'm running a 2Ghz processor, not sure if it's the Intel Core Due processor or not though.

When I first got my G5 a while back I installed Final Cut ( I think they through it in for me) and was messing around with that. Figured out the basics on my own and got some sound and scene transitions going that looked decent for a first-timer. Hoping I can get the AVCHD on my G5 using a newer version of FC w/o upgrading my processor.

Actually I have this:

Machine Model: PowerMac7,3
CPU Type: PowerPC G5 (3.0)
Number Of CPUs: 2
CPU Speed: 2 GHz
L2 Cache (per CPU): 512 KB
Memory: 512 MB
Bus Speed: 1 GHz
Boot ROM Version: 5.2.4f1
Serial Number: G8520GCDRU2

 

No sir! - You've got a G5 processor and AFAIK you can't swap the CPU (at least not for an Intel chipset) - You *may* be able to swap the entire motherboard, but I'm not sure.

Given that, you're stuck at Leopard (Snow Leopard is Intel only).

Sweet! - Final Cut Studio is a $1,000 suite!..... However, you're not going to be able to install the latest & greatest (Intel only) - Hopefully, the version you have supports AVCHD.

It may also be "Final Cut Express", which sits between iMovie and FCS - Again, I'd need the version # to be able to check what it can handle.

Cheers,
Ian

 

After all is said and done I might just want to invest in a new computer if I can't do what I want to do. It will end up lasting me longer anyway, and the payments are minimal per month.

The new Intel Mac Pros are insane! Only problem is I need to make sure Final Cut Express 4 will recognize my Canon Vixia HFS10. Read a review on it and one guy said his HFS100 (almost the same thing) wouldnt be recognized by FCE4 .

Really hope I don't have to go to windows to fix this and be able to edit AVCHD my videos.

 

Well this review on my camera just blew my hopes to smitherines. http://www.espiremarketing.org/mac-users-beware-canon-vixia-hfs10-sucks/

IDKWTF2D Now.

 

Don't panic!..... This has gotta be solvable..... [I know I saw the HFS10 on a compatibility chart somewhere.]

This may very well be your best bet - The G5's were dying out around the same time HD came along, so why should one "old" technology support a newer one?.... [At least that's the story.....]

Other than that, I wouldn't let one hysterical blog post worry you! - I haven't checked, but it's a USB connection right? [F/W would be better IMO]

You're running FCE 4.0? Which version of iMovie do you have? Got QTPro?

When you plug the camera in, does it mount? If yes, what does it say is there?

Cheers,
Ian

 

USB connect I believe, haven't checked myself yet because my current setup is garbage and would lock my computer up if I tried importing AVCHD video. I guess I can try hooking it up to my current G5 tonight when I get home from work.

If I do get a new Mac pro, probably will because mine is old and I want to edit HD video, it will be with FCE 4.0 and I'm assuming the latest version of iMovie. Will I need QTPro?

I haven't given up yet! This camera was one of my favorite gifts all year and I will be damned if I can't share my videos with people. Found this while searching around! http://webvideouniversity.com/blog/2009/08/21/canon-vixia-hf-s11-to-be-released-in-september-2009-is-it-the-new-best-camcorder/ Reading around a little he has edited video with I believe both the HFS10 and newer HFS11 in Final cut. So there is a way, just have to shoot him an email. Hopefully that works out and I can spec out a brand new Mac to be delivered within the month.

 

Good! We're a long way from needing the dreaded windoze.

It certainly appears that you're gonna need an Intel Mac to (directly) edit AVCHD - Apple do prominently say so for both Final Cut and iMovie.

I'd be interested to hear what happens when you make the USB connection - Does it show up on your desktop? What are the filenames (more importantly, the filename extension - I'm guessing ".mts"?)

If you can get the raw files into the 'puter we may be able to convert 'em to something more palatable - It won't be AVCHD any more of course, but you wouldn't need a new 'puter either......

Incidentally, it does show up in the list of compatible devices for iMovie 09 (needs Intel CPU). Incidentally, A quick poke around turned up the following:

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=11597398

However, this is obviously all coming in to Intel Mac's - If you're "serious" about a new machine, do you know *why* you want a Mac Pro? The latest iMac's (particularly the 27") are *screamin'* fast and a lot cheaper than the Pros. Both of these will obviously include the latest version of iMovie and you can upgrade to the latest FCE if you want.

As to "needing" QT-Pro, almost for sure (!) It gives you a lot of flexibility as to what it plays and thence what you can export - If you fire it up to watch a movie and then go to file -> "save as", many options appear that allow you to convert the input to something "useful" - Possibly even something usable on your G5 box......

Good luck, cheers,
Ian

 

I picked up an HF S11 today, I am still playing with it, but it did not have the CD's inside so I am searching high and low for the torrents, but no love so far. If anybody has those and can get me an ISO I'd appreciate it.

Camera is not being recognized by W7 x64 at all :/ But what I do is transfer everything to the SD card and plug that in to my system, and voila! awesome quality video.