Canon HG10

+ Outdoor image quality is excellent. Can be used in "point & shoot" mode, or you can change just about any setting if you need to.

- Doesn't come with a mini-HDMI cable. Build quality is a bit plasticky Doesn't come with a charger - battery is charged when you plug the camcorder into the mains.

+ The picture quality is fantastic, really sharp. It's lightweight enough to not become a chore if you are filming for long periods. Battery life is quite stunning too, I've had it for over a month now and have yet to recharge it (although it does need to be plugged into the mains for downloading footage)

- I wouldn't say these are bad points but more considerations you should make before you purchase. the USB2 file transfer feels slow compared to firewire, still not a biggy, go make a cup of tea while it's doing it. You also need to plug it into the mains when transferring footage to a computer, sometimes this can be a small hassle if you use a laptop like me and sometimes would like to transfer footage when you are on the move. *VERY IMPORTANT NOTE FOR MAC USERS* AVCHD is a new codec and has only been around a short while, you shouldn't have any problems on a PC (Sony Vegas is great) but if you own a pre Intel Mac importing AVCHD footage is a real pain, you will need to purchase additional software (albeit very cheap and reliable) to convert the AVCHD footage to Apple ProRes 422 footage before you can edit it. Get VoltiacHD from http://www.shedworx.com but it does take HOURS!!! to download the footage from your Camera to your Mac as it's re-encoding it at the same time. If you have an Intel Mac all the latest Mac software iMovie08, Final Cut Express and Final Cut Pro (6.0.1 and above) all support importing AVCHD footage. I have both a PowerPC Mac and an Intel Mac Laptop and I will NEVER use the PowerPC Mac to download or edit camera footage it just takes far to long. I imagine this will affect quite a small group of people these days but I thought it was worthwhile sharing it with you. PowerPC Mac users you would be much better going for an HDV codec camera or consider updating your Mac :-)

+ The fact that there is no film or DVD to change or run out at a critical stage

- Battery life although not bad could be a little better

+ Purchased this product to do continual route filming (I'm a passenger train driver). Surprised at the battery life, over 1hour 40mins continuous filming. Cheap replacement batteries are fine with the HG10 and 1/4 the price of Canons' own.

- AVCHD the codec used for the high definition recording is not widely supported yet, Adobe support is non-existant, but the supplied software is adequate to start you off.

+ Both exposure and image quality of the HG10 are excellent at this price band and would hartily recommend for that reason alone.

- The battery life in real world use is somewhat limited, and would therefore reccomend an additional high capacity battery. There is no option to record moving images onto the Mini SD card, nor the option to record in std definition in MPEG format, and conversion from AVCHD to MPEG2 takes forever. Although brurning content to either blu-ray or AVCHD DVD is very simple and quick.

+ excellent image quality, good compatilibity with apple mac

- no touch screen

+ Picture quality is great and it's easy to use with the 'auto' setting but lots of extras if you want to use manual settings. The compression onto the HDD is amazing. I uncrompessed 22GB of filming onto my Mac but it had only taken minutes off my overall recording time of the HDD, on the highest setting too.

- I can't really think of any apart from that it's slightly annoying that you have to have it plugged into the mains just to upload images to your computer through USB.

+ In very clear bright environments it performs well. Easy to use and more than enough storage.

- Frequent motion blur and ghosting, and states it is Mac compatible but its not. AVCHD MTS files can't be played on any of the software I and many others have on their Macs.

+ pic quality,easy to use and good instructions book,

- Transfere to puter and then to disc still trying to improve quality

+ HD Quality

- Mini HD cable is not included in the box!! Shocking, customers need to buy it separately as standard HD cable does not fit.

+ Fairly easy to use. Point and shoot. Fast focus is great. Sound pick up is really clear. Transfer of files is a piece of cake. Great camcorder.

- Built in light is a bit poor. The shuffle wheel is a little plastic.

+ Reviewer left no comment

- Don't think much of the included software

+ Future proof, great to handle and straight foreward to use.

- Manual needs to be read carefully to make use of some clever features (manual operation)

+ image quality

- weight

+ Reliable. Good quality video.

- HD File sizes can be very large and AVCHD is still not that well supported. Controls are a little awkward. Microphone not great.

+ No loading of tape. Full HD quailty Quick response time on startup

- Do not like the on/off/camera/playback switch

+ Very easy to use and excellent video quality

- Reviewer left no comment

+ best qulity,good weight,value for money

- ...........

+ Ease of use and picture quality

- none yet

+ this is very good video camera to have if you are using a mac computers it works well with there operating system

- none found yet?

+ Quality of the film and ease of filming

- Difficult to understand the editing process