Canon HF G10 / XA 10 Questions

[Altzone]

Hi
I'm a video blogger wanting to step up from a Sanyo HD-1010 to a Canon HF G10 but a few things are making me hesitant.

Several things I need in a SD card based HD camcorder for video blogging:
1) External mic & hot shoe
2) On screen audio level display
3) Ability to play back clips via the remote control without having to switch the camera into playback mode
4) Widescreen. 30mm would be great, but 35mm is sufficient.
5) Good low light and fast autofocus performance
6) Good battery life for several hours (ability to add larger batteries)
7) Ability to shoot lower resolution "legacy" footage e.g. 1280x720, 640x480
8) Excellent very close macro ability

I was about to get the Canon HF G10, but I realised it doesn't seem to meet 3) or 7), and could be questionable on 8)
Does anyone know if it can do this? The manual doesn't seem to think so...

The lower level Canon like the HF M40 and HF S20 don't have the wideangle required.
None of the high end JVC's have external mic input which is crazy
The Panasonic HDC SD700 and SD900 might fit the bill but fails 2)

And it seems no high end camcorder these days shoot anything other than full HD at high bit rates. No lower options. What gives with that?

Any help or pointers to suitable models appreciated.
Thanks
Dave.

[magillagorilla]

I don't really understand the logic behind your requirements. To answer number 7, I haven't seen a mid to high end consumer HD camcorder offer 640x480. Most HD cameras that offer SD resolution are pocket cams and point and shoot cameras.

When you say video blogging that makes me think of someone who is making video which will be streamed on the internet. Am I wrong? If internet streaming is your target media the Canon HF G10 may be overkill. Why capture such high resolution footage only to crush it in to a streaming bitrate? Also, staying with the internet streaming assumption, what is the concern over legacy resolution? Are you going to distribute DVD or VHS or something? Are you going to shoot everything twice for both resolutions. It may be easier to frame your shot with 640x480 in mind then crop it post production. That way you have both HD and SD versions in 1 shot and you don't have to find a camera that will do it.

Are you out in the field? If so why do you need a wireless preview control? If you are in a indoor/studio setting why bother with a camcorder at all. You could use an HD web cam which could be controlled by the computer.

Most of your other needs are basic and will be available on all high end camcorders. You should do more reading, go to camcorderinfo.com and check your specs.

[Altzone]

Thanks.
Already got the G10 now and am very happy with it.
What it doesn't do easy I can hack to make it do.

Video blogging is not streaming. It is usually where you record footage, edit, and then upload. That is done in good quality HD.
Most of this is done in front of the camera talking head style, with no camera operator, hence the need for easy operation and review from the IR remote.
But sometimes I do 2 hour+ live shows that I simultaneously record with a camcorder and stream on Ustream with a webcam, and I do not want to waste many hours post-processing huge bitrate HD for that. For that it's easier to simply record at a lower resolution.

Thanks.
Dave.

[magillagorilla]

I figured some kind of "on location" activity was part of the equation. That's a nice camera good luck with it.

Here is something goofy I have done; I mount my DSLR to an L bracket then mount my little point and shoot to the cold shoe on the L. This way I can capture SD video on the point-n-shoot while I snap HQ photographs with the DSLR. I know, nerdy righ? I suppose one could shoot SD and HD video simultaniously with this rig.