HG10 (Hard Disk) Versus HF100 (Flash Drive)

[seunosewa]

For prosumer filmmaking without tape, would you choose the hard drive based HG10 or the flash based Vixia HF100 (or HF10)?

The way I'm seeing it, the hard disk version is better because:
1) hard disk storage is cheaper per gigabyte and you get 40GB of storage free with the hard disk camcorder.

2) The random access speed of a flash based camcorder doesn't help video at all, because video is all about capacity and sequential access speed. You don't search the drive as much as you read or write at high speeds.

But the HF100 seems like a better camcorder all-round than the HG10. For example, it supports a higher bitrate and full resolution HD. So I'm rather confused. What's your take?

[twalker294]

I've never owned a hard drive based camcorder so take my comments with a grain of salt but there is just something about the thought of having a moving drive inside of a camcorder that makes me uncomfortable. I'm sure the manufacturers have addressed the issues of having the drive mounted in a mobile platform to the best of their abilities but I would prefer a solid state solution personally. As for the storage per gig, I don't know that that should be much of an issue considering how cheap flash memory has gotten. When you can buy a 4 gig SD card for $30, how much of a factor is that really?

[Sean Richwine]

But the HF100 seems like a better camcorder all-round than the HG10. For example, it supports a higher bitrate and full resolution HD. So I'm rather confused. What's your take?

The HF100 is better on resolution and bitrate, but it sacrifices imager size (1/3.2" vs. 1/2.7” on the HG10). Such will equate to poorer low-light performance and less depth of field. The HF100 also lacks a viewfinder and uses a proprietary shoe format, meaning no-go on non-Canon accessories.

Consider flash memory uses less power and is much more rugged than a harddrive, optical disk, or tape. You also don't need a USB cable. Just pop the card out of your camera and stick it in your computer's card reader.

I'd personally go with the HF100. Depends on your needs though.

[jwaghorn]

Don't forget that hard-drives are only specified to about 10,000ft or 3,000metre altitude.
If you're not going high, no problem.

[bluegrass]

You've already succumed to the AVCHD debate so in my mind it's a no brainer, I'd get the HF10 when it comes out in May. With the HF10, you'll just pop out the 16gig flash and pop it into your computer. No need to transfer video via a cable. I know I'll be very tempted to purchase one when it's released. I'd just get one or two extra 16 gig flash modules to carry with me so that I can still shoot for an hour or two while video is being transferred to my laptop.

By the way, I have to believe solid state is going to replace both tape & hard disk in the not to distant future, so why not get a head start on what all camcorders will be like in the future. AVCHD specs can & will change as technology moves on. USB1 than USB2. Firewire 400 than Firewire 800.

I suppose it's easier for me to visualize the future when I can remember 5 meg disk drives that I use to align, clean, or replace the heads on after a disk crash, some twenty five years ago. By the way the disk drives were the size of kitchen stoves. As a matter of fact, they frequently were stacked two high and we called them "pizza ovens". Oh, the IBM 360 days. Did any of you own a Radio Shack Model One computer with a cassette drive for external storage. I think the basic memory started at 4K.

[jabloomf1230]

AVCHD specs can & will change as technology moves on.

I'm also looking to add a second small camcorder and I'm trying to decide between an HV30 and the new HF10. The specs on the HF10 really look enticing, but I do want to make a couple points. First, anyone wanting to do serious video with an AVCHD camcorder, better be absolutely sure that their editing hardware and software can handle it. Just "supporting" AVCHD editing and actually being able to edit easily may be two different things.

Second, it was my impression that the codec in Canon consumer camcorders is located on its own chip and is not part of the firmware. The AVCHD specs may improve over time, but only attributes that are alterable through a firmware upgrade will allow a camcorder to keep pace. Those attributes may include different bitrates and possibly the ability to support higher capacity memory cards, as they become available.

[pitonyak]

There is speculation that the HV30 and HV20 will have a slightly better image (only time will tell). I would probably have purchased the HF10 if it had been available already (I needed the camera).

that said, given the choice, I would choose the RAM card over a hard disk because:

reliability is higher with a ram card

sound is higher with a hard disk

Easier to deal with a ram card

[Lunchbox]

Not to be picky, but Flash memory is not RAM card. RAM is volatile and flash media is not.

[Rumpelgeist]

HF100 vs HG10: if deciding simply based on storage type, then the HF100. But the HG10 has better manual focus (better than the HV20/HV30), viewfinder, standard shoe, rocker-type zoom. Also some Blu-ray players may not play 1920x1080 AVCHD files.

[RScottyL]

Also some Blu-ray players may not play 1920x1080 AVCHD files.

If I remember correctly, Sony Blu-Ray players will, and possibly most Panasonic BD players will.

That is because both of them were in the creation of AVCHD codec!

AVCHD wiki