I have to admit it – size does matter! And this is why my short relationship with the Canon Legria HF M40 won’t lead to a future together.

This recently released high definition camera weighs in a 400gms as it comes out of the box fitted with its miniscule (and somewhat demeaning) battery. Physically is it a largish handful in that there is still about 50mm between the tip of my thumb and middle finger when I try to wrap my hand around it. Still large it ain’t!

It records using the standard but surprisingly large 1/3” ‘Full HD’ CMOS with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 in the AVCHD format. Over time this format is presenting less editing problems for users as computer power increases although many prefer still to use intermediary software, like Cineform NeoScene, to reduce the load on the CPU. There is 16GB of built- in memory and two slots in its base for SD, SDHC or SDXC cards allowing for hours of recording time, depending on the size of the cards purchased.

Of the features we might consider standard, it has a 10 times optical zoom and two flavours of Image stabilisation, Dynamic for walking and Powered for distant shots fully zoomed. Given the issues with holding it steady, these are needed features for I doubt this camera will often sit on a tripod.

The M40 supports the ‘Who needs a viewfinder?’ school of design although its almost twin, the M41 still sports one. The LCD however, is good size at 7.5cm wide which makes using the touch screen controls that bit easier.

The M40 has a 3.5mm jack which doubles as the AV out and headphone jack and a second for microphone input from an external microphone. Ports for HDMI out, USB and Component out are all under the closed LCD. Under a tiny hatch on the top, a ‘Mini Advanced” hot shoe for one of the many possible accessories on offer but two small and too electronically ‘live’ for any after-market accessory you might have.

Menu selections and many controls are accessed via the touch screen which when opened also exposes the camera/playback selector soft button, as well as the on-screen Display/Battery info button. Two other buttons (for use by whom I couldn’t imagine) activate the Video snapshot mode where shot clips of predetermined length are taken, and then the ‘Story Creator’ which ‘helps’ the user ‘create’ a story with a particular theme. Another ‘vital’ function that has the same taste is the ability to use the touch screen to write and draw on or otherwise embellish the images recorded after – or during – the event.

In use, I found this camera difficult to hold steady in most positions. It rolled as I zoomed and the zoom control right-to-left rocker just didn’t fit under my finger. However, as you zoom in, it automatically goes into a Macro mode which was a very nice touch, I thought. The Record/Standby button works as expected but realistically, unless on a tripod with heaps of time, you can forget the manual controls for focus and exposure on this camera. By the time you open the menu, select the manual function you want - say focus - then touch the screen to select how you wish to use that function The action is likely to have passed you by. Then you still have to tap to screen to focus and getting it right, even with focus assist which magnifies your view for a short time is very difficult.

Does it take nice pictures? Yes it does. (Hold on!  That’s not fair.  It takes SPECTACULAR pictures with great sharpness and richness of colour.)Is it easy to use? Yes at the most basic level and if the sun isn’t affecting the LCD. Would I have one? Only as a POV camera for inside mailbox-type video or for a family member who wants to carry one in her handbag or backpack.

I seriously doubt one in 100 purchasers of this camera will use the in-camera editing and theme functions and probably less the ‘manual’ controls. This is not the camera for the serious video hobbyist but it does pack a lot good technology into a small package along with a lot of useless ‘because we can’ type stuff.

 

 

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Vendor:                            Canon Australia Pty Ltd

 

www.canon.com.au

Price:                               $999

AusCam Ratings

Ease of use:                     7        

Features:                         6

Image Reproduction:        9

Audio recording:               6

Documentation:                7

Value for money:              8

 

We liked:

 

Picture quality was excellent.

The zoom to macro, picture quality and attractiveness for backpack travellers.

The price certainly gives good images on a bang for the buck scale;

Compact and hassle-free approach chassis for very basic use.

 

We didn’t like:

 

Lack of a viewfinder;

Difficulties with smooth zooming;

Practically useless manual ‘controls’.

The in-camera Story Creator and Decoration gimmicks.

By Frank McLeod

Dr Frank McLeod is a specialist physician who in his ‘day job' works in the area of Addiction Medicine. Frank reckons he ‘dribbled' into video as a way to get information across to his patients and their families in an accessible way that avoided information overload. From there, the monster just grew. With a long-time interest in things technical and gadgetry of all kinds, he had been writing tech review-type-articles on a casual basis for a medical publication for some time, when an introduction to David Hague led to his continuing this level of activity in the field of video.

Frank says that one of the parts he likes best about his involvement with Australasian Camcorder is the opportunity to play with other people's toys. The downside, he says, is having to give them back at the end of ‘playtime' that precedes publication of the resulting review.

"I suppose I want to present information from the non-professional point of view, which is not difficult, given that I am the only amateur punter in the camp," he says. With a strong commitment to the amateur video club movement, he is the Secretary of his local video club. In part because of this, and with a long time history as an avid DIY-er behind him, Frank has an interest in the do-it-yourself construction of devices for the amateur videographer and strongly wishes to continue this type of contribution as part of his future involvement with auscam

 

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Comments(2):

1. Re : HF M40

   Interesting article Frank , but, which Canon vidocamera at between $1500 to say $2500 is worth a look ? And then stll run the edited material on a monitor, if tape is "DEAD" as Steve says or nearly ? Editing to HDV tape was so easy, all this hard drive and memory card recording is a small problem, what is your recommendation , except blu-ray ? to retain HD quality ?

   Wednesday, May 11, 2011 Bob

2. Re : Legria HF G10 VideoCamera

   Hi frank, This one looks the go, but, how do you get the edited material. ie, clips fr0om the hard drive after editing in say premiere Pro or Vegas on to a format that you can view the project on a monitor ? thanks, Bob

   Friday, May 13, 2011 Bob