Canon Legria HF G10

The Canon HF G10 is the first camcorder to give the Panasonic HDC-TM700 a serious run for its money. Don't take this phrase to mean the HF G10 is a better bargain than the HDC-TM700—it's not—but it may be a better camcorder overall. Canon's new model outperformed the TM700 in our low light testing and in a number of our other performance tests as well, and that is saying something. Of course, the HF G10 does lack a 1080/50p record mode, so that is one feature where the HDC-TM700 holds an advantage.

In our overall scoring system, the Panasonic HDC-TM700 earned a slight edge over the HF G10. The Panasonic gained points for its compact design and easy user interface, while the Canon was the better true performer in terms of video quality. We also like the Canon HF G10 more if you're a pro looking for a top-notch camcorder. The G10 has more manual controls and its controls are more flexible. For example, Canon allows for making adjustments to most controls during video recording. This is something the Panasonic HDC-TM700 is often incapable of.

If you're looking for a camcorder that straddles the line between professional and consumer, the Canon HF G10 is the strongest model we've seen in a while. It has its faults, and its image may not be as sharp as the competition, but its overall video performance was excellent across the board. If you're a home video shooter who wants a top-of-the-line product, the HDC-TM700 may be your best bet. Like the HF G10, it too has lots of controls and features, but the camcorder excels more when it is used as an automated device. It's cheaper price tag is also a boon for those who aren't looking to break the bank on a new camcorder.
 

	Comparison Specs
	Canon HF G10	Panasonic HDC-TM700
Price	£1235	£930
Primary Recording Media	32GB internal flash memory	32GB internal flash memory
Secondary Recording Media	2x SD/SDHC/SDXC memory card slots	SD/SDHC/SDXC memory card
Image Sensor	1/3-inch CMOS	Three 1/4.1-inch CMOS
Effective Pixel Count	2.07 megapixels	7.59 megapixels (3.05 megapixels x3)
Mic Input	Yes	Yes
LCD	3.5-inch with 922,000 pixels	3-inch with 230,400 pixels
Viewfinder	Yes	Yes
Weight	590g (with battery)	440g (with battery)
Dimensions	77 x 78 x 151mm	66 x 69 x138mm
HD	Yes	Yes
Frame Rates	50i, PF24, PF25, 24p (native)	50p, 50i, 24p (Digital Cinema)
Compression	AVCHD	AVCHD (except for 50p mode)
Maximum Bitrate	24Mbps	28Mbps (1080/50p) 17Mbps (1080/50i)
Optical Zoom	10x	12x
Stabilisation	Optical with Dynamic and Powered IS	Optical with Power IS mode

Canon HF G10 Colour Comparisons
Canon HF G10	Panasonic HDC-TM700

Low Light Colour Score Comparison