Canon have announced their new HV10 digital high-definition camcorder, aimed at the home consumer market. Early news reports suggest that it's a direct competitor to recent digicams offered by Sony.
Analysts have said that the HD camcorder market is not saturated, but the challenge will be getting these higher-end products into the mainstream.
Its due to be launched worldwide in September, but as Canon's website is conspicuously quiet on the matter, there aren't detailed specs at present. All we know is that it will be the first model to be fitted with a CMOS imaging sensor, adapted from Canon's digital single-lens reflex cameras, and the price will be around £700 (based on current conversion rate).
Update: Digitall seems to have got hold of some extra information: that Canon claims it to be the 'world's smallest and lightest camcorder' offering HDV for the size of a DV cam, will use Mini-DV tape, will record at up to 1080i (1920x1080 pixels), with a 10x optical zoom lens, and will measure 56-x-104-x-106mm, weighing in at 500g battery and tape included.
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