Article Summary:

Canon has announced the HV10, its first consumer-oriented HDV camcorder.  It features optical image stabilization, a 10x optical zoom, a CMOS sensor, manual exposure, custom white balance, simultaneous stills (2MP) and video, and a vertical grip orientation.  It looks *very* small, and should compete will with the Sony HC3.  MSRP is estimated to be USD $1299.

All of Canon’s newly-announced HDV camcorders use “Instant AF,” which incorporates external sensors as a first step toward fast autofocus.  It remains to be seen whether these sensors will even work underwater, and whether manufacturers will take them into account when designing underwater housings.