Canon HF11

The basics

The HF11 Hi-Def camcorder records at the highest bit rate, 24Mbps, in AVCHD format. With a 3.3-megapixel Full-HD CMOS Image Sensor, SuperRange Optical Image Stabilization, Instant AutoFocus, a 2.7-inch widescreen LCD and 32GB of internal memory, it's packed with features.

The good

This Dual Flash camcorder is the king of Canon’s range, and comes appropriately dripping with glittering features. At its heart beats a 3.3MP CMOS sensor that pumps Full HD video through the veins of its gorgeously petite 380g body. The HF11 boasts the highest possible bit-rate of AVC-HD recording (24Mbps) for gloriously vivid and detailed movies, especially in its 25p progressive Cinema mode. Stereo Dolby Digital sound is fairly regal, too. The stabilised 12x zoom lens uses two separate focusing methods to give almost-instant focusing, even in tricky conditions such as abdications and constitutional crises. It ships with software to burn Blu-rays (as well as DVDs) from your home movies.

The bad

The HF11’s joystick controller is no match for the thumb dials and multi-rings found on rival camcorders. And that four-figure price comes with a dose of sticker shock – you’ll get images that are very nearly as good from Panny’s HS100 or Sony’s SR12, plus more storage and a wodge of cash left over.

The bottom line

A grand don’t come for free but this Canon is worth every penny. Progressive, maximum bit-rate Full HD and Blu-ray burning makes the HF11 about as future-proof as you could wish for.