cancel
Showing results for 
Show  only  | Search instead for 
Did you mean: 

Canon HF-W10/W11 - image quality and battery life

Inapickle
Rising Star

Hi, I know the Canon HF-W10 and W11 camcorders are discontinued but, if I can find one, I''m wondering if they would be a viable option for filming birds on feeders hung on my deck in the winter. Two key considerations are image quality and battery life.

I've done some tests, in fine weather, with my son's HF-R800. With the camcorder mounted (on the deck canopy frame) around 3-4' from the feeder of interest and zooming in a little (around 2x) the image quality at 1080/60p is quite acceptable. Any closer than that and the auto focus struggles with movement of the birds. I'm interested to know, from people who have used these camcorders, how image quality at 1080/60p on the W10/11 compares with that on the R800/80 models ? What little actual footage I've been able to find on YouTube suggests it might be a little on the soft side, which is only to be expected given that the lens plate is probably thicker glass. But what about autofocus - does it work reliably at close range ?

The second key consideration is battery life. I don't see any mention of expected battery life in the online user manual, but the full specs provided on the Canon USA website state the 'duration of the built-in battery' to be:

Actual Recording Time: Approx. 2 hrs. 40 min.

Continuous Recording Time (Maximum Recording Time): Approx. 4 hrs. 50 min.

I'm not sure what those two statements mean in real terms. Again I'd be interested to know, from people who have owned or used the W10 or W11, how much continuous recording time I could expect to get off a full charge at 1080/60p under the conditions I indicated above - i.e. statically mounted around 3-4' from the subject with a little (up to 2x zoom) ? I appreciate that leaving the camcorder outdoors in sub-zero temperatures (as I will be) will shorten the battery life - I just want to get some idea.

I appreciate also that the built-in rechargeable battery has a finite life span. The user manual states:

"When the recording time becomes extremely short even when the battery is fully charged, the battery needs to be replaced. For details on replacing the built-in battery (subject to a fee), consult the nearest Canon service center"

I would not even contemplate sending the camcorder in for service to replace the battery. As such, how much life (full recharge cycles) could I expect to get out of the battery (and thus the camcorder) before the internal battery fails to hold it's charge. Again just an idea 

Looking forward to responses. Thanks.

0 REPLIES 0
Announcements
03/14/2023: New firmware version 1.8.1 is available for EOS R6

03/02/2023: New Firmware Updates Are Available:

EOS R7 - Version 1.3.0EOS R10 - Version 1.3.0
02/24/2023: We've updated Share Your Photos

2/07/2023: New product announcements!

EOS R8 EOS R50RF-S55-210mm F5-7.1 IS STMRF24-50mm F4.5-6.3 IS STMRF15-30mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM
01/18/2023: New firmware version 1.1.1 is available for EOS R6 Mark II
01/09/2023: Help ensure your autofocus is properly aligned with a Canon Precision Alignment
01/03/2023: Welcome to CES 2023!
12/08/2022: New firmware version 1.0.5.1 is available for EOS C70
12/07/2022: New firmware version 1.7.0 is available for EOS R5
11/22/2022: New firmware available for EOS R3, EOS R7 and EOS R10
11/16/2022: We're thrilled to be ranked among the Best Employers for Veterans in 2022 by Forbes.
08/31/2022: New firmware version 1.1.1 is available for RF 70-200mm L IS USM
08/09/2022: New firmware version 1.2.0 is available for CR-N 300
08/09/2022: New firmware version 1.2.0 is available for CR-N 500
07/14/2022: New firmware version 1.0.1 is available for CR-X300
06/10/2022: Service Notice:UPDATE: Canon Inkjet Printer continuous reboot loop or powering down
06/07/2022: New firmware version 1.3.2 is available for PowerShot G7 X Mark III
05/31/2022: Did someone SAY Badges?
05/26/2022: New firmware version 1.0.5.1 is available for EOS-C500 Mark II
05/26/2022: New firmware version 1.0.3.1 is available for EOS-C300 Mark III
05/10/2022: Keep your Canon gear in optimal condition with a Canon Maintenance Service
05/05/2022: We are excited to announce that we have refreshed the ranking scale within the community!
04/26/2022: New firmware version 1.0.1.1 is available for EOS R5 C
03/23/2022: New firmware version 1.0.3.1 is available for EOS-C70
02/09/2022: Share Your Photos is back!
02/07/2022: New firmware version 1.6.1 is available for EOS-1DX Mark III
01/19/2022: READY FOR ANYTHING EOS-R5 C
01/13/2022: Community Update. We will be retiring the legacy profile avatars on 01/20/2022. Click this link to read more.