HomeDigital CamerasCanon VIXIA HFS100 HD Flash Memory Camcorder |
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 EXCEPTIONAL VIDEO QUALITY Nov 18, 2009
I have a Canon HV20 that takes very good video,but the difference in the HF S100 to me is the processing of the video to DVD and also not having to wind and rewind tapes! I would rate the video about the same as the HV 20 but on my IMAC a lot faster and much easier to process over to DVD's. If you do not edit your video's I recommend the DW 100 Canon burner. A very simple way to make backup of your video's and to keep extra space on your hard drive ,also I believe the transfer to DVD with the DW 100 has better video quality on your DVD's ,unless you invest in some very expensive software.
Most of the technical stuff has been discussed in other reviews, so about all I have to say is you get very good video quality and an easy way to transfer it to your computer or external burner with a minimal amount of work.
Not for everyone Nov 13, 2009
LET'S START WITH THE BOTTOM LINE
If you're new to the game and have never purchased a camera before then this camera is NOT for you. I recommend this camera ONLY IF you are looking to upgrade your current system. A camera system usually consists of:
* Camera
* Filters - polarized, UV, etc
* Lens - wide angle, zoom, etc
* XLR Shotgun Microphone
* XLR audio adapter
* Wireless Mic Receiver
* Tripod
* Movement assists - Steadicam, Dolly, tracks, etc
* Lights
* Computer to edit
* Hard Drive - for storing footage
If you're thinking about putting down $800+ for this camera and you're missing some of those elements then my recommendation is to not purchase this camera. Rather purchase the Canon HG10 or HF100, both of which you can probably get for under $400.00 USD used from Amazon or eBay.
Spend the money you save on completing your camera system.
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MY REASONS FOR PURCHASING THE CANON VIXIA HFS 100
After spending over two weeks filming a documentary series for Ilm Summit 2009 in Houston, TX with my Canon FS100 Flash Memory Camcorder with 48x Advanced Zoom (Silver), one thing I came to realize is that editing would be so much faster if I didn't have to spend so much time cleaning up the images.
My old camera is really no good at filming in low light and you end up with a lot of "visual noise".
The computer has to spend a lot of time in post-processing to reduce the "visual noise". The resulting image tends to become very "soft" in nature which doesn't really scream quality.
I had been experimenting with different HD cameras but none satisfied my desire to be able to shoot well in low light.
One camera I did like was the Canon HG10 AVCHD High Definition Camcorder with Optical Image Stabilizer. I shot a short documentary of my trip to Hollywood called "Browntourage" with that camera and was quite satisfied, except in extreme low-light conditions.
This camera is great, but it's not worth the $1,100.00 USD retail sticker price. If you can find it close to $800, then go for it.
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THE WINNING FACTOR
The lens it the best part of the camera. The lens is the same lens used on the old Canon GL2 MiniDV Digital Camcorder w/20x Optical Zoom DV cameras.
The images look brilliant and it's ability to absorb light after sunset is great with the assist of a portable light.
I shot my latest Browntourage episode titled "Hollywood Again" with this camera. Look for it on YouTube or Google for an example.
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THE KILLER
Canon doesn't consider XLR audio adapters when they design their camera.
With the Beachtek DX-A2S Dual XLR Compact Audio Adapter for all Camcorders. attached to the HFS100, you can't open the flash disc slot to eject the SDHC memory card.
It's a pain considering I'm usually shooting with the Tiffen Steadicam Merlin. To change the card I have to off load the camera from the Merlin and screw off the BeachTek to eject the memory.
What I end up doing usually is using my Laptop to transfer the video data via USB to a portable HDD. It's a temporary solution, but it doesn't give that quick satisfaction of having more recording space available.
The upside to this is you'll be limited to shoot only 60 mins of video on a Transcend 16 GB SDHC Class 6 Flash Memory Card TS16GSDHC6E [Amazon Frustration-Free Packaging]. On a day's worth of shooting, be sure to make each shot count.
What I might end up doing is cutting up the BeachTek device to allow for the camera to open up the memory slot or get a 32 GB SDHC card instead.
Great camcorder, but one nagging thing... Nov 01, 2009
The camcorder is great. It fits easily into the palm of my (large) hand, the controls are laid out intuitively, and it's easy to figure out how to start using it - without even reading the manual (I'll do that later).
There is one thing that I thought was wrong with it and I was about to return it to Amazon but then did some searching online. The problem is a very distracting rattling sound when holding the camera. An online search of additional reviews revealed that this happens only when the camera is not recording (true), such as when the camera is off (true). Oddly, no one posted anything about this on Amazon. I suspect this has something to do with image stabilization, but it is so noticeable, you'll likely think something is broken insider your camera. It is very, very strange and disconcerting after spending this much on a camcorder. If they would fix that (and lower the price), it would be perfect.
I agree with others about the battery charger. It seems like a cheap attempt to get you to spend more money. Well that's not going to happen, Canon.
 Utterly Amazing Oct 23, 2009
The Vixia HF100 is truly an amazing camera. I knew when I bought it that I would be impressed by it, but I had no idea just how great this thing would be. The image quality is amazing. The photo quality is on par with my Nikon D50. It's tiny, I can carry it around in my old point&shoot camera case. The battery life isn't stellar, but if you get a Canon BP-827 Lithium Ion Battery Pack for Vixia HG 20/21, HF11/10 & 100 Camcorders, that problem goes away for good.
I record onto a 16gb SD card, and I've never found that I didn't have enough space to film an event. Just drop from highest quality to high quality-17mbps, and you can easily get 2.5 hours on a 16gb card.
The features on the camera are similar to those on a DSLR. You can adjust the white balance, ISO level, shutter speed, and lots more. Or just leave it on auto and have it work itself out for you.
The one major problem I found with the camera is that it has to be plugged into the wall in order to transfer video to a computer. Removing the SD card and plugging that into the computer directly won't work, because of the cryptic file structure. This is a bummer, since I wouldn't need to carry the power cable with me otherwise. Still, not enough to keep me from absolutely recommending this camera to everybody.
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It rocks - buy it. Oct 21, 2009
It's really an amazing camera. It's Pro-sumer, so if you're a true Pro, you need to spend some extra money, this camera won't do all the things the real Pros want, but if you're on the "I am a gadget freak" side of the consumer space - this is your new toy.
I am the snobbiest gadget freak of them all - the absolutely king-pin nose in the air, research for months before making a decision, haggle over dollars and cents kind of person - this camera rocks.
Get the extra battery, get the external DM100 mic, grab a case from LowePro, and get a couple of 16GB Class 4 cards. All this on Amazon and paid less than the "package" prices advertised from camera companies.
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