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  • Performance

  • Format

  • Auto / Manual Controls

  • Still Features

  • Handling and Use

  • Audio / Playback / Connectivity

  • Other Features

  • Comparisons / Conclusion

  • Photo Gallery

  • Performance
  • Format
  • Auto / Manual Controls
  • Still Features
  • Handling and Use
  • Audio / Playback / Connectivity
  • Other Features
  • Comparisons / Conclusion
  • Photo Gallery

Performance

The Canon HF100 is equipped with exactly the same imaging specs as the Canon HF10. For a detailed look at image quality, including lots of cross-comparison frame grabs, jump to that review.

The HF100 has a single 1/3.2-inch CMOS sensor with a gross pixel count of 3,310,000. The effective pixel count in video mode is 2,070,000. This is a new sensor for 2008, smaller and more densely packed with pixels than we saw on the 2007 models like the HR10 and HG10. However, Canon managed to offset these potential factors in image quality reduction by improving two other areas. The outputted resolution on its AVCHD camcorders increased from 1440x1080 to 1920x1080. Secondly, the maximum bitrate was increased from 15Mbps to 17Mbps.

 

*3000 lux 1080/60i auto
*

3000 lux 1080/30P auto

3000 lux 1080/24P auto

First, we ran the Canon HF100 through our standardized testing. We shot a DSC Labs Chroma DuMonde color chart at an even 3000 lux. Under these more or less ideal conditions, the HF100 looked great. There was no substantial difference we could see between the HF100 and the HF10. The HF10 seemed to crush the blacks a little more, meaning the black areas were flatter and darker. By contrast, the HF100's blacks looked a little rougher. The difference was negligible. In both camcorders, the image looked great.

Comparatively, the Sony HDR-SR12 offered the strongest competition. Many readers have pointed out that, overall, the SR11/SR12 does a better job with dynamic range than the Canon HF10/HF100. We agree. The Canons tend to blow out faster and lose detail in the shadows faster. In some outdoor shooting we took with the HF100, we witnessed some purple fringing along very high contrast areas. It's minor, and it doesn't show up in this chart, but it can happen. However, the Canons are undeniably sharper. And overall, we prefer the Canon color.

The Panasonic HDC-SD9 can't compete with either the Canon HF100 or the Sonys. The colors are too highly oversaturated and the fine details are downright fuzzy in places. Finally, we compared the Canon HF100 with its HDV cousin, the Canon HV30. Once again, we were impressed to see that AVCHD encoding (now in its third generation) has gotten to the point that it can compete head-on with HDV in terms of image quality. In fact, we saw a little more artifacting in the HV30. Overall, most people will not see a difference between them in moderate to bright light.

The Canon HF100 also offers the same multiple frame rate options that we've seen on all its HD camcorders this year. All the above comparisons were made with the camcorder shooting in 1080/60i (1920 x 1080 at 60 interlaced frames per second). When we switched to 1080/30P (1920 x 1080 at 30 progressive frames per second), we saw almost no difference in color quality or sharpness this bright light. It was the same issue with 1080/24P (1920 x 1080 at 24 progressive frames per second).

However, when we took the camcorder out of the lab, the substantive difference of frame rates became apparent. Slower frame rates mean delayed and slightly blurred motion. In bright light shooting, this is strictly going to be an aesthetic choice for the shooter. It looks neither better or worse, though decidedly less crisp. You'll see a big difference in low light, however, which we'll get to later.

3000 lux Cine mode

Finally, we looked at the Canon HF100's Cine mode. This is a great feature for shooters looking to avoid the oversaturation that standard amongst consumer camcorders. In this mode, the gamma curve is adjusted to match that of Canon's pro camcorders. In effect, this means that the highlights and shadows are compressed and the mids are expanded.

Overall, the HF100's image quality is very good - among the best HD camcorders we've seen this year.

Video Resolution***(20.25)*

The video resolution of the Canon HF100 was tested by shooting a DSC Labs resolution chart at an even, bright light, then looking at the playback footage on an HD monitor. At best, when shooting in 1080/60i, the camcorder was able to produce a horizontal resolution of 675 line widths per picture height (lw/ph) and a vertical resolution of 600 lw/ph. We ran the same tests again in 1080/30P and 1080/24P and got the same results.

These are extremely impressive resolution results, and confirm everything we've seen related to the typical 'sharpness' associated with HF100 video clips.

Low Light Performance***(14.13)*

The low light testing of the Canon HF100 took part in three stages. First, we shoot the DSC Labs Chroma DuMonde chart at an even 60 lux and 15 lux, then compare the results with our huge bank of images from previous reviews. At 60 lux, the Canon HF100 did a decent job at retaining color and fine detail, but the reduced sensor size this year seemed to cost it some sensitivity when we compare it with last year's Canon HG10.

60 lux 1080/60i auto

Strangely, there was a small but noticeable difference in image quality between this and the Canon HF10. Even though they share the same imaging set, the HF100 lacked as much fine detail in towards the edges of the shot. In the middle, the sharpness looked the same, but the blacks were noisier and not as even as they were on the HF10. There was a hint of this in bright light, but it became more pronounced when the lights dropped.

Comparatively, the Sony HDR-SR12 looked really good. There was definitely noise, but the SR12 managed to keep it at a finer grain than the HF100. Color performances were similar, but the Sony SR12's slightly duller looking colors may be preferable to shooters. The Panasonic HDC-SD9 was well below the HF100 and SR12, with practically neon colors and much less fine detail.

60 lux 1080/60i auto

When we shifted the Canon HF100 from 60i to 30P, there was a marked increase in color strength. Overall, the image is also brighter.

In 24P mode at 60 lux, there is an even bigger jump in color.

When we lowered the light to 15 lux (in 1080/60i), we were surprised to see how much color information the HF100 was able to retain. Sure, it's noisy as hell, but it's fairly rare to give colors this good under such low lighting. The Sony HDR-SR12 did not give the same level of color, though the noise was of a finer grain. The Panasonic HDC-SD9 was the darkest and least colorful of the three. It is simply not a low light performer.

The second stage of the low light test involves shooting the same chart while steadily and continuously lowering the light while watching an waveform monitor. We determine sensitivity by seeing how low we can dim the lights and still have the camcorder producing a peak of 50 IRE. The Canon HF100, shooting at 1080/60i was able to accomplish the job at 11 lux.

At 1080/30P, the camcorder could produce the same results at 6 lux.

At 1080/24P, the HF100 produced 50 IRE at only 4 lux.

Comparatively, last year's Canon HD camcorders that featured the larger CMOS sensors, including the HG10 and HV20, along with this year's HV30, all produced a higher sensitivity in low light - no surprises there. However, the Canon HF100 was far superior to the Panasonic HDC-SD9, proving to be over twice as sensitive in this particular test. Sony scored somewhere in between, on average, except for the Sony HDR-UX20 DVD camcorder, which proved to be poor in low light.

The third stage of the low light testing involves shooting an X-Rite Color Checker chart at an even 60 lux, then exporting frame grabs to Imatest imaging software to determine color accuracy, noise, and saturation. According to Imatest, the Canon (shooting in 1080/60i) produced a color error of 10.4. The noise measured 1.525%. The saturation measured 81.28%.

When shooting in 1080/30P, the color error was 9.86, the noise was 1.14%, and the saturation was 102.4%.

When shooting in 1080/24P, the color error was 10.4, the noise was 1.0875%, and the saturation was 105.9%.

These scores indicate that the HF100 did not score identically to the HF10, even though testing conditions were completely identical. The color accuracy was slightly better and the noise was slightly worse, but still within a range of similarity. The Sony HDR-SR12 scored very close to these, as well, and proved to be an excellent low light performer.

Overall, the Canon HF100 is a strong camcorder to have in low light shooting.

**Stabilization ***(7.7)
*The HF100 is equipped with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), a shake reduction system that functions by isolating the lens element from the body of the camcorder. OIS is far more effective than Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) because it doesn't sacrifice resolution. This year's stabilization competition is tight. The JVC GZ-HD6 exhibited the best OIS we've seen to date and Sony's OIS is pretty solid. Canon hasn't really seen that success thus far.

We tested the effectiveness of the HF100's OIS using our custom-built shake emulator at two speeds--Speed One and Speed Two. Speed One's shake frequency emulates typical handheld shake while Speed Two is closer to shooting during a bumpy car ride. The HF100 displayed an 85% shake reduction at Speed One and a 52.65% at Speed Two, which places Canon in the back of the pack. The HF10 performed slightly less effective at Speed One, with a 75% shake reduction.  
*
**Wide Angle **(9.6)*

We measured the maximum wide angle of the HF100 using a vertical laser. The HF100 was set to manual mode with OIS disabled during testing. The video clips were then interpreted on an external monitor to attain a true wide angle reading. The HF100's maximum wide angle measurement is 48 degrees, which is right on par with the HF10.

Format

Compression***(7.0)
*The Canon HF100 compresses video in the AVCHD format. AVCHD is now in its third generation in camcorders, and is finally starting to turn the tide away from tape-based HDV, previously the only HD option for consumers. Sure, it's great that the average camcorder owner could finally record HD footage to DVD, disk drive, or flash memory, but it took a while for the video quality to match that of HDV.

The Canon HF10, HF100, and Sony HDR-SR12 are the three best AVCHD camcorders we've seen to date. All offer very strong performance in both bright light and low light, with less motion trailing and compression artifacting (chunky blocks of pixelation). The HF100 records at a maximum of 17Mbps, the highest of any consumer manufacturer. This year also saw an increase in outputted resolution from 1440 x 1080 to 1920 x 1080. Combined, it makes for great compression, far better than earlier generations of AVCHD camcorders.

There are four quality settings on the HF100, each of which corresponds to a maximum bitrate: FXP (17 Mbps), XP+ (12 Mbps), SP (7 Mbps), and LP (5Mbps). There is no standard definition recording option on the HF100.

Media***(6.0)
*The Canon HF100 records all video and stills solely to removable SD and SDHC cards. There is no internal memory, as you get with the step-up Canon HF10. Canon provides no memory card in the box. That means you'll have to buy a card at the same time, unless you already have one. Stay on the lookout for retailers offering deals on camcorder+card bundles.

The SD/SDHC card slot in the LCD cavity

SD and SDHC cards are easy to use, very sturdy, and the price is dropping. However, relying strictly on cards is a risky proposition for shooting over long periods of time (like vacations). They fill up quicker than you think, and if you don't have a place to dump the data, you may find yourself frantically looking through the Italian/English dictionary for this phrase 'Do you carry memory cards for this camcorder?'

On the plus side, cards and other kinds of solid state media are highly energy efficient because it means there are no moving parts in the recording process. Cards are also more reusable than DVDs and tapes because there's virtually no 'wear and tear' through the erase/re-write process. Below is a table of what you can expect for recording capacities.

 

Editing***(4.0)
*Editing AVCHD video files from the Canon HF100 is not the easiest thing in the world, which is a fairly compelling reason for beginners to steer clear of AVCHD for a while longer. Editing solutions have been slow to develop, and though they're out there, finding one that is guaranteed to work with footage from any manufacturer's camcorder is tricky. Canon, Sony, and Panasonic all have slightly different types of AVCHD. Before you purchase any camcorder, be sure to do some online research regarding compatibility.

The video from the HF100 should be compatible with software from Ulead, Pinnacle, iMovie, and Final Cut. As far as we could tell, Sony Vegas software does not support Canon HF100 video.

Auto / Manual Controls

Picture & Manual Control
Automatic Control *(6.75)
*The Canon HF100 performs well in auto mode, which should come as welcome news to beginners and the experienced alike. To make the shooting even more welcoming, Canon has lifted a page from Sony's book and added a prominent 'Easy' button on the side. When in Easy mode, the exposure, focus, white balance, and other quality controls are all automatically adjusted. All you need do is point, zoom, and hit the record button.

The auto exposure is fast, taking approximately 2-3 seconds to make transitions. The white balance takes about the same amount of time, and it typically quite accurate. The auto focus on the HF100 has two settings to choose from. The first, a Canon special feature, is called Instant AF. It uses an external sensor located on the front of the body to take care of the gross focusing, leaving the internal processor to only deal with fine adjustments. The overall effect is to speed up focus time. It also has the effect of 'snapping' the picture into focus, which some people may not like. If that's the case, you have the option to deactivate Instant AF and let the internals do all the work. You're auto focus won't be any more or less accurate, but it may be a little slower. It's important to note that different frame rates have an effect on focus as well. The 1080/60i frame rate has the fastest reactions, while the 24P has the slowest.

You'll find the standard array of Scene Modes on the Canon HF100, located on the top sub-menu of the Function Menu. Options include: Portrait, Sports, Night, Snow, Beach, Sunset, Spotlight, and Fireworks. *
*

Overall Manual Control *(6.5)
*On the whole, the manual control set on the Canon HF100 is very good. Easier to use than Panasonic's and JVC's, and more comprehensive than Sony's, Canon is often the one to beat in this category. True, there could have been more external controls like dials and buttons, but the ultra-compact camcorders rarely offer that. For a great example of what you're missing out on, check out the Cam Control dial on the Sony HDR-SR11 and HDR-SR12.

Not to say that there isn't a learning curve. Make sure you spend some time with the manual before you go out on an important shoot. The manual controls on the Canon HF100 are spread into three distinct areas. The crucial controls are activated by pushing in on the joystick. A small icon pops up in the lower right corner with options for Exposure, Focus, and mic levels. Somewhat less crucial, but still present, are Backlight Compensation, Video Light on/off, and a way to get a quick look at the last scene recorded.

The controls are located in either the Function menu or the Main (Admin) menu, mostly the former. In the Function menu, you'll find Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, Scene Modes, White Balance, Image Effects, Digital Effects, and bitrate. When you're actively recording, you have access to the controls on the joystick, but not the Function menu. Also, when you have the Shutter or Aperture Priority modes activated, you can use them while recording.

The controls are intuitive, and we always prefer the joystick control over touch screens and nav-pads. We miss the zebra patterns and peaking from the Canon HV30, but they were not ported over. Overall, it's a more than satisfactory bundle of controls.

*

Zoom **(6.0)
*In our review of the Canon HF10, we stated that the zoom toggle felt loose and cheap. The HF100 is better, suggesting that it was a simple manufacturing aberration. Of course, that means that it could happen to you, too. The toggle on the HF100 feels smooth. It's quite large in relation to size of the body. We were able to get about three distinct zoom speeds, depending on finger pressure. If you don't trust your fingers, Canon gives you the useful option to fix the zoom speed to one of three options: fast, medium, and slow. When zooming, a progress bar appears in the upper left corner to give you a sense of where in the zoom range you are. We would have preferred the addition of a actual numerical value.

Zoom Power Ratio *(12.0)
*The optical zoom on the Canon HF100 extends to 12x. This is about average for an HD camcorder in this price range, and a little better than the 10x zoom on the Panasonic HDC-SD9. The Sony HDR-UX20, a DVD camcorder, has a 15x zoom, but it comes at the cost of a much smaller sensor. The digital zoom on the HF100 can be extended to 40x or 200x. We recommend turning it off altogether.

Focus (5.0)

The focus on the Canon HF100 is okay. Proper focus is more crucial in HD, as your mistakes are more apparent. So if you're the hands-on type, you may want to consider other models, include the Canon HV30, Sony HDR-SR11/HDR-SR12, or JVC GZ-HD6.

To manually focus, select the option from the Joystick menu, then push the joystick left and right to shift focus. The LCD screen is your only means of gauging the accuracy. Canon does offer one fairly good tool to help, a Focus Assist function that automatically blows up the image to a 2x zoom on the screen. This zoom is not recorded to the final footage; it's simply an on-camera helper. Canon's tape-based HDV model, the HV30, steps it up by pairing the instant zoom with a peaking function, which creates fuzzy noise around the areas that are in focus to make them 'pop' more on the screen.

 

Exposure & Aperture *(7.6)
*The Canon HF100 offers both a simple Exposure control and an Aperture Priority mode that affects exposure. The first option is great for shooters who don't know the first thing about camera terminology and simply want to make the picture darker or brighter. The latter suites the needs of the advanced crowds. It's a great combination that the other manufacturers could learn from. Generally, Panasonics don't cater enough to novices, and Sony's don't meet the demands of advanced shooters.

The exposure control is accessed by pushing in on the joystick. When activated, a scale appears at the top of the screen with a range of +11 to -11. What may be confusing to beginners is that the scale changes depending on the lighting situation. For instance, if you're pointing the camcorder into a dark room and activate the Exposure control, the scale may only extend from -11 to +1 or even +0. This is because the auto exposure controls have already exhausted their resources. There is nothing left to 'turn up.'

The Aperture Mode is activated by going into the Function menu and shifting the camcorder out of 'P' mode, the Canon-speak for Manual mode. Then exit the menu. The Aperture value is displayed on the left side of the screen. To change it, push in on the joystick, then toggle up and down. Options include: f/1.8, f/2.0, f/2.4, f/2.8, f/3.4, f/4.0, f/4.8, f/5.6, f/6.7, and f/8.0. For whatever reason, Canon does not offer the ability to shut and aperture further, like Panasonic does. Panasonic also offers more increments in its aperture range. Sony does not offer any direct control over the aperture. JVC is about equivalent with Canon.

Exposure in action

*Shutter Speed (6.95)
*The shutter speed is controlled directly in Shutter Priority mode. You cannot manually dictate aperture and shutter speed at the same time. However, if you lock the shutter then use the Exposure control, it will only be able to adjust the aperture. This works vice versa, as well - locking the aperture value then using Exposure to shift the shutter.

Shutter speed options at 60 and 30P frame rates include: 1/8, 1/15, 1/30, 1/60, 1/100, 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000, and 1/2000.

In 24P frame rate mode, the range changes to: 1/6, 1/12, 1/24, and 1/48. From 1/60 and up, they are the same as above. Overall, this is a pretty modest range of control. Panasonic offers a wider range in the faster end of the spectrum. However, Canon is much more generous in the slower end. Panasonics only drop as low as 1/30th. This is a significant trick to have in your back pocket for low light shooting. Sonys are the most frustrating, offering no manual shutter speed and two low light modes that offer widely variating effects.

White Balance *(7.5)
*The white balance settings are located in the Function menu. There are quite a few more presets than you'll find in most other manufacturers: Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, and Fluorescent H. Of course, you also get an Auto mode and a manual adjustment option.

To make a manual adjustment, toggle over to the Eval. WB setting, point your camcorder at a white or neutral grey target, and push in on the joystick. The white balance will blink for a few seconds, then the picture adjusts and the icon stops blinking. It's always comforting to see something like this blinking, or a total screen blank out, to know that the camcorder complied with your request. With some camcorders, you just never know if it happened or not.

The White Balance submenu

*Gain (0.0)
*There is no gain control on the Canon HF100 camcorder. Only Panasonic offers gain control in its consumer range of products.

Other Manual Controls *(2.0)

Cine Mode - *Cine Mode is an alternate gamma mode for how the camcorder processes colors, meant to make the HF100 match something closer to Canon's professional line rather than the oversaturated colors standard on most consumer camcorders. When active, the highlights and shadows are compressed and the midtones are expanded. Cine mode presumes, to some extent, that you've properly lit your scene. This is not the best run-and-gun setting, as you'll lose more details in the shadows and highlights. However, if the lighting is good, the image tends to have great looking colors.

*Image Effects - *This refers to a set of controls that let you adjust color if the auto controls aren't cutting it for you. Canon offers a more powerful version of this on its digital still cameras called MyColors. However, you'll be hard pressed to find anything this extensive on any other consumer camcorder, which puts Canon ahead of the pack in this area. There are four settings that you can choose from (one and only one at a time): Vivid, Neutral, Low Sharpening, and Soft Skin Detail. The fifth setting, Custom, is the really good one. In this setting, there are four parameters to control, each of which has a range of -1 to +1. Make your custom setting based on: Color Depth, Sharpness, Contrast, and Brightness. The only thing we're left wishing for is that you could have more than one Custom setting at a time.

The Image Effects options

3000 lux 1080/60i auto

3000 lux 1080/60i Vivid

3000 lux 1080/60i Neutral

3000 lux 1080/60i Low Sharpening

3000 lux 1080/60i Soft Skin

*Markers - *There are four options for creating on-screen lines that help you set up your shots. You can either have a single horizontal line in white or grey, or two vertical and two horizontal lines in white or grey. These lines are not recorded to your final footage. They only appear on screen while shooting.

 

Still Features

Still Features***(9.25)*

The HF100 is equipped with a bevy of still photo options. While the Panasonic HDC-SD9 can only offer 1920 x 1080 still image recording and a small cluster of still features, the HF100 offers the following following sizes: (Photo Mode) 2048 x 1536, 1920 x 1080, 1440 x 1080, and 640 x 480 (VGA), (Video Mode) 1920 x 1080 and 848 x 480. You can record images to SDHC cards in Super Fine, Fine or Normal quality.

All manual controls offered in Video mode are available in Photo mode, including Exposure, Focus, and White Balance. You can access Scene Priority modes in Photo mode, but Cine Mode cannot be applied. Image Effects can be accessed, but you can only apply Black and White and Sepia. A Self Timer is available in the Administrative menu that can be set to 10 seconds. Images can be reviewed in 2, 4, 6, 8, or 10 second intervals. The HF100's Flash can be set to Auto, Manual, or On.

Like all high end Canons, the HF100 can can meter an image in Evaluative, Center Weight Average, and Spot modes. Evaluative functions by dividing the screen into numerous windows in order to obtain an average exposure for the entire image--this setting is suitable for most shooting environments. The Center Weight Average setting hones in on the subject in the center of the frame and adjusts the exposure according to that subject. Spot Meter matches a certain portion of the screen's exposure to the exposure of the the central subject.

There are four different speed modes in Photo mode—Single, Continuous Shooting, Hi-speed Continuous Shooting, and Auto Exposure Bracketing. In Single mode, just one image is captured per Photo button snap. Continuous mode captures roughly five images per snap. In Hi-speed Continuous Shooting, five images are recorded per snap, but at twice the speed as Continuous Shooting. With Auto Exposure Bracketing (AEB) three images are captured in a sequence—one image at Auto exposure, one at an EV notch up (+0.25EV), and one at an EV notch down (-0.25EV). This way, shooters have three different exposures to choose from.

To access the Photo Function menu, press the Function button. The Photo Function Menu contains the following items:

The Function menu in Photo Mode

 The Photo Menu is accessed by selecting Menu in the Photo Function menu. The Photo Menu contains the following items:

The Admin menu in Photo Mode

Still Performance ***(5.36)**
***The Canon HF100 was tested for its still performance by shooting an X-Rite Color Chart at an even, bright light, then running the stills through Imatest imaging software to determine color accuracy, noise, and saturation. At best, the camcorder produced a colro error of 11.2. These were far less accurate than the scores from Sony and Panasonic. The noise measured 1.495%, which was also not that good compared to competitive camcorders. The saturation measured 123.1%. This indicates where the error was the caused the poor color and noise results. The HF100 was too heavily saturated. In order to get these best results, we lowered the exposure by two increments from where the auto mode had set the exposure. In auto mode, the saturation was even higher, at 132%.

From a practical perspective, this means that you will want to lower the exposure to more accurate colors. However, most consumers prefer saturated colors, so it may not matter than much. *
*

Still Resolution*(29.24)*The still resolution of the Canon HF100 was tested by shooting an Applied Image ISO 12233 resolution chart at an even, bright light, then exported the stills to Imatest imaging software. At best, the camcorder was able to produce a horizontal resolution of 1481 line widths per picture height (lw/ph) - with a clipping of 0.87% and an oversharpening of 3.6%. The vertical resolution was 1587 lw/ph - with a clipping of 1.33% and an undersharpening of 0.615%. In order to get these best scores, we raised the exposure levels by two increments from where the auto mode had set them.

These scores are about average or higher for a camcorder with this pixel count. ***


Handling and Use

****Ease of Use*******(7.5)***
**Move over Sony, Canon's got Easy mode too. The HF100 and HF10 are both equipped with the new system, which simplifies all action to the basest consumer level. In Canon's version of Easy mode, the Function menu, Joystick menu, and Administrative menu have all gone out to lunch--Record Start/Stop is the only control you'll need. Autopilot is the name of the game here, and most beginners will revel in a simplicity originally pioneered by Sony.

Outside of Easy mode, beginners will stumble upon some road blocks. Take, for instance, the HF100's menu. Yes, it's designed well and easy to navigate. But what's with the vague 'P' and 'Av' modes?  There's also a plethora image adjustments like Soft Skin mode and Cine mode--what's a novice to do? Our recommendation to is remain in 'P' mode and Auto everything else. As you blossom into a pro, introduce new levels of manual control into your shooting lifestyle.

The primary difference between the HF100 and the HF10 is the lack of Internal Flash memory. 16GB of extra onboard memory is handy dandy when you've run out of space on a memory card. A 16GB SDHC card will run you anywhere from $60-$150 online. SDHC cards are actually one of the easiest forms of media to work with, though the AVCHD compression will require a computer on steroids.**
**

****Handling*******(6.5)*****
****Joining the ultra compact HD brigade is the HF100. It shares the same dimensions with the HF10, which means both camcorders handle identically. In the neighborhood is the Panasonic HDC-SD9, which is currently one of the smallest HD cams out there, though the HDC-SD9 lacks in terms of grip and construction.  The HF100 is a bit of a different story. Its microphone is mounted to the front, so as not to interfere with the fingers that overshoot the top. Ports are divvied up into convenient clusters that are easily accessible. The hand strap is well padded and constructed using a breathable mesh material for those 90 degree days. Panasonic cannot answer to this architecture, offering a cheap hand strap, poorly placed ports, and a microphone mounted to the top. For their size, the HF100 and HF10 are unbeatable in the handling department.

The Canon HF100 in hand

At first glance, the HF100 looks to be a dud as far as handling goes. How can a camcorder this tiny offer the weight and gripability needed for those long shoots? In hand, the HF100 will dispel any apprehensions based solely on appearance--this camcorder can hold its own. When you first slip your hand into the HF100's hand strap you'll notice that your fingers succeed in overshooting the top of the camcorder. Have no fear--Canon implemented a fingertip groove above the LCD screen to catch them on the other side. There's no microphone on top to obstruct and the right side is ergonomically crafted to fit the concave nature of the palm of the hand.

Two handed shooters are in luck with the HF100's LCD-mounted Joystick. Those who cling to the LCD screen will naturally gravitate toward the Joystick's convenient location and swift operation. Those who have grown accustomed to a rear-mounted Joystick configuration will have to acclimatize to the HF100's more consumer setup. There's no viewfinder to fiddle with, and the puny size of the HF100 will force you to focus all your operation to the left side of the camcorder. Canon has packed prosumer Manual controls and a beautiful image into a highly consumer body, which is great for consumers who want quality in a compact, portable package.   **
**

Menu*******(6.5)***
**The HF100, like all Canons, features three different menus—the Joystick menu, Function menu, and Administrative menu. You'll find that the The Function and Administrative menus are easy to navigate, but the Joystick menu will require a little additional time in order to master its controls. Panasonic’s menus excel as far as design and response time, but the newest wave HDC-SD9 and HDC-HS9 are not fun to operate, thanks to their LCD cavity Joystick placement. Sony’s Home menu is gaining popularity because of its intuitive interface, though advanced shooters are typically opposed to the smudgy touch screen. Canon’s menus are rife with options, however, they are easy to navigate.

The Joystick menu is accessed by pressing the center of the Joystick. In the bottom right hand corner, small square box will appear containing four pages. The Joystick menu offers the following options:**
**

**
**

The Joystick Menu

The Function menu, which contains more advanced options, can be accessed by pressing the Function button. Option categories are located along the left side of the screen while their corresponding options line the bottom of the screen. The Function menu contains the following options:**

**

  ****

*The Function menu *

Finally, the Administrative menu can be selected from the Function menu. The Administrative menu contains the following options:**

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Portability*****(8.5)***
**Sony's new HDR-TG1 is extrememly compact, and is a prime example of just how small HD can be. Like the HF10, the HF100 is almost identical in size to the Sony HDR-CX7, a camcorder that is sligthtly larger than the Panasonic HDC-SD9. The HF100 won't fit in a pant pocket, but it will fit snugly inside a small camcorder bag. The HF100 weighs in at 380g (13.4 oz.) without the battery pack and lens and measures 73mm x 64mm x 129mm (2.9 in. x 2.5 in. x 5.1 in.). There's no need to purchase DVDs or tapes to fill the camcorder bag up, but a couple of backup batteries and large capacity SDHC cards will do the trick.

*The 2.7-inch LCD screen *

LCD and Viewfinder*(5.75)*

The HF100 sports a 2.7-inch Multi-Angle Vivid Widescreen LCD with a 211,000 pixel display. The LCD screen flips out 90 degrees from the body of the camcorder and rotates up to 270 degrees. The HF100’s only monitor displays a sharp image with a decent color palette, though it's not as crisp as Sony's new LCD screens. Canon's new breed of LCD screens resist solarization at steep angles. Many controls are available along the along the bottom of the LCD panel: Function, Play/Pause/Record Start/Stop, Rewind/Zoom Out, Fast Forward/Zoom In, Stop/BLC. The HF100 is devoid of a  viewfinder.


Battery Life*******(8.5)***
**We tested the lifespan of the HF100’s BP-809 battery pack by recording continuously in Manual mode 1080/60i with the LCD flipped open. The HF100 held out for 85 minutes (1 hour, 25 minutes). This is a fairly underwhelming performance for a camcorder with no moving parts. Canon offers the BP-819 battery pack, which will be a necessity if you want the HF100 to last throughout the day. **
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Audio / Playback / Connectivity



****Audio*******(9.0)***
**Next to Panasonic, Canon offers a decent array of onboard audio options. Though the HDC-SD9 can independently adjust its surround microphones and has an Auto Gain Control, the HF100 has Mic and Headphone jacks and a hot shoe. Panasonic neglected to throw any of those ports on the HDC-SD9 and HDC-HS9, which suppresses their ability to shine as advanced camcorders. A good shotgun mic will go a long way, and the HF100 lets you adjusts Mic levels via an onscreen level meter.  If you want to manually adjust the microphone levels, press the center of the Joystick and page down to Mic. We prefer the HF10’s monitor over the HDC-SD9’s because it is composed of far more increments along the scale. The HF100’s monitor is composed of 24 bars while the HDC-SD9’s monitor is only equipped with 8 bars. Because of its advanced design, the HF100's audio level meter is more accurate and flows fluidly--the HDC-SD9's level meter is far too jumpy for serious shooters and does not display decibel levels.The HF100 also has a Wind screen and Mic Attenuator for reducing the amplification of sound, or increasing loss.

The mic levels control in action

**
****Playback*****(6.0)*****Switching the Mode dial to Video Playback or Photo Playback mode allows you to play back video or review still images on the HF100. A grey screen will appear in Video Playback mode, containing a set of two tabs at the top: SDHC Card Memory Playback, SDHC Card Playlist. Recorded clips are represented by individual thumbnails, or icons. You can access a video clip by scrolling over to its icon using the Joystick and pressing the center of the Joystick to begin playing the highlighted clip. The video clip will play within the entirety of the LCD screen. On the bottom of the LCD panel, you'll find a host of Playback controls: Play/Pause/Record Start/Stop, Rewind/Zoom Out, Fast Forward/Zoom In, Stop/BLC. The Joystick also controls the volume of the clip and allows you to scroll back and forth between clips. Stop returns you to the index screen.

The video clips as they appear in Playback mode

**

In Video Playback mode, the Function menu is composed of five options located along the bottom of the screen: Copy, Add to Playlist, Delete, Select Date, And Menu. The Video Playback menu consists of the following options:

**



The Video Playback menu

When Photo Playback is selected, images will automatically appear onscreen with a detailed profile including a histogram chart, image size, Exposure level, White Balance setting, Date, and time the image was captured. Stop will bring you to the index screen. The Joystick allows you to shuffle between images, rotate an image 90 degrees, and delete an image. Play begins and ends the Slideshow.

The Photo Playback Function menu contains the following options: Copy, Protect, Print Order, Transfer Order, and Menu. The Photo Playback Menu consists of the following options:**

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The Photo Playback menu

**** Connectivity*******(10.0)***
**The HF100 contains ports on almost every side. The Mic, Headphone, and DC jacks are located in back, shielded by a thick plastic enclosure between the battery and LCD screen. A Headphone jack located in back is handy because the cables will not interfere with the shooting process.

The LCD cavity houses the SDHC card slot and Component terminal. The card slot door is accessed by sliding the Card Door switch to the right and the spring-loaded plastic tab will open. You must manually shift the card door back down to close it. The Component terminal is covered by a square plastic enclosure that is attached to the LCD cavity by two flimsy plastic strips that cannot take a beating.

Underneath the HF100's hand strap live the HDMI and USB terminals, which are sheltered by an inconspicuous rubberized cover. You'll really have to search for these ports at first.

The HF100's has a hot shoe is mounted to the top and is compatible with Canon attachments. The shoe is housed by a hard plastic tab secured by two feeble plastic strips.

**
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Other Features

****What’s in the Box?**
**

The Canon HF10 ships with the following items:

  • BP-809 Battery Pack (with Terminal Cover)

  • CA-570 Compact Power Adapter

  • STV-250 N Stereo Video Cable

  • WL-D88 Wireless Controller

  • IFC-400PCU USB Cable

  • CTC-100/S Component Cable

  • Digital Video Solution Disc for Windows and Macintosh

  • Pixela ImageMixer 3SE Disc

You'll need extra SDHC cards and backup batteries. A Mini HDMI cable is a must for HDTV owners.

****Other Features*******(5.0)****
****Digital Effects - *Digital Effects will spice up your shooting experience with Fade-T and Wipe transitions, and Black & White, Sepia, and Art Photoshopesque filters.

*Battery Info - *You can check the HF100's battery status by pressing the Battery Info button located in the LCD cavity. If you want a more in-depth reading, access Battery Info from within the Administrative menu. Remaining battery and recording times are represented by a multicolored percentage bar.

*Quick Start - *The HF100 will remain in standby mode until the LCD is flipped open when Quick Start is engaged. When the LCD is flipped open, the HF100 is snap back into action in under a second. Standby mode consumes battery life, so use Quick Start sparingly.

*Video Light- *It's bright, but your video clips will shine by the light of a large, glowing blue orb.  

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Comparisons / Conclusion

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****Comparison****
Canon HF10***
**The only differences between the HF100 and the HF10 ($1099 MSRP) come down to Internal Flash Memory, paint, and price. The HF100 and HF10 share the same power plant imaging system, Manual controls, and an identical body design. the HF100 only records to SD/SDHC memory cards. The HF10 has 16GB of internal Flash Memory, which is highly useful when cards fill up. The HF10 is also a stealthy black color, which is what all top HD models are dipped in. At the end of the day, it's down to price and extra storage. If you have the extra change, go for the HF10--if not, the HF100 is a solid performer.*

********* Sony HDR-SR11*

The new wave of Sonys are fierce warriors--the HDR-SR11 ($1199.99 MSRP) is one of the models to beat this year. With a 60GB HDD, killer low light, thanks to Sony's new BIONZ processing with EXMOR technology, and spot on handling and design, the HDR-SR11 claims few opponents. (We tested the HDR-SR12, which is identical except for a larger, 120GB HDD.) The HF100 is malnourished compared to the prodigious HDR-SR11, which features a Cam Control dial for instant Manual adjustment. The HF100 has more traditional Manual Controls like shutter speed and aperture, but many shooters will gravitate toward the HDR-SR11's massive 3.4-inch LCD screen, pivoting viewfinder, and classic Sony ease of use. Between the excessive storage space, handling, video performance, and overall construction, the HDR-SR11 wins this race. Price will be the major divider here--$300 is definitely a gap to mind.*

Sony HDR-TG1
*The Sony HDR-TG1 has the same new processing as Sony's top of the line HDR-SR12 and HDR-SR11 HDD cams, which means low light should shine. The HDR-TG12 does have a smaller 1/5-inch CMOS chip, so don't expect a performance as stellar as the HDR-SR12's. The HDR-TG1 records 1920 x 1080 'Full HD,' and is equipped with Sony's friendly Home menu. On the downside, ports are scarce, the body design is upright, and the HDR-TG1 only uses proprietary Memory Stick PRO Duo cards. Power shooters should opt for the HF100 while business travelers will want the HDR-TG1.

  • Panasonic HDC-SD9
    *The HDC-SD9's ($799 MSRP) "World’s Smallest Full HD Camcorder" title, is pretty much all the pint-size cam has going for it. With three 1/6-inch CCDs, low light takes a plunge while the HF100 kicks out the jams with HV20 and HV30 grade illumination. Handling suffers with the HDC-SD9, thanks to its tiny body. Its Joystick is inconveniently placed within the LCD cavity, ports are tucked away in the battery chamber, and the microphone is tossed on top, right beneath the fingers. The HF100 has an LCD Joystick, wide Zoom toggle, and cushy new hand strap, which is much more appetizing than the HDC-SD9's flawed architecture. The HDC-SD9's lack of Mic and Headphone jacks and a hot accessory shoe really digs its grave. Of course the HDC-SD9 is equipped with Panasonic manual controls, including gain, but the HF100 is capable of multiple frame rates, Image Effects, and a better Shutter Speed control. Go for the HF100.

**Who It’s For **
Point-and-Shooters

Canon jumped on the bandwagon and threw its own incarnation of Easy mode on the HF100. Look out Sony! Beginners unite.

Budget Consumers

For killer Canon HD video, great Manual controls, and all the connectivity an intermediate shooter should need, the HF100 is a bargain for $900. It's the cheapest actually good HD camcorder on the market.

Still Photo / Video Camera Hybrid

Histograms, numerous shooting modes, all Manual Controls--the HF100's still features blow past JVC's and Panasonic's. They're on par with Sony's still photo excellence.

Gadget Freaks

Without the dual media and the all black paint job, the HF100 loses some coolness points, but it's still flashy and powerful enough to induce daydreams for most nerds.

Manual Control Freaks

Canon pumped up the jam with the HV20's Manual controls, and the HF100 gets the legendary set. Everything but gain is offered, which is plenty for the average shooter.

Pros / Serious Hobbyists

AVCHD is still a stick in the spokes of the average pro's workflow. The HV30 is the most likely candidate. **
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****Conclusion
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The Canon HF100 ($899 MSRP) is a solid performer with great manual controls and the ease of use that beginners crave. However, it may not be the most economical choice for most consumers. The camcorder only records to SD and SDHC memory cards. Now, don't get us wrong. Flash memory is clearly going to be the media of the future, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's the best choice today. First of all, there is no memory card in the box when you buy the HF100. You'll need to budget that extra expense in yourself. While memory cards are cheap, they're not nearly as cheap as tapes and DVDs. A miniDV tape can hold 60 minutes of video and only costs about $5. To fit the same 60 minutes on an SDHC card, you'll need 8GB of storage, which costs a minimum of $30. Now imagine planning for a 10--day trip to the Outback. Do you want to buy five miniDV tapes or five SDHC cards?

For this reason, the Canon HF10 ($1099 MSRP) seems more reasonable. The step-up from the HF100, the HF10 includes 16GB on-board storage, which means you can rely on that when the cards fill up, or vice versa. There $200 price gap between models is not inconsiderable, however.

For an even bigger step up, but a worthwhile one, consider the Sony HDR-SR11 ($1199 MSRP). We reviewed the HDR-SR12, which is identical, except for the larger hard drive. The HDR-SR11 doesn't offer the portability, but that larger body masks a big 60GB internal hard drive - far more storage than you can expect from memory cards. The performance was just as good in most regards and the ease of use is even better.

Overall, those looking for portability and performance - but also need to save a few bucks - should at least consider the Canon HF100. If you can afford either the money or the extra space, we strongly recommend looking at the Canon HF10 or Sony HDR-SR11/HDR-SR12.

Meet the tester

David Kender

David Kender

Editor in Chief

@davekender

David Kender oversees content at Reviewed as the Editor in Chief. He served as managing editor and editor in chief of Reviewed's ancestor, CamcorderInfo.com, helping to grow the company from a tiny staff to one of the most influential online review resources. In his time at Reviewed, David has helped to launch over 100 product categories and written too many articles to count.

See all of David Kender's reviews

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