Skip to main content
DEAL WATCH: Keurig K-Express | 22% off $69.99

Keurig has changed the face of coffee, and snagging one of these for less than $70 is a solid deal. Read Review

BUY NOW
  • Performance

  • Format

  • Auto / Manual Controls

  • Still Features

  • Handling and Use

  • Audio / Playback / Connectivity

  • Other Features

  • Conclusion & Comparisons

  • Photo Gallery

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

Performance

On the outside, the Canon FS100 is an identical twin to the FS10 and FS11—and the similarities are more than just skin deep. These three camcorders also share the same imaging system, featuring a 1/6-inch CCD sensor. The gross pixel count is 1,070,000, which is slightly higher than you'll find on the average 1/6-inch chip in these low-end camcorders. Packing more pixels into yor sensor can improve resolution, but it can also diminish the camcorder's sensitivity in low light. (See Low Light Performance, below.)

As for the effective pixel count, that's not quite straightforward on the Canon FS100. All three Canons in this year's FS series employ their new Advanced Zoom feature, which manipulates pixels in order to boost zoom. This is a digital process, but does not degrade image quality the way that traditional digital zoom does. (See Zoom.) The resulting effective pixel counts are as follows:

Video performance was tested by taking the camcorder through our usual set of lab tests, and then taking it out of the lab for some 'real life' recording. Inside the lab, we shot a DSC Labs Chroma DuMonde color chart at an even 3000 lux. While it can hardly be expected to compete with impressive, high definition camcorders, the FS100 certainly held its own among standard definition camcorders. The colors are very vivid, if not oversaturated, but this is now the status quo among consumer camcorders. The footage also shows a remarkable amount of sharpness and is clear of any major noise compression errors.

We compared the FS100 to the JVC GZ-MS100, the Samsung SC-MX20, and the Panasonic SDR-H200—three competing camcorders that are all flash memory and standard definition. All four boost saturation to hone in on that vivid consumer aesthetic, especially in the greens. Only Samsung seems to be toning down the saturation, but the result is muddier overall. As for sharpness, the FS100 is good, but it can't quite stand up to the fine detail of the Samsung or the Panasonic.

One side effect of the increased sharpness is that the compression artifacting is a little more evident. Those chunky blocks of discoloration that we see on all standard definition camcorders are less obvious compared to the less sharp JVC GZ-MS100 or the impressively smooth Panasonic SDR-H200. The Canon does, however, produce much cleaner footage than the Samsung SC-MX20.

The Canon FS100 also offers some one-touch color altering modes: Vivid, Neutral, and Soft Skin. The results are very subtle, but can be seen in our review for the Canon FS11.

Outside of the lab, we were very impressed with the FS100's ability to adapt to changes in light and color temperature. The automatic controls were all adequate and slow and fast movement looked good. These, of course, are only valid judgments when you compare the FS100 to other standard definition models. Don't forget that you can get a high definition camcorder, like the Canon HF100 for a few hundred dollars more—the result will be significantly better video performance.

When it comes to standard definition camcorders, however, the Canon FS100 is one of the better options. It certainly had better video than the Samsung SC-MX20 and rivaled the competition from other manufacturers. We'll have even more reviews from the competition in the coming weeks, when we take the Sony DCR-SR85, Panasonic SDR-H60, and JVC GZ-MG330 through the labs.

Video Resolution* (4.8125)*

To test video resolution, we shoot a DSC Labs video resolution chart at an even, bright light. We then watch the footage on an external, HD monitor. The FS100 produced an approximate horizontal resollution of 350 line widths per picture height (lw/ph) and a vertical resolution of 275 lw/ph. This is about average for a standard definition camcorder in this range. The Samsung SC-MX20 and the Panasonic SDR-H200 performed better.

Low Light Performance* (4.755)*

We put the Canon FS100 through the usual barrage of testing to see how the camcorder performs in low light conditions. First, we shot the DSC Labs Chroma DuMonde color chart at an even 60 lux and 15 lux. As to be expected, the FS100 lost a lot of color and fine detail at 60 lux. The camcorder makes a good attempt at retaining color saturation, but suffers from an abundance of noise—noise of the snapping, crackling, and popping variety. Worse, this noise is causing large chunks of discoloration that are visible throughout, but most noticable in the grays.

Compared to the competition, the FS100 has good, strong color. We liked the color performance of the JVC GZ-MS100 better, but most of the other camcorders were either oversaturating the color (like the Panasonic SDR-H200) or producing dark and innacurate colors (like the Samsung SC-MX20). Unfortunately, the strong colors of the FS100 are viciously marred by blue and purple noise. The problem is exacerbated by the camcorder's compression, which sometimes causes the noise to be outputted in large chunks. The Canon FS100 looked considerably noisier than most of the competition, except perhaps the Samsung. Most of the other camcorders had brighter, cleaner images.

At 15 lux, the story was much the same. The Canon performed with decent color, but was even noisier. The discoloration is so distracting that the footage recorded in these conditions is virtually unusable. Admittedly, these conditions are the widow-maker for most camcorders. Nothing looks particularly good at 15 lux. But nearly every one of the FS100's competitors fared better.

Although this year was Canon's first foray into solid state memory camcorders, we were able to compare the FS100 to the standard definiton DVD camcorders from Canon's previous generation. The DC50, which employs a 1/2.7-inch CCD was much brighter and clearer. The DC210, which uses the same type of sensor as the FS100, looks to have about the same amount of noise, but is far less plagued by the distracting discoloration. The DC210 also produces a brighter image and more accurate colors. Whatever the reasons for these disparities, it's disappointing to see Canon take a step backwards in low light performance.

The second stage of low light testing is designed to test a camcorder's sensitivity. We connected the FS100 to a wafeform monitor, then steadily lowered the light until the camcorder was outputting a maximum of 50 IRE. The FS100 was able to output 50 IRE at 14 lux—this is slightly worse than the average for camcorders of this type. The Panasonic SDR-H200 had especially atrocious sensitivity, reaching just 24 IRE. Last year's DC210 from Canon was able to do a little better, with a sensitivity of 11 lux.

For the final stage of low light testing, we shoot an X-Rite color checker chart to determine color accuracy, noise, and saturation. The chart is lit at an even 60 lux and frame grabs are exported to Imatest imaging software. The lowest color error produced by the FS100 was 13.2—just about average for this type of camcorder. Saturation measured 65.59%, which is also an average score. Overall, the Canon's color performance was better than the poor showing from the Samsung SC-MX20 and the Panasonic SDR-H200, but wasn't nearly as good as the JVC GZ-MS100. (The JVC had an impressive 95.47% saturation, which rivals most high definition camcorders.)

The biggest letdown in the Imatest results was the abysmal noise score of 1.6%. We were disappointed in the Samsung's 1.5375%, but this is even worse. We hope that Canon improves the low light performance in its next generation of standard definition camcorders. They have a long way to go to catch up with the impressive low light performance of the JVC GZ-MS100 and should at least be performing as well as their camcorders from 2007.

Stabilization* (6.68)*

The FS100 is equipped with the same Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) featured in all of their standard definition camcorders. Electronic image stabilization uses pixels along the borders of the recorded frame as a buffer for camcorder shake. The result is a lower effective pixel resolution, so we recommend you keep the EIS turned off and rely on a tripod or steady hands to reduce shake. Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) is the preferred method—you'll find OIS on Canon's high definition camcorders and in the lenses of their SLR digital cameras.

We tested the effectiveness of the FS100's EIS using our custom camcorder shake emulator. At speed one (designed to simulate typical handheld shake), the FS100 exhibited an impressive 80% shake reduction. At speed two (a vigorous shake akin to a bumpy car ride), the FS100 proved less effective: just a 27.27% shake reduction. While the results at speed one are above average for these tiny standard definition camcorders, the shake two score is simply average. None of these camcorders do well at such high frequencies.

Wide Angle* (9.6)*

We tested the FS100's maximum wide angle measurement using a vertical laser. As with other camcorders, we set the camcorder to manual, disable the EIS, and pull the zoom all the way back. Interpreting the footage on an external monitor, we found the FS100 to have a maximum wide angle measurement of 48 degrees. This is an average score.

 

Format

Compression* (4.0)*

Video on the Canon FS100 is recorded in the MPEG-2 format, which is standard across most solid state, hard drive, and DVD camcorders that shoot standard definition video. It's true that the increasing popularity of high definition camcorders has brought with it newer and more efficient compression formats, but MPEG-2 has been around for a long time and many camcorder users will probably be familiar with the format. Familiarity does have its price: MPEG-2 does not have the advantages of these newer formats, which make better use of space and reduce the number of visible compression artifacts (most often seen as chunky bits of discoloration).

There are three quality settings on the Canon FS100: XP (9Mbps), SP (6Mbps), and SP (3Mbps). Lower qualities increase recording times, but the more aggressive compression will leave its brutish hand print on your video. We recommend always shooting in the highest quality.

 

** Media*** (6.0)*

The Canon FS11 records video exclusively to SD and SDHC memory cards. It has no internal memory, unlike its siblings, the Canon FS10 (8GB internal) and Canon FS11 (16GB internal).

Those step-up models definitely offer you some flexibility that card-only camcorders do not. If you're out on that cruise and suddenly run out of memory, you'd better hope you packed an extra card or don't mind parting with a few previously recorded clips. Also, it's clear from looking at the record times that a 1GB card is not going to cut it. If you're considering a purchase of the FS100—or any card-only camcorder—be sure to budget in a sizable memory card.

The chart below gives you approximate recording times based on card capacity.

 

Editing* (5.0)*

The Canon FS100 ships with a very basic editing package called Digital Video Solutions 30.0. It allows you to import clips, trim their length, and piece them together into a little home movie. Honestly, there's little reason to install it, no matter what operating system you use. The offerings are mediocre when compared to more advanced editing software, including the program that probably came with your computer. Windows Movie Maker and Apple iMovie both do a better job.

The only trouble you may have is the initial import process: moving clips from the camcorder to the computer is a real hassle. Dozens and dozens of forums have been devoted to the headaches involved with importing the MPEG-2 files from Canon camcorders. The included software does not work particularly well with Macs, and many Windows users have cited it as operational but lackluster. Ultimately, we were forced to find an inexpensive (but not free!) plug-in for QuickTime in order to work with the files on a Mac. These simple point and shoot camcorders are designed to be a hassle-free experience and this process was anything but hassle-free. Frankly, we aren't mourning the slow death of standard definition MPEG-2—the video quality is higher and MPEG-2 files have frequently caused frustration. For as much as we complain about AVCHD high definition files, compatibility with those files is now better than ever. The MPEG-2 files from the Canon FS100, on the other hand, are the result of a relatively ancient technology... for camcorders, anyway.

 

Auto / Manual Controls

Picture & Manual Control
* Automatic Control (6.0)*
**

**The Canon FS100 is a good camcorder for 'cruise control' shooters. The automatic responses to changes in light and focus are good enough that you won't have to intervene most of the time. In strong to moderate light, the auto focus performed admirably. Because the camcorder's sensor is small and not very sensitive, you will notice a fall-off in low light. Focus tended to bounce (falter steadily back and forth) in dark rooms, meaning dimly-lit bars may not be the FS100's forte.

The auto exposure worked well, but as we noted in the Canon FS11 review, the camcorder has a tendency to adjust dark-to-light faster than light-to-dark. It's not an issue, just an observation.

Onboard, you'll find the expected one-touch controls. A button along the bottom of the LCD cavity activates Backlight Compensation (corrects for shots in which your subject is lit with too much backlight). The button placement gives this feature odd prominence, considering how rarely we would use this feature. In the Function menu, you'll find several Scene modes designed for tricky shooting conditions: Portrait, Sports, Night, Snow, Beach, Sunset, Spotlight, and Fireworks.

There is also a set of options called Image Effects. Vivid boosts saturation, Neutral decreases saturation, and Soft Skin corrects for skin tones. You can see these effects in action in the Performance section of the FS11 review.

Overall Manual Control (5.0)

The Canon FS100 is decently equipped in terms of manual controls, but certainly won't blow the socks off of a video enthusiast. You get the basics: focus, exposure, white balance, and zoom, plus shutter speed control and a few special features, discussed above in Automatic Controls and at the bottom of this page in Other Manual Controls.

*

**Zoom (6.0)*

The Canon FS100's zoom control is a traditional toggle located on the top near the back, positioned for the index finger. There's no denying that, like many elements of Canon camcorders, the switch feels cheap. However, it works quite well. You can achieve a smooth, slow crawl with no problem. If you don't trust yourself to control zoom speed with tightly controlled finger pressure, the zoom speed can be fixed in the menu. There are three settings: Speed 1 (a slow crawl), Speed 2 (medium), and Speed 3 (fast).

When zooming, a scale appears in the upper right that gives you a sense of where in the zoom range you are. There is no exact value given, however. The scale is helpful, but without specific values, it's hard to replicate a shot.

Zoom Power Ratio (37.0)*

The Canon FS100 has a 37x optical zoom, which compares decently with the competition. The JVC GZ-MG330, by comparison, offers a 35x. The Panasonic SDR-H40, on the other hand, has a much larger 42x optical zoom.

Canon features a new technology on the FS100 and other camcorders this year called 'Advanced Zoom.' It's a bit of technical trickery that allows Canon to claim a higher zoom power than the lens is actually producing. The short explanation is that Canon is playing with pixels in the frame that don't need to be in the shot. So, don't be misled, the Advanced Zoom only enhances the natural optical zoom by a little. And while it causes no visible distortion (unlike digital zoom, which destroys quality), the true optical zoom is only 37x.

The Advanced Zoom also alters the final product and varies with aspect ratio. The table below outlines some of the differences. Advanced Zoom is not available for still photography. 

 

Focus (4.0)

Manual focus on the Canon FS100 is activated by pushing in on the joystick and calling upon the tiny Joystick Menu. To select focus, you must unintuitively click up on the joystick. Once activated, you push the joystick left and right to shift focus. Sadly, the only method to gauge the accuracy of the focus is the low-resolution LCD. On Canon's HD camcorders, there is a tool in place that automatically effects a 2x zoom when you shift focus—a much better tool for seeing your subject and tweaking focus. On the FS100, you're safer just letting the auto focus do its thing.

Exposure & Aperture (6.0)

The exposure control, like manual focus, is located in the Joystick Menu. Simply push in on the joystick and a small menu appears in the lower right corner. Select Exposure (again, by clicking up) and a scale appears in the upper left corner. The maximum range of the exposure is -11 to +11. However, depending on the ambient light when the feature is activated, that scale may contract.

There is no manual aperture control on the Canon FS100.

Shutter Speed (6.35)

The Canon FS100 does have shutter speed control. To activate it, go to the Function menu and switch the shooting mode to Shutter Priority. In this mode, you set the shutter and the camcorder automatically corrects for exposure by shifting aperture.

Shutter speed settings include: 1/8, 1/15, 1/30, 1/60, 1/100, 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000, and 1/2000. It's enough for most people, but HD camcorders often offer more increments.

White Balance (5.5)

The white balance options on the Canon FS100 are located in the Function menu. They include Auto, Daylight, Tungsten, and Set (Evaluative Manual). Setting the manual white balance is quite easy, which is good – this one of the most important manual controls that shooters should master. Bad color balance is a constant yet avoidable bane of camcorder shooters everywhere.

Gain (0.0)

There is no gain control on the Canon FS100. Only Panasonic camcorders offer direct gain control in consumer camcorders.

Other Manual Controls (1.0)
Markers - The Canon FS100 offers the option to paste some lines on your LCD (but not your final footage) that help you line up shots. There are four options: either a single, vertical line across the middle of the screen or a 9-sector grid pattern, and either of these can appear in white or grey.

 

Still Features

**

****Still Features*** (6.0)*

In short, the Canon FS100 has a lot of features in still photo mode, but they don't make up for the fact that the resolution is quite low and the quality is mediocre, at best. You'll also have to share limited memory space with your video, as everything recorded on the FS100 is stored on removable SD/SDHC memory cards. Keep all of these things in mind as we explain all the features below.

There are three options for still sizes: L (1152 x 864), LW (1152 x 648), and S (640 x 480). Each can be compressed in three qualities: Super Fine, Fine, or Normal quality. Like video, all stills are saved to SD or SDHC memory cards. In order to shoot stills, the camcorder must be in Photo Record mode, which is separate from Video Record mode. There is no Dual Record mode like you find on camcorders from Sony and some others.

In Photo Mode, you have access to all applicable manual controls that you find in Video mode, including focus, exposure, white balance, shutter speed, and others. The 37x optical zoom is also available, but not Canon's new Advanced Zoom. The camcorder offers shooting modes of Single shot, Continuous, Hi-speed, and Auto Exposure Bracketing. You'll find a 10-second timer, as well, to help you get in those big group shots.

The Function Menu contains the following items, which are the ones you need close at hand while shooting:

The Function Menu in Still Photo Mode

The Admin menu has all of the other options for operation. It contains the following:

 

The Admin Menu **in Still Photo Mode

The playback mode for the Canon FS100 is quite good. The screen displays a ton of relevant information on camera settings at the time of the shot. So even if you were shooting in Auto mode and you really like the look of a particular shot, you could take these settings and duplicate them on your own in Manual mode. Data includes: a Histogram, Image Size, File Size, White Balance, Exposure, Shutter Speed, and Image Effect Setting, Quality, and Date/Time captured.

All in all, the Canon offers more still features than many of its competitors. The Samsung SC-MX20 doesn't even offer still photography.

Still Performance* (7.06)*

While the FS100 has plenty of options for still photograpahy, these features won't do you much good if you're dealing with mediocre performance. We tested the still performance of the FS100 by shooting an X-Rite Color chart at an even, bright light. We then ran the stills through Imatest imaging software to determine color accuracy, noise, and saturation. The best color error results measured 8.5, which is decent, but not the best performer by any means. The noise measured 1.7475%—as was the case for the high noise score during video testing, this is not a good score for a camcorder in this price range. Finally, the saturation measured 97.03%

Stills shot outside the lab confirmed what we saw in testing: the Canon FS100 images look noisy compared to the average point and shoot, but also compared to other camcorders. Still photography on the JVC GZ-MS100 and Panasonic SDR-H200 both outperformed the FS100 in every respect. Last year's DC210 (a standard definition DVD camcorder from Canon) produced about the same results.

Remember that almost any point and shoot digital camera will take better photographs than almost any camcorder. The Canon is certainly no exception—shooting in the highest quality setting will only net you a 1152 x 864 still image. That's only about one megapixel and several times smaller than the average dedicated still camera. The Canon doesn't even look as good as other camcorders, but the color performance is decent and the still would probably be good enough for low-res web photos.

**

Still Resolution*** (7.46)*

The Canon FS100's still photo resolution was tested by shooting an Applied Image ISO 12233 resolution chart under an even, bright light. The chart is shot as several different exposures, then run through Imatest imaging software. At best, the camcorder produced a horizontal resolution of 748 line widths per picture height (lw/ph), with an oversharpening of 19.1%. The vertical resolution was much worse: just 507 lw/ph, though oversharpening was only 5.1%.

These are fairly good results for this type of camcorder.

 

Handling and Use

Ease of Use* (6.5)*

For an inexpensive standard definition camcorder, the Canon FS100 could certainly be easier to use. Sure, the controls are accessible and menus navigable, but it's not as easy as it could be. The largest impediment to a smooth and carefree experience is the slightly awkward joystick/menu interface. The joystick could be a lot more responsive and accurate, especially when you're trying to fish through the camcorder's different menus. Canon is one of several manufacturers that is splitting operations and features into several different locations. Image Stabilzation? That's in the Administrative Menu, which is nested within the Function Menu. White Balance? That's in the Function Menu. But Exposure? That's the Joystick Menu. Backlight compensation? That's actually a separate button on the LCD panel. Canon, why must you do this to us?

On the bright side, once you've located the manual controls, they are fairly intuitive to use. Most features are represented by an icon, but these aren't as cryptic as we've seen on other camcorders. It would still be nice to see other manufacturers implement something like the scrolling tool tips that we have on the Panasonic camcorders—especially on an entry-level camcorder like the FS100, where users could often use the extra guidance.

If you don't want to bother with the manual controls (or the hassle of navigating the menus), you can activate Easy Mode via a button in the LCD cavity. Easy Mode will render the menus inaccessible and allow you to shoot without worry. Any manual adjustments you make will be switched back to automatic when you enter Easy Mode (but they will be restored when you leave Easy Mode). The recording quality, aspect ratio, and auto slow shutter settings can be set ahead of time. The FS100 has adequate automatic controls, so Easy Mode is certainly a viable option if you want to avoid the hassle.

Perhaps the biggest complaint with the FS100's ease of use comes not from the ability to record video, but from the process involved in transferring and editing video. If ease of use is what you're after, make sure you read our Editing section.

**

Handling*** (4.25)*

There's no doubt that current flash memory camcorders are very, very small. Perhaps they feel large compared to the ultra-compacts like the Pure Digital Flip Mino, but they are tiny compared to what we saw just a few years ago. The first camcorders that could be used without a shoulder mount were considered 'palmcorders'—manufacturers obviously didn't forsee the current crop of camcorders, which really do fit in the palm of your hand. No doubt camcorders wil only continue to shrink.

How does the FS100 compare? At 58 x 60 x 124mm (2.3 x 2.4 x 4.9 inches), the FS100 is about the same size as most flash memory camcorders out there today. It is essentially a lens barrel with an LCD panel attached to it. It's also incredibly light: just 95g (3.4oz.) without the battery pack. This means that you'll have no trouble fitting it in your hand and carrying it around all day.

When you hold the FS100 like a traditional camcorder (in the palm of your right hand, with the record button under your thumb and zoom toggle under your index finger), you'll find that the buttons are within easy and comfortable reach. The zoom toggle may fall under the middle finger for some users and shorter thumbs don't have good leverage on the mode dial, but it is, overall, a comfortable camcorder to hold. The hand strap is thick, well-padded, and provides plenty of support to prevent the camera from wobbling around. Plus, the FS100 has alternate Record and Zoom buttons on the LCD panel, so you can hold the camcorder any way you like in your right hand and access the key controls with your left hand.

Perhaps the one disconcerting element of the camcorder's design is that is is so small some people might not be sure where to put the tips of their right fingers. On DVD and hard drive camcorders, there is an extra bit of bulk on the right—that's what your fingers usually wrap around. On the FS100, the body is very slim. Most people will probably find their fingers wrapping all the way across the top and into the LCD cavity. Canon does provide a narrow groove on the top, presumably as a place to rest your fingers. This groove, however, is not a natural or comfortable place to put your fingers. It might give you extra support, but it'll also force your hand into an unnatural claw-like position.

Despite our criticism, the FS100 handles better than a lot of camcorders we've seen. The joystick and all the controls work just fine and the camcorder is surprisingly comfortable and stable in hand. Only the Samsung SC-MX20 can compete, with its unique pivot grip and impressively intuitive controls.

**

Menu*** (6.5)*

As we mentioned in the Ease of Use section (above), the menu on the Canon FS100 is not intuitive for first time users. It's easy to see what Canon was thinking in the design, but we just don't think they pulled it off. The biggest problem is that functions are split across three separate menus, and it's difficult in the beginning to find the control you want.

Most of your manual control needs are located conveniently in the Function menu, accessed by hitting the 'Function' button under the LCD screen. A menu appears along the left side, containing:

The Function menu

'But wait! There seems to be something missing here!' That's right, notice that exposure and focus are not located here along with all the other picture controls. Canon has tucked those options into the Joystick Menu, which is hidden from view unless you know to push in on the joystick to access it. A beginner won't know that unless they read the manual or happen to stumble upon it by accident. Even if you discover the Joystick menu, this is the least intuitive menu available, as you have to hit push up on the joystick to activate a certain control. Elsewhere on the camcorder, clicking on the joystick is the equivalent of an 'enter' button, but not here.

The Joystick Menu contains these options:

 

The Joystick Menu

For all your other camcorder needs (the ones that need not be close at hand during shooting) try the Admin Menu. To access it, you must first go through the Function menu, then select 'Menu' from the bottom of the list. A menu inside a menu? Wonderful.

The Admin Menu contains the following options:

 

 

**

***The Admin Menu*

As a side note, there is one feature that you will not find within any of the menus: strangely, Backlight Compensation is activated using a button on the LCD panel.

**

Portability*** (8.0)*

The Canon FS100 is highly portable, for a full-function camcorder. It can't compete with the new batch of ultra-compact 'YouTube' camcorders popping up, like the Pure Digital Flip Mino and others, but it can fit in a coat pocket or purse without too much trouble.

The body measures 58 x 60 x 124mm (2.3 x 2.4 x 4.9 inches) and weighs 260g (9.2 ounces). By comparison, the JVC GZ-MS100 (another memory card camcorder) is about the same size. Stepping up to the cheapest JVC hard drive model, the GZ-MG330, doesn't make the body much larger but does increase the weight to 318g (11.2 ounces).

The important thing to remember when considering overall portability is that you should take what you need for all contingencies. Extra battery, yes. Extra memory cards, yes. AV and USB cables, why not? You never know when you might want to show your videos on a bigger screen or transfer footage to a computer. Thankfully, the FS100 has all its ports built right into the body, with no need for a docking station to lug around.

LCD and Viewfinder* (4.0)*

The Canon FS100 has a 2.7-inch LCD that extends from the left side. The resolution isn't much, only 123,000 pixels. Always shoot with the understanding that the LCD screen is only a rough approximation of what your color, focus, and exposure will actually look like. Making manual focus decisions with such a low-res screen is particularly difficult, so be careful. Fortunately, the auto focus worked well in most shooting environments.

The LCD panel flips around for a 270-degree rotation. There is no glare-reduction, so you may have some problems when shooting in bright light. Unfortunately, there is no viewfinder to accommodate you in this hour of need.

 

Battery Life* (17.7)*

The Canon FS100 ships with the BP-808 rechargeable battery pack. The battery loads into an internal cavity on the bottom of the camcorder, which prohibits you from purchasing a longer-life battery in the future. There is no external charger for the battery, so you'll have to charge it while it's in the camcorder.

Fortunately, the battery life is quite good. We tested the BP-808 for stamina by shooting continuously until the power ran out. In total, the battery lasted 177 minutes and 44 seconds (2 hours, 57 minutes, 44 seconds). That's a solid duration for a battery and you can probably get by with just one spare battery for a full day of shooting.

 

 

Audio / Playback / Connectivity

Audio* (6.0)*

Audio options on $400 camcorders tend not to impress, but the Canon FS100 does try to step it up. The camcorder has a built-in stereo microphone and a Wind Cut feature, along with a microphone-in jack in the LCD cavity. Audio is compressed in the AC3 format.

Upgrading to a better class of camcorders almost invariably means an increase in audio options. Many HD camcorders offer the ability to use the AV-out jack as a headphone connection, but not the FS100.

**

Playback*** (4.5)*

Playing back clips is, thankfully, one of the simpler tasks on the Canon FS100 (provided you're using the camcorder as your playback device, and not a computer). To enter playback mode, turn the mode dial to the blue camcorder icon. Your clips will appear as thumbnails. Select the desired clip and press in on the joystick to watch it.

All the playback controls (play/pause, rewind, fast-forward, and stop) are individual buttons along the bottom of the LCD. We love this. Sometimes, camcorders use the joystick as the playback controller, but you have no idea what direction to move it for various functions.

 

 

The Admin Menu in Playback Mode

**

Connectivity*** (5.0)*

The Canon FS100 has the minimum assortment of port and plugs you need to get by. The USB, microphone-in, and AV-out ports are located in the LCD cavity. The DC-power port is located on the right side, just above the hand strap. That's it. All of the ports in the LCD are bare, meaning there are no port covers. As long as the LCD is closed during transport and storage, they should be fine, but a little rubber port cover and a little piece of mind would not go unappreciated. The DC port has a hard rubber cover that swings conveniently out of the way when you need access.

On the bottom of the Canon FS100, you'll find a cheap plastic port cover that reveals the battery cavity and SD/SDHC card slot. We're not sure which is worse: the fact that the port cover feels so fragile, the fact that the battery is loaded internally (and therefore not expandable), or the fact that you can't access either the battery or the memory card if the camcorder is attached to a tripod. Let's just say that all of our complaints are winners.

 

 

Other Features

**

****What’s in the Box?**

The Canon FS100 ships with the following:

  • Canon FS100 Camcorder

  • CA-590 Compact Power Adapter

  • BP-808 Battery Pack

  • WL-D88 Wireless Controller

  • Lithium Ion Button Battery CR2025 for Wireless Controller

  • STV-250N Stereo Video Cable

  • IFC-400PCU USB Cable

  • Software CD-ROM and Installation Guide, PIXELA Image Mixer 3 SE

  • WS-30 Wrist Strap

  • Software CD-ROM Digital Video Solution Disk (version 30.0)

 

**

Other Features*** (3.0)**

Video Light* - The Canon FS100 has a small light on the front of the camcorder that produces a bright but bluish light. It is turned on and off in the Joystick Menu.

*Digital Effect - *On the FS100 you'll find the same corny effects that have been part of camcorders for years. Some are not so bad, but most look terrible. The list includes: Fade-T, Wipe, Blk&Wht, Sepia, Art, and Mosaic.

Battery Info - This feature allows you to get a quick, crucial look at the remaining battery life. Hit the Disp/Battery Info button, and it gives you the approximate life remaining in the battery (in minutes).

 

Conclusion & Comparisons

**

****Conclusion**

The Canon FS100 isn't the darling child we've come to expect from arguably the best high definition manufacturers out there. It's cheap and light and fairly easy to use, but the video performance is nothing compared to its high definition cousins. The FS100 simply is what it is: a standard definition camcorder that records to memory cards and is about as good as some of the competition.

But it isn't just video performance where the FS100 falls short: its menus and controls aren't as intuitive as the Samsung SC-MX20 or the popular ultra-compact camcorders—like the Pure Digital Flip Mino. Transferring and editing files could also be a lot easier. Where the FS100 really sets itself apart is in its combination of handling and manual controls. The menus might be a little confusing, but the little tweaks you can make to manual settings are good once you get the hang of them. And the camcorder feels great in your hand: light, comfortable, and stable.

If handling is more important to you than video performance, it's a tough decision between the Samsung SC-MX20 and the Canon FS100. But we are big fans of good video performance here, and if you want your standard definition video to look as good as possible, there are better options to be had.

Comparisons

Who It’s For*

Point-and-Shooters*

The Canon FS100 is a decent camcorder for point-and-shooters, so long as they don't plan on doing much (or any) editing. Once the Easy Mode is engaged, shooting couldn't be easier. The problem comes when beginners need to interface with the relatively complicated menu systems.

Budget Consumers

The budget consumer would certainly want to consider anything in the $400 range, especially something with decent performance, which the FS100 offers. However, one must consider that the FS100 does not ship with a memory card, so you'll have to add that into the budget.

Still Photo / Video Camera Hybrid

The stills from the Canon FS100 are decent, but don't come anywhere near a dedicated still camera or even better camcorders.

Gadget Freaks

There is nothing here to interest the gadget freak.

Manual Control Freaks

The manual controls on the Canon FS100 are okay for a camcorder in the $400 price range, but Panasonic is stronger.

Pros / Serious Hobbyists

This is not a tool for the serious-minded videographer.

Meet the tester

Kaitlyn Chantry

Kaitlyn Chantry

Vice President, Editorial Management

@WhyKaitlyn

Vice President of Editorial Management, Kaitlyn oversees the editorial departments of Reviewed.com’s various sites. She has been writing about technology since the turn of the century. Outside of her Reviewed.com home, Kaitlyn is also a theatre director and avid gamer.

See all of Kaitlyn Chantry's reviews

Checking our work.

Our team is here for one purpose: to help you buy the best stuff and love what you own. Our writers, editors, and lab technicians obsess over the products we cover to make sure you're confident and satisfied. Have a different opinion about something we recommend? Email us and we'll compare notes.

Shoot us an email

Up next