The Canon HF100 ($899 MSRP) comes from a good pedigree. It’s nearly identical to the Canon HF10, which received our seal of approval earlier this year. The HF100 offers all the same image quality, manual controls, and form factor, but loses the 16GB internal memory of the HF10. Sure, you save $200, but think about what you’re losing first. The HF10 only records to removable memory cards, like the Panasonic HDC-SD9 or Sony HDR-TG1. Card memory is portable and easy to use, but those cards fill up quickly, and they’re not particularly cheap. It’s better to have a secondary recording medium if you’re on a long vacation or far from a camera shop.

It records AVCHD video at a maximum of 17 megabits per second (2 hours and 5 minutes of video), and can hold up to 6 hours and 5 minutes of video at the lowest bit rate of 5Mbps. That higher bit rate goes to support the full 1,920×1,080 capture, the norm for most of this year’s new models, compared with 1,440×1,080 for older AVCHD camcorders that required only a 12Mbps maximum bit rate. You can record best-quality movies to the card as long as it’s a Class 4 SDHC or better (Class 6 is currently fastest): the Class 4 16GB Kingston card I tested with worked fine.

Its optically stabilized f1.8-3.0 12X zoom lens has a longer reach than the typical 10x lens available in this class, but the rest of its features are pretty common in Canon’s prosumer models. For video, these include aperture- and shutter-priority exposure modes, three fixed/one variable zoom speed options, a video light, Instant AF, and a wind-screen filter. You can also record in progressive 30 or 24 frames-per-second (fps) modes as well as 60i. For still photos, metering, flash, and burst and exposure bracketing options become available as well. The camcorder also supplies a complete set of ports and connectors: component or mini-HDMI out for direct-to-TV playback, mini headphone and mic jacks, and USB for downloading to computer.

The HF100′s built-in stereo microphone is stationed strategically beneath the lens. If Canon mounted the mic atop the HF100, the right hand would envelop the mic and sabotage your recorded audio. Camcorders this compact require certain design and handling sacrifices, which Canon minimizes. The Panasonic HDC-SD9 is more compact than the HF100, yet its mic is mounted on top–an example of how a camcorder should not be designed.

In the continuum that runs from low-resolution, cheapo camcorders like the Creative Vado to high-quality, solid-state “prosumer” HD models like Canon’s own Vixia HF10, Canon’s line of SD-based camcorders–FS11, FS10, and FS100–falls exactly where you’d expect. At budget prices under $600, they’re small, stylish, and provide a reasonably expansive feature set; unfortunately, the real “budget” aspect of these models is the video quality.

The individual models in the FS series differ only by memory and color, with list prices that increment by $100 (but with lower actual street price gaps). The top-end model, the FS11, comes in dark gray and includes 16GB built-in memory; its lesser sibling, the FS10, wears silver and includes 8GB. The cheapest child, the FS100, has no built-in memory but comes in silver, blue, and red. Capacities run about 13.8 minutes per gigabyte of storage for best-quality mode, 39 min/GB for lowest quality; we don’t recommend shooting below best-quality, however.

Unfortunately, in a market that’s crowded with camcorders vying for their piece of the standard definition pie, the Canon FS100 just doesn’t stand out. It has better video performance than cheap YouTube camcorders like the Pure Digital Flip Mino, but it also isn’t as small or as easy to use. It may have superior handling and good manual controls, but we like a camcorder that performs well. Similar models from JVC and Panasonic perform better. Then again, when you’re dealing with standard def video, personal preference may be more important than performance. And in that case, the Canon FS100 is certainly worth considering.

The back of the FS100 has just a single, prominent feature: the impressively large mode dial. In the slimming trend of today’s camcorders, the mode dial or mode switch is usually tucked away to make room for other features. On the FS100 (as well as the FS10 and FS11), the mode dial is enormous, but also highly responsive. Just push in the button on the right and rotate to select your mode: Photo, Video, Video Playback, or Photo Playback. In the center of the dial is the glistening Record button. Everything is well within thumb’s reach.

What is the FS100 missing in order to accommodate such a dial? Most camcorder use the back as a repository for the battery, which can then be replaced by a larger battery (it lasts longer, but protrudes more from the back). Canon’s FS series houses the battery in the bottom of each camcorder, which means an enclosed chamber and no battery upgrading.

Canon’s HF10 captured all the headlines when it was launched last month. But, Canon has brought out other Flash memory-based camcorders as part of its ‘freecording’ strategy and at the top of the new standard definition range is the FS11. It’s tiny, light, and reassuringly portable, weighing around 300g with battery. But the Panasonic SDR-S7EB-K is even smaller, and quite a bit cheaper. Does Canon’s FS11 have the extra features to warrant its higher price?

Unlike the HF10, the FS11 is based around a traditional CCD rather than a CMOS. However, it’s a small 1/6in model with 1.07Mpixels. This provides 1,152 x 864 stills, and as this camcorder shoots standard definition at 720 x 576, video requires less than the full resolution. An electronic image stabilisation system is used, which isn’t as effective as the higher-end optical versions. Canon also quotes an incredible 45x ‘advanced zoom’, which isn’t quite the same as a digital zoom. The lens itself is only capable of 37x.

Weighing only 10.7 ounces and fitting comfortably into the palm of a hand–one my size, at least–the FS is, for the most part, quite well designed. As is becoming typical for SD-based models, you choose among video and still, record, and playback modes plus toggling recording on and off via a big thumbwheel at the back of the camcorder. You operate the zoom switch, photo shutter, and on/off switch with your forefinger. The battery and SD card slot lie under a sliding panel on the bottom of the unit. Some of the nicer touches include a built-in electronic lens cover–at this price, they’re usually manual–and an LED video light.

Behind the LCD, there’s an Easy button for a completely automatic mode and a button to display battery info, which displays the estimated time remaining. There’s also a standard mini-USB port, 3.5mm microphone jack, and an AV out connector for hooking up to a TV via the bundled composite cable. As is becoming typical for Canon, you use a joystick on the LCD to bring up a few quick-access controls, including triggering the video light, exposure compensation, shutter speed, and manual focus. It doesn’t magnify the focus area while in manual focus, but despite the smallish 2.7-inch LCD, it’s pretty usable.

Here’s where all the action lies–once you flip open the FS11′s 2.7-inch LCD screen. The LCD cavity is littered with goodies: Easy button, Display/ Battery Info button, Mic jack, AV-out jack, and the USB terminal. That’s right! Canon’s got Easy mode too. A Mic jack is a nice touch, too, but the camcorder has no accessory shoe, not even a cold shoe. If you want to attach another mic, you’ll either need a permanently free hand or have to invest in some duct tape (Pro Tip: don’t duct tape your mic to your computer.

With the FS series, Canon debuts its Advanced Zoom technology, which transforms the camera’s 37x optical zoom into 48x. It does so by moving lens elements to change the area of the sensor focused on by the lens. As a result, the effective video resolution changes while you zoom. For example, with AZ turned off, 16:9 video sensor resolution is about 550,000 pixels. With it on, at minimum zoom, it’s approximately 710,000 pixels (full effective sensor resolution), and at 48x, it’s 410,000 pixels. So while it’s technically not digital zoom, it’s still not maintaining the resolution across the entire zoom range (though it’s in fact better than status quo at the wide angle). And for that reason, though I know Canon will probably beg to differ, I’m going to refer to it as a hybrid zoom.

In the continuum that runs from low-resolution, cheapo camcorders like the Creative Vado to high-quality, solid-state “prosumer” HD models like Canon’s own Vixia HF10, Canon’s line of SD-based camcorders–FS11, FS10, and FS100–falls exactly where you’d expect. At budget prices under $600, they’re small, stylish, and provide a reasonably expansive feature set; unfortunately, the real “budget” aspect of these models is the video quality.

The individual models in the FS series differ only by memory and color, with list prices that increment by $100 (but with lower actual street price gaps). The top-end model, the FS11, comes in dark gray and includes 16GB built-in memory; its lesser sibling, the FS10, wears silver and includes 8GB. The cheapest child, the FS100, has no built-in memory but comes in silver, blue, and red. Capacities run about 13.8 minutes per gigabyte of storage for best-quality mode, 39 min/GB for lowest quality; we don’t recommend shooting below best-quality, however.

To make sharing footage with friends and family even easier, the FS10 is compatible with Canon’s new standalone Canon DVD Burner DW-100. The burner connects directly to the camcorder, allowing videos to be copied to a full-size DVD without the need for a computer – the perfect accessory for anyone who enjoys sending movies to distant relatives and friends. A new Intelligent lithium-ion battery system displays exactly how much recording time is left. Accurate to the minute, the system makes it easier to monitor available power and therefore avoid running out at the crucial moment. Writing to flash memory has a far lower power requirement than other recording formats, too – over three hours of shooting is possible with the supplied battery pack.

Combining video recording with advanced digital photography features, the Canon FS10 captures high quality stills. Photos are easily transferred to a computer via USB. A Canon Solution Disk, supplied with every model, helps users store, enhance and manage their digital still photos. Each FS series model features a microphone input connection, allowing superior quality audio to be captured. By attaching an external microphone, users are better able to record a strong soundtrack in otherwise challenging circumstances – at a school concert for instance, or similar occasions when ambient noise might otherwise interfere with what is being recorded.

A range of easy-to-use features makes shooting with the DCRDVD605 a pleasure. Recording direct to DVD makes sharing your memories so easy to share with family and friends. Choose from a wider range of DVD formats, including DVD+RW for immediate playback.

The 2.5″ Touch Screen LCD provides image clarity and easily rotates to give you the best possible viewing angle. The additional Start/Stop and Zoom controls on the LCD panel ensures that filming at any angle is a breeze.

The 2.5″ Touch Screen LCD provides image clarity and easily rotates to give you the best possible viewing angle. The additional Start/Stop and Zoom controls on the LCD panel ensures that filming at any angle is a breeze.

Easily organise and edit your videos, or burn multiple 8cm DVD’s to a 12cm DVD. No need for USB Cables with supplied Nero Express 6! Simply shoot, eject, place your 8cm DVD into DVD-ROM drive and let Nero Express 6 do the rest.

Key features:

• Record Direct to DVD
• DVD+RW/-R/-RW Recording Formats
• 1/6″ (3mm) 960H CCD with Advanced HAD Technology
• 20x Optical / 40x/800x Digital Zoom
• 2.5″ Touch Screen LCD
• Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar Lens
• Super NightShot Plus
• Spot Focus and Metering
• Super SteadyShot
• InfoLITHIUM Battery System
• Dolby Digital 2Ch Recording
• Record / Zoom Buttons on LCD Frame
• Easy Handycam Button
• Easy Handycam Button