Customer Review

344 of 349 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Best consumer camcorder I have ever seen. Reviewed by professional videographer., April 5, 2009
This review is from: Canon VIXIA HFS100 HD Flash Memory Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom - 2009 MODEL (Electronics)
I have owned a small wedding videography company for 5 years and after using the HFS10 for a week I am incredibly pleased with it. Please note the HFS10 is identical to the HFS100 except the HFS10 also comes with 32GB of internal flash memory.

If you want the smallest camcorder you can get without sacrificing video quality in any way, than this is the camcorder for you. I am amazed at how small this thing is while still having a professional grade lens. This is the same Canon lens as on their GL2 which is probably the most popular entry level professional camcorder ever (which I have owned for a few years).

Pros:
1.) Professional camera lens with superb HD video quality (even in low light situations). I cannot express enough how amazing the pictures look.

2.) Accepts up to 32 GB of SDHC Flash memory
A.) Flash memory is instant. No waiting for tapes to wind or hard drives to spin. The camera goes from off to red light recording in less than 2 seconds.
B.) Flash memory helps keep the camera small.
C.) Flash memory protects data from being lost due to the camera being dropped or hit (a real problem with hard drive cameras).

3.) The still picture quality, even with the built in flash, is unbelievable for a camcorder. I feel like I am shooting with my Rebel XTi.

4.) I love the auto open and close lens cover. It only opens when you are actually shooting. If the camera is off or if you are reviewing it immediately closes.

5.) Menus are very easy to navigate.

Cons:
1.) Doesn't come with an HDMI cable. Since it doesn't take a normal sized HDMI cable I think there is no excuse for that.

2.) Doesn't come with a battery charger. You either have to spend $50 to get one or recharge batteries using the camcorder itself.

3.) No internal memory, however it's $200 more for the HFS10 for only 32GB of internal storage and that is way too much. It should have only cost an extra $100. Unless you need to be able to record more than 2.5 hours of shooting without changing SDHC cards, then get this camera because a 32GB class 6 SDHC card only costs $100.

4.) Only comes with the BP-809 battery which doesn't even last an hour. So you will need to buy the BP-827 which costs another $150. The BP-827 does stick out from the back just a slight bit, but not even an inch and is totally not noticeable nor does it add any real weight.

5.) 10X optical zoom is a little slim for my liking. I am used to 20X.

This camcorder is basically a professional lens barrel with an LCD on the side which gives you the best picture quality possible while keeping the size incredibly small. I cannot encourage you enough to get this camcorder.
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Comments

Tracked by 6 customers

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Showing 1-10 of 24 posts in this discussion
Initial post: Apr 6, 2009 8:29:01 AM PDT
Jason Fox says:
Thanks for the review -- it's the first I've been able to find that wasn't just a sneak peek. How good/bad is the low-light capability? I'm just looking for something that does well in a normally lit indoor setting. My HV20 is a bit noisy in that regard. Thanks.

Posted on Apr 8, 2009 10:19:06 AM PDT
Big Fudge says:
Jason - Do a search on vimeo.com for "hfs100" and "hfs10" to see footage samples. Many people overseas had access to the camera a couple weeks before it was released here in the US, and you can see some really good examples of low light footage.

Posted on Apr 10, 2009 2:03:24 PM PDT
S. Walker says:
Same lens as GL2?!? I wish, but nooo, that was a 20x zoom, and bigger, too ... (see your own Con # 5.)

In reply to an earlier post on Apr 13, 2009 1:36:00 PM PDT
Last edited by the author on May 4, 2009 2:28:19 PM PDT
AmazonLover says:
It is the same lens as the GL2, having a different zoom factor does not change which glass is put on the front. Zoom factor is limited due to the lens barrel length not the glass on the front. The GL2 has a much larger body and so can have a greater barrel to increase zoom length. You can google GL2 and HFS100 to verify this. The entire optics system is not identical, but the lens is the same filter diameter.

In reply to an earlier post on Apr 20, 2009 5:25:40 PM PDT
E. Estes says:
I'm trying to decide between the HF100 and the newer HFS100. Just for normal family use. Is the newer HFS100 worth the extra $400?

In reply to an earlier post on Apr 26, 2009 9:20:51 PM PDT
Eric says:
No. But the HFS is worth the money.

In reply to an earlier post on Apr 26, 2009 9:23:21 PM PDT
Eric says:
Would you please clarify your last sentence?: "The entire optics system is not identical, not the lens is the same filter diameter."

Posted on Apr 28, 2009 9:23:55 AM PDT
Could this video camera be used as a camera and a camcorder? I saw your comment about it shooting like your Rebel. How good are the still pictures?

In reply to an earlier post on May 4, 2009 2:29:19 PM PDT
AmazonLover says:
The lens is the same size but he entire barrel of the optics are not identical which is most obviously noticed with the limited zoom of 10X.

In reply to an earlier post on May 4, 2009 2:30:43 PM PDT
AmazonLover says:
Yes it works as both. The picture quality is exceptional even when the built in flash is used. However, it is not as fast as a Rebel and not usually as sharp.
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