Canon Vixia HF-100 Review
Canon’s VIXIA HF-100 AVCHD Flash Memory Camcorder brings together compact design with the convenience of recording in HD to flash memory. Thanks to its small size, you can take this camera anywhere you go for recording family vacations or just capturing on-the-fly moments during your daily routine. Recording in high definition to flash memory cards opens up a whole new world of possibilities, making it quick and easy to upload stunning video and stills to your PC for emailing, printing or sharing on sites such as YouTube. And, in the event that you fill up the recording time on one card, just replace it with another that’s small enough to fit your pocket, taking up no room at all.
Canon gave this camcorder a 3.3Mp 1/3.2″ Full HD CMOS sensor that captures remarkably clear, rich and accurate images each and every time. And because it records in HD when you play the footage back on your widescreen HDTV you’ll see the amazing picture quality in every scene. The HF-100 also features a 2.7″ widescreen multi-angle vivid LCD, SuperRange Optical Image Stabilization, and a DIGIC DVII image processor for clear, rich video and stills. Canon’s own 12x HD Video Zoom Lens has three preset zoom speeds for recording smooth shots and a Super Spectra Coating for reduction of flare and glare.
This camcorder gets even better with 24p recording, allowing you to obtain that film-look and 30p Progressive Mode for shooting action and for footage you plan on posting to the web. The Quick Start mode keeps your camera in sleep mode and brings it up and ready to record in less than a second with the touch of a button. All of these features and then some make the HF-100 an exceptional value.
Premiere elements 7 has AVCHD, and it’s only $100.00 VERY GOOD PROGRAM for a hundred. As for 16:9, I thought it was native 16:9?!? I have this camcorder and everything I shoot is 16:9. I also have the panasonic sd1 (forgot model #) the first AVCHD panasonic had 5.1DolbyDigital, 3 CCD, but it shoots in 1440X1080 (however the 1440 are wide rectangle so you really cant tell) 16:9 Native. Both great cameras, I paid OVER $1000. for the Pany on day 1, and only like $500 for the cannon.
nice review thanks
would be cool if you compared the camera used to film this with the camera you are reviewing on the same scene.
I have this camera but dont know how to get it in 16:9. Do you know how?
Thanks alot!!!
tapes vs SD/HDD is a matter of workflow and personal preference. I’ve been using an HG10 HDD and the quality is almost indistinguishable from the tape based HV20. Tapes are great if you are concerned about archiving your footage. SD and HDD is good if you don’t want to deal with buying tapes and having hundreds of them laying around. Also decide if you prefer capturing or transferring data. do some research and you will most likely come to a decision based on the hardware you are using.
The HF-100 is actually the junior sibling to the HF-10, the only differences between the two models being case colour and the HF-10 has both internal flash (16Gb) and an SDHC slot. The equivalent model (of an equivalent model vintage) with a hard disk drive is actually the HG-10.
For reference you can find the complete US Canon product range at the following URL:
http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ProductCatIndexAct&fcategoryid=173
(as you can see since the 2009 CES there are now several new models)
I have owned my HF-10 since it was first release in Australia in April 2008 and have since used it to record several hundred hours of video. I can assure you whilst the port covers may appear quite flimsy they *do not* and *can not* easily break off - even with reasonable manhandling of the equipment.
The assertion that SDHC is any less reliable than tape is the most ludicrous claim I have heard in a long time. Having your footage archived digitally (across multiple locations and sources) is probably more reliable than the ubiquitous DV tape. Memory cards are solid state device and not subject to mechanical failure (and yes I have had the odd tape eaten in my old camcorders). Whilst I will admit that the concept of having “tangible” original media is on the surface still a very appealing concept, as RRCedu has already indicated the whole Tape vs SD/HDD is a matter of workflow and personal preference.
With regard to battery life, I consistently get between 80-85 minutes record time out of the standard battery. I strongly recommend that anyone intending to undertake a longer shoot invest in one of more of the higher capacity battery packs (BP-819) that will give you consistently around 3 hours of record time. I’m not sure what planet you were on to only be achieving 55 minutes record time.
Working with AVCHD is not difficult on the Apple platform - material is easily transferred into either FCE/FCP using the log and transfer function. It takes no longer for me to transfer an hour of footage from AVCHD format than it would have to capture from tape. I have no problem manipulating video on a 2.16Ghz 24″ 3Gb RAM iMac, but of course I’m looking forward to refreshing my hardware platform later this year (by then my hardware will be 3 years old) - but bearing in mind I am now manipulating HD files (much larger than SD PAL/NTSC) I really do not see what the supposed problem is.
dv show guys,
I became a member JUST because of this review. The honest approach from your point of view is really important and unlike any other review on the web (in which i do not trust!) a site like camcorderinfo.com for example or cnet positively reviews canon camcorders and wouldn’t you know there are canon ads all over the site. Kinda makes you go hmmmmm?!?!?!? for me I would rather stick with a review from a real user, someone away from corporate influences and who is not easily skewed with the smell of money. DV show guys are real users ready to tell us their experience WITHOUT the intention of selling.
maybe you should call it a user experience rather than a review?
The Vixia HF10 has 16 GB of internal flash memory. It will sell for $1,100. In comparison, the HF100 only takes SD or SDHC (Secure Digital High Capacity) cards. Its other features are very similar. It will sell for $900.
Flash memory is more durable than other types of storage. There are no moving parts to wear out. Bumps and jolts are not likely to break the memory. So, it is ideal for portable gadgets.
There is one big drawback to flash memory: its cost. You’ll pay a premium for flash memory. That’s particularly true when the memory is built into a gadget.
You will also find that you can point Log and Transfer to the stored copy on the drive and it will transcode to ProRes or AIC as you determine. The important thing to remember is to maintain the exact file and directory structure as the original.
Hello my name is Dave Williams and I’m a student at Central Michigan University, and shoot for the school newspaper, http://www.cm-life.com , i also shoot weddings and other events/projects on the side.
I think the DV show should be called the APPLE MAC iCRASH show.
* What do I need to burn AVCHD footage to a normal DVD?
* Which program can I use to make a blu-ray AVCHD disc?
$140 Sony Vegas (very easy to burn blue ray DVDs and BR disks)
$309 (w/student disc) SC4 Suit, Premier pro included
$100 Premier Elements
not iMovie
not Final Cut, you’d need both to edit it. LAME. don’t buy MAC.
what kinda of computer do you need? If you have PC, you’ve been using intel for 27 years.
If you use lame MAC you need to have Intel, (PC internals).
Its a very nice camcorder. Wonderful video quality and comfortable design with very friendly functionality.
Comments or additional questions?
Leave your response here
Archives
Sponsors