Canon DC100 Camcorder Review

Comparison
Canon DC10
The Canon DC10 is the next step up in the DC line, and makes a compelling case for itself, given the very close street prices of these camcorders - $449.95 for the DC100 and $469.95 (street price) for the DC10. What do you get for 20 extra bucks? Most significantly, a much larger imager--1/3.9” vs. 1/6”--which yields a sharper image in both video and still mode. The inclusion of a joystick, which most people will find more user-friendly than the DC100’s touchpad, improves handling on the DC10, Given these features, it’s hard to justify purchasing this model rather than the next step up in Canon’s line.

Sony DCR-DVD105
Both Canon DC100 and the Sony DCR-DVD105 – which replaces the DCR-DVD92 – use a 1/6” CCD. Overall, the video image quality of the DC100 is better than that of the DCR-DVD92, – but not by much, and we don’t expect much change with the DVD105 (yet to be reviewed). Sony implements a touch screen on the DCR-DVD105; we generally prefer joystick or touchpad controls, as touch screens quickly get greasy when they are the primary means of menu and playback control, Some users will like touch screens’ intuitive setup, but on the whole, both camcorders’ menu systems are easy to use. The bottom line: If you really like Sony’s touch screen interface, go with the DVD92 or DVD105. Otherwise, the DC100 is a better bet.

Panasonic VDR-D100
Another camcorder with similar specs is the Panasonic VDR-D100, also boasting a 1/6” chip. While the video and still image quality of these camcorders is similar, the Panasonic slightly edges out the DC100 in terms of sharpness and performance, though at the price of more noise. Unlike the Panasonic, the DC100 does have still picture option, though, as noted above, the quality of those stills is extremely poor. In most other respects, the Panasonic comes out on top, with better menu controls via the well-placed joystick (on the rear of the camcorder body vs. the left side touchpad on the DC100), and better manual control options including zoom, aperture, focus, shutter speed, gain, and white balance. It’s worth noting that we rated the Panasonic VDR-D100 as a slightly better camcorder than the DC10 – the DC100’s big brother. When you consider that the DC10 is already a much better camcorder than the DC100, it gets even tougher to justify purchasing at the bottom rung of the DC line.

Samsung SC-DC165
We have not yet had the opportunity to review the Samsung SC-DC165, but it is another camcorder with comparable specs to the DC100. One difference, however, is that the Samsung captures stills to flash media via a 4-in-1 card slot that accepts SD, MMC, MemoryStick Pro and MemoryStick cards. The Samsung also features a better optical zoom at 33x (vs. the DC100’s 25x) as well as an absurdly high digital zoom at an unusable 1200x. While the DC165 also uses a 1/6” imager like the Canon DC100, Samsung generally produces poor quality video relative to that of market stalwarts like Canon. Handling also tends to be poor. Even though the SC-DC165 looks to offer some stiff competition on paper, don’t expect it to come out ahead in this competition.

JVC GZ-MG30
The JVC GZ-MG30, reviewed last year, and its successor, this year’s GZ-MG21, are hard disk drive(HDD) camcorders, so they offer all the benefits associated with tape-less recording – namely, you don’t need to deal with any removable media. HDD storage should also withstand rough shooting scenarios that might cause a DVD camcorder to skip – riding a rollercoaster at Six Flags, for example. But the JVC is a flawed product, and it has too many serious drawbacks to make it a good buy for anyone. First and foremost, it’s expensive, with an MSRP of $900 vs. the DC100’s $499. And, while we certainly haven’t waxed poetic about the DC100’s video performance, it far outshines the JVC, even though their imagers are identical in size (1/6”). In fact this head to head is the only one where the Canon comes out squarely on top.

Who It’s For
Point-and-Shooters (5.0)
For the point-and-shoot user looking for a simple and basic interface, Canon’s DC100 is definitely a better option when compared to the more expensive and more cluttered DC40. The inclusion of an auto mode will further simplify this camcorder, restricting user controls to image quality and zoom, and an external switch makes this mode easy to enter.

Budget Consumers (6.0)
For the budget consumer concerned with video quality, ease of editing, controls, and resolution, DVD camcorders still don’t compare to markedly less expensive MiniDV models, which boast superior quality in all four of the above areas. The DC100 is definitely an inexpensive DVD camcorder, with only the Samsung SC-DC164 selling for less, ($449 MSRP) but it’s still a DVD camcorder and the problems inherent in this media are still apparent.

Still Photo / Video Camera Hybrid (2.0)
This DVD camcorder can capture still images. It can only record to DVD, though, and doesn’t have a memory card slot, in-camera flash or other hybrid features. Access to metering control, white balance, shutter speed, exposure, aperture, and scene modes is still possible with still image mode, which is at least one advantage over camcorders by manufacturers like Sony, which don’t even offer those options in video mode.

Gadget Freaks (2.5)
The Canon DC100 is a stripped down and minimally hybrid DVD camcorder that isn’t going to find a huge cult following in the gadget freak sector of the market. For this market, HDD and consumer HD are far more compelling new technologies being fine-tuned this year with impressive results.

Manual Control Freaks (5.0)
The manual control freak will find a number of options available when shooting with the Canon DC100. This DVD camcorder allows for manual manipulation of exposure, shutter speed priority, aperture priority, white balance, and focus control. The problem is the poorly designed four-way interface, which must be used whenever these controls are engaged or altered. Its styling and position make doing so an unnecessary hassle; the terrible LCD display and interface shortcomings compromise these options further.

Pros/ Serious Hobbyists (2.5)
A basic, low-end, barely hybrid $499 DVD camcorder isn’t going to be a draw for the pro or serious hobbyist looking for quality, resolution, manual control, and a logical structure, all features and demands not found with this budget priced consumer camcorder.

Conclusion
The Canon DC100 ($499 MSRP) has some tight competition in the entry-level market, not the least of which comes from its own sibling, the Canon DC10, which can be found for as little as $20 more. Both of these models have a couple noteworthy detriments – an enclosed battery (meaning no extended life batteries) and navigation controls tucked away from the user. The DC100 has the added burden of lackluster video performance, lackluster still performance, and poor low light performance. We don’t mean to hurt anybody’s feelings, but there is almost no reason to buy this camcorder. Do yourself a favor: pass on it. If you’re already sold on the convenience of DVD and this is your price range, take a good look at the Canon DC10 and Panasonic VDR-D100.