Canon FS100 Camcorder Review

by Kaitlyn Chantry
Published on Nov 7, 2008 5:00 PM

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


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 of your clips appear as thumbnails. The display during playback mode.


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.

 

Playback Administrative Menu
Memory Oper. Card Info, Del. All Movies, Initialize
Display Setup Brightness, Data Code, Language, Start Week
System Setup Battery Info, Wl. Remote, Beep, Power Save, Speaker Vol., TV Type, USB Setting, Add To Disc
Date/Time Setup T. Zone/DST, Date/Time, Date Format
Close  

 

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.

 
The DC power input has a nice, swiveling port cover.   The USB, microphone input, and AV output are
nestled in the LCD cavity.


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.




To the right: an enclosed battery compartment, an SD/SDHC card slot, and a frighteningly fragile compartment cover.

 

 



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