Canon FS100 Camcorder Review

The FS100 joystick is easy to use, but not as responsive or accurate as we'd like to see.

Ease of Use (6.5)
For an inexpensive standard definition camcorder, the Canon FS100 could certainly be easier to use. Sure, the controls are accessible and menus navigable, but it's not as easy as it could be. The largest impediment to a smooth and carefree experience is the slightly awkward joystick/menu interface. The joystick could be a lot more responsive and accurate, especially when you're trying to fish through the camcorder's different menus. Canon is one of several manufacturers that is splitting operations and features into several different locations. Image Stabilzation? That's in the Administrative Menu, which is nested within the Function Menu. White Balance? That's in the Function Menu. But Exposure? That's the Joystick Menu. Backlight compensation? That's actually a separate button on the LCD panel. Canon, why must you do this to us?

On the bright side, once you've located the manual controls, they are fairly intuitive to use. Most features are represented by an icon, but these aren't as cryptic as we've seen on other camcorders. It would still be nice to see other manufacturers implement something like the scrolling tool tips that we have on the Panasonic camcorders—especially on an entry-level camcorder like the FS100, where users could often use the extra guidance.

If you don't want to bother with the manual controls (or the hassle of navigating the menus), you can activate Easy Mode via a button in the LCD cavity. Easy Mode will render the menus inaccessible and allow you to shoot without worry. Any manual adjustments you make will be switched back to automatic when you enter Easy Mode (but they will be restored when you leave Easy Mode). The recording quality, aspect ratio, and auto slow shutter settings can be set ahead of time. The FS100 has adequate automatic controls, so Easy Mode is certainly a viable option if you want to avoid the hassle.

Perhaps the biggest complaint with the FS100's ease of use comes not from the ability to record video, but from the process involved in transferring and editing video. If ease of use is what you're after, make sure you read our Editing section.

Handling (4.25)
There's no doubt that current flash memory camcorders are very, very small. Perhaps they feel large compared to the ultra-compacts like the Pure Digital Flip Mino, but they are tiny compared to what we saw just a few years ago. The first camcorders that could be used without a shoulder mount were considered "palmcorders"—manufacturers obviously didn't forsee the current crop of camcorders, which really do fit in the palm of your hand. No doubt camcorders wil only continue to shrink.

How does the FS100 compare? At 58 x 60 x 124mm (2.3 x 2.4 x 4.9 inches), the FS100 is about the same size as most flash memory camcorders out there today. It is essentially a lens barrel with an LCD panel attached to it. It's also incredibly light: just 95g (3.4oz.) without the battery pack. This means that you'll have no trouble fitting it in your hand and carrying it around all day.

The FS100 fits easily in the palm of your hand.

When you hold the FS100 like a traditional camcorder (in the palm of your right hand, with the record button under your thumb and zoom toggle under your index finger), you'll find that the buttons are within easy and comfortable reach. The zoom toggle may fall under the middle finger for some users and shorter thumbs don't have good leverage on the mode dial, but it is, overall, a comfortable camcorder to hold. The hand strap is thick, well-padded, and provides plenty of support to prevent the camera from wobbling around. Plus, the FS100 has alternate Record and Zoom buttons on the LCD panel, so you can hold the camcorder any way you like in your right hand and access the key controls with your left hand.

Perhaps the one disconcerting element of the camcorder's design is that is is so small some people might not be sure where to put the tips of their right fingers. On DVD and hard drive camcorders, there is an extra bit of bulk on the right—that's what your fingers usually wrap around. On the FS100, the body is very slim. Most people will probably find their fingers wrapping all the way across the top and into the LCD cavity. Canon does provide a narrow groove on the top, presumably as a place to rest your fingers. This groove, however, is not a natural or comfortable place to put your fingers. It might give you extra support, but it'll also force your hand into an unnatural claw-like position.

The groove on top isn't the most natural place to rest your fingers.

Despite our criticism, the FS100 handles better than a lot of camcorders we've seen. The joystick and all the controls work just fine and the camcorder is surprisingly comfortable and stable in hand. Only the Samsung SC-MX20 can compete, with its unique pivot grip and impressively intuitive controls.

Menu (6.5)
As we mentioned in the Ease of Use section (above), the menu on the Canon FS100 is not intuitive for first time users. It's easy to see what Canon was thinking in the design, but we just don't think they pulled it off. The biggest problem is that functions are split across three separate menus, and it's difficult in the beginning to find the control you want.

Most of your manual control needs are located conveniently in the Function menu, accessed by hitting the "Function" button under the LCD screen. A menu appears along the left side, containing:

The Function menu

"But wait! There seems to be something missing here!" That's right, notice that exposure and focus are not located here along with all the other picture controls. Canon has tucked those options into the Joystick Menu, which is hidden from view unless you know to push in on the joystick to access it. A beginner won't know that unless they read the manual or happen to stumble upon it by accident. Even if you discover the Joystick menu, this is the least intuitive menu available, as you have to hit push up on the joystick to activate a certain control. Elsewhere on the camcorder, clicking on the joystick is the equivalent of an "enter" button, but not here.

The Joystick Menu contains these options:

The Joystick Menu

For all your other camcorder needs (the ones that need not be close at hand during shooting) try the Admin Menu. To access it, you must first go through the Function menu, then select "Menu" from the bottom of the list. A menu inside a menu? Wonderful.

The Admin Menu contains the following options:

As a side note, there is one feature that you will not find within any of the menus: strangely, Backlight Compensation is activated using a button on the LCD panel.

Portability (8.0)
The Canon FS100 is highly portable, for a full-function camcorder. It can't compete with the new batch of ultra-compact "YouTube" camcorders popping up, like the Pure Digital Flip Mino and others, but it can fit in a coat pocket or purse without too much trouble.

The body measures 58 x 60 x 124mm (2.3 x 2.4 x 4.9 inches) and weighs 260g (9.2 ounces). By comparison, the JVC GZ-MS100 (another memory card camcorder) is about the same size. Stepping up to the cheapest JVC hard drive model, the GZ-MG330, doesn't make the body much larger but does increase the weight to 318g (11.2 ounces).

The important thing to remember when considering overall portability is that you should take what you need for all contingencies. Extra battery, yes. Extra memory cards, yes. AV and USB cables, why not? You never know when you might want to show your videos on a bigger screen or transfer footage to a computer. Thankfully, the FS100 has all its ports built right into the body, with no need for a docking station to lug around.

LCD and Viewfinder (4.0)
The Canon FS100 has a 2.7-inch LCD that extends from the left side. The resolution isn't much, only 123,000 pixels. Always shoot with the understanding that the LCD screen is only a rough approximation of what your color, focus, and exposure will actually look like. Making manual focus decisions with such a low-res screen is particularly difficult, so be careful. Fortunately, the auto focus worked well in most shooting environments.

The LCD panel flips around for a 270-degree rotation. There is no glare-reduction, so you may have some problems when shooting in bright light. Unfortunately, there is no viewfinder to accommodate you in this hour of need.

The 2.7-inch LCD (123,000 pixel resolution)

Battery Life (17.7)
The Canon FS100 ships with the BP-808 rechargeable battery pack. The battery loads into an internal cavity on the bottom of the camcorder, which prohibits you from purchasing a longer-life battery in the future. There is no external charger for the battery, so you'll have to charge it while it's in the camcorder.

Fortunately, the battery life is quite good. We tested the BP-808 for stamina by shooting continuously until the power ran out. In total, the battery lasted 177 minutes and 44 seconds (2 hours, 57 minutes, 44 seconds). That's a solid duration for a battery and you can probably get by with just one spare battery for a full day of shooting.

The enclosed compartment for the BP-808 battery also houses the SD/SDHC card slot.