Canon Vixia HF S100 Camcorder Review

The Canon Vixia HF S100 (and its sister model, the HF S10) represent the top of the line from the manufacturer's 2009 camcorders. The 8.59-megapixel sensor, large lens, still photo capabilities, and excellent new custom control dial are just some of the features Canon has included to up the ante in this year's flagship models. Canon has also improved the overall video performance, although some low light performance was sacrificed in order to achieve incredibly high sharpness. With Panasonic and Sony both making significant strides in performance this year—and strong surprise performances from underdogs like Samsung and Sanyo—it will be tough to choose between the top contenders. If you don't already have a particular brand loyalty, purchasing a new camcorder this year might be a hard decision, based on a lot of personal preference.

Update: The Vixia HF S11 (a slightly updated sister model to the HF S100) was ultimately selected as our 2009 runner-up for Camcorder of the Year. To see why we selected it and read about our other awards, check out the 2009 CamcorderInfo.com Select Awards.