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Whistle Stopper - Canon VIXIA HF100 Flash Memory High Definition Camcorder with 12x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom
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List Price: $899.99
Our Price: Too low to display
Your Save: $ ( % )
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Canon
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Batteries Included: 0
Binding: Electronics
Brand: Canon
Digital Zoom: 200
Display Size: 2.7
EAN: 0013803092004
Feature: Capture high-definition video to flash memory
Floppy Disk Drive Description: None
Included Software: Yes
Label: Canon
Manufacturer: Canon
Maximum Focal Length: 57
Maximum Resolution: 2070000
Minimum Focal Length: 4.8
Model: HF100
Monitor Size: 270
Optical Zoom: 12
Publisher: Canon
Special Features: nv:Size^1/3.2-inch|Image Resolution^1920 x 1080|Movie Resolution^1920 x 1080|Storage Media^SD/SDHC Memory Card|Compressed Format^DPOF|Compressed Format^DCF Exif 2.2|Movie File Format^MPEG-4|Movie File Format^AVCHD (HD)|Optical Zoom^12x|Digital Zoom^200x|Focal Length^f=4.8-57.6 mm|LCD Monitor^2.7-inches|LCD Pixels^211,000 pixels|LCD Coverage^100%|Maximum Aperture^f 1.8 - 3.0|White Balance Control^Auto|White Balance Control^Daylight|White Balance Control^Cloudy
Studio: Canon
Warranty: 1 year warranty
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Features
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Capture high-definition video to flash memory
12x optical zoom; SuperRange Optical Image Stabilizer
24p Cinema Mode; 30p Progressive Mode
2.7-inch widescreen Multi-Angle Vivid LCD
Simultaneous photo capture
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: First Camcorder, very pleased.
Comment: Disclaimer: This is my first camcorder.
Using with 2x Transcend 8GB SDHC CARD (SD 2.0 SPD Class 6), works fine.
I think MSenn "Max" (Miami, FL)'s review above is pretty spot on. Low light performance is really the only weak point of this camera is my opinion, but I don't have anything else to compare it to. Reviews have given the camera an adequate mark for low light, and it's certainly still watchable. (The frame rate seems to be lower than 25fps in dance floors from a wedding I attended... I don't know if that's because the exposure is really long) Certainly still watchable footage, but no where near professional quality.
Well lit scenes is a different story... very nice footage. Got better color from setting the white balance manually when filming in the shade however. (It seemed a little blue otherwise).
People commented that the audio from the built-in microphone was good, despite being 3m back from the ceremony.
Been using Vegas Platinum for editing to a DVD. As pointed out by Chris C. Topolovich "Chris" above, Vegas Platinum doesn't write AVCHD, and only reads it for (time-consuming) recoding. Hopefully they update the output formats in the future. I've been outputting to windows media and mpeg2. I watch the AVCHD clips on a computer (haven't made the HD TV plunge quite yet) The clips chug a little on my 2.4GHz AMD Opteron from time-to-time... it really is CPU intensive.
I haven't used the included software for anything other than quick playback. Perfectly functional on Win XP SP2 (32bit).
The photos are fine (Using the photo button to take pictures while recording was off by default however), and it's very handy to only carry one camera.
Summary: I love the camera, the software (which hopefully gets better in time) and low-light perf are the only things that come close to an issue. Debating whether to take off half a star, but I do really like the small size, flash memory, and other features.
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Broke on second day
Comment: Mine broke on the second day of light use. The image in the LCD viewer and the recordings are now completely black (and yes the lens cover is opening). Otherwise, it looked promising. Also note, the proper spare battery is the BP-809S not the BP-809B as the title on amazon would have you believe. I'll update on how my replacement unit fares.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Why I bought the HF100 instead of an HV30.
Comment: Before I bought an HF100, I first bought an HV30 due to reports of it having better video quality. But I ended up returning that camera the moment I heard the audio play - the tape noise was LOUD and distracting. Totally unacceptable.
I knew Canon made the highest quality HD cameras, though, so I went with the HF100 as a replacement based on good reviews and the fact that it had no moving parts that create noise (like the tape drive on the HV30 or the hard disk drive on some other models.)
Having now shot several things (a baby shower, a friend's farewell party) I can tell you with confidence that I absolutely made the right decision. I think the video quality is just as good as the HV30. I was worried it wouldn't be, but it absolutely is. (Low light footage is expectedly a bit grainy just as it was with the HV30 - and always is with small handheld models - and daylight footage is near perfect.) And the audio quality is as good as I've ever heard from a consumer camcorder. No unwanted noise.
And then there are the bonuses:
- This camera is noticeably smaller and lighter than the HV30. Very very nice.
- The AVCHD format is 100% functional with a current Mac (I tested footage shot with this camera on a MacBook and the lastest version of iMovie). The process is seamless, in fact. Absolutely handier than importing from tape.
- I was worried that I wouldn't be able to backup the footage for long-term safe keeping. What would I do without mini DV tapes? Well, problem solved (for Mac users). You can simply create a little disk image copy of your camera footage (using Disk Utility, which comes with all Macs) and drag that image over to a blank DVD. Burn the DVD and voila - perfect backup. I even tested the process of loading footage into iMovie from the backup DVD and it absolutely worked. iMovie thinks the backup disk image is a camera and will let you import from it no problem.
- If you happen to have a PS3, you can pop your HF100's memory cards right into the system and the PS3 will play your footage in full HD immediately. Talk about handy! Yes!
That's about it for me. Oh, I also HIGHLY recommend getting the Transcend 16GB card that amazon recommends near the top of the page. Not only does it work great, but the card reader it comes with is awesome. It enables me to pop the card directly into the PS3's USB slots (as I mentioned above) and also works for popping the card directly into my Mac's USB slots (so I don't have to fiddle with hooking up the actual camera to import footage.) Gotta love it!
Customer Rating:
Summary: WOW
Comment: This camera is awesome. Flash memory and awesome video quality. It doesn't get any better.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Beware - Vegas Platinum and AVCHD
Comment: I'm sure some of you will be annoyed with me for writing this; however, several reviewers have written how they are happy they are with using Vegas Platinum 8 to "handle" the AVCHD. I'm not writing this to distract from Canon's HF100; however, the lack of clarity by previous reviewers will likely result in more people buying Vegas with the assumption that it edits and Creates AVCHD projects. It Doesn't.
This IS a big deal now that other software packages DO allow you to Create edited AVCHD projects that can be placed on a standard 4.7 or 8.5 GB DVD, which gets BluRay formatted by the software (such as Vegas Pro or Pinnacle Studio 11) and can they be played in most BluRay players; or you can transfer that image to a flash memory card or a PS3's hard drive for playback in a PS3. Vegas Pro (which is quite expensive) can do this and so can Pinnacle Studio 11; but Vegas Platinum cannot.
Beware! Vegas Platinum 8, which costs a hundred dollars, does not Create AVCHD projects. At best it will create an HDV project from your AVCHD files; or it will create an edited Non-High Definition DVD.
Sony didn't ever explicitly state Vegas Platinum 8 does not create AVCHD projects; yet they say It Edits AVCHD for project creation. I am VERY upset with Sony over this.
If you buy a HD camcorder; what's the whole point if you output to Non-High Definition?! Save your money and don't buy a High Def camcorder or if you do buy a AVCHD camcorder then DON'T buy Vegas Platinum!
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Editorial Reviews:
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Now that you've upgraded your TV to an HDTV widescreen, doesn't it make sense to consider a Hi-Def Camcorder? The Canon VIXIA HF100 captures videos at 1920x1080 for true 1080i display. There are no tapes or discs to concern yourself with. It has an SD SDHC slot for video storage. So let your videos fill your new TV screen. Use the VIXIA from Canon. DIGIC DV II Image Processor SuperRange Optical Image Stabilization Instant AF (Auto Focus) 2.7 Multi-Angle Vivid Widescreen LCD Superb Shooting Control 24p Cinema Mode / 30p Progressive Mode Stunning Digital Photography Focusing System - Instant AF, Through the Lens/Manual Focusing Possible Auto and Manual exposure modes; Programmed AE - Auto, Program, Av, Tv, CINEMA, Portrait, Sports, Night, Snow, Beach, Sunset, Spotlight, Fireworks Recording Media - SD/SDHC Memory Card (not supplied) Audio - Dolby Digital 2ch (AC-3 2 ch) HDMI Terminal Type C 480i/480p/1080I Format Supported Microphone Terminal - 3.5 mm Stereo Mini-jack Mini HDMI Terminal and Mini Advanced Accessory Shoe Dimensions (WxHxD) 2.9 x 2.5 x 5.1 in (73x64x129mm); Weight (not including lens and battery pack) 13.4 oz (380g)
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