Review the Canon VIXIA HF100 High-Def Flash Memory Camcorder > Specs and Prices
April 29, 2009 by admin

Canon Vixia HF100
From Canon’s long history of optical excellence, advanced image processing, superb performance and technological innovation in photographic and broadcast television cameras comes the latest in high definition camcorders.
Now, with the light, compact Canon VIXIA HF100, you can have stunning AVCHD (Advanced Video Codec High Definition) format recording with the ease and numerous benefits of Flash Memory. It’s used in some of the world’s most innovative electronic products such as laptop computers, MP3 players, PDAs and cell phones.
Add to that the VIXIA HF100’s Canon Exclusive features such as our own 3.3 Megapixel Full HD CMOS sensor and advanced DIGIC DV II Image Processor, SuperRange Optical Image Stabilization, Instant Auto Focus, our 2.7″ Widescreen Multi-Angle Vivid LCD and the Genuine Canon 12x HD video zoom lens and you have a Flash Memory camcorder that’s hard to beat and unmistakably Canon.
- AVCHD Flash Memory in a Compact Size
- Canon Exclusive: 3.3 Megapixel Full HD CMOS Sensor
- Full HD Lens-to Screen (1920 x 1080 Capture and Recording)
- Genuine Canon 12x HD Video Zoom Lens
- Canon Exclusive: DIGIC DV II Image Processor
- Canon Exclusive: SuperRange Optical Image Stabilization
- Canon Exclusive: Instant AF (Auto Focus)
- Canon Exclusive: 2.7″ Multi-Angle Vivid Widescreen LCD
- Superb Shooting Control
- 24p Cinema Mode
- 30p Progressive Mode
- Stunning Digital Photography
- Mini HDMI Terminal and Mini Advanced Accessory Shoe
- Bundled Pixela ImageMixer Software
Researching Camcorders, What you need to know
Hard drive and flash memory camcorders have really gained headway fast in the consumer camcorder market this year. There is some confusion as to which way one should go when it comes to a new purchase of a high definition camcorder.
Tape based HD camcorders have been the industry standard for years now. Specifically, the HDV codec that is supported by the great majority of manufacturers, has been the choice for most videographers. HDV is the most supported format for editing the content on a computer. Editing software has been designed with this format in mind for a long time. As long as your computer has a firewire port (also known as IEEE1394, and i-link), you can usually edit all you want with an HDV camcorder. The only real downside is that if you have an hour of video content on tape, it will take you an hour to import that content to your computer. The reason for this is that you have to play the content back in real time. Tapes come in 60 and 80 minute capacities.
AVCHD is quickly becoming THE format for users wanting hard drive and flash memory HD camcorders. The advantages of AVCHD camcorders are that they are much smaller than tape based models, they have longer continuous recording times (as much as 30 hours), and they transfer through USB connections instead of firewire. AVCHD recordings are drag and drop clips so you do not have to sit and wait on real time transfers. It only takes a few minutes to move clips over to the computer for DVD burning or editing.
The biggest argument about these formats is editing. Until last year, AVCHD cams were inferior in quality. This is no longer the issue. Compression has greatly improved so that artifact and noise have all but been eliminated in the recordings. On a PC, transfer and editing is supported and most AVCHD cams come with editing software. On a Mac, you will need the latest operating system, iMovie ‘08, and an Intel based machine.
Cameras to look at in HDV tape based:
- Canon Vixia HV30
- Sony HDR-HC9
- Cameras to look at in AVCHD hard drive based:
- Sony HDR-SR10, HDR-SR11, HDR-SR12
- Canon Vixia HG10
- Cameras to look at in AVCHD flash memory based:
- Canon Vixia HF10, HF100
- Sony HDR-CX12
| Image Sensor | 1/3.2″ CMOS Sensor, RGB Primary Color Filter |
|---|---|
| Total Pixels | Approx. 3.3 Megapixels |
| Effective Pixels | Movies: Approx. 2.07 Megapixels (1920×1080) |
| Still image: Approx. 2.76 Megapixels (1920×1440) | |
| Maximum Recording Time (8 GB SDHC Card | LP (5 Mbps) 3 hours |
| SP (7 Mbps) 2 hours 20 min | |
| XP+ (12 Mbps) 1 hour 25 min | |
| FXP (17 Mbps) 1 hour -Allows 1920×1080 Full HD Recording | |
| Lens | Zoom Ratio 12x Optical/200x Digital Focal Length f=4.8 – 57 mm Zoom Speed Variable/3 Fixed Zoom Speeds Max. F/Stop f/1.8-3.0mm Filter Size 37mm |
| Focusing System | Instant AF, Through the Lens/Manual Focusing Possible |
| Manual Exposure | Yes |
| Programmed AE | Auto, Program, Av, Tv, CINEMA, Portrait, Sports, Night, Snow, Beach, Sunset, Spotlight, Fireworks |
| Max Shutter Speed | 1/2000 |
| 1/500 (card) | |
| Auto Date/Time | Yes |
| Record Search/Review | Yes |
| Minimum Focusing Distance | 10 mm (wide)/1m (tele) |
| White Balance | Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Fluorescent H, Auto, Manual |
| Image Stabilization | SuperRange Optical (lens shift) |
| LCD Screen | 2.7″ Multi-Angle Vivid Widescreen LCD (Approx. 211,000 pixels) |
| 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 |
| AV Mini Terminal/Headphone Terminal | 3.5 mm 4 pole Mini-jack |
| Dimensions | (WxHxD) 2.9 x 2.5 x 5.1 in (73×64x129mm) |
| Weight (not including lens and battery pack) | 13.4 oz (380g) |










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