I've done more research on mass-marketed high-definition camcorders than any person with a job really should. After weeks of combing and considering the pros and cons of AVCHD vs. HDV, HDD vs. tape vs. flash, I decided on the HV30, since I was persuaded by arguments about and examples of video quality, especially in low-light. Got the HV30 and, indeed, the picture quality is stunning. The sound, though, was a great disappointment. Since I'm fond of capturing quiet moments the subtle sounds of, say, my four-month-old daughter sleeping the high-pitch whine of the tape motor present in my recordings with the HV30 proved to be a deal killer. (I'm well aware of wide range of solutions to this problem, from external microphones to post-production techniques, but I'd ideally like to avoid carrying around additional equipment and I only have so much time to spend on this hobby I'll leave in-depth editing to those more dedicated, working towards different ends, and/or without family commitments.)I should have stuck to my gut instincts and bought the HF100 the first time around. After sending the HV30 back (thanks to Amazon's excellent return policy), I purchased the HF100 and am simply delighted. Video *and* audio are pretty darn good if not excellent. Maybe someone can split hairs and demonstrate the "artifacts" present between video recordings of this AVCHD camcorder vs. an HDV one, but I simply can't see a difference when played at normal speed. The difference in sound recordings between this flash-based camcorder and comparable motorized machines is, to my ear, both obvious and dramatic. So if you're sensitive to white noise or if you're interested in minimizing/eliminating sounds from the recorder, think hard about the kind of camcorder you buy and what you're willing to tolerate or accommodate in terms of additional equipment or post-production.
A final note/aside on my own take on the HF10 vs. the HF100: I appreciate the allure of the black-body HF10 in terms of aesthetics, but I actually find the dual flash memory feature to be a turn-off. I'd personally rather just manage a single, removable media card. Seems like a minor inconvenience to deal with both internal memory and removable cards when recording hours of footage before transferring/backing-up to a PC (while traveling, perhaps?). I'd preferably swap and label cards. But this, of course, is a matter of individual preference and habit; I include my thoughts here in case anyone hadn't given this aspect some consideration.
My motivation for choosing this camera over the competition was Canon's very wise decision to include a standard microphone input (and manual audio controls). Why other manufacturers are removing this feature from consumer camcorders baffles me since good audio is such an important part of making good video! Canon also includes a mini hot shoe on the top of the device, and there's already a mini shotgun mic available (Canon 2591B002 DM-100 Directional Stereo Microphone for HF10 and HF100 Camcorders).
In many ways the HF100 is not much different from its competition. It's about soda can sized (although not as tiny as the new Panasonic SD9), has no view finder, and records video onto SDHC flash memory. Flash memory is so cheap right now that spending the extra money for the HF10 (with the on board storage) really isn't worth it.
VIDEO QUALITY & OPTIONS
Excellent and consistent with other cameras in its class. Color quality is rich and perhaps a little over-saturated (as most consumer cameras are) but there are settings to wind back the saturation a bit (like switching into cinema mode). Artifacts are minimal but remember that AVCHD is a highly compressed video format. Those looking for the absolute best quality in a consumer camera will want to look at an HDV tape based solution. There are settings for manual white balancing as well.
Low light performance is so-so.. Gets a bit grainy but you can make adjustments to compensate both in frame rate and shutter/aperture settings. There's also a mini-video light that can be turned on but it won't have room-filling range to it.
The camera has multiple video quality options but you'll want to select the highest quality as it's not on by default. I am getting about an hour of video on an 8 gig SD card in the highest quality mode.
The camera also includes three frame rate options: 60i, 30p, and 24p. All of these are processed at 60i so you'll need an editor that can remove the pulldown for true 24P.
BATTERY LIFE
Like every other camera in its class, the included battery is pretty lousy. It charges quickly but you'll only get about an hour or so of recording time. Canon does make an extended battery which I plan on purchasing soon.
CONNECTIVITY & EDITING
I am a Mac guy so those of you using Windows will have to comment below on your success with it. On the Mac side both iMovie '08 and Final Cut Pro 6 recognize video from this camera even if I'm just popping the SD card into my USB card reader.
If you're coming from the HDV tape-based world, capturing video from an AVCHD camera takes a little longer than you'll be used to. I've found multiplying the original video length times two is usually about the length of time it takes to capture with iMovie on my Mac Pro (I haven't timed Final Cut's conversion yet but will update this review soon). I'm sure this will improve over time as computers and software get faster, but don't expect instant gratification when you're ready to bring some video over to edit.
CONCLUSION
I bought this camera to supplement some of the work I do shooting HDV video on a 'prosumer' Sony HDV camera. If you're serious about producing HD video you might still want to consider an HDV tape based camcorder like the Canon HV20 or HV30. You'll get better and more consistent quality along with nearly universal editing compatibility. Those cameras transfer video back to the PC or Mac over firewire, a standard that's been around for over a decade. The HDV cameras can also run live video back to the PC for editing or webcasting, something you can't do currently with an AVCHD cam.
If, however, you're in the market for a small flash based camera look no further. The inclusion of a mic port along with the multitude of shooting options make this a great choice for beginners and enthusiasts alike.This is my first video camera and I am a geek so please pardon me if I get a little technical as I'm the kind of guy who shops simply by comparing specs.
Before this, my only experience with video cameras where those that I borrowed from friends and family over the years to cover the occasional family event I prefer shooting with a still camera. I have been shooting with SLR's for the past 25 years (all Nikons from the FM2 to the D3) so I am biased towards prints presentation and web sharing. This makes me a johnny-come-lately into the camcorder world.
2008 saw the confluence of our first HDTV, Canon's release of an affordable true HD-resolution camcorder, and cheap flash-memory storage. So it finally hit me that *right now* is the time to get into recording life's sweet moments on "tape." (And at 16:9 1920x1080 resolution at that! I'm a geek remember?)
I live in a developing country in Asia where new gizmos are always late to market and priced 30-50% more so the only way to find what I want is to shop online by specs. I've compared and read every user review of all the available models from Sony, JVC, Panasonic, and Canon and the recently-announced and released HF100 sure got everything right on paper! I received my Amazon package 2 days ago and I'm happy to report that this little gem is EXACTLY what I wanted and expected!
These are what I was looking for and which, happily, I got:
1. Flash-memory based recording on SD
I can't deal with tape nor am I comfortable with a spinning drive inside a piece of equipment that I might drop. Sony's Memory Sticks don't fit my world and with Transcend Class 6 16Gb SD cards priced at only $74, the HF100 is perfect for my workflow! (I spend 10-16hrs a day in front of a PC.)
I've decided to shoot all my material using FX mode and a 16Gb card is good for 2hours worth of video. (Side note: the standard BP809 battery is good for only about 1hr so you better get an extra one.)
2. True HD quality
I still have to get myself a HDMI cable but the component-out signal on my LCD is crisp and more than what I expected! To my eye, it's as good as the prosumer-level models that I've been wanting to get but can't justify.
3. Fast focus
The focusing works darn well. It's not 100% but it's very close. And this is from a guy who's spoiled by the fastand multi-point focusing of pro-level DSLR's and lenses.
4. OIS
Generally works, you gotta give it a half-second or so to stabilize and the LCD viewfinder is a great way to balance the unit with 2 hands. Once you zoom all the way to 12x though, I recommend using a tripod esp when shooting for long periods of time (like stage performances).
5. Output files
The files are saved in MTS format and after Googling for half an hour, I was able to download a couple of freeware transcoders and converted a 46-second 89Mb 1920x1080 clip and downsized it into a 16Mb 848x480 XVid AVI which is gentler on my Mediagate MG-350 hard disk media player. I intend to archive all originals on BluRay and downsample the files to make it easier to share, think YouTube, Windows Media Player, hard disk media players, iPhones, etc...
6. Size and build
Yep, it's really the size of soda can and very, very insconspicuous. It has metallic gun metal finish and, although not as aesthetically pleasing as the black HF10, it's better-looking than the pics on the web. The size is a welcome change from the routine harassment I get from overzealous mall security who thinks I'm out to make a quick buck selling pictures of mall scenes and/or architecture everytime I fish out my so-called 'professional' DSLR. I shot all day today and no one even noticed. The build is perfect, like what we're used to expect from high-quality, super-miniaturized products from Japan. For what it's worth, the unit I got is labeled Made in Japan.
7. User interface
I haven't read the manual yet as the basic camcorder stuff is easy. But I concur with the observation that the START/STOP and CAMERA/VIDEO RECORD/PLAYBACK switches could have been designed better. I prefer the Sony approach where a rotating collar representing the different modes rings a big round red button. The on-screen menu can be better but it's liveable. I'm so used to the intuitive interface of Nikon cameras so I guess I shouldn't be surprised that (just) some of the quirkiness of Canon's camera interface design can also be found on their camcorders. For example, there are way too many clicks to get a clip deleted. I also wish that scrolling through the clips is fast as browsing through a digicam's thumbnails.
8. Optics
Based on what I see on the LCD TV, they're great! I'm a wide-angle shooter so my next purchase is a 0.5x wide angle converter, but I'm now hesitating against buying the $50 models as they may not do justice to the camcorder outstanding optics. Information on photographic lens quality such as resolving power, MTF charts, etc.. are readily available online but there seems to be less on video-related optics so I gotta spend some time finding the right one for this.
9. Control layout
I think the layout is okay. The AV jack, HDMI jack, and composite jacks are on 3 separate sides, I hope they can put them all on one side in the next iteration. Oh, the tactile feel, location and size of the photo capture button is awkward. Coming from a DSLR, how I use/misuse this button often results in blurred pictures esp when in dim light. There's just no way of releasing the shutter without causing camera shake. But then again, why use a camcorder as a camera? :P
10. Audio
I think the audio recording is okay, it records my narrative clearly. I haven't shoot enough to judge how audio from the subject sounds like but I will attend a beach wedding in a couple of weeks, so I'll report back on how the wind filter and audio pickup performs in such an environment.
I'm truly happy with this purchase. After 2 days with it and experimenting on post-production workflow, I'd rate this product a 10/10.
Get one!
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2008.05.01 Update
Start up time from stand-by is 1sec. Start up time from dead cold is 6 seconds regardless of your flash capacity (I tried it on 1, 4, and 16Gb) and regardless of how many clips are already in it.
Finalists on my list before I got the HF100 are the Sony HDR-CX7 and the Panny SD9. They're worth taking a look and the reviews should tell you why I chose the HF100 instead.
I've just finalized my AVCHD to DVD workflow and it basically involves transcoding from MTS > AVC (Using DGAVCIndex) > MPEG2/DVD (Using ConvertXToDVD & AVISynth). I don't have a Blu-Ray player yet so I'll figure out that workflow some other time. Checkout www.videohelp.com for all the tips and tricks you'll ever need.
I think my DSLR's will see a lot less action in as far as shooting family is concerned. :)
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2008.05.03 Update
For easy 1-step conversion of AVCHD files to DVD discs, one probably has to use commercial software such as iMovie, Nero 8, ULead 11, etc...
The geek in me was somehow drawn to open source/freeware software I found via the www.VideoHelp.com forum, specifically as illustrated in this thread http://forum.videohelp.com/topic346331.html.
I learned (over the past few days) that AVCHD recording saves your material as an MTS file which you'll find in the STREAMS subdirectory. MTS files combine the actual AVC video (MPEG4/H264 format) and AC3 audio into a single 'stream.' As such, you need to demultiplex or split up the streams into their individual video and audio components before you can get any transcoding done (conversion from one format to another).
To demux the MTS file, I used a software called DGAVCIndex (downloadable via a link in the above thread) and a utility called AVISynth which acts as a frameserver or translator to a final software that creates your final output. The final software I chose to use are VirtualDub for creating DivXor XVid-encoded AVI files which you can view on your PC. On the other hand, I use ConvertXtoDVD to create DVD discs that I can view on any DVD player out there.
Yeah, that made my head spin too!
Anyways, that's DGAVCINDEX to split, if you don't split you won't get anything done. AVISYNTH to act as a pre-processor for the split files add fade-in/out, resize, sharpen, adjust color, etc... CONVERTXDVD takes that pre-processed files and convert/burn the output directly to DVD.
Those are all freeware but the commercial stuff aren't too expensive either. I just hope that the little explanation helps you better understand/appreciate the conversion process. I heard that it wasn't this easy dealing with AVCHD files as late as a year ago.
Happy shooting!The HF100 is a good camcorder. It takes better photos than I expected, as Canon's camcorders generally take anywhere from terrible to almost acceptable photos, and the video quality is nice and sharp. The image stabilizer is wonderful, low light performance is all right, battery life is okay, and compression efficiency and quality is very good. Let's get more specific.
I'll just go in order of where I started and add anything else I can think of along the way. You don't want to use this camera for still photos. In fact, you'd be better off printing a frame of your video in many cases. Nonetheless, the photos are usable in most situations and the flash doesn't ruin them like it used to. It can make them less-desirable and I have yet to find an easy way to disable it (though there does appear to be one that isn't working for me--yet). One weird thing is that switching to photo mode doesn't let you take a picture right away. I have to press the video record button, let the camera tell me I'm not in video mode anymore, and then I can press the photo button with success. This may not be the case on all cameras and since I rarely take photos these days if not with my DSLR, I don't really care. But it's a nuisance and just bizarre. Lastly, it's sort of annoying to have to switch modes to record/play back videos and photos. There are four modes. There should be two. There are two separate buttons for photos and videos. If I have to switch modes, the video button should work as a photo button as well. It's just weird that they separated the buttons AND the modes. Two separate buttons is how I prefer it, without every having to switch modes unless I want to move between play and record.
I'm extremely critical about video quality, and my first impression wasn't all that positive when I saw the video that came out of the HF100. After I shot in decent light, shot a series of different subjects and lowered my expectations a tiny bit I felt differently. (I'm used to shooting on a Sony PMW-EX1, so expecting that kind of performance out of a consumer HD camcorder was very unrealistic.) The video quality is quite nice. Comparing it to my previous, smaller handheld (Sanyo HD1000), it's slightly sharper but lacking the nice contrast the HD1000 provides. That's fine because it provides a lot more data to work with in post, but at first I felt like the video didn't look that good because it seemed kind of...flat, I guess. Nonetheless, the video quality is quite good--especially after you've spent some time working with it.
Shooting modes are plentiful but not as good as they seem. The HF100 shoots in 30FP and 24FP modes, which is basically fake 30p and 24p. The footage it records is still interlaced, but once you de-interlace it looks pretty close to 30p and 24p footage. But it's not, and you can sometimes tell, and that's unfortunate. But I'm guessing 1080p didn't make it into this camera because it couldn't handle the heat of the sensors in such a small body with very little room for ventilation. The only 1080p camercorder offered at this physical size is a Panasonic, and it's not actually 1080p. It uses standard definition sensors and up-converts the image. If you're looking for the closest thing to 1080p in a small camcorder that you can get at the moment, this is what I'd go with (and did). Sony has a few nice options, too, but I like the images produced by Canon's consumer sensors over Sony's and Canon's cameras use SD cards rather than MemoryStick, which ties you to buying Sony Products or throwing away your flash memory when you switch.
You can fit a lot of video on an SD card these days, even in high definition. The Sanyo HD1000 I used to own fit even more, but the Canon HF100 fits an even two hours on a 16GB card. Even if you don't want to pay for a 16GB and go with an 8GB card, you can still fit an hour. I don't think the battery will even let you shoot for two hours :). Storage that large is more for if you're not going to be able to import between charges.
Speaking of charging the camera, it does so fairly quickly. I think it only takes a couple of hours after the first one. It's never been a problem, though I wouldn't mind if the battery lasted a bit longer. What is a bigger inconvenience, however, is transferring the footage from the camera. The camera MUST be plugged in to the power adapter when transferring or it will refuse to do so. This is very aggravating because it means more cords and that you have to take your power adapter everywhere you want to transfer footage. If you're a laptop user you will not like this. I wouldn't like this as a desktop user either but that may just be me. Anyway, the trick is to get a card reader and use that instead. If you have a laptop with an ExpressCard slot this is especially easy. Either way, just make sure you get a card reader with support for SDHC cards over 8GB.
Moving on.
Coming from the HD1000, which is about as stable as Michael Jackson, the HF100 is wonderful. It's about the best stabilizer you can expect from a handheld camera, and is amazing considering how small it is. No complaints, only praise. It makes your shaky shots look fluid.
And the instant auto focus they promise is, almost all of the time, instant. It's pretty nice.
Low light performance is okay. It's about what you should expect from a consumer-grade camcorder. It's not bad by any means, but isn't perfect. It's done a great job in the majority of the locations I've had it. Unless people complain about the light being too low for their own eyes, the HF100 should do a pretty good job. I'd like it to be incredible and jaw dropping, but it's a consumer HD camcorder. It does very well for that.
Battery life is sufficient, but it could be better. I'd like to be able to shoot for over two hours, maybe three. One and a half (give or take) isn't as much as I'd like, but it hasn't caused problems. Still, I'd like to see battery life--but who wouldn't?
The video compression is hardly noticeable, and if you want to notice it you have to move the camera quite a bit. I'm making all my comments about the highest quality mode, by the way. It's efficient enough to give you about 7.5 minutes of full-quality video per GB of storage. I think that's fair.
As for the sound, it's not bad. I might even say it's good for a built-in mic. I think these mics are getting much better than they used to be, because I remember when they were painful to listen to. Now they're loud, you can hear what you need to hear (in most situations), and the noise you get along with the audio you do want isn't that bad. In fact, I would probably call the sound this camcorder records good.
Lastly, the controls are a bit weird at times but Canon's been known for weird controls. I already mentioned the odd controls for switching modes. Menus are kind of split up in a strange way and the quick change controls, through the little joystick controller on the LCD, isn't as quick and easy as it was most likely supposed to be. If you're shooting in automatic this is all pretty much moot, but if you like to change things now and then you might find the controls a little frustrating. I've been through all kinds of HD cameras over the past couple of years and I think Sanyo does this the best with the HD1000. It uses a system that worked quite well in previous models, but made it more solid in the HD1000. Nonetheless, nothing is perfect. I certainly would not discount the HF100 because of the weird controls. For the most part, they're good. There are just a couple of choices that seem completely bizarre and inexplicable.
Overall, it's a very good camera. It's not the camera I want, but it'll do until they figure out how to do what I want in a mini cam :). Ideally, I'd like something like the HD1000 but with a stabilizer and autofocus system as perfect as the HF100's. The sharper image quality wouldn't hurt, either. I'd like it to do true 24p, or at least 30p, at 1920x1080. In fact, if I could have 720/24p in the HD1000 (currently it does 30p and 60p, which is great) with the Canon autofocus and image stabilization I'd be very, very happy. But for now, the HF100 is a very good option for me and probably a much better option for people who aren't as horribly picky :).I can't speak to the tech side of the camera, in the end it's about, does it do what I need it to do at the price I'm willing to pay? After reading and reviewing 102 cameras (yes I did), I was more confused than ever. I finally I had to admit my short coming with this type of technology and consult a video/mac (I'm a MAC user) professional with no bias. After hearing what my needs are and I use MacBook Pro (with the Intel chip) he strongly recommended the Canon HF100. the reasons he gave:
Seamless with Mac computers and ALL PC based computers
Works very well will all editing software. (I'm using Final Cut Express)
No moving parts (were are sportsmen and want an HD that is durable (there is a higher risk with a tape drive or DVD camcorder of failure)
Removal of the 16gb SD(separate purchase $140.) Plug it in to a computer and download your video. While you continue to shoot by using a second chip (time saver)
Only 1 second between pushing the rec button and recording.
Lightweight (no hard drive)
The tech stuff and features are outstanding, however, what mattered is it going to perform for me. We took it out on our boat for the day with seas 3-4 ft. The Canon HF100 performed extremely well. The stability in relation to a lot of swells was great, the color (brilliance), longevity of the 16gb SD, the battery (BP-819 not included, Canon includes the BP-809) were also incredibly!
You can read all the tech stuff online and narrow it down based on specs. Sorry I can't help with that. What I can share with you is what happens after you buy it and whether or not it performs. This camera is the new standard. It will perform.
This camera is featured on the apple.com website, confirming its compatibility.
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