Canon Vixia HF100 Review at LAPTOP Magazine
My review of the
This is the first of several pieces I will be doing for LAPTOP, mostly focused on digital cameras and camcorders. I’ve been doing a lot of product reviews lately, both for LAPTOP and for Digital Camera HQ, and it has been a lot of fun playing with the gadgets.
The Canon Vixia HF100 is, like most things Canon makes, pretty great. I enjoyed using it, and was generally satisfied with the quality of the videos it produced. There are three video modes: 60i, 30p, and 24p. Each of these has its particular strengths and weaknesses.
The 60i mode shoots 60 frames-per-second, interlaced. It provides the highest-detail and best-quality video, and the most recognizably “HD” picture. You’ll notice right away that video shot in this mode is sharper and more vibrant than just about any other video you’ve ever seen. There is a drawback, however. The HF100 does not handle motion well in 60i mode, particularly when panning. When panning, or in motion, 60i HD mode suffered from jagged edges, or the “zipper effect.” Edges would appear squared off or rough, like the teeth of a zipper. It’s an unfortunate side-effect of the interlacing; when held still or moved very cautiously, the camera performs very well in 60i mode. It’s fast-panning or motion that brings out the flaws.
30p (30 frames per second, progressive) mode isn’t as detailed (30fps is what most TV shows are shot/broadcast in), but does solve the jagged-edge problem. Same goes for the 24p “cinematic” mode. Both introduce some softness to the image, reducing the sheer level of detail in exchange for smoother, less jagged edges and superior panning. Now, neither of these modes are low quality, they’re just less than the extremely high quality 60i mode. It’s up to the shooter to decide which mode is best suited for a particular situation, and the versatility of the HF100 is a bonus, allowing you to pick and choose. For a relatively still, high-detail scene, go for 60i. For a fast-moving scene that doesn’t necessarily need deep detail, the others will do.
[tags]Canon Vixia HF100, Camcorder, Review, LAPTOP Magazine[/tags]