New Canon FS10, FS11,FS100

Haven't tried 'em, but if you are looking for good quality video, ease of capture and editing, look no farther than miniDV instead.

Here's a good cam review site.

http://www.camcorderinfo.com/

Just got mine today. Not as easy to use as it should be for the uploading/converting of things - currently need to use MPEG StreamClip - and the video quality is a tiny bit lower quality than a MiniDV camera of comparable price.

BUT, all things considered, I think the FS10 definitely wins in the end. It's tiny, has very few moving parts, seems to be rugged/well made, and shoots 2hours worth of very decent video (in XP mode). It uses SD cards, which are cheap and everywhere, and it has a mic input and can do headphone output if you get a headphone adapter for the RCA Cables in the AV cord. If you're really concerned about superior image quality, you need to increase your spending budget anyway.

I've got the FS11 and mine works beautifully with iMovie 08. Just launch iMovie, make sure you have the USB connected, turn on the FS11, wait a few seconds, and you're connected. Works just as well as my miniDV with iMovie.

I shot identical footage with my miniDV and the FS11 in several lighting conditions. Then I played the footage side-by-side and asked three people which was better. The FS11 won absolutely with no contest.

You can use Streamclip also, but you don't have to. The FS11 is also very, very quite. There is just a slight sort of clicking noise that I guess is the shutter? (who knows), but you have to literally put your ear to it to hear it. I'd like to know if anyone else hears the noise?

The camera is just great and is so small you can stick it in your pocket. I've found the stabilization to be good enough to more than offset the small size.

Hi Bejota,
I haven't had any problems at all using iMovie 08 for ingesting the video from my FS11. It takes a little while for the software to recognize the camera (a little longer than with my miniDV Sony). Maybe you aren't waiting quite long enough?

Also, if you place your ear to your FS10, can you hear that slight clicking, electronic sort of sound? What do you think that is? (if you can hear it - it's pretty faint).

What about the Canon FS 100? I bought this one last night, and I am on Leopard with iMovie 6.03 and my mac wouldn't recognize the camcorder at 1st. Then it decided to, but iMovie will not import the data from the Flash Drive (4 Gigs). It comes over as a freaking .mod file and I have to filter it though a few freeware apps online 1st to get it to an mpeg and then eventually into a .mov for iMovie. I am so disapointed. Bought this **** thing at Best Buy too, so they won't refund my $. Any suggestions out there for the FS 100? Am I over looking anything here? Please GOD help me.

Thanks.

Smartmediaman@gmail.com

How about the FS 100? Just bought mine and it won't work on my iMac with iMovie 6.03HD. So disapointed...any recommendations? Don't want to have to bring .mod files into StreamClip or VLS player to convert to other formats. I loose quality this way.

Thanks,

Smartmediaman@gmail.com

It will not work in iMovie 06, the camera will only be recognized in iMovie 08. And, it responds exactly as it should in iMovie 08. You could always trade up. I know many on this board hate iMovie 08, but there isn't going to be another version of iMovie 06, so.....

However, I have used Streamclip with no degradation in quality when converting the .MOD to a de-interlaced DV stream. It's that interlacing that gives you the fuzzy edges. Just select de-interlace and the quality is just as good as DV as far as I can determine with numerous tests and enlarging sections of the video, etc.

Streamclip is pretty convenient, too. Works fast.

Charles.

Hmm...so if I get iMovie '08 this problem should be resolved and I can keep my Canon FS 100 (Not FS 10 or FS 11) Camcorder? How can I verify this, or know for sure? Do you think Canon would directly give me an answer on this? How about maybe even Apple? Also, does your sound come over into iMovie '-08 as well? I only ask, because when I rreformat the .mod file to mpeg or .dv...i loose all sound with the video and I am convinced the quality of the video as well. I would really love to keep this product, but it seems that everyone in this forum is saying I should get rid of it and trade it in for a miniDV camcorder, because they are the only ones that work consistently well, and have the best quality for Mac. What do you think Charles? I would appreciate the final thoughts. Thank you again, so so much.

Smartmediaman@gmail.com

Smartmediaman,
I know exactly what you are going through, I went through the same agonizing decision when I decided to move from miniDV to flash media. I did extensive research and after that research made my decision to go with the future - flash media. I could not be more pleased. I have done head-to-head testing of my new FS11 with exact scenes shot with my miniDV and you cannot tell any difference in the quality except for this - the Canon is BETTER. I tried my tests on three other people and didn't tell them anything about the cameras and there was NO question that the Canon was better in every respect. It is MORE than just the storage media - it is also the quality of the camcorder.

The FS11 is identical to your camera except for the built-in or no built in storage. In iMovie 08, you just have to give the software time to recognize the camera. It takes maybe 15 to 30 seconds. I think some folks just aren't patient enough.

Your .MOD files don't have sound because to use Streamclip you must download the MPEG-2 Playback Component. It costs $20 and you can find it on the Apple site for download. It adds sound to the Streamclip MOD files. Works beautifully

I think some on this board way overreact to compressed video as being bad. The Canon MPEG-2 camera (yours) shoots DVD quality and that is an excellent compromise between SD and HD.

Also, I love iMovie 08. I have iMovie 06 and Final Cut Express. The workflow from iMovie 08 to FCE is great.

BTW, put your ear to your camera while it is in record mode and tell me what you hear? Weird (quiet, but weird - sounds haunted!). Tell me what you hear.

Don't take your camera back, it takes great movies, works with the best software for amateurs (and the least expensive) and you will never have to deal with tape again. All of the advise about staying with miniDV is going to be bad advice for sure when cameras aren't available to play the miniDV tape. I don't buy the argument that so many have it that it will be around for a very long time. Tell that to people who not long ago bought Digital8 camcorders.

Yessssssss...

My Goodness. Thank you soooooo....much Charles for the informative response. This is really good stuff. I am convinced I will definatly stay with my new Canon FS 100 camcorder now. I am so thankful and lucky I could finally speak to someone that truly knows what they are talking about and confident as far as my situation goes. Sounds like miniDV's are going to be extinct pretty soon...I would hate to be in that situation. I cannot express my appreciation enough. You really have made my day man. Im going to purchase iLife '08 this evening. Cross yer fingers. Do you mind if I shoot you an email to let you know how things go for me this evening? Thanks again...so much, for everything.

Sincerely,

Christian Brennan
smartmediaman@gmail.com
http://www.smartmediaweb.com

**I have just purchased a Canon FS100 as my first camcorder. I was a professional still photographer for 18 years. This is very different. I am now deciding and still have the option to return the FS100 and exchange for the FS10 or FS11 or one of the HF series. I think having an internal memory plus flash memory capability could be very advantageous. I am just using this camcorder more as a point and shoot type of item. Any suggestions as to the jump from the FS100 to FS 10 or FS11? I would appreciate any input you have.**

**I have a pc(XP) and a Mac desktop with Imovie 08. No I have not connected it the Mac to download any images yet.**

**Please advise. Thank* you.*

As I'm sure you know (since you purchased the FS100) the only difference in the FS series is the amount of built-in-memory or, in the case of the FS100, no built-in-memory. Probably, when you consider the cost of memory for the cameras, the FS100 is the best value of the series. I purchased the FS11 because I'm usually away from any way of downloading the images for long periods of time - backpacking, computer-free vacations, etc.

The quality of the FS series is fantastic, and I've owned a lot of camcorders. I know all the arguments for tape camcorders pertaining to image quality. But, hey, what can I say - I've made the comparison frame-by-frame and the FS series is better than my two Sony tape camcorders. And, the convenience of the flash cards is very important to me. At some point, tape will still be a valid medium, but I'm not convinced there will be enough "old" tape driven camcorders around for everyone to share in order to play the still good media.

Anyway, I wouldn't hesitate at all about keeping the FS100 if you just purchase the amount of flash memory you need. Buy a couple of 16 gig cards - it takes a lot of video to fill up those guys. But, you can always by 3 or 4 or whatever. They're cheap, getting cheaper, and growing in the amount of storage.

I don't work for Canon, have no agenda, and don't care if anyone ever buys one. I'm just trying to be real and tell you that the FS series is a very good option for us folks who want at least DVD quality, but aren't willing to beyond that (HD) at this point due to the storage hassles, transcode hassles, and basically having to settle for SD from an expensive HD camera. HD will arrive, tape will die, flash will be the storage of choice. But, HD hasn't yet arrived and tape camcorders are definitely far fewer in number and dwindling monthly, and flash memory is growing in popularity. The Canon FS series works for me. The memory option (100, 10 or 11 series) is pretty inconsequential if you just purchase the cards you need.

Just one man's opinion, but a flash drive, fit in your pocket, works with iMovie 08, fine quality camera is the way to go - again, for me. Memory is purchasable - I wouldn't take the FS100 back - it's a good value relative to the series (memory is cheap).

Good luck.

Charles,
Thank you kindly for that very thoughtful feedback.
As it were I decided to go with the FS10. I have the 4gig SDHC flash memory card already purchased with the FS100. I also decided to go back to the store that understand the technology and purchase from a store that caters to the professionals as well as regular
consumers. As a retired professional still photographer, I'm a babe in the woods with these mini camcorders. I decided having some internal memory might be useful. They didn't have the FS11 so I got the FS10. I will be returning the FS100 tomorrow. I really don't like buying anything from these chain stores that require any follow up questions.

I've also had good luck with the technical staff at Canon.

I'm not sure where you buy your flash memory, but up here in NJ, they sell 4 gig sdhc for $99. I got it from the chain store at around $55 for 4gig.

I really appreciate your input. BTW, Epson makes a portable type of storage (Epson P 3000) you could dump your cards onto while you are travelling. It's about $449.99 with a $50 mail in rebate from Epson . It will hold digital still images as well as images from the fs11. Check out Epson's site for details on this. They have a larger version that holds much more. No need for a computer on the road.

Anyway, thanks again for all your input.
Best
Roz
On May 15, 2008, at 1:10 PM, Apple Discussions Subscriptions wrote:

I was interested in the F11 myself. I have a question that I hope someone else here can answer.

Like you I have iMovie 08, but I also have Final Cut Studio 2 for editing.

Does anyone know if iMovie is able to read the footage from the F11's flashdrive, does that mean Final Cut Pro 6 will do it as well or not necessarily?

Has anyone tried it with Final Cut Pro yet?

Thanks in advance.

"But, HD hasn't yet arrived ..."

I like thousands of others have been shooting, editing, and watching HD for over 4 years. Shooting anything other than HD really makes no sense today. From HD you can make SD DVDs today and HD DVDs when you buy a BD player.