No comments about Canon DC310 DVD Camcorder with 41x Optical Zoom.

5 comments about Canon XH A1 1.67MP 3CCD High-Definition Camcorder with 20x Optical Zoom.

1. I've worked with a Panasonic AG-DVX100B and several consumer cameras both HD and SD. I can without any doubt in my mind say that if you are willing to commit several weeks to learning the ins and outs of this camera; you will not get better visual images from anything under 8k.
   
   The customization feature of the A1 are worth 3k alone. You can match this camera to anything out there, including film.
   
   The A1 carries Cannon's L series lens which gives sharp images even at the end of its 20x range. The images produced are crisp, clear, HD and completely stunning. Watching random footage from the A1 on a 67" HDTV is pure eye-candy!
   
   Unless you are looking for a camera with the more expensive flash media capabilities, or dozens of variable frame-rates, this is the camera for you!



2. This thing is awesome, full of options, plenty of features, and built solid. It's certainly the best camera in it's class. Easily accessible settings, quality glass, 20x zoom. Perhaps perfection if they would've designed it to be able to zoom and adjust the focus simultaneously, and had more of a matte box lens hood like the sony's. Great camera.



3. I chose this camera for the HD function and the manual rings around the lens, not to mention it seems to be the best deal for the money. For the record this is my first serious camcorder, and I am currently in film school so I already have a good understanding of how a camera (film or digital) works.
   
   For the HD remember that it's not "true" HD it's Canon's answer to it. I haven't finished a project in the HD function so I can't rate how close it comes to true HD, although I bet I won't find a difference with my naked eyes.
   
   The manual focus/iris/and zoom rings are great for small and precise control, but lag quite a bit when you really want a fast and smooth transition. You just loose that feeling of complete control when you really want to crank it for a quick zoom or focus change.
   Still the great amount of control built into the camera is great and fairly intuitive to use, and being able to save multiple presets with almost every option is great.
   
   Also for those looking for a camera that works with multiple lenses(like a fisheye maybe???), keep looking.
   
   End of the day, I'm very happy with my purchase.



4. Basically this camera is everything its cracked up to be and more. I bought it purely for the image quality (1.67 Million pixels per CCD, compared to Panasonic's 554k per CCD for the HVX) and the 24f/p "film look." I have not been disappointed.
   
   Firstly, the resolution is a huge improvement compared to regular DV. It gives you instant credibility and professionalism over other films shot on regular DV. You're also operating at 18.5 mbps during playback, which is far greater than DV. You've got a lot more to tweak, color correct, and work with. The lens on this camera is also a amazing, go out and take some night shots with it, you'll be amazed.
   
   Basically, film people like to talk a lot about the limitations of HDV and the compression etc. And rightfully so, it's a pain to realize that you're not getting exactly what you're shooting but compressed GOPs. But honestly, if you watch a short film on DVD that's been shot on the uncompressed Panasonic HVX and then watch one that's been shot on the Canon HX A1- they're going to look very similar if not indecipherable. (if the DP knows what they're doing).
   
   Ultimately this camera provides 95% of the look of what a professional camera, or in my case the HVX, does. I'm really not willing to shell out the extra 2 to 4 thousand to increase a few percentage points. Also, I think people, filmmakers in particular, tend to forget that audiences don't watch films for the amazing uncompressed footage but for the strong characters and compelling narrative.
   
   So far with the XH A1 I've shot two HD films that have gone on to screen at festivals. When the image is on the big screen, it looks great. I am very proud of my work and that I own such a nice piece of equipment to shoot my films with. It is also loaded with an incredible amount of options and features- which is a bonus.
   
   On a side note, the idea of P2 workflow is amazing to me, but I simply can't afford it. I've also heard the HX A1 works with a drag and drop Firestore hard drive that's only $400. This offers the same simple workflow at a fraction of the cost. : ) I'll put it on my list.



5. Since the purchase of this excellent camera We have been able to capture some of the greatest hunting footage my team has ever experienced. Camera has performed flawlessly in 30 degree weather and up. Beginners can pick this camera and be filming in no time at all! Some of the highly detailed settings are complicated but the auto mode eliminates the guess work on them. Fitting it in my budget to purchase TWO more of these by september. Will never use anything but a canon. Got an eight year old XL1 that performs just like a new one! What are you waiting for? ORDER ONE NOW!!!!!

5 comments about Canon ZR930 1.07MP MiniDV Camcorder with 48x Optical Zoom.

1. I returned the first camera for replacement and I am about to return the second. Neither one would be recognized by my new XP Pro Dell computer or two other XP machines using 2 different firewire cables. Dell says my computer is working properly and Canon says they know of no similar problems with the new ZR930. I'm NOT saying it's a bad camera. I'm saying I know of three totally different XP computers that doesn't see it as an input device.



2. I got this camera because it has an external microphone input (the ZR-950 does not) and a 1 megapixel pickup. The picture quality is excellent. The 48x zoom lens is a major plus. I had no problem having either my Toshiba XP or HP Vista PCs recognize it so I could edit the tape. ...and, the price is nice.
   
   There is a down side. Despite claims, the camera has no built in light. You supposedly can flip the monitor and use it as a light, but a cell phone is about as bright and you then lose the monitor for monitoring! For some reason Canon designed the camera with no accessory shoe, so there is no place to mount a real light, or the shotgun microphone that you might otherwise want to plug into the camera.



3. Good camera. Better video quality than the ZR-800 and has a microphone input so that you can really do some nice filming with this camera. No light on the camera, despite advertising. There is NO motor noise at all, despite what others write. Canon haters have been complaining about motor noise on Canon cameras for years, but there is none on this device.
   
   For the price, in decent light, there is probably no better camera.
   
   The down side is--the firewire does not work. I have a Mac and a PC. And a firewire port. The port sees other devices. It will not see this camera, and believe me, I have tried it all. In short, it is VERY difficult to get video onto a computer for editing and movie making, despite Canon's claims that it can be done via the firewire port. I even bought 2 different cables to make sure. Instead of plugging in the camera via firewire to my laptop, I have to export the video by plugging in an analog miniplug from the camera into my rca input jacks on my DVD recorder, record the video onto a standalone DVD-Recorder I have in my bedroom, and then put the DVD-r into the computer and input the video into iMovie. Very inelegant and very time consuming, multistep process.
   
   In short, I HATE companies who just out and out LIE to their customers, and, sorry Canon, that is what you have done here. How could they possibly have shipped a camera with a firewire port and not have known that is not functional? Doesn't connect to a Windows XP PC, does not connect to a Mac. Gigantic disappointment



4. Great camera. I shopped around for months and went with the new model over the 800 series. I have had no problems at all connecting it to my computer with firewire using Nero capture software (express?) and a cheap no name firewire card with XP. I haven't noticed any motor noise, and it takes crisp high quality video. I got this one becuase of the mic jack, and I plan on buying a bracket to mount a mic and a light. They have brackets that mount to the bottom, you do not need an upper shoe.
   
   The only problem I have noticed is with the 48x zoom you need a really steady hand (or a tripod) or else it will get jumpy.



5. I got this camcorder for my birthday last month, and I have to say that it is great. It takes awesome video, and has multiple setting for every situation. I took this camcorder skiing and the snow setting keeps the snow from being blow out, which really pleased me. The other settings also work great, including the automatic setting which is great to just film something quickly.
   
   The internal microphone works well, but if you want you can also use an external microphone. This camcorder has a microphone jack which is becoming an increasingly rare feature on budget camcorders. While it doesn't have an accessory shoe which would be nice you can use a cheap flash bracket to mount a mic.
   As an all around camcorder this one is great. I am using it as a secondary camcorder with my Sony VX2000, and the video is comparable. It is hard to tell between cuts which video came from which camera.
   
   Overall, I would recommend this camcorder if your looking for a good all around camcorder that takes great video!
   
   Pro's:
   Light
   Cheap
   Great Video
   External Microphone Jack
   Multiple Settings
   Works Great with my Mac
   
   Con's
   Slight Motor Noise but only in very quiet situations.
   And I can't think of anything else.

5 comments about Canon USB Cable IFC-400PCU for Canon Cameras & Camcorders.

1. Our puppy chewed apart the original cable for our Canon SD500 and the first replacement. This cable works perfectly and was less expensive than the one we purchased at Best Buy. The CPU has been moved to protect the cable from the puppy.



2. Well there isn't much to say about it. The cable does what it's supposed to do at a moderate price. 5 stars.



3. I had lost my other cable, had to buy a new one, this was a genuine Canon product. Very pleased.



4. We had one of these which I bent. This is the same kind. It is fine. The delay in the shipment was not fine.



5. I did not have any trouble using this cable to hook up my Canon 20D to an iMac. It was straightforward and easy. I did have trouble with the camera software but that didn't have anything to do with the cable.

5 comments about Canon ZR800 MiniDV Camcorder with 35x Optical Zoom.

1. I am happy with this cam because of it's ease of use and the additional features. It works as well as a higher price Canon I used to have minus some features like a remote control. Of course, I am simply interested in capturing the action and am not concerned about making a high quality movie.



2. If you are looking for a easy to understand and control camcorder this is the one. i love that its very easy to change the settings on it and it also has a 37x optical zoom!! i record everything my baby does and the video always comes out great. even the battery life lasts a while so its always good to take with you. I highly recommend this camcorder if your under a tight budget.



3. camcorder works very well but has to have a lot of light to be effective.



4. This was a gift for my daughter & her husband. They said that they were happy with it.



5. Before I purchased this camera I read the reviews on Amazon. I was pretty skeptical about buying this video camera after reading the reviews about the motor noise and somewhat cheap product. After ordering from Amazon, the video camera came in less than a week from Beach Camera. I paid $147.00 with free shipping. I am completely amazed that a Japanese company can ship a camera of this high quality to the US with such a devalued dollar and still make money on the product. I am very happy with my purchase! This is my fourth video camera. The camera has above average optics. Has features found only on more expensive cameras, like an external mike input. Has decent special effects. The one disappointing quality is that the camera does not have a hotshoe for a video light. The camera does not do well in low light situations. But I did not buy it to shoot in darkness! It has both a viewfinder and and a decent viewing screen. It is hard to find a viewfinder on a $500.00 video camera these days. I wanted a hard-drive camera but they are still costly and are still not of mini-dv quality (That is why the professional video cameras are still mini-dv and not dvd or hard-drive). Overall I am very satisfied with this camera and would highly recommend this camera to anyone.

5 comments about Canon ZR950 1.07MP MiniDV Camcorder with 48x Optical Zoom.

1. This is a solid camera for a great price. Has options for SD cards for still photos. Native wide screen support and decent battery life. Works great with iMovie. Still photos could be higher resolution, but this isn't meant to be a digital camera replacement.



2. In the product description Amazon.com lists as a feature that the ZR950 has a microphone input: "The microphone terminal on the ZR950 makes it especially useful for educators and trainers to carefully capture the audio they need to make most effective use of the video they shoot. It's also handy when you want to easily record a live narration for your footage."
   
   However, having hands-on experience with this camera and from reading over the manual it does not have any audio-in jacks. This is a fine camcorder, but if you're buying it to record lectures and want to record from a microphone source you're buying the wrong tool. The Canon ZR930 and the ZR900 both do state that they have microphone input on the canon website. Also, among the older models, the Canon ZR800 has audio-in as well, however the ZR830 & ZR850 do not. This is not made clear initially from Canon's website and required a good deal of research. I wish they listed that spec in their comparison page.
   
   At any rate, these are good cameras, at a good price. Just be certain to get the 930, 900 or 800 if you need audio-in. I'm not sure why they removed that feature from their higher-end camcorders, it seems counterintuitive to me.



3. The product I received was a defect. The camcorder could not get normal images for outdoor recording. It had red and green dots all over the LCD and viewfinder with indoor recording. I had to return it. It ruined my daughter's birthday party.



4. I ordered this camera, not expecting it to arrive early. It came two days early and is a great value for a beginners camera. It would be a great gift for a grad or father.



5. I bought this for recording family stuff. It records good with good sound. I am very unimpressed with the still pictures, especially in low light. It doesn't come with any software for capturing or editing your videos. Windows comes with one. There is no firewire cable to transfer your video to your computer either. I picked one up for cheap. It doesn't come with a sd card for still pictures. Overall I am happy with the camcorder, the zoom is great and the video is sharp. If you plan on taking a lot of still pictures you probably wont be happy. My phone takes better photos than this.

5 comments about Canon VIXIA HF10 Flash Memory High Definition Camcorder with 16GB Internal Flash Memory and 12x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom.

1. I have owned this camcorder now for 2 weeks and have loved it since I got it. The video quality is amazing. In full HD the the detail and color accuracy really shows. The camcorder also auto focuses incredibly fast even while zooming and panning. The quick record mode is very nice (especially if you have children). When the quick record mode is on the camcorder will come out of sleep mode and be ready to record in about a second. Literally by the time you flip the lcd open, it's ready to record. The still shots are ok, but I wouldn't get rid of my stand alone digital camera. The transfers of files to pc requires the use of the included software. There is a quick burn option with the software that can create either an AVCHD dvd or a standard definition dvd. I also tried using the software for editing and authoring but found it cumbersome for that usage. I personally use Nero 8 and it works perfectly with the files created by the Canon. The drawbacks to the camcorder are the battery and the awkward menu. The included battery barely last hour with normal recording. I'll be buying the BP-819 2.5 hour battery by summers end. The menu has a few awkward sections. For example, to fade in or out when recording you have to select the fade effect from the main menu. But to use the selected fade while recording, you have to use the joystick to activate the fade effect assigned before recording. Overall, this camcorder is very good. It has great video quality. The software package, though a little cumbersome, is pretty decent. I don't regret this purchase one bit. It seems pricey, but once you see the differnce on a HD tv compared to SD mini dv, you won't regret it.



2. While I wanted to like this camera (and use it to replace my Canon HV10), the growing list of annoyances and downright bugs are making me doubt this purchase. I can't find too many faults with the technical aspects of the camera (which all the reviews on the web seem to focus on). But trying to use it gives me a lot of frustrations. Notably:
   
   1) As mentioned in another comment, you cannot extract video over USB without the camera also being plugged in to its AC adapter. Period. Yet you can extract pictures without external power. This makes no sense and is quite a drawback to anyone who wants to pull video off it in a hurry or to a laptop away from an AC outlet.
   2) The ability to take still pictures during video recording is greatly hindered by the fact that it will often (always?) not let you take more than one picture until you stop recording and let everything get written out to memory.
   3) Many aspects of the interface are maddeningly slow (particularly when displaying picture/video thumbnails). With only a dozen still pictures saved in my camera, switching to "view pictures" mode takes 10+ seconds, and flipping between pictures takes several seconds. Expect to see a lot of "READING MEMORY" messages. I've even had it hang up entirely just when switching between modes, requiring me to pull the battery.
   4) The "premium" of built-in memory in the HF10 doesn't seem worth it. The camera treats it and the SD slot as distinct storage areas you have to manually select and switch between. Unless you are going to use the internal memory exclusively, you might be better off with the less complicated HF100 and a big SD card.
   
   This is a nice camera in many technical respects, but in my mind falls flat in the implementation. The interface is littered with various "DO THIS/DON'T DO THIS" messages; too bad they didn't spend the time to eliminate the need for the messages instead.



3. I like the camera alot. However, the camera is no good without software to download, transfer and edit. The Imagemixer software is terrible - it is very difficult to use, it comes with no documentation, and the Pixela technical support is awful. I am an experienced Movie Maker user and was surprised that Canon would supply such mediocre software.



4. Had the HF10 for about a month now. Here's a few things that dont get talked about much:
   1. The built-in memory is basically useless. Its very slow and hard to get images and video off it. Go for the HF100 instead and buy some big SD cards.
   2. If you have a mac, get ready to pull your hair out. repeatedly. Even though Apple lists this as a supported device, you cannot get photos or videos off the camera via usb at all. It does not mount as a volume when you plug it in. Quicktime cannot access avchd files.
   3. The assinine avchd directory structure means that ZERO of the existing photo and video editors find the files on the camera/cards by default - you have to go and find them yourself. Or subject yourself to the horrors of the bundled Pixela Imagemixer software.
   4. Canon's bundled software for getting images off the camera for macintoshes doesn't handle video _at all_ !!!
   5. The images that are captured when in video mode are not saved as jpg's - they are in some bizarro avchd thumbnail format which nothing on the planet seems to be able to access.
   6. the resolution of the stills is really poor compared to cameras a 1/3 of the price.
   7. it's really slow (enumerating a completely empty memory card takes about 5 seconds)
   8. the selection of photo mode/video mode and video view/photo/view is really really irritating
   9. the menus are confusing and inconsistent.
   10. the battery does not last long at all.



5. First I want to say that I'm an average Joe when it come to shooting video, I'm not a videophile or pretend to be an expert in filming. With that being said, here's my thoughts.
   
   Nice camera for the money. Video looks great! I think the indoor performance is very adequate.
   
   Don't care for the fact that you have to plug in the camera to an electrical outlet in order to transfer video from camera to computer.
   
   Wished the camera came with a batter charger, had to buy a separate charger for $75, ouch! HOWEVER, you can charge the battery while it's plugged into the camera and the camera plugged into the wall. Battery that comes with camera only lasts a little over an hour, you'll want to buy an extended battery (which obviously won't sit "flush" with the camcorder, but it doesn't stick out too far).
   
   I have big hands and the camera is almost too small for me! :) Really though, great size and doesn't weigh too much.
   
   I haven't tried taking a still photo with this and probably won't, typically all the video cameras out there today don't come close in taking the quality of digital photos as a good digital SLR, so not going to knock Canon on that one. I bought a video camera for video and not photos.
   
   Quick start mode is great!
   
   I did have a standard def panasonic before this one and I think the image stabilization worked just a little better on my Panasonic than on the Canon HF10, but that being said, OIS isn't bad.
   
   Overall I think it's worth the money I paid for it. Would recommend to my friends.

5 comments about Canon ZR850 1MP MiniDV Camcorder with 35x Optical Zoom.

1. I had trouble connecting to my computer. The problem turned out to be that I had external hard drives plugged into the fire wire ports. When I removed all other fire wire connections, it connected.



2. I bought this camera from amazon. The price was the best price. The shippment came before I was expecting. I bought it to give a gift to one of my family members for their 25th wedding anniversary. I have already have Canon ZR 300. I am very happy with that too. Canon makes great. product.



3. I was quite apprehensive after seeing many reviews about this product.
   
   Agreed that the picture quality is not as good as the 8 mm tape camcorders, and the manufacturing lacks sturdiness, but its an excellent value camcorder. I only paid 180 for it.
   Its quite easy to use -- even the wheeltrack on the display screen.
   Primary reason for me to get this was the combination of camera and camcorder plus its quite light compared to my old 8 mm Sony.



4. I had a ZR200 Canon that I take everywhere. It was easy to use so after many hundreds of hours of filming sports events etc. it died. I didn't want to spend thousands of dollars so I purchased this for about the same price I would have had to fix my old camera. This is an excellent camera expecially for price. Excellent Buy! I recommend this without any reservation. You can't go wrong!!



5. I bought this camcorder to make some fundraising movies for my 3 day breast cancer walk. It has been SO easy to use, and to create some GREAT looking videos. I took it out of the box, and shot some video then plugged it into my VISTA laptop and downloaded the video in about 3 minutes... Great for a first or casual user. Has some nice options like widescreen and SD card for still photos. The light only works very close up but is a nice option if you are interviewing someone at night. All in all I couldn't be happier with this camera, and the price is AMAZING for the features you get... (lots of USEABLE features without all the useless bells and whistles that the $$$$$$ cameras have - that you never use anyhow) If something were to happen to this camera I would replace it with another zr850... The only thing I wish it had was a mic jack... but the built in mic does a fantastic job... see some video made with this camera at www.myspace/adels3day.com

5 comments about Canon VIXIA HV30 MiniDV High Definition Camcorder with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom.

1. Everything you read about this camera is true. I owned one for a couple of days and the picture was extraordinary... the camera was a breeze to use...
   
   And then I turned up the audio. Whoa. What's that humming?!
   
   Now, I had seen plenty of reviews (even on the older HV20) warning of a little tape noise in the audio. I own two other Mini DV cameras, and you do hear a little bit of the mechnism working. But this is different. It's disruptive. And I'm not alone in my thinking here. Do some digging and you'll find a few other reviews cropping up online with this complaint now.
   
   If audio's not a big deal to you, or you plan on using extrenal mics, I'd say this is still an insanely great camera for you. But if you're getting it to grab baby's precious moments or anything like that, I have to strongly warn against getting this due to the tape noise in the audio. I consider it a deal-breaker.
   
   On the upside, I'd like to note that I got a great deal on this camera using one of Amazon's partners on here, Butterfly Photo, and they were prompt, courteous, and easy to deal with when I returned the camera. Recommended. I'll likely be using them again to order my new camera (gonna give the HF100 a try instead... possibly an ever-so-slightly less perfect picture quality, but most reviewers are saying no moving parts = prestine audio and for me that makes it a far better overall final product.)



2. I have owned the Canon HV30 for a little over a month. I have used it strictly for wildlife video in combination with the Canon TL-43 1.7x tele-converter and the DM50 directional microphone.
   
   The picture quality is fantastic for a camcorder at this price. I shoot in HD 30p with Cinema Mode enabled. I also enable peaking and use focus assist magnification for better manual focus.
   
   [..] there is not a full manual mode for adjusting exposure. Also the manual focus wheel is a little small.
   
   The following url address is a two minute video shot entirely with the Canon HV30. While my skill level with camera is at a novice level, I think you will agree the picture quality is very good.
   
   [..]



3. Great camera! There's a great website hv20 dot com that show how to get the most out of this camera and answer questions that are vague in the manual. This camera doesn't need more help but there's a lot more you can do than what comes out of the box. The video quality is superb, but the sacrifice is that you might want to buy an add on mic. I got the canon boom mic for another $150 to get a great whole package.



4. I've spent the weekend shooting and editing with my Canon HV30, and overall, I'm very pleased with it. The image quality and color reproduction (when you switch "vivid" on in the settings) is superb. It's small, lightweight and the controls make sense. In a couple of hours I was able to put the manual away and know what I was doing. Low light performance is pretty good, with just a bit of noise all the way at iso 1600 (outside at night). It shoots very well indoors in normal lights and the auto white balance works perfectly as well.
   
   It isn't all perfect, however. The manual focus control is inaccessible and sloppy. Thankfully the autofocus is very accurate and doesn't do a lot of hunting for what to focus on. The other problem is the zoom control. It is WAY too sensitive. You can set it for variable speed, but the slightest tremble in your finger causes a bump in the speed. I think I can learn to handle it. I'll just have to be very aware of keeping a light touch. I don't think I'll be able to work with the manual focus.
   
   The camera doesn't come with a firewire or USB2 cable to connect to a computer. You need to buy that separately. But I was able to download hidef video effortlessly to iMovieHD using a Mac without any other installed software.
   
   The built in microphone sucks. Definitely get Canon's optional shotgun mike Directional Microphone DM-50. That will handle just about any sound situation you run into. Also count on getting an extra battery pack or two. The included battery won't shoot long enough to fill an hour long tape. There are different sizes of batteries. Get the biggest one you can afford, along with the outboard charger, so you can be charging up the next battery while you are shooting. Also get at least four blank DV tapes to work with. You don't want to switch framerates, resolutions and aspect ratios on the same tape if you can help it.
   
   Your whole kit, including all the accessories will fit in a very small camera bag. Pretty slick. And the quality of the movies you'll shoot will amaze you. Played back on a hidef screen, this camera is capable of producing very professional looking video.



5. I had this Camera when it first came out, and so far I am very pleased... Camcorder looks and feels as a regular Camcorders however the wild factor is the Image Quality, its stunning in clarity and contrast... This is a great Camcorder for those who are looking to capture their best memories in HD mode... Under $1000, this is the best HD camcorder one can bargain for...
   
   One disappointment with this Camcorder is that the video editing software is not included... It comes with software however it is only for editing Still Images (Photos)... With that said, you need to buy your own Video editing software if you want to create DVD's on your Laptop or Desktop... Please also beware that there are very few robust software's in the market that can convert your video files into DVD's... This is where mini tapes lacks improvement, you can watch your video through your camcorder in full HD with stunning clarity however you can't convert your files into Full HD DVD... There is software that can do the job (Vegas Pro 8) however with a price tag of $500; it won't be an option for many buyers...

5 comments about Canon VIXIA HF100 Flash Memory High Definition Camcorder with 12x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom.

1. 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!



2. This camera is awesome. Flash memory and awesome video quality. It doesn't get any better.



3. 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!



4. 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.



5. 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.