Canon FS10
Manufacturer: Canon USA Part number: 2686B001
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Product series
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- Convenient, well-designed camcorders that look pricier than they are, models in the Canon FS series--FS11, FS10, and FS100--nevertheless deliver typical budget video in line with their budget price tags.
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CNET editors' review
Canon FS10 price range: $199.99 - $499.95
- Reviewed by: Lori Grunin
- Reviewed on: 06/30/2008
- Released on: 01/24/2008
The good: Compact, attractive design; mic input.
The bad: No optical image stabilization; ineffective wind filter; no headphone jack; modest video quality.
The bottom line: Convenient, well-designed camcorders that look pricier than they are, models in the Canon FS series--FS11, FS10, and FS100--nevertheless deliver typical budget video in line with their budget price tags.
In the continuum that runs from low-resolution, cheapo camcorders like the Creative Vado to high-quality, solid-state "prosumer" HD models like Canon's own Vixia HF10, Canon's line of SD-based camcorders--FS11, FS10, and FS100--falls exactly where you'd expect. At budget prices under $600, they're small, stylish, and provide a reasonably expansive feature set; unfortunately, the real "budget" aspect of these models is the video quality.
The individual models in the FS series differ only by memory and color, with list prices that increment by $100 (but with lower actual street price gaps). The top-end model, the FS11, comes in dark gray and includes 16GB built-in memory; its lesser sibling, the FS10, wears silver and includes 8GB. The cheapest child, the FS100, has no built-in memory but comes in silver, blue, and red. Capacities run about 13.8 minutes per gigabyte of storage for best-quality mode, 39 min/GB for lowest quality; we don't recommend shooting below best-quality, however.
Weighing only 10.7 ounces and fitting comfortably into the palm of a hand--one my size, at least--the FS is, for the most part, quite well designed. As is becoming typical for SD-based models, you choose among video and still, record, and playback modes plus toggling recording on and off via a big thumbwheel at the back of the camcorder. You operate the zoom switch, photo shutter, and on/off switch with your forefinger. The battery and SD card slot lie under a sliding panel on the bottom of the unit. Some of the nicer touches include a built-in electronic lens cover--at this price, they're usually manual--and an LED video light.
Behind the LCD, there's an Easy button for a completely automatic mode and a button to display battery info, which displays the estimated time remaining. There's also a standard mini-USB port, 3.5mm microphone jack, and an AV out connector for hooking up to a TV via the bundled composite cable. As is becoming typical for Canon, you use a joystick on the LCD to bring up a few quick-access controls, including triggering the video light, exposure compensation, shutter speed, and manual focus. It doesn't magnify the focus area while in manual focus, but despite the smallish 2.7-inch LCD, it's pretty usable.
You also use the joystick to navigate the menus, which you pull up via a membrane button on the bevel of the LCD (other membrane buttons include playback controls, recording start/stop, and backlight compensation). Unusual in a budget model, the camcorder offers shutter-priority mode in addition to program exposure and a variety of scene modes. Beyond that, the shooting functions are scarce: white balance, digital and image effects, and a choice of 9Mbps, 6Mbps, and 3Mbps bit rates. Some of the other options, available deeper within the menus, include variable or one of three constant zoom speeds, 16:9 wide-screen recording mode, and a wind screen filter.
I do have a few minor quibbles with the design and operation. First, the zoom switch feels a bit loose, and I had trouble controlling the pace of the zoom with it. The on/off switch lies flush with the body of the camcorder, and thus requires some concerted effort to press. Finally, I don't like the placement of the USB port underneath the LCD or the SD card slot on the bottom of the unit; those just feel like awkward locations.
With the FS series, Canon debuts its Advanced Zoom technology, which transforms the camera's 37x optical zoom into 48x. It does so by moving lens elements to change the area of the sensor focused on by the lens. As a result, the effective video resolution changes while you zoom. For example, with AZ turned off, 16:9 video sensor resolution is about 550,000 pixels. With it on, at minimum zoom, it's approximately 710,000 pixels (full effective sensor resolution), and at 48x, it's 410,000 pixels. So while it's technically not digital zoom, it's still not maintaining the resolution across the entire zoom range (though it's in fact better than status quo at the wide angle). And for that reason, though I know Canon will probably beg to differ, I'm going to refer to it as a hybrid zoom.
Ultimately, however, it all ends up downsampled to a standard-definition video resolution of 720x480, or 345,600 pixels. So one would think the real question is, "How does it look?" And the answer to that is: "It looks better than digital zoom." But the real question should be, "Who the heck can use it?" Aside from the fact that I couldn't find anything interesting to shoot that far away during testing--even at a mere 37x--you run into serious control problems with these extra-long zooms. First, they're usually on cheap camcorders without optical image stabilization, so the telephoto video tends to be a jittery mess. And second, when you're zoomed out very far, if the subject moves out of the frame, it can be close to impossible to find them and get them back in frame without zooming out. So really, these ultramegatelephoto zoom lenses serve one purpose: to shoot distant, nonmoving subjects from a tripod mount. Hello, stalkers and stakeouts!
As for the rest, the FS models perform very well, from the fast, accurate autofocus and speedy autoexposure adjustment, to the solid LCD, which is a bit coarse but remains viewable even in direct sunlight. The latter is essential because of the lack of an electronic viewfinder, which is typical for the FS series' class. Like most flash-based models, the battery should also outlast the time required to fill up a 16GB card. Start-up and shutdown are relatively quick, and Canon includes an instant-start standby mode that toggles when you open or close the LCD.
Because the camcorder is higher-end looking than its price tag implies, the typical budget video it produces is that much more disappointing. Except when zoomed in, the video looks pretty soft, and like many of its peers, seriously blows out highlights. Most colors tend to look washed out, and orange hues shift. Low-light video is even softer, and relatively noisy. (For examples and more information about video quality, click through the slide show.) The audio is OK, though the wind filter is pretty ineffective. Canon bumps the saturation up tremendously for still photos, but they're low resolution--about 800,000 pixels--and are suitable only for scaled-down Web use. On the compatibility upside, most software recognizes the MPEG-2 MOD files, and I had no problem connecting the camcorder to a current Mac.
Unfortunately--or fortunately, depending upon your perspective--flash card prices are volatile enough that it's hard to make a recommendation as to which model to buy. Just remember to factor in the cost of a Class 4 or better SD card, though you probably should double-check that it supports a minimum transfer rate of 10MB/sec or better, since that's not a given, and figure out which total is cheapest. There's really no advantage to having the memory built in, except for the convenience of not having to make sure a card is fast enough. (In fact, I tend to prefer it not built-in, because then I don't have to worry about making sure the camcorder is recording to the right place.)
Any one of the Canon FS series models--FS11, FS10, or FS100--is a stylish, flexible camcorder that produces serviceable video for its price. The flash-based camcorder market is composed of an odd group of competitors, including the much cheaper straight-to-Web mini models, with the occasional ultracheap HD unit like the Aiptek Go-HD or DXG DXG-567V; alas, a real recommendation from among the group will have to wait until we can review the latter devices.
User reviews
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Cute as a button. Does the job.
by yvanh on May 6, 2008
Pros: Compact, ready to roll in an instant.
Cons: Manual needs proofreading.
Summary: Bought this camera for use in a professional teaching environment where brief recordings are made, reviewed and deleted. The 2 1/2 hour (approx.) standard recording capacity (via the internal ...
Summary: Bought this camera for use in a professional teaching environment where brief recordings are made, reviewed and deleted. The 2 1/2 hour (approx.) standard recording capacity (via the internal 8 GB) is more than enough for my needs as is the relatively low drain on the battery pack (no tape, no HD). Fit and finish are typically Canon-clean (lens barrel is metal, most other surfaces are plastic). Stereo mic works very well (have not tried the external mic functions). One megapixel sensor (great for standard resolution video) is not terrific for stills of course but that is of little importance in my case (and probably in yours). None the less, there are cursory shutter, white balance, multiple shot options available etc. The camera will capture video in 16:9 or 4:3 (and its equivalents in stills). It's not HD, but the 16:9 format makes for a nice touch on the LCD screens that are showing up in board rooms these days. Also, the unit comes equipped with a remote. Handy for presentations, but the sensor (located on the corner of the fold-out LCD) has a somewhat narrow range. If you're looking for a neat little camera that will fit in a briefcase or a purse (it's about the size of a hot dog) and that will be ready to shoot within an instant, this is it.
In the con department, the manual is not correctly indexed. There will be much page flipping for a while. Also, the remote functions are not clearly explained. Then there's the proprietary battery pack. Works fine, the power reserve indications are accurate, etc. Charging time (via the camera) is quite long and then there's the other thing Canon is (in)famous for: accessory costs. A spare battery pack will set you back approx. $75.00.
Overall, recommended.3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Picture not stunning - but great usabilty
by 3street on November 2, 2008
Pros: Ease of use - the manual functions and the effects are actually useful and easy to implement unlike on many camcorders. Browsing clips you have shot is also a pleasure as everthing is very intuitive. Very small and light. Mic in socket. Battery life
Cons: The video quality isn't knockout when viewed on a big screen. Highlights tent to bleach out in sunlight. Low-Light performance isn't great either - though I thought it was better than some reviews have described it as being.
Summary: This camera is a well-made and well thought out product as you would expect from Canon. I'm very impressed with it's operating system.
However, when I first got ...Summary: This camera is a well-made and well thought out product as you would expect from Canon. I'm very impressed with it's operating system.
However, when I first got it home I shot a little video out in my garden and was quite disappointed with the quality. I have some DVDs I burned from analog video8 that I shot with a mid-price Canon I had about 17 years ago, which always amaze me with how good the quality of them is. I sort of expected this to impress me too, but I can't say that it did. However, I recently purchased a large screen television so it was a much more critical viewing environment than I've been used to and when I played the shots back on a smaller screen they did look much more impressive. It is a standard not a high definition camera after all.
I've seen a lot of criticism for the FS10's low-light performance, but when I compared it to my old Hitachi digital8 camcorder it was substantially better. I found that by turning a few more lights on, I was getting reasonable results. You have to remember that although it looks like one, it's not an expensive camera and most other cameras at this price don't have great performance in this field either.
I was also a little disappointed that the files it saves (.mod) wouldn't directly play on either a Mac or a PC, but it turned out that after updating imovie 08 it interfaced with it very well even when using a card reader insted of hooking the camera itself up.
In summary, it's the features, its size and its usability that make this camera a winner - anyone who's waited five minutes for a tape based camera to wind from one end of a tape to the other will appreciate how quick and easy the SD system is. Also the battery life is fantastic because there is only the zoom motor to drive. Having a mic in socket is a definite plus and the sound quality is excellent. All in all its got a lot going for it - but the picture quality won't blow your socks off. There are many applications - such as shooting for use on Youtube, or for general family use - where it's more than good enough though and I'd definitely reccommend considering the FS series if this is the area your budget is in.2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Don'e Waste Your Money
by Tuneman1 on July 19, 2009
Pros: Compact Size - User Friendly Menu System - Flash memory
Cons: Difficult to download video to video editing programs. Not very good in low light recording. Doesn't work with VISTA. Poor suppor from Canon. Waste of time trying to figure out how to make it work by visiting the Canon website.
Summary: Don't waster your time and money with this camera as there are many other models to choosee from. I will never buy another Canon camera again.
Summary: Don't waster your time and money with this camera as there are many other models to choosee from. I will never buy another Canon camera again.
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Not Supported on Vista PC's
by Rx_ on May 23, 2009
Pros: It appeared to be a great camera (around $200) from the look and feel when useing it.
Cons: Canon does not support basic software to actually download your video back to your PC. It is propritary software, and it is not available from the Canon poorly run web site. i.e. It is completely worthless by itself
Summary: A relative brought the Canon FS10 to film an important graduation. They brought the video camera and the power charger. Afterwards, we hook up the USB port to the PC. ...
Summary: A relative brought the Canon FS10 to film an important graduation. They brought the video camera and the power charger. Afterwards, we hook up the USB port to the PC. Nothing... It won't connect to Windows Movie Maker either.
CNET wrote: On the compatibility upside, most software recognizes the MPEG-2 MOD files, and I had no problem connecting the camcorder to a current Mac.
On the (very poorly designed) Canon web site (warning, many links are just wrong, your going to waste a buch of time) we searched (Canon has a really bad search tool) and Canon has a download. After you wait for the 73 MB downlaod (again Canon is not that fast) the install fails, asking for three items (can you spell propritary?) to already be installed. No clues, no searchs to help, just nothing at all.
Canon has a expensive DVD burner (Canon set this as the default, are you kidding me!) they will sell you so you can actually download your own video off the camcorder.
When CNET rated this, did they actually just take a model home to try it like a real conumer? Evidently not.
What good is a FS10 or FS100 if the price doesn't include downloading your own video?
Frankly, we are insulted and outraged. We will never consider a Canon product again.
Updated on May 23, 2009
CNET needs to test things on a PC - Canon also had a problem with Vista (see firmware update if you search enough) that deleted all the photos on the Canon storage medium. While software blunders can happen with anyone, it is just not right that Canon would not make someting like this easy to find.
In an age of Internet and Open System compatibility, CNET should really consider the Internet "service after the sale" for products it reviews. For example: CNET Downloads has nothing for the FS10. -
Great Camera, Bad License and video formats
by deany41 on January 25, 2009
Pros: Loved the menu's and ease of use. Many variables without the high tech lingo. Fun to use and record. Two camera's in one. Great for one computer and home use where video formats are not a problem.
Cons: Video formats incompatable with stardard formats. Can only put unique software on one computer. Can't use any other platform if creating. Just need video files so they can be edited and joined with other videos. I was forced to return the camera.
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Very user friendly. Easy mode makes it a snap to use.
by PapaArly on January 19, 2009
Pros: Light weight and simplicity of use, combined with every feature you can want, make this my favorite Christmas present!
Cons: Zoom control is a little hard to use while using the wrist strap. I find myself using my left hand to manipulate this control.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Canon USA
- Part number: 2686B001
- Description: 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 FS10, you can have stunning video with the ease and numerous benefits of Flash Memory, at an affordable price. Flash Memory is used in some of the world's most innovative electronic products such as laptop computers, MP3 players, PDAs and cell phones. Canon offers the best in Flash Memory with Dual Flash Memory- record to both the camcorder's 8GB internal memory and a removable SD/SDHC card, extending your available recording space and offering added flexibility in file transfer and playback. It's just the thing for catching more of your life's most special moments. Add to that the FS10's Canon Exclusive features such as Canon 48x Advanced Zoom and DIGIC DV II Image Processor, combined with a 1.07 Megapixel CCD image sensor, Image Stabilization and a 2.7" Widescreen LCD - and you truly have a Flash Memory camcorder that's both hard to beat and unmistakably Canon.
General
- Product Type Camcorder
- Digital Zoom 2000 x
- Optical Sensor Size 1/6"
- Optical Sensor Type CCD
- Image Stabilizer Electronic
- Max Shutter Speed 1/2000 sec
- Shooting Modes Digital photo mode
- Shooting Programs Snow, Beach, Sunset, Fireworks, Spotlight, Night mode, Sports mode, Portrait mode
- White Balance Custom, Presets, Automatic
- White Balance Presets Daylight, Tungsten light
- Exposure Modes Program, Automatic
- Widescreen Video Capture Yes
Main Features
- Camcorder Sensor Resolution 1.07 megapixels
- Camcorder Effective Still Resolution 0.8 megapixels
- Color Support Color
- Still Image Format JPEG
- Remote Control Camcorder remote control
- TV Tuner None
Memory / Storage
- Flash Memory 8 GB Flash - Integrated (soldered memory - 8 GB )
- Supported Flash Memory MultiMediaCard, SD Memory Card
- Floppy Drive None
- Media Type Flash card
- Recording Speed LP, SP, XP
Lens System
- Type Zoom lens - 2.6 mm - 96.2 mm - F/2.0-5.2
- Focal Length 2.6 mm - 96.2 mm
- Lens Aperture F/2.0-5.2
- Auto Focus Points (Zones) 9
- Optical Zoom 37 x
- Lens system type Zoom lens
- Min focal length 2.6 mm
- Max focal length 96.2 mm
- Auto Focus TTL contrast detection
- Features Built-in lens shield
- Focus Adjustment Automatic
- Min Focus Range 0.4 in
- Zoom Adjustment Motorized drive
Additional Features
- Low Lux / Night Mode Yes
- Digital Still Camera Function Yes
- Additional Features PictBridge support, USB 2.0 compatibility, Dolby Digital AC-3 (2 channel) recording
- Remote control Camcorder remote control
- Software PIXELA Image Mixer
- Included Accessories Wrist strap
Display
- Type LCD display - TFT active matrix - 2.7 in - Color
Digital Player (Recorder)
- Type None
Microphone
- Type Microphone - Built-in
Connections
- Connector Type 1 x Microphone ( Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm ), 1 x USB
Audio Input
- Audio input type Microphone
- Microphone type Built-in
- Microphone Operation Mode Stereo
Miscellaneous
- Cables Included 1 x USB cable, 1 x A/V cable
Power
- Power Device Power adapter - External
Battery
- Supported Battery Canon BP-808
- Supported Battery 1 x Canon BP-808 Li-ion rechargeable battery ( Included )
Manufacturer Warranty
- Service & Support 1 year warranty
- Service & Support Details Limited warranty - 1 year
Viewfinder / Display
- Display Form Factor Rotating
- Display Format 123,000 pixels
Physical Characteristics
- Width 2.3 in
- Depth 4.9 in
- Height 2.4 in
- Weight 9.2 oz
Product series
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Manufacturer: Canon USA
Specs: Camcorder, CCD, 37 x, Flash card, 9.2 oz
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Manufacturer: Canon USA
Specs: Camcorder, CCD, 37 x, Flash card, 9.2 oz
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Manufacturer: Canon USA
Specs: Camcorder, CCD, 37 x, Flash card, 9.2 oz
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Manufacturer: Canon USA
Specs: Camcorder, CCD, 37 x, Flash card, 9.2 oz
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Manufacturer: Canon USA
Specs: Camcorder, CCD, 37 x, Flash card, 9.2 oz
Manufacturer info
- Canon USA
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Canon USA products on Shopper.com
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- Website: http://estore.usa.canon.com/
- Address:
One Canon Plaza, Lake Success, NY 11042 - Phone: 516-328-5000
- Email: mediacontact@cusa.canon.com
