I have previously owned a couple other camcorders.  When we decided to buy another one,  I wanted one that was smaller and easy to use.  I have had good luck with this camcorder.  We have owned it for over a year and we were able to record graduations, Christmas programs and family holidays. I have been able to upload the videos to my computer without any trouble. I love the 2000x digital zoom and the 48x advanced zoom.   I wish it had a way to silence the sound it makes when I turn it on.  If I am not using it, I turn it off to conserve the battery and I usually end up with a few people turning around and looking at me when I turn it back on.  The sound quality is great.  It is easy to use and it is light.  The battery life is good also.  If the subjects being recorded are not in a well lighted area, it ends up more grainy looking.  It does have a light that can be used in the dark and in closer settings, that has worked well for me.

southernsunshine

Jonesboro, IL

We purchased this camcorder in 2008 and have loved it ever since! It has been very reliable and still works just fine. It is very easy to use and works great for about any kind of recording. The small size is great because it is not heavy and is not hard to hold. The zoom works great and picks up objects quite well. We use ours for younger siblings' sporting events and it has done a great job. One feature in particular that is very nice to have is the ability to plug it into a computer and get the videos directly from the camcorder onto the computer. That way you don't have to use any other plug ins or adapters. The software that we got along with the camcorder was also easy to use and good for basic editing jobs. We also purchased Adobe Premier Elements to do video editing and have had fun creating some fun videos. The only negative comment I would have would be that the battery doesn't last as long as I hoped it would. It charges quickly, though. If you just plan ahead and have it ready to go whenever it shouldn't be a problem unless you're trying to record a long event. For the size, price, and functionability, though, I would definitely say it is worth the price you pay.

ahatch

Las Vegas, NV

The Canon FS100 was my first digital camcorder. I'm mostly happy with it, considering what it is. It's not HD, but still takes good quality video. It's also very lightweight, just over nine ounces. I love the LCD display. It's very clear, and also has an adjustable digital grid marker, which is awesome for composing shots. It also shoots in 16:9 widescreen, which looks very professional, considering. The menu is easy to work with. On my 8GB SD card, in the highest video resolution (XP), I get close to two hours of video. One thing that can be a little confusing is the file format. It's not that it uses .MOD files, which can easily be converted to the standard .MPG simply by renaming them. It's that it haphazard stores them out of sequence. This can be circumvented, but only if you can manipulate your file folder while editing your clips. I would recommend this to anyone who doesn't want to go HD yet.

challengingcase

Inverness, FL

I bought the FS100 about 8 months ago to try and record some family history before my parents are gone (which I recommend everyone do).  We bought a tripod to go along with it and it has worked wonderfully.  We took about 20 hours of video overall.  It was nice to be able to plug the camera in for long-term capture so we didn't have to worry about the battery.  It was also nice to be able to hook it up to the TV while it was taping so we could see exactly what we were getting in big picture.  The functions are very easy to use.  The picture isn't amazing, but it is much better than most digital still-fram cameras will take.  With that in mind, this camera does have still-fram capabilities, but the quality is much lower than most other cameras- I don't recommend itfor still-fram photos.  The software that comes with the camera is moderately usable, though I sought out other software to have more control over my editing and burning.  I bought it refurbished so the price was right, but I don't know that I would pay full price for it.

Rubinstein

Forest Grove, OR

I just got the Canon FS100 a couple days ago. So far I am in love. It even has an easy button... how great is that?? I just tried it out last night in the living room and with a low light, the light on the camera was quite sufficient. I will have to try it outside in pitch black one time and see what the light does with that. The picture is clear. For someone with moderate computer skills it is easy to get the videos on the computer. I have yet to get to a computer with a DVD burner to see how easy it is to convert the files to DVD... I assume it will be fairly easy once I find the right program. I love how it has a counter on the screen that shows show much battery life and how much space is left on the card. I can't say too much as a new user... if I have any bad experiences I will update my review. I bought it for the baby's 1st birthday this week. After the party I will update everyone. So far though, I am saying that everyone should go out and get one. :)

Roxann831

Brookfield, IL