Canon HF100 camcorder
- Brand: Canon
- Subject: Camcorders
- Category: HD Camcorders
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Canon expands its award-winning High Definition (HD) camcorder range with the announcement of a groundbreaking flash memory-based model. The compact Canon HD Camcorder HF100 will thrill creative moviemakers who want maximum mobility and the chance to shoot High Definition footage in challenging new environments. The Canon HF100 offers the convenience of shooting straight to memory card. Flash Memory allows the Canon HF100 to offer a range of benefits compared to camcorders based on other media: like Hard Disk Drives (HDD), the camcorder provides extended recording times; but it is more compact than DVD camcorders; and it provides superb image quality, comparable with the standard set by High Definition Video (HDV).

Canon HF100 camcorder - Resolution
Featuring the acclaimed Canon HD Camera System, the Canon HF100 High Definition model is also the first HD camcorder from Canon to record at 1920x1080 Full HD video resolution. More power-efficient and robust than other recording media, flash memory also results in significantly smaller, lighter HD camcorder designs - the Canon HF100 weighs in at approximately 380g. The new Canon HF100 digital video camcorder records directly to standard SD or SDHC memory cards.
Canon HF100 SD camcorder - Full HD recording
“The Canon HF100 and HF1000 extend Canon’s High Definition range with the very latest in recording technology,” said Mogens Jensen, Head of Canon Consumer Imaging Europe. “Combining the quality of the Canon HD Camera System with flash memory and 1920x1080 Full HD recording - not to mention the unique advantages of Dual Flash Memory with the HF100 - these products re-define what can be achieved with a Canon HD camcorder.”
Canon HF100 High Definition camcorder - SD and SHDC memory
The Canon HF100 records Full HD movies directly to standard SD or SDHC memory cards. Versatile and compact, these removable cards are ideal for sharing movies with friends and family. Video is easily transferred to a computer for editing or uploading to the web via a single USB cable, or by inserting cards into a compatible reader. Recording capacity is only limited by the size of the card.

Canon HF100 features
• stores video and stills direct to SD/SDHC memory card
• Stylish, lightweight design with the power of 1920x1080 Full HD recording
• Canon HD Camera System for outstanding quality
• 12x optical zoom Canon HD Video Lens with Super Range Optical Image Stabilizer
• New 3.3MP Full HD CMOS sensor
• DIGIC DV II image processor
• Instant AF for super-fast, accurate auto focusing
• New Intelligent battery system, with extended battery life
• Advanced photo features, including 3.1MP still image capture
• Multi-angle Vivid LCD screen
• Bundled software: Canon Solution Disk and Pixela ImageMixer 3 SE
• Versatile recording system: new mini Advanced Accessory Shoe, microphone input with manual audio controls; HDMI and component outputs; compatible with Canon’s new Canon DVD burner DW-100
Canon HF100 HD video camera - Design and Finish
Flash camcorders offer several key advantages. They require less power and offer faster start up times than camcorders that use traditional recording media. Flash memory is also physically smaller than other media, allowing for a significantly lighter and smaller camcorder design. Finished in high quality silver, the new model is compact enough to be carried in a jacket pocket. Since flash memory involves no moving parts, footage is less vulnerable to the knocks and bumps a camcorder is often subjected to.
Canon HF100 digital video - HD1080i recording
The new HF100 is the first HD camcorder from Canon to record HD1080i video at the maximum resolution permitted by the AVCHD (Advanced Video Codec for High Definition) standard: 1920x1080 Full HD. Perfectly matched with the latest Full HD TVs, this picture size delivers the very best possible image quality. Boosting image quality even further, the Canon HF100 camcorder has an increased maximum average data rate of 17Mbps during recording. In total, users can choose between four recording quality modes.
Canon HD Camera System
The Canon HF100 benefits from cutting edge technological advances and refinements made to the Canon HD Camera System.6 Both camcorders benefit from the improved resolution and image quality of Canon’s new 3.3MP Full HD CMOS sensor, the extended range of the new 12x optical zoom Canon HD Video Lens, and the DIGIC DV II processor. Since Canon manufactures all of these key components in-house, each is designed to integrate seamlessly with the other – providing the best possible performance and image quality. The 12x optical zoom lens incorporates Canon’s Super Range Optical Image Stabilizer (OIS), an advanced system that combines two methods of shake detection to better eliminate vibrations caused by a variety of factors - from slow breathing patterns to the rapid vibrations of a car journey.

Canon HF100 - HD resolution and Advanced accessory shoe
Instant AF is an extremely fast, highly accurate auto focus system that has been specially designed to meet the requirements of HD resolution imaging. Inherited from Canon’s professional XH series HD camcorders, Instant AF makes it easy to achieve absolute HD clarity. Enabling full shooting freedom, the HF100 offers a number of advanced features for ambitious moviemakers. A dedicated microphone input connection allows an external microphone to be attached: allowing filmmakers to capture sound more accurately, distracting background noise is reduced. Optional peripherals can be attached to the camcorder via a mini Advanced Accessory Shoe. For playback, HDMI and component output ports allow the camcorder to be connected directly to an HD TV. A USB connection enables easy transfer of footage to a computer. Data transfer and live capture via HDMÍ is also possible with compatible computers. Both camcorders come supplied with software for management of video and stills.
Canon High Definition camcorder - DVD burner support
To make sharing footage with friends and family even easier, The Canon HF100 is compatible with Canon’s new standalone Canon DVD Burner DW-100. The burner connects directly to the camcorder, allowing videos to be copied to a standard DVD without the need for a computer. The DW-100 can be used to burn discs in either AVCHD format, for HD footage, or standard DVD-R format when used with a Standard Definition camcorder. The DVD burner can also be used to play back AVCHD DVD’s when connected to a TV via a compatible camcorder.
Canon HF100 High Def camcorder - Battery and Power
A new Intelligent lithium-ion battery provides a clear indication of power levels during shooting. Accurate to the minute, the system makes it easier to avoid those awkward moments when power unexpectedly runs out. Offering extended battery life as standard, the HF100 is also compatible with Canon’s high capacity battery pack (BP-819) - the perfect accessory for extended shooting days.

Canon DIGIC DV II and advanced digital photography
Canon’s unique DIGIC DV II processor is designed to handle the increased data rate of HD images. It employs advanced noise reduction technology to deliver sharp, crisp HD video. DIGIC DV II optimizes recorded colours, ensuring that they appear as vibrant and bright as they do in real life. DIGIC DV II is also the driving force behind both camcorders’ advanced still photography features. Alongside a built-in flash, PictBridge connection and histogram display for monitoring brightness levels, it allows users to capture still photographs while shooting video: since digital photos have unique colour requirements, DIGIC DV II provides separate processing paths for video and stills - optimizing colours for each.
Canon HF100 digital HD camcorder - LCD and HCAR surface
The new Canon HF100 both features Canon’s 2.7" Multi-angle Vivid LCD. With the broadest colour gamut of any Canon camcorder LCD, the screen has HCAR surface treatment to minimize glare. Its exceptionally wide 135-degree viewing angle makes it easier for friends to gather around the screen and review footage.