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Introduction
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01.Product Tour
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02.colour & Noise Performance
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03.Motion & Sharpness Performance
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04.Low Light Performance
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05.Compression & Media
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06.Manual Controls
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07.Still Features
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08.Handling & Use
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09.Playback & Connectivity
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10.Audio & Other Features
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11.Sony HDR-XR520 Comparison
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12.Panasonic HDC-HS300 Comparison
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13.JVC GZ-HD320 Comparison
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14.Conclusion
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15.Photo Gallery
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16.Specs and Ratings
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17.Comments
Canon Legria HF S100
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IntroductionNext: Part 2
colour & Noise Performance
Product Tour Summary
• Enormous new lens and 1/2.6-inch sensor
• Excellent new custom control dial up front
• Comfortable hand strap inconveniently hides AV ports
• LCD panel has a new design, including more responsive VCR controls
• Sleek, black aesthetic is all lens barrel
• Plastic in the body still feels kind of cheap and makes a strange rattle
Lens & Imaging System
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| The large lens on the Canon Legria HF S100 |
For a consumer camcorder, the Canon HF S100 features a very large lens. In fact, the lens has the same filter diameter as the GL2, which is a professional camcorder from Canon that records standard definition video. The lens takes up the entire front side of the Canon HF S100, and its diameter is nearly the width and height of the camcorder itself. The lens features a 10x optical zoom and has a maximum aperture of f/1.8. In addition to the large lens, the HF S100 features a substantial 1/2.6-inch CMOS image sensor.
| Lens | Sensor | |||
| Filter Diameter | 58mm | Type | CMOS | |
| Focal Range | 6.4 - 64mm | Size | 1/2.6-inch | |
| Focal Range (35mm equiv.) | 43.5 - 435mm | Pixel Count (Gross) | 8.59 megapixels | |
| Aperture | f/1.8 - f/3.0 | Pixel Count (Effective) | 6.01 megapixels (video) 8.02 megapixels (photo) |
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| Lab Tested Wide Angle* | 47° | |||
| * How We Test Wide Angle | ||||
Front
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f/1.8, 10x Objective |
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| Canon's external 'Instant AF' sensor |
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Right
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right-side microphone |  |
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Also hidden here: the 1/8-inch mic jack |
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hidden behind the hand strap and a plastic door are three ports: component-out, USB, and HDMI-out |  |
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Back
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composite-out port behind the rubber door |  |
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mode dial |  |
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| Power port located behind the rubber door |  |
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record on/off
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Left
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on-screen display on/off and battery info |
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This button activates the Video Snap recording mode. |
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Function button to access menu |  |
SDHC card slot under this plastic door |  |
small divot to fit joystick when LCD panel is closed |  |
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| Joystick |
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playback controls along the bottom of the LCD screen |  |
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battery release switch |  |
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Top
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Pop-up flash for still photography |  |
zoom toggle |  |
photo button |  |
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power on/off |
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Canon uses a special, proprietary-fit accessory shoe that only uses Canon products.
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Bottom
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tripod mount |  |
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