Cameras: Canon FS11 AVCHD Camcorder – 71

I had the pleasure of reviewing the Panasonic HCD-SD1 last year, and at the time commented that the AVCHD-based unit presented the video consumer with a compelling new format (the HCD-SD1 ended up sharing Tone’s 2007 Best of the Year Award for best camcorder, by the way). Canon’s FS11 is the top model in the company’s SD stable and definitely benefits from the advantages flash memory makes available, such as low power consumption and a minimum of moving parts, allowing for compact design. The dilemma it presents, though, is its proximity in price to low-end HD cams, and it’s on this basis that it has to be judged.

The immediate impact the FS11 makes is its size, or lack thereof. It is seriously compact. Many pictures I had seen of it on the web prior to receiving the review model were actually larger than life. The use of flash memory storage has allowed Canon to create a cam with a very minimal profile. It bears some aesthetic similarity to the aforementioned Panasonic, particularly due to the large mode selection dial on the back. At the centre of this dial is a hard-to-miss record on/off button that, in common with the rest of the basic shooting controls, is positioned right where it should be.

In keeping with most current camcorder designs, opening the 6.9cm LCD viewfinder reveals other controls. The point-and-shoot demographic will immediately want to locate the Easy button, which sets the FS11 to its very competent full auto mode. Manual controls include manual focus, but this is performed using the small menu navigation joystick to the left of the viewfinder and did not provide stellar results. Best to let the CPU do the thinking and concentrate on framing your shots. Budding Spielbergs can also use the three image effect presets (Vivid, Neutral, Soft Skin), which basically determine how colour is captured.

The FS11 has a one megapixel CCD, allowing it to produce 1152 x 864 stills of passable quality. Both stills and video are stored on either SD/SDHC memory cards or 16GB of internal memory that provides more than 220 minutes of recording time at highest quality setting.

The Canon’s low light and colour performance were pretty good for a single CCD product. Colours sometimes appeared oversaturated and image grain became evident once light levels dropped, neither of which comes as any great surprise as all camcorders in this class present these issues to varying degrees. But again the alluring spectre of HD rears its head. For a few more dollars you could step up to the high definition plate, with all of its increased resolution and colour depth. Remember, though, that this would be a low-end HD product that would come with its own drawbacks.

JUSTIN REDDING

What they said

“This is a great camcorder for point-and-shooters or those who just want something they can turn on and never have to mess with. The new Easy mode that Canon created this year is perhaps the best idiot-proofing we’ve ever seen. When engaged, it’s virtually impossible to hit the wrong button, making it a great gift idea for the technophobe in your life.” – www.camcorderinfo.com

45x Zoom?!

Even though the lens on the FS11 can only achieve 37x magnification, Canon has managed to bump that up to 45x without any loss in resolution. But how? With a feature called Advanced Zoom. The FS11′s CCD contains more pixels than are required for 720 x 576 video. The extra 8x is achieved by using a smaller area of the CCD when zoomed beyond the lens’s limits. The result is a reduction in light sensitivity but no perceptible loss of detail. Nifty.

Specifications

Zoom: 37x optical

Display: 2.7-inch TFT LCD

Storage: 16GB onboard, MMC, SD

Resolution (stills): 0.8 megapixels

Image type (stills): JPG

Microphone: Built in

Battery: Lithium-ion rechargeable

Dimensions: 58 x 60 x 124mm (W/H/D)

Weight: 310g incl battery

Pros

• Extremely compact and light
• Huge battery life
• More shock-resistant than HDD cams
• No need for disposable media

Cons

• Close in price to low-end HD cams

• Image quality limited by single CCD and SD resolution

Verdict

If you’re totally sold on an SD camcorder or have budget restrictions, the Canon FS11 is definitely worth a test drive.