Canon keeps 'em coming with six new SD camcorders

If your budget just won't stretch far enough to snap up a high-def camcorder, Canon's also got a half dozen SD versions on the horizon. Here at CES, the company is unveiling the FS22, FS21 and FS200 Flash Memory camcorders, which are up to 17% tinier than previous FS models and include up to 32GB of internal memory to complement the SDHC card slot. The DC420 and DC410 DVD camcorders should explain themselves, and looking at the ZR960 MiniDV is almost like stepping back in time. A few more details are provided in the read link, but don't bother hunting for a price or release date.

Gallery: Canon keeps 'em coming with six new SD camcorders

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[Boarderwoot @ Jan 5th 2009 2:51PM]

That's some horrible design work. You'd think they'd atleast try and put the buttons right side up.

[Kris120890 @ Jan 5th 2009 2:59PM]

You forgot to put sarcasm warnings. Either that or you're incredibly stupid.

[Boarderwoot @ Jan 5th 2009 3:14PM]

I didn't forget. I can't put /sarcasm because the sarcasm doesn't end just because I've pushed the "add comment" button

[allislost @ Jan 5th 2009 2:52PM]

I'd rather get a hoagie

[loocas @ Jan 5th 2009 6:35PM]

Awwww... commere, I'll make you one extra long!

[cstreiffpriceline @ Jan 5th 2009 2:56PM]

Secure Digital camcorder? cool. Is that new, really?

[rock99rock @ Jan 5th 2009 3:26PM]

Standard Definition.

[Eddie @ Jan 5th 2009 2:57PM]

For the budget film maker Canon's SD cams are a godsend because they normally have a mic input, thus allowing better sound to be achieved so for those who can't afford a HD cam and a Mac to edit it on - these are still sweet.

[loocas @ Jan 5th 2009 6:34PM]

Or, spare the "Mac" part and buy a proper HD camcorder and edit your videos on Windows software for fracture of the price of the Mac and FinalCut.

[pika2000 @ Jan 5th 2009 3:02PM]

Samsung SC-MX20 is already available for $200-$250, and it records in H.264 format. Previous Canon's SD camcorders use MPEG2, and is not that easy to edit with consumer software. With prices of flash memory going down, I hope Canon will price these competitively.

[Dan Fruzzetti @ Jan 5th 2009 3:17PM]

They always look all funny when they flip the screens over to show them off. We all (with the exception of the FC) know the "typical" orientation for the screen when on is open, facing back, so the buttons will be upside-down when the screen is flipped, and we also all understand that everyone wants to show off ALL the external bells and whistles of their products (in this case they chose to put the lens and the screen in one photograph).

But it's still kinda funny when you see it. It's like, why don't you just show me a front view and a rear view in the same picture with the screen open at its typical 90 degrees without any flip?

[Wolfticket @ Jan 5th 2009 3:25PM]

The fact that camcorders can be SD (standard definition) or HD (high defintion) and can use either HDs (hard drives) or SD (secure digital cards) as storage leads to some confusion when reading articles such as this (at least in my tiny mind).

[rock99rock @ Jan 5th 2009 3:30PM]

No, I'm pretty sure it ends with one comment and begins again with the next.

[fistpittingnork @ Jan 5th 2009 3:39PM]

"looking at the the ZR960 MiniDV is almost like stepping back in time."

May be an older format than other digital camcorders, but still offers quite a few benefits over flash and hdd. Newer is not always better.

I prefer MiniDV for the excellent DV compression. My Panasonic PV-GS320 records a better picture than my brother's HD HDD Canon.

[Alex @ Jan 5th 2009 4:01PM]

Now that is a stretch. I had the previous year's Panasonic GS300 (which is nearly identical to the Gs320 in performance) and it was nice for it's time with the 3CCD (very tiny CCDs @ 1/6). Cobined that with the fact that Pansonic lied that they improved the low light on the GS320 to 8 lux yet when tested by camcorder info put out a disastrous 23lux in order to produce 50 IRE (whereas an Canon HV20/30) can do hit 3 lux in 24p. http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/Panasonic-PV-GS320-Camcorder-Review-32895/Performance.htm

I can honestly say that my GS300 was terrible in low light and the same sad performance came out of the GS320 with it's 23 lux sensitivity.

I figured the GS500 was a better bet at that time anyways (1/4" 3CCDs, true 16x9 aspect ratio.

There is no way the Gs320/300 would look better than a current generation SD camcorder like these Canons here.

[johnny @ Jan 5th 2009 3:43PM]

I have a HV20 and have been reasonably pleased with it. I definitely wish it used SSD but I went for miniDV due to quality and compatibility issues. I'm waiting for a 1080p camera that has great quality, and records to SSD.
http://www.woopid.com/

[fistpittingnork @ Jan 5th 2009 4:10PM]

I wouldn't expect my year and a half - two year old camcorder to meet or beat these new Canons, but connected to the same TV, my Panasonic > my brother's Canon which is a little over a year old, though I can't tell you which model.

I was defending the remark towards MiniDV. Again, it may be an older digital format, but it's definitely not one to be ashamed about using, it still performs quite nicely and is the preferred format for quite a few people.

[FILA @ Jan 5th 2009 4:32PM]

SD=Standard Def in this case. Thats going back in time.

[loocas @ Jan 5th 2009 6:31PM]

The only thing that's missing is interlaced, black&white only recording to a tape.

[Gonza71 @ Jan 5th 2009 4:55PM]

Yes, how wonderful! Just make sure when you look for features Canon advertises for their camcorders call them to find out if they really mean it. For example they advertise “USB streaming” feature for VIXIA HF100, HF10 and HF11 camcorders on their website which is not really there. And when you call to find out where is “USB streaming” they will tell you that by saying “USB 2.0 Hi-Speed Terminal for digital video streaming and ultra-fast transfer of movies and photos” they really meant just “USB transfer”. What a lousy and cheap marketing!

[Andrew Warner @ Jan 23rd 2009 10:10PM]

I wish I read Gonza71's comment before I bought this damn camera. I've been wresting with it for hours and "USB streaming" doesn't seem to exist on this thing. I feel like Canon lied to me, but I'll keep checking to see if there's any way to stream.

[theogcasey @ Jan 5th 2009 5:05PM]

will these be mac compatible? the FS100 isn't and is a pain to deal with when editing in imovie and stuff.

[Nonpayment @ Jan 9th 2009 3:30PM]

Soooo, do any of them do night time recording? Come on, we need more competition with sony.

[loocas @ Jan 5th 2009 6:30PM]

SD? 2009?