Canon FS

Compact, attractive design; mic input.

No optical image stabilization; ineffective wind filter; no headphone jack; modest video quality.

Convenient, well-designed camcorders that look pricier than they are, models in the Canon FS series--FS11, FS10, and FS100--nevertheless deliver typical budget video in line with their budget price tags.

This has proven to be one of the most durable and versatile cameras I have ever owned. Excellent battery life and recharging speed.

Difficulty with focusing in low-light conditions, cannot handle sodium lighting at all (goes totally out of focus). Lacks image stabilization. Unable to "live stream" video to computer via USB. No Firewire or video time code.