Panasonic HDL-SD100 or Canon HF 100

[asprint]

Hi hope that somebody can give me some quick advise to help me decide today?

I have the oportunity to get a Panasonic HDC-SD100 at £386 or the Canon HF100 at £450.

The Panasonic has the veiwfinder, separate focus ring and a higher std capcity battery, the Canon seems to have the better low light?

Any help would be appreciated in helping me decide?

[senu]

I know the Canon but not the Panasonic apart from knowing of it
I dont think performance wise the Canon is miles ahead but I like a viewfinder ( Glare, battery life ect) and a manual focus ring ( if it works ) is great
If you have a chance to give it back, I would take the Panasonic
The Canon is great but Ive nt hear any bad thing about the Panasonic to make the Canon worth £ 60 more

[asprint]

Originally Posted by senu

I know the Canon but not the Panasonic apart from knowing of it
I dont think performance wise the Canon is miles ahead but I like a viewfinder ( Glare, battery life ect) and a manual focus ring ( if it works ) is great
If you have a chance to give it back, I would take the Panasonic
The Canon is great but Ive nt hear any bad thing about the Panasonic to make the Canon worth £ 60 more

Thanks for the advice/opinion.

Went and had a feel and play with both in the shop.

Went for the Panasonic in the end.

[alfie786]

I know it been some time so what do u think about the panasonic ?

at that price u got a deal its still over 450 most places that pana?

[asprint]

Originally Posted by alfie786

I know it been some time so what do u think about the panasonic ?

at that price u got a deal its still over 450 most places that pana?

Very pleased so far.

Having the seperate viewfinder and manual focus ring I find very helpful.

Its slightly larger and heavier than the SD9 it replaced, but I feel that gives more stability in use.

Last week they were £430, so yes I am pleased at the price paid, but next week they could be even lower or just simply sold out?

[alfie786]

ok lets say i got a sd-100 at £386 they have the canon hf100 for 450.

which is also easiet to convert to make simple movies and

yourself using the sd-100 whats it like rec in the dark i hear there is a new firmware to mak it better anyone tried that ??

[garydhooper]

I assume that you are looking at Currys who are selling the SD100 for £386 and the HF100 for £449. Currys also had the Panny SD9 for £299 and the well reviewed Sansumg HD camcorder (cannot remember model no.) at £299.

(Note that all the above items have prices ending in 97p so these are both discontinued by Currys and are no longer available on their web site. My local Currys ad 5 HF100s in stock last week but then one day they all dissappeared. I got mine from Bluewater and it was the last one other than the display model.)

When faced with this choice myself last week I went for the HF100.
My reasoning, according to the reviews that I have read the HF100 has better video quality, especially in lower light e.g. indoors - and I often use the camcorder for filming the kids indoors.

The SD100 has advantages (£60 cheaper, face recognition, more manual controls, viewfinder) but at the end of the day video quality was most important to me.

Have a look at the reviews e.g.
Panasonic HDC-SD100 Review and User Opinions - Panasonic - Camcorders Reviews by Digital Trends

and a personal comparison of the Panny and Canon at:
Panasonic HDC-SD100 vs. Canon HF100 | Acmelabs' Blog

Interestingly the first reviews that I have seen of the replacement models (Panasonic SD20 and Canon HF20/200) indicate that video quality was better on the old range.

Canon HF20 review (same as HF200 but with built in memory) - replacement for HF10/11/100 range

Canon Vixia HF20 Camcorder Review - Canon Flash Memory

"What did shock us, however, was how steep of a downgrade the HF20 really is. Sure, it's smaller and lighter than the HF11, but it simply doesn't have the video performance"

Panny HS20 - same as SD20 but with Hard Disk. Replaces the old Panny SD9

Panasonic HDC-HS20 Review - Camcorder Reviews - TrustedReviews

"Its performance is a little behind even the HDC-SD9 overall, and its low light abilities are noticeably inferior"

I haven't seen any reviews of the SD200 but it has the same sensors as the 300 range I think and that has been getting very good reviews.

[bennettp23]

Hi there,

Just to let prospective HF100 buyers using Manchester Airport soon that yesterday I got a HF100 for £360 from Dixons there!

They had 3 in, one was display so there must be 1 display and 1 boxed still left (unless sold out obviously).

Thanks

[UrbanT]

Originally Posted by bennettp23

Hi there,

Just to let prospective HF100 buyers using Manchester Airport soon that yesterday I got a HF100 for £360 from Dixons there!

They had 3 in, one was display so there must be 1 display and 1 boxed still left (unless sold out obviously).

Thanks

Thats a brilliant deal. Is anyone near to this Dixons that could pick me one up?

[lawrenso]

Originally Posted by UrbanT

Thats a brilliant deal. Is anyone near to this Dixons that could pick me one up?

Hi Urban, I usually fly through Manchester every week but unfortunately I won't be going through until the 14th and doubt they would be in there by then. I will have a look though.

Got my iMac from there the other week for @130 less than elsewhere. Plan to get myself a camcorder and camera from there over the next few months if the prices are right that is

if you want me to check - let me know

Cheers

Steve

[UrbanT]

That would be excellent, thanks. I do have my eye on a couple on Ebay but if I'm unsuccessful perhaps I'll get a new one.

[ChewyWahid]

Originally Posted by UrbanT

That would be excellent, thanks. I do have my eye on a couple on Ebay but if I'm unsuccessful perhaps I'll get a new one.

I have my eye on a new HF100 from a American seller on ebay, but they ship from a UK address. My only reservation is the PAL vs NTSC and not sure if there's an issue.

[alfie786]

I heard that the UK pal model is better than the US ntsc models recording speed .

Please make sue you do not fall for the US model which on ebay are being stated as being sent from UK. I nearly went for the hgv20 for cheap untill i found out they are U.S.

I managed to get a refurb from a shop but no box for £370 light use and tiny marks. with everytin except original box and the did get the sd100 for 387 at currys as it was supposedly much more than 500 quid. The canon was 450 so was much more werent if it was that much better in light do u think its worth £70 more ?? how about this refurb i picked up no need to decide which to keep not opened the sd100 yet. canon looked brillthough i can its not good in dark noise everywhere

[A n d r e w]

Pass.

[garydhooper]

Currys are also selling the well reviewed JVC HD30 HD camcorder with 80Gb HDD for £350. Much cheaper than anywhere else that I have seen.