Labs

The HF100 shares its design and components with the HF10, so it has the same comfortable ergonomics, large 1/3.2in CCD and excellent lens. Both cameras are capable of recording impressively high-quality video for their size.

The difference comes in the way they handle and store footage. This camera lacks the 16GB flash memory of the HF10, meaning you have to rely on SD cards instead.

As with the HF10, this camera's 1,920 x 1,080 maximum resolution provides enough data for editing and playing back footage on large HDTVs, and the high-quality lens produces bright and crisp images free from colour distortion. The camera is also extremely adaptable, including both an external microphone and

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headphone socket, so that sound can be recorded and monitored live.

A hot shoe is also included, although it's a proprietary Canon format, so add-ons are limited to the company's own products. An integrated light and flash have been included anyway, so low-light performance can be improved without having to carry extra kit around.

Because of the space-hungry HD formats these cameras are capable of, it's vital that there be a simple way to transport video on to a sizable screen where it can be shown off to full effect. Helpfully, the HF100 (and also the HF10 above) boasts an integrated HDMI output to connect up to a TV, which can handle both audio and high definition video.

But despite the fact that the HF100 offers the same quality and features as the HF10, and at a lower price, the lack of internal storage eats into any saving you might make.

Although an 8GB SD card will carry an hour of footage, even at the camera's highest settings, none is included in the box, so storage cards will need to be factored in to the cost of the camera. Unfortunately for the HF100, the added convenience of the large internal storage provided by the HF10's flash memory makes up for its increased price, and the HF100 fails to add any value with its pared-down specification.