Canon FS400 information from Consumer Reports

Canon FS400

Approximate retail price:

$269.99

Summary: A standard-definition camcorder from Canon with an SD memory-card slot, 37x optical zoom, and an image stabilizer.

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Type: Standard-definition camcorders

About - Canon FS400
The FS400 is a 0.45-megapixel camcorder with 37x optical zoom and has a 35mm-equivalent focal length range of 48mm-1776mm. It has a live-view 2.6-inch LCD. The camcorder has a maximum aperture of f/2. The camcorder allows manual setting of focus and white balance. The FS400 stores video and photos on SD, SDHC and SDXC memory cards but has no on-board storage. It captures video as MPEG-2 files at a top resolution of 720x480 and 0.8-megapixel resolution stills as JPG files. The image stabilization system for this camcorder is electronic. The FS400 measures 2 3/8 inches wide by 2 3/8 inches high by 5 inches in length, and weighs 0.6 pounds.

About - Canon FS400

The FS400 is a 0.45-megapixel camcorder with 37x optical zoom and has a 35mm-equivalent focal length range of 48mm-1776mm. It has a live-view 2.6-inch LCD.

The camcorder has a maximum aperture of f/2. The camcorder allows manual setting of focus and white balance.

The FS400 stores video and photos on SD, SDHC and SDXC memory cards but has no on-board storage. It captures video as MPEG-2 files at a top resolution of 720x480 and 0.8-megapixel resolution stills as JPG files.

The image stabilization system for this camcorder is electronic.

The FS400 measures 2 3/8 inches wide by 2 3/8 inches high by 5 inches in length, and weighs 0.6 pounds.

About This Brand
A key player in the camcorder market. Canon's Vixia high-definition camcorders, which record to media cards and flash memory, consistently offer good to very good performance. Select models offer Wi-Fi connectivity and all models are now compatible with Eye-Fi SD memory cards. Canon does not offer inexpensive pocket video cameras.
Read our Brand Reliability

About This Brand

A key player in the camcorder market. Canon's Vixia high-definition camcorders, which record to media cards and flash memory, consistently offer good to very good performance. Select models offer Wi-Fi connectivity and all models are now compatible with Eye-Fi SD memory cards. Canon does not offer inexpensive pocket video cameras.

Read our Brand Reliability

Features & Specs - Canon FS400
Weight (lbs.) This is measured in pounds and includes the recording media. Weight (lbs.)	0.6
Size While camcorders are generally getting smaller, they do range in size, from the smallest pocket size through the mini-palm, and palm sizes. Overall, camcorders are typically much more compact than those from years ago. Instead of recording to tape or DVD, camcorders nowadays use either a compact hard-disk drive or flash memory. The smallest models on the market use flash memory. Size	Average
Optical zoom Allows the camcorder to fill the frame with far-away objects at the touch of a button. An optical zoom rated at 16x means the camcorder can magnify the image up to 16 times the normal size. Optical zoom	37X
LCD size (in.) This is the size of the image displayed on the LCD. Measured diagonally, it typically ranges from approximately 2 to 3 inches. With some models, the image does not fill the whole screen when recording. For these models, this number is smaller than the physical size of the screen. LCD size (in.)	2.6
Built-in light Provides illumination for close-ups when the image would otherwise be too dark, but it's no substitute for a well-lit room. A built-in light is more convenient than a clip-on one. Many camcorders have an automatic setting for turning the light on. Built-in light	Yes
HDMI output Has High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) output for direct digital-audio and video connection -- via a single cable -- to digital TVs with HDMI input. Can output 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i, and for some models, 1080p video signals. Standard-definition video is referred to 480i; progressive-scan or "enhanced definition" is 480p; high-definition consists of the 720p and 1080i signals, where 1080i also may be referred to as "full HD". 1080p is a progressive-scan HD format, found on some HD camcorders and on all Blu-ray players. HDMI output	No
AV Input These let you record sound or images from another camcorder or VCR. AV Input	No
Microphone input Jack for an external microphone to improve sound quality and prevent picking up noise from the camcorder. An alternative to using the built-in mike. Microphone input	No
Digital still capable Some camcorders can take snapshots, much like a digital camera (though not necessarily of the same quality). The camcorder can then be plugged into a computer and the images downloaded from the memory. Using a removable memory card (such as MemoryStick, Compact Flash, or SD Card) you can transfer stills to a computer without having to connect the camcorder, but you need proper card-reader hardware. Digital still capable	Yes
Headphone out An output for connecting a pair of headphones to the camcorder. Headphone out	No
Remote A remote control is handy for operating the camcorder from a distance (say, to allow the user to be in the picture). It's also useful in playback mode since all the buttons are easily at hand. Remote	No
More features and specs

Additional Information (The information below has been supplied by an external source.)

General Information
Manufacturer	Canon, Inc
Manufacturer Website Address	www.usa.canon.com
Product Model	FS400
Product Name	FS400 Digital Camcorder
Product Type	Digital Camcorder

User Reviews - Canon FS400

Consumer Reports User Reviews

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cgeneman

from

Akron, Ohio

(17 of 18 customers found this review helpful)

2.0

Very average video quality

7/6/2012

Pros

Convenient size

Cons

Performance/quality problems

Poor low-light performer

Best Uses

Travel

Comment:

Grainy low light video, poor still photos

How long have you owned it:

More than six months

Bottom Line

No, I would not recommend this to a friend.

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