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. The Canon FS100 isn't the darling child we've come to expect from arguably the best high definition manufacturers out there. It's cheap and light and fairly easy to use, but the video performance is nothing compared to its high definition cousins. The FS100 simply is what it is: a standard definition camcorder that records to memory cards and is about as good as some of the competition. But it isn't just video performance where the FS100 falls short: its menus and controls aren't as intuitive as some popular ultra-compact camcorders. Transferring and editing files could also be a lot easier. Where the FS100 really sets itself apart is in its combination of handling and manual controls. The menus might be a little confusing, but the little tweaks you can make to manual settings are good once you get the hang of them. And the camcorder feels great in your hand: light, comfortable, and stable. If handling is more important to you than video performance, it's a tough decision between the Samsung SC-MX20 and the Canon FS100. But we are big fans of good video performance here, and if you want your standard definition video to look as good as possible, there are better options to be had. The FS100 undoubtedly has a lot to offer. Full of features rare at this kind of price, it certainly looks, feels and handles like a real SD camcorder. Unfortunately the images it produces, while certainly not terrible, somewhat fail to live up to this impression of quality. This makes it difficult to offer a wholehearted recommendation. Nonetheless, for the less demanding or entry-level movie maker who wants a reliable, name-brand camcorder with a decent feature set that won't break the bank, the FS100 could be just the thing.