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Canon LEGRIA FS21 Review
| Author | James Morris |
| Published | 9th May 2009 |
| Manufacturer | Canon |
| Price | £330.43 (Exc VAT) |
| as reviewed | £379.99 (Inc VAT) |
| Latest Price | Click here |
| Features |  |
| Image Quality |  |
| Value | |
| Overall | |
4 comments
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TrustedReviews NewslettersAlthough high definition camcorders started to reach affordable levels in 2008, the credit crunch has pushed prices back up. So you may now consider the 2009 models too pricey again and instead plan to stick with standard definition. There are other reasons to eschew the higher resolution, though, many of which are epitomised by Canon's LEGRIA FS21. The successor to the FS11, it's light and compact, yet promises quality and features beyond its size, with storage and battery life for hours of shooting.
Internally, the FS21 isn't that different from its predecessor. The sensor is still a 1/6in CCD with 1.07-megapixels. The maximum still image resolution remains a modest 1,152 x 864, and 710,000 pixels are employed when shooting video. Since this is about 70 per cent more than is required for standard definition video at 720 x 576, Canon can extend the already enormous 37x optical zoom to 45x with its Advanced Zoom system. This is a digital zoom, but without the loss of detail usually associated with expanding the frame digitally. You can turn on digital zoom as well, with a ludicrous 2,000x factor, but you won't be able to make out anything at full telephoto. Amorphous blotches of colour will be all you can see.
This model also includes 16GB of flash memory and offers the same three quality modes as the FS11, ranging from LP at 3Mbits/sec to XP at 9Mbits/sec. Even in the top mode, the onboard memory will be sufficient for over three and a half hours of footage. There is also an SD memory card slot hidden in the same compartment as the battery. The latter is reassuringly large and provides over three hours of power, which is a good thing as the captive format means that there will be no option for a larger battery.
Where higher-end features are concerned, the FS21 sits in a slightly curious halfway house between pure point-and-shoot and more serious camcorders. It doesn't have a lens ring or accessory shoe, but Canon has blessed it with minijacks for an external microphone and headphones. The latter also doubles as an AV output, with the function switchable in the menu.
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Lupti said on 30th May 2009
James Morris said on 31st May 2009
@Lupti I'm sure I will be reviewing the FS200 sometime soon! We review pretty much every camcorder out there here. The FS200 has a different CCD to the FS21, so I really can&#... more
Lupti said on 3rd June 2009
Ok, you´re right, the FS200 has a lower resolution sensor. However, there is still the Canon Legria FS20 out. It costs only around 20 € or $ more and comes with the megapixel... more
Ztch said on 10th July 2009
The software provided by Pixela is a disgrace, completely dysfunctional. You cannot get pictures into a PC. Canon say there is no alternative software. Pixela don't answer the... more
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Well, you should have mentioned that there is the Legria FS200 available. It is essential the same as the FS21, but without internal memory and with a little bit less advanced zoom... more