The Canon FS 300 Flash Memory Camcorder is part of the FS series that will lead the company’s Standard Definition (SD) camcorders for 2010. The FS series will include the SD top-line camcorder the Canon FS31. These camcorders will replace 2009’s FS 21, 20 and 200 camcorders. These camcorders will feature a compact and elegant design with superb video recording quality courtesy of Canon’s DIGIC DV II Image Processing system.

The Canon VIXIA HR R100 is part of Canon’s HF R camcorder series that offers portability and good quality video recording capability at an affordable price. This entry-level camcorder comes with Canon’s new features including a genuine Canon lens to render vivid images even for an entry-level camcorder.

The Canon VIXIA HF S200 is one of the three High Definition (HD) camcorders that will lead Canon’s prosumer camcorders for 2010. The HF S200 is a Flash Memory camcorder with two SD/SDHC memory card slots and packed with features and controls that will suffice the needs of many beginner and intermediate users alike. Its eight-megapixel resolution will deliver vivid images with crisp colors and details. Features like Touch and Track, a native 24p video recording mode and a 5.1 Channel Surround Sound capability will provide excellent videos in any environment or setting.

The following camcorders in our comparison are the best midrange prosumer camcorders in the market. With a price range of $1000-$2000, these camcorders are suited for beginner film enthusiasts and videographers alike. These are more than just your basic High Definition (HD) camcorders. These camcorders have great video quality combined with user-friendly functions and boosted manual options for video diversity. We will examine and rate each camcorder based on Value (what the camcorder has to offer), Quality (video performance in different environments), Ease of Use (user-friendliness), Control (manual options) and Overall performance. A maximum score of five goes to each of the categories mentioned.

The Panasonic HDC-SD100 is the less expensive sister of Panasonic’s HDC-HS100. The lower price range is due to the absence of a large hard disk drive like in the HDC-HS100. The HDC-SD100 records exclusively on SD/SDHC memory cards. However, that is where the difference ends; comparing the two camcorders, almost all the features and capabilities are identical.