Specials Outlet
Canon FS11 16GB flash memory camcorder

Notes from our Product Research Team (meet the team)

General Features
Video Camcorder Features
Digital Still Camera Features
Battery Information
Inputs And Outputs
Software Requirements

General Features

2.7" Widescreen LCD Screen: The FS11 features a 2.7" TFT, color widescreen LCD screen (123,000 pixels) to make it easy to compose and review your shots. The bright screen lets you see exactly what your camcorder is recording, and what your widescreen TV will display later. You can rotate the LCD screen 90-degrees downward and 180-degrees toward the lens allowing the subject to monitor the LCD screen. The LCD screen also features an adjustable brightness control. The LCD Screen's frame contains zoom, playback and menu controls for added convenience.

Note: This camcorder does not feature a separate viewfinder.

Dual Flash Memory: The Canon FS11 camcorder captures video and still-image footage onto an optional SD or SDHC media card (sold separately) or its internal 16GB flash memory drive. Flash memory offers quick response time for recording and playback. By recording onto flash memory, the camcorder's power consumption rate is reduced, allowing the battery to last longer. In addition, by using flash memory, the camcorder is more shock resistant and is less likely to loose data because there are no moving parts. A Class 2 or higher SD (64MB-2GB)/SDHC (4GB-32GB) card is recommended. Movie recordings require cards with 128 MB of memory or more.

Image Sensor: The FS11 features a 1/6" (3mm) CCD imager with 1,070,000 gross pixels. The 410,000 to 710,000 effective video pixels in 16:9 mode and 310,000 to 690,000 pixels in 4:3 mode provide excellent detail and clarity for exceptional digital video. The 800,000 effective still megapixels in a 4:3 aspect ratio and 600,000 effective still megapixels in a 16:9 aspect ratio provide exceptional digital still photography performance The zoom setting effects the effective pixel count in 16:9 and 4:3 mode.

  • 16:9 Movie Mode:
    • Advanced Zoom: 410,000 (telephoto) and 710,000 (wide-angle)
    • Optical/Digital Zoom: 550,000
  • 4:3 Movie Mode:
    • Advanced Zoom: 310,000 (telephoto) and 690,000 (wide-angle)
    • Optical/Digital Zoom: 690,000
  • Still Images (4:3): 800,000
  • Still Images (16:9): 600,000

Digic DV II: DIGIC DV II ensures optimal video image quality. It also ensures optimal image quality for still images, even though video and still images have different color requirements. The DIGIC DV ll image processing produces video with improved color reproduction; especially in skin tones, and dark and light scenes. It also uses a hybrid noise reduction system that employs two types of noise reduction for high definition images that are crystal clear. Plus, DIGIC DV ll features improved continuous shooting of digital photographs with the FS11. You can shoot five 1152 x 648 still images per second, and enjoy faster processing of your images to your memory card. It also helps lower power consumption for longer battery life.

Genuine Canon Video Lens: The FS11 comes with a Genuine Canon video lens with a 37x Optical zoom and 2000x total digital zoom. The camcorder offer three types of zoom - Optical, Advanced and Digital zoom.

  • 37x Optical Zoom: The zoom range is limited to the optical magnification ratio of the lens which is 37x.
  • 48x/55x Advanced Zoom: In addition to the optical zoom range, the camcorder processes the image digitally to obtain a larger zoom range without any deterioration in image quality. 48x Advanced Zoom is used for 16:9 aspect ratio images, while 55x Advanced Zoom is used for 4:3 aspect ratio images.
  • 2000x Digital Zoom: When this option is selected, the camcorder will switch to digital zoom. With digital zoom the image is processed digitally so image quality will deteriorated the more you zoom in.

Note: The zoom speed can be set to variable or one of three fixed speeds. In the variable position, the zoom speed depends on how far you push the lever. The purpose of the three fixed zoom speeds is a smoother zoom transition, at your choice of speeds.

Image Stabilizer: A high quality electronic image stabilization system corrects camera shake instantly, giving you smooth, stable pictures. It enables you to record shake-free images, even on long telephoto shots without a tripod.

16:9 High Resolution: This Canon FS11 uses the entire width of its image sensor to record video in true 16:9 format. By capturing more pixels,  you get better image quality. If you generally play your camcorder footage on a widescreen TV, use the WideScreen mode to record video in the 16:9 aspect ratio. The full width of the CCD imager is used to capture video in true 16:9 format. When playing widescreen footage with the camcorder output set for a 4:3 screen you'll have the letterbox black bars on the top and bottom of the screen.

Focus Modes: The Canon FS11 features a Manual, Auto and Infinity Focus modes.

  • Manual Focus: With manual focus, you can manually adjust the focus of the camcorder using the touch panel. Manual focusing also allows you to control the focus in difficult situations where either the environment or the subject does not allow the camcorder's auto focus to perform optimally, such as when shooting through a window or in a crowded environment.
  • Auto Focus: Auto Intelligent Auto Focus ensures sharp images and gives creative flexibility. Even when your subject isn't in the center of the frame, the FS11's 9 Point AiAF will bring it into sharp focus.
  • Infinity Focus: Use this function when you wish to focus on faraway subject such as mountains or fireworks.

Exposure Mode: The Canon FS11 allows you to select from the following exposure modes.

  • Manual Exposure Adjustment: At times, backlit subjects may appear too dark (underexposed) or subjects under very strong lights may appear too bright or glaring (overexposed). To correct this, you can manually adjust the exposure from neutral (±0) to +11 or -11.
  • Easy Recording: Camcorder will adjust focus, exposure and other settings, leaving you free to point and shoot
  • Program AE: the camcorder automatically adjust the aperture and shutter speed to obtain the optimal exposure for the subject
  • Shutter-Priority AE: the camcorder automatically sets the appropriate aperture value while you set the shutter speed
    • Video Mode: 1/8, 1/15, 1/30, 1/60, 1/100, 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000, and 1/2000
    • Photo Mode: 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/15, 1/30, 1/60, 1/100, 1/250, and 1/500
  • Special Scene Recording Modes: The FS11 features the following Preset Scene Recording Modes to match special conditions.
    • Portrait: camcorder uses a large aperture, achieving a focus on the subject while blurring other distracting details
    • Sports: use this mode to record sports scenes or fast moving events
    • Night: use this mode to record in low-light conditions
    • Snow: use this mode to record in bright ski resorts, it prevents the subject from being underexposed
    • Beach: use this mode to record on a sunny beach, it prevent the subject from being underexposed
    • Sunset: use this mode to record sunsets in vibrant colors
    • Spotlight: use this mode to record spotlight scenes
    • Fireworks: use this mode to record fireworks

Auto Backlight Correction: With this feature turned on, you can have the camcorder automatically correct for the backlight with the press of a single button when shooting subject with a strong light source behind them.

Auto Slow Shutter: In this mode, the camcorder automatically uses slow shutter speeds to obtain brighter recordings in places with insufficient lighting.

White Balance: The camcorder's auto white balance system compensates for a wide range of lighting conditions. Additionally the white balance can be set manually or using one of the two preset modes, Daylight (recording outdoors on a bright day) or Tungsten (recording under tungsten and tungsten type 3-wavelength fluorescent lighting).

Image Effects: The FS11 allows you to record with the following saturation and contrast color effects:

  • Vivid: emphasizes the contrast and color saturation to record in crisp colors
  • Neutral: tones down the contrast and color saturation to record in neutral hues
  • Soft Skin Detail: softens the details in the skin tone area for a more complimentary appearance

Mini Video Light: You can turn on the camcorder's built-in mini video light to shot video or take photos in dark places.

Self-Timer: This feature allows the camcorder to start recording after a 10-second or 2-second (using wireless remote) countdown.

Level And Grid Markers: Capturing level, well-composed shots is simple with the FS11. Line up the horizon or other horizontal lines with the Level Marker in the viewfinder for level landscapes. Or, use the Grid Marker to help compose the perfect shot. Both markers can be set to white or grey for enhanced visibility, no matter what the background.

Menu Languages: You can set the menu language to English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Polish, Russian, Chinese, or Japanese.

Wireless Remote Control: The wireless remote control lets you operate your FS11 from a distance, so you won't be left out of the picture. It is also very useful for playback of your video and helpful when you have the camcorder stationed on a tri-pod.

Video Camcorder Features

Compatible Media: The FS11 captures MPEG-2 video with 2ch Dolby Digital audio onto a SD or SDHC memory card (sold separately) or its internal 16GB flash memory. The camcorder supports SD cards up to 2GB and SDHC memory cards up to 32GB. A 128MB or larger SD-card is required for recording video content.

Recording Modes: The camcorder offers three video recording modes. Changing the recording mode will change the recording time available on the memory card and internal flash memory. Select the  XP mode for better movie quality, SP mode for standard quality, and LP mode for longer recording times. You can capture the following video recording times using these modes. 

 Memory Card/Recording Mode XP SP LP
1 GB SD card 10 min. 20 min. 35 min.
2 GB SD card 25 min. 55 min. 1 hr. 15 min.
4GB SDHC card 55 min. 1 hr. 20 min 2 hr. 35 min
16 GB Internal Flash Memory 3 hr. 40 min. 5 hr. 30 min. 10 hr. 25 min.

Note: When recording exceeds 4GB, it will be divided and saved as scenes smaller than 4GB.

Copy Scenes: You can copy movies, scenes and playlists from the camcorder's built-in memory to the camcorder's inserted memory card.

Faders: You can select one of the following faders:

  • Fade Trigger: When you start recording, the scene gradually fades in from a black screen. When you stop recording, it gradually fades out.
  • Wipe: When you start recording, the picture begins as a thin vertical line in the center of the screen which gradually expands sideways until it fills the whole of the screen. When you end a scene, the image is wiped from both sides of the screen.

Wind Screen: The camcorder automatically reduces the background sound of wind when recording outdoors when Wind Screen is turned "On".

Built-in Speaker: The camcorder has a built-in speaker so you can review the sound track alongside the picture when you're using the LCD screen to play back a tape. The built-in speaker is monaural.

Playback Modes: You can choose to playback only scenes recorded on the camcorder's built-in Flash memory or from an inserted SD/SDHC card.

Playback Functions: The camera uses the following special playback modes - Fast Playback, Reverse Playback, Frame-by-Frame Playback, Slow Playback and Scene Skip. During these playback modes there is no sound.

Date Search: You can locate video on the inserted SD memory card by searching changes in the date and time.

Movie Timeline: You can display a timeline of the scene and select where to begin the playback. This is very convenient when you want to play back a long scene from a specific point.

Playlists: You can create a playlist to play back only the scenes you prefer and in the order of your choice. Moving or deleting scenes in the playlist will not affect the original recordings.

Digital Still Camera Features

Still Image Recording: The flash memmory camcorder is also a high performance digital camera capable of capturing stunning 4:3 or 16:9 JPEG still images on an SD/SDHC Memory Card (sold separately) or its internal 16GB flash memory. You can record in the following still image sizes - L: 1152 x 648 (4:3), LW: 1152 x 648(16:9), or S: 640 x 480 (4:3).

Number of still images that can be recorded on a memory card:

Image Size Image Quality Number of Images
128MB SD Card 512MB
SD Card
1GB SD Card 16GB Internal Flash Memory
LW 1152 x 648 Super Fine  245 970 1945 31120
Fine  360 1435 2875 4600
Normal 695 2740 5490 87840
L 1152 x 864 Super Fine  185 735 1470 23520
Fine  280 1115 2235 35760
Normal 545 2155 4315 69040
S 640 x 480 Super Fine   585 2320 4645 74320
Fine  850 3350 6710 107360
Normal 1530 6035 12085 193360

Note: The maximum number of remaining still images displayed don the screen is 9999.

Copy Images: You can copy still images from the camcorder's built-in memory to the camcorder's inserted memory card or vice-versa.

Automatic Focus Priority: When the focus priority is activated, the camcorder records a still image only after the focus has been adjusted automatically. You select from the following Auto-Focus Priority modes.

  • AiAF: depending on the shooting conditions, one or more AF frames out of the nine frames available are automatically selected and the focus is fixed on them
  • Center: a single focusing frame appears in the center of the screen and the focus is automatically fixed on it; this is convenient for making sure the focus is exactly where you want it
  • Off: select this option if you wish to record a still image as soon as you press Record without Auto-Focus

The Drive Mode: This feature allows you to choose between Single or Continuous Shooting and Exposure Bracketing. You can catch every instant of a moving object with continuous shooting or use the exposure bracketing to record the same picture in 3 levels of exposure in order to choose the picture you like best. You can choose from the following options.

  • Single: records a single still image
  • Continuous Shooting: records up to 10 or 20 image at 3 images per second
  • Hi-Speed Continuous Shooting: records up to 10 or 20 images at 5 images per second
  • Auto Exposure Bracketing: records a still image in 3 different exposures (dark, normal, light in 1/2 EV steps), allowing you to choose the shot you like best

Digital Effects: You can select from the following effects:

  • Black and White: makes the image black and white
  • Sepia: makes a monochrome image with a brownish tint
  • Art: adds a paint-like effect, called solarization, to the image

Histogram Display: The FS11 comes with a Histogram Display. The display allows you to see the brightness information of your still images, so you can adjust your exposures as you shoot.

Review: You can select the time to display a still image after it has been recorded to Off, 2 seconds, 4 seconds, 6 seconds, 8 seconds or 10 seconds.

Viewing Still Images: There are 3 ways to view still images: Single image, Slide show (one after the other automatically in order of recording), or Index screen showing six images at once. You can choose whether to view images stored on the camcorder's built-in memory or the inserted SD/SDHC card when using these playback functions.

Magnify Playback: During playback still images can be magnified up to 5 times. You can also select the area of the screen to be magnified.

Image Jump: You can jump ahead to a specific image without having to browse all images one by one. You can jump ahead 10 or 100 images.

Protect Sill Images: You can protect sill images from accidental erasure.

Print and Share Button: Print & Share allows you to simply connect your camcorder directly to select Canon printers or any PictBridge-compatible printer with the supplied USB cable. Then, with a simple touch of the Print & Share button, print directly from your FS11 without going through a computer. Print & Share also makes it easy to transfer your still images to your computer. Simply connect your FS11 and your computer, press the Print & Share button and your photos are downloaded to your computer.

PictBridge Printing Capability: PictBridge is a standard that allows you to connect a PictBridge compliant camera directly to a PictBridge compliant printer and make prints, regardless of brand.

Exif Print (Exif 2.2): The Canon FS11 conforms to "Exif Print", a worldwide standard. Vital camera settings (such as: exposure mode, white balance, exposure time) and scene data are recorded to the image file when it is captured. Printers compatible with "Exif Print" are able to use this information to produce high quality photographs, exactly the way they were intended at the time of capture. This intelligent communication process also allows the printer to correct for poor lighting or mistakes, resulting in photos which can be even better than the originals.

DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) Settings: On the memory card, you can select which image or images you want to print and how many copies you want. This is convenient for printing images all at once on a Canon Direct Print function compliant printer or printing at participating photo labs. You can set print orders for up to 998 still images.

Battery Information

Li-ion Battery Pack: The Canon FS11 comes supplied with a rechargeable Lithium-ion Battery Pack (BP-808). The camcorder also comes supplied with an AC power adapter and charger (CA-590). The battery recording and playback times (in minutes) are as follows. 

Camera Recording Record/Play Mode Media Type Battery Pack
BP-808 (supplied)
XP Maximum  Time SD/SDHC Card 185
Internal 16GB Flash 195
Typical Recording Time SD/SDHC Card 95
Internal 16GB Flash 100
Playback time SD/SDHC Card 275
Internal 16GB Flash 295
SP Maximum Recording  Time SD/SDHC Card 190
Internal 16GB Flash 195
Typical Recording Time SD/SDHC Card 95
Internal 16GB Flash 105
Playback Time SD/SDHC Card 280
Internal 16GB Flash 295
LP
Maximum Recording Time SD/SDHC Card 190
Internal 16GB Flash 200
Typical Recording Time SD/SDHC Card 95
Internal 16GB Flash 110
Playback Time SD/SDHC Card 280
Internal 16GB Flash 280

Note: The supplied BP-808 battery pack requires 195 minutes to fully charge using the supplied AC/Battery charger.

Auto Power Off: After 5 minutes without any operation when powered by the battery, the camcorder automatically powers off. Approximately 30 seconds before the camcorder automatically turns itself off, a warning message appears in the display.

Quick Start: When you press the Quick Start button on the side of the camcorder, the camcorder powers up and gets ready to record within approximately 1 second. The Quick Start function helps prevent you from missing out on fleeting opportunities to take a video or picture.

Inputs And Outputs

AV Output: The camcorder features an AV output to playback audio and video on your television using the supplied composite video/stereo audio RCA cable. You can select between a 4:3 aspect ratio or a 16:9 aspect ratio for the video out based on your television's aspect ratio.

USB 2.0 Connection: The camcorder features a USB 2.0 full speed terminal for fast transfer of photos.

SD-Card Slot: The FS11 records still images and video onto SD and SDHC memory cards.

Microphone Input: In addition to the camcorder's built-in microphone, the FS11 features a 3.5mm microphone input for connecting an external microphone (sold separately).

Software Requirements

Included Software: The Canon FS11 camcorder comes supplied with two CD-ROM application discs - Digital Video Solution Disk Ver. 30.0 (for still images) and Pixela ImageMixer 3SE Ver.2.0 (for video).

The Pixela ImageMixer 3SE Ver. 2.0 contains the following functions (Windows Only):

  • Transfer Movies: Transfer the movies recorded from the camcorder to the you computer. On the computer you can organize and quickly search your video library, rate your favorite videos and use the albums created automatically (by recording date) or create albums of your own.
  • Playback Video: After transferring your movies from the camcorder, play them back directly from your computer.
  • Edit Movies: Trim out your movies to keep only most interesting scenes. Rearrange them as you wish and add transition effects, subtitles or background music to your preference.
  • Create Discs: Create backup discs from your video files. Create DVD-Video discs that you can share with friends and family. You can also create original menus for your discs.
  • Write To Computer: Transfer your movies from the computer back to the camcorder, even after editing them to your liking.

The Digital Video Solution Disk Ver. 30.0 contains the following applications (Windows/Macintosh):

  • CameraWindow (Windows & Macintosh): Allows you to:
    • Download still images recorded on the disc or memory card
    • Print still images recorded on the disc or memory card without downloading them to the computer
    • Enter an owner name to the camcorder
  • Zoom Browser EX 6.0 (Windows): Allows you to:
    • View and organize downloaded still images
    • Edit downloaded still images: Red-eye collection, color & brightness, sharpness, trimming and inserting texts on images
    • Print still images and contact sheets
    • Add sound to still images
  • ImageBrowser 6.0 (Macintosh): Allows you to:
    • View and organize downloaded still images
    • Edit downloaded still images: Red-eye collection, color & brightness, sharpness, trimming and inserting texts on images
    • Print still images and contact sheets
    • Add sound to still images

Windows System Requirements:

  • Operating System: Windows XP SP2 and Windows Vista
  • CPU: Windows XP SP2 - Intel Pentium 4, 1.49GHz or Intel Celeron 1.7GHz; Windows Vista - Intel Pentium 4, 2.4GHz or Intel Celeron D, 30.0GHz
  • RAM: 512 MB
  • Hard Disk Space: 300 MB (Installation), 10 GB (DVD writer)
  • Display: 1280 x 1024 resolution, 32-bit color
  • Sound: Sound card compatible with DirectSound
  • DVD Drive: Preinstalled DVD drive with writing capabilities
  • Others: Preinstalled USB 2.0 (Hi-Speed USB) port, System that can run DirectX 9.0c, and Internet connection (during installation)

Macintosh System Requirements: (included software allows transfer of still photos only)

  • OS: Mac OS X (10.3/10.4)
  • Computer Model: Computers that came with above OS preinstalled
  • CPU: PowerPC G3/G4/G5 or Intel Processor
  • RAM: 256 MB or more
  • Interface: Built-in USB ports
  • Free Hard Disk Space:
    • Canon Utilities/ImageBrowser: 300 MB or more
  • Display: 1,024 x 768 pixels/32,000 colors or better
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Offer subject to termination at any time without prior notice.

Canon FS11

16GB flash memory camcorder

Item #280FS11
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What's in the box?

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  • Silver SD-card flash memory digital camcorder with attached hand strap
  • BP-808 Li-Ion battery (7.4/890mAh)
  • CA-590 Power adapter (100V-240V-50/60Hz) with attached 5.75' cord with proprietary end for camcorder
  • WL-D88 Wireless remote control w/ CR2025 battery
  • 59" Composite stereo Audio/Video cable with 3.5mm mini-jack plug on other end
  • 47" USB cable with USB mini-connector on one end and standard size USB connector on other end
  • Wrist strap
  • ImageMixer 3SE CD-ROM
  • Digital Video Solution Disk
  • Instruction Manual (Eng/Fr/Sp)
  • Limited Warranty card
  • Installation guide for Digital Video software (En/Fr/Sp)
  • ImageMixer 3SE Installation Guide (En/Fr/Sp)
  • "Genuine Canon Accessories" sheet
  • "Stop" software reminder sheet