What To Know
- If you’re looking for a versatile camcorder for everyday use, travel, and capturing family events, the Canon Legria FS36 is a great option.
- If you need a rugged action cam for extreme sports, adventure travel, or capturing immersive perspectives, the Contour Roam is a better choice.
- The Canon Legria FS36 is a versatile camcorder that offers a blend of features and performance for diverse videography needs.
Choosing the right camcorder for your adventures can be a daunting task, especially with the plethora of options available. Two popular contenders often top the list: the Canon Legria FS36 and the Contour Roam. Both offer impressive features and capabilities, but which one reigns supreme for your specific needs? This comprehensive comparison dives deep into their strengths and weaknesses to help you make an informed decision.
Canon Legria FS36: A Versatile Camcorder for Diverse Needs
The Canon Legria FS36 is a versatile camcorder designed for capturing high-quality video in various settings. Its compact size and lightweight design make it ideal for travel and everyday use, while its advanced features cater to both beginners and experienced videographers.
Strengths:
- High-Resolution Video: The FS36 boasts a 32.5mm wide-angle lens and a 576,000-pixel CMOS sensor, enabling it to capture stunning Full HD 1080p video at 60 frames per second.
- Optical Image Stabilization: The advanced optical image stabilization system effectively minimizes camera shake, ensuring smooth and stable footage even when shooting on the move.
- Built-in Microphone: The FS36 features a built-in stereo microphone that provides clear audio recording, ideal for capturing sound in diverse environments.
- Creative Control: The camcorder offers manual controls, allowing users to adjust settings like aperture, shutter speed, and white balance for more creative control over their footage.
- Long Battery Life: The FS36 boasts an impressive battery life, allowing you to record for extended periods without worrying about power interruptions.
Weaknesses:
- Limited Connectivity Options: The FS36 lacks advanced connectivity options like Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, making it less convenient for sharing footage directly from the camcorder.
- No Touchscreen: The lack of a touchscreen interface can make navigating menus and adjusting settings slightly cumbersome.
Contour Roam: A Rugged Action Cam for Extreme Adventures
The Contour Roam is a rugged action cam designed for capturing high-quality footage in challenging environments. Its durable construction and waterproof design make it ideal for extreme sports, adventure travel, and other outdoor activities.
Strengths:
- Durable and Waterproof: The Contour Roam is built to withstand harsh conditions, featuring a waterproof design that allows you to capture footage underwater up to 10 meters deep.
- Wide-Angle Lens: The Roam’s wide-angle lens captures a broader field of view, ideal for capturing action-packed moments and immersive perspectives.
- Compact and Lightweight: The compact size and lightweight design make the Roam easy to mount on helmets, bikes, or other gear for hands-free recording.
- Wi-Fi Connectivity: The Roam features built-in Wi-Fi connectivity, allowing you to control the camera remotely using a smartphone app and share footage wirelessly.
- Time-Lapse Recording: The Roam offers a time-lapse recording mode, enabling you to capture stunning time-lapses of slow-moving events.
Weaknesses:
- Limited Video Resolution: The Roam captures video at 1080p resolution, which is lower than the FS36’s 1080p resolution.
- No Optical Image Stabilization: The Roam lacks optical image stabilization, which can result in shaky footage, especially during fast-paced action.
- Limited Battery Life: The Roam’s battery life is relatively short compared to the FS36, requiring frequent charging during extended recording sessions.
Choosing the Right Camcorder: Factors to Consider
The best camcorder for you depends on your specific needs and preferences. Here are some key factors to consider when deciding between the Canon Legria FS36 and the Contour Roam:
- Intended Use: If you’re looking for a versatile camcorder for everyday use, travel, and capturing family events, the Canon Legria FS36 is a great option. If you need a rugged action cam for extreme sports, adventure travel, or capturing immersive perspectives, the Contour Roam is a better choice.
- Video Resolution: The Canon Legria FS36 offers higher video resolution than the Contour Roam, making it ideal for capturing detailed footage and creating high-quality videos.
- Image Stabilization: The Canon Legria FS36’s optical image stabilization system provides smoother and more stable footage than the Contour Roam’s lack of image stabilization.
- Connectivity: The Contour Roam’s built-in Wi-Fi connectivity offers more convenience for sharing footage and controlling the camera remotely.
- Durability: The Contour Roam’s rugged and waterproof design makes it more durable than the Canon Legria FS36, making it ideal for challenging environments.
Canon Legria FS36: A Closer Look
The Canon Legria FS36 is a versatile camcorder that offers a blend of features and performance for diverse videography needs. Its compact size and lightweight design make it easy to carry and use, while its advanced features cater to both beginners and experienced videographers.
Key Features:
- Full HD 1080p Video Recording: The FS36 captures high-quality Full HD 1080p video at 60 frames per second, ensuring smooth and detailed footage.
- 32.5mm Wide-Angle Lens: The wide-angle lens captures a broader field of view, ideal for capturing group shots and expansive landscapes.
- Advanced Optical Image Stabilization: The optical image stabilization system effectively minimizes camera shake, ensuring smooth and stable footage even when shooting on the move.
- Built-in Stereo Microphone: The FS36 features a built-in stereo microphone that provides clear audio recording, ideal for capturing sound in diverse environments.
- Manual Controls: The camcorder offers manual controls, allowing users to adjust settings like aperture, shutter speed, and white balance for more creative control over their footage.
- Long Battery Life: The FS36 boasts an impressive battery life, allowing you to record for extended periods without worrying about power interruptions.
Contour Roam: A Deeper Dive
The Contour Roam is a rugged action cam designed for capturing high-quality footage in challenging environments. Its durable construction and waterproof design make it ideal for extreme sports, adventure travel, and other outdoor activities.
Key Features:
- Waterproof Design: The Roam is waterproof up to 10 meters deep, allowing you to capture footage underwater without worrying about damage.
- Wide-Angle Lens: The Roam’s wide-angle lens captures a broader field of view, ideal for capturing action-packed moments and immersive perspectives.
- Compact and Lightweight: The compact size and lightweight design make the Roam easy to mount on helmets, bikes, or other gear for hands-free recording.
- Wi-Fi Connectivity: The Roam features built-in Wi-Fi connectivity, allowing you to control the camera remotely using a smartphone app and share footage wirelessly.
- Time-Lapse Recording: The Roam offers a time-lapse recording mode, enabling you to capture stunning time-lapses of slow-moving events.
Making the Final Decision: A Head-to-Head Comparison
Choosing between the Canon Legria FS36 and the Contour Roam ultimately comes down to your specific needs and priorities.
Canon Legria FS36:
- Ideal for: Everyday use, travel, family events, capturing high-quality video with excellent image stabilization.
- Strengths: High-resolution video, advanced image stabilization, long battery life, versatile features.
- Weaknesses: Limited connectivity options, no touchscreen interface.
Contour Roam:
- Ideal for: Extreme sports, adventure travel, capturing immersive perspectives and action-packed moments, underwater footage.
- Strengths: Rugged and waterproof design, wide-angle lens, Wi-Fi connectivity, time-lapse recording.
- Weaknesses: Limited video resolution, no image stabilization, shorter battery life.
The Final Verdict: Choosing the Right Tool for Your Adventure
Both the Canon Legria FS36 and the Contour Roam are excellent camcorders in their respective categories. The FS36 excels in versatility and image quality, making it a great choice for everyday use and capturing high-quality video. The Roam, on the other hand, is a rugged and reliable action cam ideal for extreme adventures and capturing immersive perspectives.
The best camcorder for you depends on your individual needs and preferences. If you prioritize versatility, image quality, and stability, the Canon Legria FS36 is a solid choice. If you need a durable and reliable action cam for extreme adventures, the Contour Roam is the way to go.
Common Questions and Answers
Q: What are the main differences between the Canon Legria FS36 and the Contour Roam?
A: The main differences lie in their intended use, image quality, durability, and connectivity options. The FS36 is a versatile camcorder for everyday use and capturing high-quality video, while the Roam is a rugged action cam ideal for extreme adventures and capturing immersive perspectives.
Q: Which camcorder is better for filming underwater?
A: The Contour Roam is better suited for filming underwater due to its waterproof design, allowing you to capture footage up to 10 meters deep.
Q: Which camcorder has better image stabilization?
A: The Canon Legria FS36 has superior image stabilization thanks to its advanced optical image stabilization system, ensuring smoother and more stable footage.
Q: Which camcorder is more compact and lightweight?
A: The Contour Roam is more compact and lightweight, making it easier to mount on helmets, bikes, or other gear.
Q: Which camcorder has better battery life?
A: The Canon Legria FS36 has a longer battery life than the Contour Roam, allowing you to record for extended periods without worrying about power interruptions.