1) To a monitor? I tried connecting my camccorder via the included composite cable and the picture looked lousy on my 24" monitor.


2) To a TV without HDMI input? I have a 1st generation Samsung DLP that only has 1 DVI connection which is currently used by my cable box. Should I get a hdmi->DVI cable and then a DVI switch? Or would it be better to connect the camcorder via component video? Or something else?

1) To a monitor? I tried connecting my camccorder via the included composite cable and the picture looked lousy on my 24" monitor.


2) To a TV without HDMI input? I have a 1st generation Samsung DLP that only has 1 DVI connection which is currently used by my cable box. Should I get a hdmi->DVI cable and then a DVI switch? Or would it be better to connect the camcorder via component video? Or something else?

1. Definitely lousy.
2. [Edit - missed the HF100 part] With the HF100 if you connect via HDMI you will not get audio via L/R. Besides, while HDMI is definitely better, component looks not shabby either. For reference, I watch mine on a 1080 Plasma.
3. Buy a new TV.

for HD, never use composite. if no hdmi/dvi available, then use component.

A PS3 as well as some of other Blu-ray players will let you play the movies directly from the SD card. You get instant gratification with HD video and sound. I just don't like connecting more cables and dealing with another remote etc.