Canon Vixia HF200HD - Does it Live Up to the Canon Reputation For Quality?

The Canon Vixia HF200HD is the company's latest addition to its prestigious camcorder series. Their camcorders have always delivered a perfect balance between price and performance. This new model will have to hold up to the high expectations that Canon is known for.

The camcorder can take photos using its 3.89 megapixel camera, but effective resolution for still shots is just 3.31 megapixels. This resolution is enough to give us clear and crisp photos that is about the size of an A4 sheet. However, this device is not built for taking still pictures. The low resolution is going to be a deal breaker if you want to use this device for photography.

What makes this camera great is its ability to record video at 1080p. This much imaging capability is great if you plan to use this device for weddings and other special occasions. You would be able to record HD content without any use of any machine to stretch the resolutions. You either burn the movies that you made into a DVD or a blue ray disk. You don't have to worry about sacrificing quality due to stretching.

It is equipped with optical zoom of up to 15x and a 300x digital zoom. The internal image stabilizer can handle the shakiest hands. You can even shoot videos and photos while on the move. What makes this camcorder a little better than its counterparts is the presence of a image stabilizer for both video and still photos.

The device uses AVCHD and MPEG-4 format for its video. This means you be able to edit your videos right away. If you are plugging it to the TV, make sure it is NSTC compatible. You might end up with a blank screen. The maximum shutter speed at 1/2000 seconds, which is pretty much the standard among camcorders in its class.

The Canon Vixia HF200HD uses the DIGIC DV III image processor. It is the same processor that is being used by other Canon camcorders. If you were satisfied with the results from an older Canon Vixia, you will most likely get the same results. The Canon has never had a problem when it comes to imaging.

There are six white balance presets you can choose from. The camcorder also has a built-in flash that comes in handy when there is very littlelight. However, the flash won't be enough for take pictures in pitch black. The AF illuminator is also very useful if when you want to take a picture if there is no light. It is the part of the machine that help the processor set the lens and get vivid photos. Auto focus and face detection are just two of the things that make this a quality camcorder.

Overall, the Canon Vixia HF200HD is a solid performer at sub $600. It may be a little more expensive compared to its counterparts, but does have features and capabilities that other camcorders can only dream out. Its performance is more than enough for payoff the difference of $50 to $80. Bear in mind, this camcorder uses an SD memory card which is very affordable. Some camcorders use expensive media like DVDs and SSD. If you ran out of space, you can just replace the memory card with another one. The rechargeable battery can record hours of video. From a solid build to segment leading features, the Canon Vixia HF200HD is worthy of the Canon name.