Canon FS200 Flash Memory Camcorder w/41x Advanced Zoom (Misty Silver) - 2009 MODEL
by Canon
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Our Price: $398.89 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $189.95 (click here) Category: Digital Camera See more product details |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Canon FS200 Flash Memory Camcorder w/41x Advanced Zoom (Misty Silver) - 2009 MODEL
Customer Review: Terrible picture quality
Summary: 2 Stars
This camcorder has a lot going for it in terms of size and ease of use. Unfortunately, the picture quality is too bad to ignore. The camcorder is very compact and fits into the side pocket of my khaki pants (albeit snugly). Ease of use is outstanding, I got everything up and running in a few minutes without looking at any manuals. The menu controls are straight forward and easy enough to figure out. There were a few instances where I didn't know what a menu function did, and I had to look it up in the manual, but that's hardly the camcorder's fault! Battery life is pretty decent, no complaints. Zoom is outstanding on this camera (37x!). Built-in mic is reasonably clear - no complaints. Now for the deal breaker. The VIDEO QUALITY IS TERRIBLE. I was a little on the fence about buying this unit initially. I pulled the trigger only after reading other reviewers attributing the bad video quality to user error or inflated expectations. Without having to post a lengthy technical resume to prove my worthiness, let me assure you that I know a thing or two about operating electronic equipment, and I feel like I have pretty reasonable expectations for how they should function. The video is frequently out of focus, and the sharpness and color of the video is just terrible. While the quality seems to be better outdoors than indoors, the bottom line is that out of the box, my Canon digital camera takes better video than this dedicated camcorder. I think that statement speaks for itself. The only advantage this camcorder has over a digital camera's video function is that it has zoom. So, if you are looking for something better than your digital camera's video function, this is not the camcorder for you. I returned this camcorder and replaced it with the higher end Canon VIXIA HF200, which is of course more expensive. But, for the vast improvement in video quality that you receive, I think it's worth the premium.Customer Review: burning to a DVD has been too difficult
Summary: 2 Stars
This camera is fairly easy to use while taking a video, but I also need something that I can easily convert to DVD's. Before buying this camera, I read many reviews and knew that it might be difficult. But I have now been at this for several hours and I am still trying to figure out how to burn my videos to a DVD or get any other program to read the videos. It looks like they are being saved as mpeg files instead of mod files, but I am not very computer savvy so I'm not sure. After reading reviews on amazon and other sites, I just figured that I could download some free software and then it would be easy. That has not been the case. This has been one big headache, and I'm really starting to wish that I had purchased a camcorder with more user friendly software.
I also have not been impressed with the picture quality of still pictures. I did not purchase the camera for that purpose, but I decided to bring along just this camera and use it for both while at my daughter's show. The still pictures would have been better quality on my regular digital camera.
Customer Review: Disappointing quality for a Canon camcorder
Summary: 2 Stars
I got this to record our children's activites. Testing the camcorder, ergonomics are good and it's mostly easy to use. I say mostly because the flip-out lcd screen has buttons that are invisible in a theatre. Unless you know where they are and what they do, you'll likely not be able to operate them.
After recording a dance recital, here's my experience:
- The room lighting was excellent, but the camera lost focus on the dancers for no reason several times across an hour. Adjusting zoom made it re-focus correctly.
- Focus and white balance randomly become messed up on and off, making some dancer's faces end up being a white blob and their bodies look slightly fuzzy.
- The manual for the camcorder and software covers very little of camera use. Directions for transferring videos from camera to computer are both wrong and incomplete.
Since the video of the recital is mostly unwatchable, I'm returning this Canon FS200 camcorder and buying a different brand. From Canon, I'd expected much higher quality.
Customer Review: Software and MOD format SUCK!!
Summary: 2 Stars
I should've considered myself forewarned about the dreaded MOD format. But... oh no.. I figured that by now they would've fixed this. WRONG!! The camera is very convenient and easy to use... no problems with anything.. UNTIL.. one connects camera to their puter and find out that everything is still has a MOD extension. I've downloaded three programs that supposedly would fix this but found only one that seemed to work... and only by converting to WMV... and then the quality was LOUSY. I guess I'll never know if the video quality is good or not because tomorrow morning I'll be picking up my butt (with both hands) and carrying it, and the FS200 back to BestBuy for a refund.
Why in the world can't there be some type of regulation that ALL camcorders record with the same format??? Duh...???
Mr Wally
Indianapolis
Customer Review: Better off with a digital camera
Summary: 2 Stars
I have been in the market for a video camera for a month now. I purchased this device in the hopes of ending my search. Unfortunately this will not be the end of my search. Although the camera is very portable, easy to use and download to a Mac-pro, the picture quality, even under HD mode, was the worst I have ever seen. I had a canon powershot that produced excellent video than this camcorder. Furthermore, since it doesn't have a view finder you are forced to keep the side panel open and in the process using more of the battery life. The size of this display is also very small. If you want poor video quality, save your money and by a flip otherwise look else where!!