Canon FS200 First Impressions Camcorder Review

Other Features

EIS (Electronic Image Stabilization)
The Canon FS200 features an electronic, or digital, image stabilization system. This is typically less desirable than an optical images stabilization system, as it necessitates some loss of image quality.

Battery Info
The battery info feature, located deep in the recesses of the Admin menu, gives a very useful look at the remaining battery life, with a color graphic and time in minutes left to record. 

Video Snapshot
This is a new feature that, when activated, records in a series of 4-second clips. The idea is to prevent the problem of rambling, boring shots that typify most home movies. Once the videos are imported, there are a series of pre-set audio files that can be thrown on top for a soundtrack. You can also add .WAV files of your own, but not MP3s (at least not with the included software).

Pre-Record
Another new feature this year, though not a first for the market, is Pre-Record. When activated, it constantly records and stores three seconds of video in cache memory while in standby. The moment you finally hit the record button, the clip actually begins three seconds before. It's a great way a to capture spontaneous moments, like you kid's home run, in the middle of a long, boring event, like the other two hours of your kid's ball game.