- Superb image quality even in low light: 8MP Full HD CMOS, Canon HD Video Lens, DIGIC DV III (24Mbps)
- High-resolution 8.8cm (3.5 inch) touch-screen LCD with 100% view
- Dual SDHC memory card slots to record HD movies and stills
- Relay Recording and in-camera HD-SD conversion
- Professional control: manual Control Dial and remote control jack
Canon LEGRIA HF S200 High Definition Digital Camcorder – Black
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PRO: video quality is damn good
CONS: A lot of reviews mentions “Native 24p Cinema” mode – ability to record video in true 24p mode which gives “Hollywood” (low frame rate jerking) look to your video. But this is not true for EU version. There is no “Native 24p” mode on EU version. A lot of reviews also make impression that you can choose from wide range of recording modes: 25p, 50i, 30p, 60i. This is also not true. “Canon” crippled cameras with restrictions (just like DVD’s were crippled with region codes). EU camcorders are restricted to 25p/50i and US to 30p/60i frame rates. But this is not the end of it. Manuals states:
EU version: Canon LEGRIA HF S200. HF_S20_S21_S200_EN.pdf Manual:
Page 156: Frame Rate: 50i, PF25
Page 203: Television system:
Recordings made with the [PF25] frame rate are converted and recorded on the memory as 50i
US version: Canon VIXIA HF S200. HFS20-S21-S200-NIM-EN-NTSC.pdf Manual:
Page 160: Frame Rate: 60i, PF30, 24F
Page 209: Television system: 1080/60i* or 1080/24p (only recordings made with the [24F] frame rate)
Recordings made with the [PF24], [PF30] frame rate are converted and recorded on the memory as 60i
Pay attention to word “converted” here. I’ve mounted two HF S200 camcorders on one stand and used LANC Shepherd Pro to record synchronized video – 50i and PF25. Then I’ve used video editing program to compare 50i and PF25 frames. 50i video frames de-interlaced by software looked exactly the same as PF25 frames. My conclusion: Canon just “fakes” PF25 mode by combining and doubling two 50i interlaced frames so in reality you have only one mode – 50i.
CONCLUSION: It’s a great camcorder but frame rate restrictions were very disappointing. If hardware of US and EU version is same then I just hope that Canon will make all frame rate modes available with new firmware and I would be able to record video in 30p/60i mode on my EU camcorder.
Rating: 4 / 5