Canon VIXIA HF200 HD Flash Memory Camcorder w/15x Optical Zoom (Discontinued by Manufacturer)

After reading many of the earlier reviews I took the plunge and purchased the Canon VIXIA HF200 flash memory camcorder. I upgraded from a Canon mini-DV camcorder because I had purchased my first HDTV from Amazon last Christmas. Of course, I needed an HD camcorder with my new HD television!I use a Sonnet 21-in-1 multimedia reader&writer Express Card/34 and pop the SD card in to transfer the video clips to my MacBook Pro. Using iMovie '09, this works great. iMovie '09 recognizes it without flaw, and with this software I can choose the clips I want to download from the SD card to my laptop. I use iMovie '09 to organize my videos, and I make the initial selections of clips that I want in each project using iMovie '09. Then, I export to Apple's Intermediate Codec and open this export file in iMovie HD. I prefer the timeline in Apple's older version of iMovie. I also purchased Final Cut Express 4, but haven't cracked that product yet, as it's much more complicated than what I'm used to in iMovie. So, for now, I'm bringing video clips in with the latest version of iMovie, then downconverting and editing in iMovie HD; this works great. I'll eventually learn Final Cut Express and move forward in my video editing hobby. I share all of this because I didn't realize until I read in David Pogue's Missing Manual book (iMovie '09 and iDVD) that I could still use iMovie HD with a flash memory video camera and the AVCHD codec. I'm glad to have discovered this.As others have said, getting AVCHD encoded video clips into a computer takes LONGER than real-time because of the converting that must take place. My mode of operation with a Canon mini-DV camcorder was to fill a 60-minute tape, then transfer it to the laptop when convenient. I would get it started and come back 60 minutes later to 60-minutes of video ready to edit. Now, I come back 90 minutes later instead. Transfer seems to take about 1.5 times the length of the clips, give or take. For me, this is not a problem when I use my usual transfer and edit process.If you're looking for instantaneous transfer of files in useable form, though, flash memory won't give it to you -- at least with this camera. Others have stated, and I found directions in David Pogue's book stating that it's possible to transfer the files to the computer's hard drive for LATER conversion to useable form for editing. I haven't done this yet, and I would be nervous about deleting the clips from my flash memory card until I had them converted, could see them, and had them backed up on another hard drive. That's when I clear the flash card and re-use it for new video clips. I've had too many lost data situations in the past and I guess I'm a bit overly cautious when I have once-in-a-lifetime video that I don't want to lose. I believe in multiple copies of precious data, video data included. I get around this limitation by having two 16 Gb flash memory cards which, in best mode on this camera, gives me about 1.5 hours of video per card. I have yet to fill one before transferring video.I also have multiple firewire and/or USB hard drives which I use for backing up video. If I take a long trip I'll just buy a handful of SD chips, along with the two batteries I already own, and shoot away. Each evening it's my practice to download to hard drive anyway, back that up to an external drive, and this seems to work for most situations. It's less expensive to do this with mini-DV tapes (which provide one backup source), but when precious video is involved I don't mind paying for a few extra 16 Gb chips. They're pretty inexpensive on Amazon.com.I recommend this camera if your habits fit mine, or if you're looking for great-looking video on an HDTV. I have a lot to learn about this camera to get the most out of it, including the editing process. It will serve me for many years to come, as did my Canon mini-DV standard-definition camera.APRIL 10, 2010 UPDATE:I've received many nice comments and questions via Amazon, so many that I decided it might be helpful to create a video to show how I move video from a memory chip to my MacBook Pro laptop. If you're a Mac user you might find this helpful. I use iMovie 9 and this tutorial explains the process using that software.Video (be sure to click on the full screen button): [...]

Without a doubt, this camera is well put together for its price tag.Pros:Amongst the things that I like are: design, good stability for it's size, easy to find controls and features, convenient mini joy stick for fast scrolling and navigation, clean and sharp LCD screen .When it comes to performance, I was pretty impressed with this little monster as well, since it offers many different recording options and frame rates, pretty much you can mix and match features and still come out with a high quality picture.Cons:Talking about features, the CINEMAMODE option grabbed my attention when I first saw this camera, however, my idea of CINEMAMODE differs quite a bit from Canon's interpretation of such. For some odd reason I allowed my self to believe that this option would provide a true LIKE-FILM LOOK, as you would get when you change the lens in your camera, sadly I was wrong. Instead, I this option creates pale video, almost as pale as the one my 10 year old sony mini-dv cam creates, and this regardless of light conditions.Software and added features? Expect none. I was very surprised with the trashy software that Canon provided for this camera. Seriously, it would've been less insulting to the customer if Canon didn't provide software at all... Bad Canon, Very Bad!!!Since all videos are produced in MTS format, your best bet is getting a hefty memory card where you can store all your work and/or inserted directly to your computer (making the assumption that your computer has a memory card entrance). Also if you want to edit, not many editing products out there edit avchd/mts, so make sure your software does support this format.Although the build in microphone is pretty decent, I wanted to attach my Rode shotgun mic for better sound capture, but wait, I had nothing to mount it on! Canon once again skimped out on us and did not include a MINI ADVANCED SHOE so you can attaché your mic, or lights... why? And to make matters worst, they don't sell the adapter, you either need to get a mic sold by canon that can attach to the camera or a light, not both. Eventually I was able to find a place that actually sells this adapter for $50 dollars a piece, overpriced if you ask me but at lest now I can attach anything I want on the camera.Finally, no built in memory.In a nutshellThis camera is pretty decent, don't regret getting it, if you have minimal creativity, you can make wonderful projects with this bad boy. A few negatives as mentioned, but overall is a good cam and certainly priced low for what it offers.