Canon has implemented a rather elaborate image stabilisation system in its last couple of generations of camcorders. In automatic mode, the camcorder detects conditions and sets image stabilisation mode accordingly. There are four different options, including a tripod mode that turns off image stabilisation when the camcorder is clearly stationary. The system is called Intelligent IS with Advanced Dynamic Mode, which is fundamentally optical. This is good to see in a camcorder at this price, and it's noticeably more effective than the electronic systems a lot of camcorders will still be offering at this level.
In this mode, you can still access Canon's esoteric decoration effects, which include the ability to draw on the frame as you shoot, add a variety of particle effects and animations, date and time stamp the video, add a graphical border, or temporarily pause the picture. These are all things we would do at the editing stage, but if you don't plan to edit they could come in handy.
However, it's easy to switch from auto to one of the other shooting modes using an onscreen icon. There's a baby mode, where you can add stamps to mark videos of particular stages of your new child's development. There's a Cinema mode, which shoots video with one of seven different film-like effects. You can choose from nine scene modes, including the usual portrait, sports, snow and beach.
There is no fully manual option, however, just Programmed AE. This enables the option to vary brightness up and down by 1 or -1 in quarter increments, but with no direct control over shutter or iris. You can focus manually too. These facilities are also available in Cinema mode.
