... Kodak Zx1 HD Pocket Video Camera: LIKED IT UNTIL I CONTACTED KODAK ASKING HOW TO REVIEW ALL THE VIDEOS NONSTOP WITHOUT HAVING TO FORWARD TO THE NEXT ONE EACH TIME ONE IS FINISHED PLAYING. I WAS TOLD THE CAMERA DOES NOT HAVE THAT FEATURE. NOW I'VE CHANGED MY MIND. ...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on Kodak Zx1 HD Pocket Video Camera (Yellow)

... This is a great camera for videos, it's easy to operate & it's light & small. I thought having the still photo option would be awesome, I would only have to carry 1 camera for every thing, but not so. I have taken several hundred photos with it & most are not good quality...the only ones that are good are in perfect lighting conditions. Again---great video ability, poor photos ...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on Sony DCR-SR87 Hard Disk Drive Handycam® Camcorder

... The bottom line is that both Amazon and Big Value Inc facilitated me obtaining a camera that I am very comfortable with. Thanks. ...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on JVC Everio GZ-MG670 80GB HDD Camcorder (Black)

... In my opinion, this is the perfect camera. Totally worth the money, which for a video camera, isn't that much. It's great for uploading videos to youtube ([...])

Pros:
-170 minute battery life
-LED light for a flash
-2 SD card slots for as much memory as you're willing to buy
-Screen visible eve in bright sunlight
-Konica Minolta(sp?)Lens
-40x optical zoom(WOW) and 800 digital'
-Snapshot mode
-One touch export to youtube or itunes library (love that)

Con:
-I don't like the laser touch thing.
...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on JVC Everio MS120 Dual Flash Camcorder (Black)

... I searched high and low for a good HD camcorder that wouldn't break my bank and I finally found the JVC Everio GZ-MG360 for a decent price. I took it with me on a trip the day after I got it and have just now been able to see the finished product. Here's my eval of it:

Pros:
-VERY easy to use... if you're the least bit tech savy then you can figure out how to use everything by just simply clicking through the buttons.
-Nice, functional design - lightweight, small, and very stylish!
-Even on the highest 'ultra fine' setting I got 8 hrs of video.
-Transfer between the camcorder and PC is a piece of cake... when you plug it in... it takes over!

Cons:
-Even though they do not lie about it... the battery life is only around 1hr or so... I would recommend buying a second battery... I had access to an outlet so no biggie.
-I wish there was an automatic lens opener on it because I kept forgetting to open and close the lens... it does remind you however!
-Not that this is a big deal but WMP does not recognize the 16:9 aspect ratio so you will need to use DIVX or RP to play the vid files with the correct aspect ratio.

Summary: Overall I am VERY pleased with this camcorder and would highly recommend this for anyone wanting a low end price memory snapper! :) ...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on JVC Everio GZ-MG360 60GB Hard Drive Camcorder with 35x Optical Zoom

... We got this camera as a gift when our son was born. It is a great camera for advanced users, but for home video, chill, low-tech people I think it is just way too much. It would take hours to figure out everything this camera does and the thing is that it just isn't that important to me. I want the sound to work, I want the video to be clear, I want it to be easy to use. The sound works great, the video is clear, but there are so many options on this camera that it just doesn't make it easy to use for a family that just wants to record birthdays and softball games. Rather, I guess it isn't that hard to use, but I am pretty sure we could have paid half the price for a camera that does what we want it to. Non-techy people just won't use all the features on this camera. Especially for people like us with a new baby, we just don't have hours to sit down with the manual and figure out 100 different settings. So if you are really into advanced home-video making and love lots of different features and adjustments and gadgets, this is your camera. If you just want to record and save the videos to watch years later or even edit a little here and there on your computer, this is probably more camera than you need. It is also my understanding based on what I read that the HV20 is just about the same as this slight upgrade and cheaper, so if you must have an HV camera, maybe go with the HV20.

A special note for mac users:
Canon should be more clear about the compatibility of this camcorder with Mac computers. The video on the camcorder is quite clear and it seems to be a good enough camcorder, but the hassle of trying to figure out how to get it to work with my Mac computer has made it completely un-worth it.

I will say what Canon should clearly say but doesn't. Your Mac computer will not recognize this camcorder if you try to hook the camcorder up via the included USB cable. I have scoured many forums trying to figure this out and it is the same everywhere - it will not recognize your camcorder with a USB connection. That means one of two things: Either you need to buy a Firewire cable (if you don't have one) and connect the camcorder to your computer via Firewire OR, if you are like me and you have the MacBook that came out in October of 2008 without Firewire, there is NO WAY to get the video from this camcorder to your computer. This should be made clear by Canon and it is not which, no matter how good the camera is, makes using it very difficult. I would not buy this again if I had the choice. It hasn't been worth the hassle of figuring all this out. ...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on Canon VIXIA HV30 MiniDV High Definition Camcorder with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom

... I am very happy with the video camera I order via Amazon.com. What I am most strongly UNHAPPY about it that my order was "subbed out" to Tiger Direct. I had selected "Next Day" shipping with Amazon. When the order was sent to Tiger Direct my choice of shipping was NOT noted. My birthday gift for my husband was not and did not arrive in time. I did email Amazon within 5 minutes of placing the order to request the shipping be changed and was offered NO recouse to correct the shipping request to what I had originally asked for in the first place.

I am a frequent customer with Amazon. This was the first time I was so strongly unhappy with my order. The merchandise was great. The shipping was NOT. What I select as my option with Amazon should stay the same when it's "subbed" out to Tiger direct or any other place without having to change it myself.

Thank you,
Renea Tutt ...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on Canon ZR900 MiniDV Camcorder with 37x Optical Zoom

... What a great and compact camcorder this is, I highly reccomend it. The videos it takes are of high quality and the camcorder itself is s prodect of our technolgy that is available today. Cute stylish and sssssssooooo easy to use. ...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on Flip MinoHD Camcorder, 60 Minutes (Blue Lightshow)

... Unless you want a High Definition camcorder, I highly recommend this camcorder to anybody who wants a camcorder that is small, light, and easy to operate, has a hard disk drive, gives high quality videos, and is still reasonably priced.

I got this camcorder about a month ago, learned how to use it in a few minutes, and shot quite a few videos with it including four test videos which you can see at Shoban Sen's YouTube channel.

I especially like the cameras zooming capabilities, strong built-in microphone, and the image stabilization feature (it automatically and effectively neutralizes camera shake to a great extent though the manufacturer does not advertise this feature much). The microphone is so strong that it picks up the noise made by blowing wind during outdoor shootings - you have to turn on the "Windcut" feature from the camera's menu to stop this noise. The low-light shooting capability is also reasonably good, although the camera's built-in light is nothing but a gimmick (and the camera does not have a shoe to attach external video light). The laser touch scroll bar of the camera eliminates the need to touch the LCD monitor to select desired functions, and I love it. No more finger prints on the LCD monitor. The little remote control that comes with the camcorder is very handy - almost addictive! I have not tried the Core Filter yet. I did notice some annoying background noise (sounds like rumble of thunder) in some of the scenes that I downloaded in my computer. The manufacturer says, "The core filter reduces interference caused when connected to other devices." I think when downloading videos to my computer, if I use the provided Core Filter on the USB cable, this noise will go away or will be reduced to a great extent.

THE SOFTWARE THAT COMES WITH THE CAMCORDER WORKS FINE WITH WINDOWS XP (BOTH HOME AND PROFESSIONAL EDITION WITH SP2/SP3). BUT DO CHECK THE CPU AND RAM REQUIREMENTS. THE MANUFACTURER CLEARLY TALKS ABOUT THE OPERATING SYSTEMS ON PAGE 29 OF THE ENGLISH MANUAL THAT COMES WITH THE CAMCORDER. THE SOFTWARE WORKS WITH WINDOWS VISTA AND WINDOWS XP. Only the Direct Upload to YouTube failed when I tried it once. But I won't say, it is the fault of the software - I may have made some mistakes myself. I tried it only once. I do not use that feature anyway.

I have one negative point to talk about. The first Everio camcorder I received had a faulty rubber cap or cover on the USB port on the front side of the camcorder. It didn't close after I opened it for the first time. But thanks to Amazon.com's excellent Return Policy. They immediately shipped a replacement camcorder to me, even before they received my return!

A word of caution: do not swing or jerk the camcorder while carrying it. Its Drop Detection mechanism is very sensitive. The camcorder shuts itself off if you unknowingly swing the camera a bit while carrying it.

In conclusion, TWO THUMBS UP to this product. You cannot buy a better camcorder at this price. ...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on JVC Everio GZ-MG630 60GB Standard Def Camcorder (Silver)

... Purchased for external mic input and high resolution for such an inexpensive unit.
Works great, although previous reviews were correct. The internal mic does pick up
a lot of noise from the drive mechanism.
I will use the external mic(lapel unit) most of the time as i am taping my car(s) on various road courses.
The sound is great and the resolution and anti shake seem to work fine......

Very good service from amazon and dealer ...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on Canon ZR930 1.07MP MiniDV Camcorder with 37x Optical Zoom

... Kodak Zx1 HD Pocket Video Camera: LIKED IT UNTIL I CONTACTED KODAK ASKING HOW TO REVIEW ALL THE VIDEOS NONSTOP WITHOUT HAVING TO FORWARD TO THE NEXT ONE EACH TIME ONE IS FINISHED PLAYING. I WAS TOLD THE CAMERA DOES NOT HAVE THAT FEATURE. NOW I'VE CHANGED MY MIND. ...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on Kodak Zx1 HD Pocket Video Camera (Red)

... I bought this RCA camcorder two weeks ago and am generally pleased with it. I chose it over the popular and highly rated Flip and Vado camcorders because the RCA also takes still photos. It doesn't hurt that it is also costs less. I've taken some very nice HD videos and beautiful stills with it. I've also taken some not so great videos and photos with it, generally due to inadequate lighting or shooting into the sun. This camcorder, and probably any pocket camcorder, is best used in good light. That doesn't mean you need to shoot outside in bright sun, but that helps. Good indoor lighting works too. As the light decreases the video will soon get grainy and that becomes very obvious on an HD TV. But in low light all is not lost. I took some low light video (one lamp on in my living room) using the low resolution WebQ mode that looked pretty decent on my computer. The digital zoom is okay but, as with any digital zoom, you lose resolution with it so it is best used sparingly. The sound is generally good but sometimes seems to be kind of low when played on my computer. But that is not really the camera because I have converted videos to a format that can play on my Linux laptop (DivX video codec and MP3 audio codec) and the sound comes out much louder. (I didn't do anything to intentionally boost the audio.) The audio also comes out louder when I used the RCA Memory Manager software to convert the video for emailing. Additionally, when I try to play the raw HD videos on my PC using Windows Media Player, the video and sound are out of sync (but are in sync when played on through a TV). The videos also play well using the RCA software, but they only appear in a small window. I think that my PC or WMP just has a problem with the raw format. When I convert the video to the DivX/MP3 format, everything plays fine. (I used the free version of Any Video Converter to convert my videos, but there are other free software programs out there like Handbrake or Auto Gordian Knot that can convert videos.) The RCA's 2 inch display is viewable even in bright sunlight but it may get a bit washed out.

I had no problem with the RCA Memory Manager software. It loaded easily but required two updates (one for the Memory Manager software and one for the camera firmware). The software automatically looks for updates so you don't have to check the website for new software. The Memory Manager software is only for the video, not photographs. It provides basic video editing capability, frame capture (so you can make a still photo from the video) and conversion capability so you can make a smaller file to email. There's a little more it does but I haven't had the need to try it yet.

This device doesn't take the place of a "real" camcorder or digital camera (this RCA has no flash) but it works well enough as something that is extremely portable so you can take it along to capture events that you otherwise wouldn't. It's more than just a toy but it is fun to play with. For example, yesterday I used it to video and photograph my family at the beach, playing mini-golf, and visiting a lighthouse and the videos and photos all came out very nicely indeed. For a cost of 100 bucks, I definitely think I got my money's worth. ...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on RCA EZ209HD Small Wonder HD Camcorder (Black)

... We LOVE our new camera, it's compact and the memory is amazing. Simple to use. ...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on Canon FS200 Flash Memory Camcorder with 37x Optical Zoom (Evening Blue)

... Kodak Zx1 HD Pocket Video Camera: LIKED IT UNTIL I CONTACTED KODAK ASKING HOW TO REVIEW ALL THE VIDEOS NONSTOP WITHOUT HAVING TO FORWARD TO THE NEXT ONE EACH TIME ONE IS FINISHED PLAYING. I WAS TOLD THE CAMERA DOES NOT HAVE THAT FEATURE. NOW I'VE CHANGED MY MIND. ...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on Kodak Zx1 HD Pocket Video Camera (Yellow)

... This is a great camera for videos, it's easy to operate & it's light & small. I thought having the still photo option would be awesome, I would only have to carry 1 camera for every thing, but not so. I have taken several hundred photos with it & most are not good quality...the only ones that are good are in perfect lighting conditions. Again---great video ability, poor photos ...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on Sony DCR-SR87 Hard Disk Drive Handycam® Camcorder

... "A horse is a horse, of course, of course" is a line from the old "Mr. Ed" TV show. It came to mind because that describes this camera. It works like a horse, is rugged (it's been dropped with no ill effects), looks decent (a tinnie bit large, but not unreasonably so), does good quality work, and is easy to use.

The video quality is great in Hi-Res and more than adequate for web quality. You get about an hour of recording in Hi-Res and between 3 and 4 hours in web-quality. Plus you can take individual shots. I did a whole wedding in available lighting this weekend at web-quality and the pictures are terrific.

The video editing software downloads from the camera the first time you hook up to a USB port to download your movies/pictures on each computer. The RCA Memory Manager (I think that's it's name) that gets installed is a low-end product but seems to work ok once you get the hang of it. Basically it let's you "slice and dice" your videos and recombine them or cut out parts you don't want in the final version. More than adequate for what I want to do with it.

I think it's a bit large compared to something like a Flip but not really very big. The size makes it easy to handle and the viewing screen is actually big enough to see what you are looking at. It will easily fit in all but the smallest pockets or purses and the lens cap keeps the finger prints out of the videos and still shots. I do find myself cleaning the viewing screen though.

The only thing that I don't like about the product is when it semi-automatically compresses the file for emailing I think the resolution "sucks" and you loose a tremendous amount of quality. But, since it is trying to make it small enough to email it isn't supprising... those bits of information that it compresses out gotta come from somewhere.

Since I'll use other means to email it really isn't a problem for me.

Overall, how do I like it? At around $80 I absolutely love it.

Would I buy it again? Absolutely!

It's a great quality product for the price and definitely in contention with the Flip, in my opinion.

Oh, yeah, I almost forgot... we've been using it off-and-on for a couple of weeks now and still have not changed the batteries (two double-A's if I remember right but I didn't pay attention when we unpacked it.). ...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on RCA "Traveler" Small Wonder EZ210 Digital Camcorder with 4 Hour Recording and 2GB Included SD Memory

... there are better cameras out there for around or a few dollars more than this. It films grainy.. even in the HQ mode, even if a room is day lit well, it still films poor unless something is front lit. Im not a fan of this, and very disappointed in sony, I usually always stick with the sony brand for electronics and this is a first huge let down. ...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on Sony DCR-SX40 Palm-Sized camcorder with 60X Optical Zoom (Red)

... The similarities: both are small, slightly larger than pocket sized, and both have a manual lens cover.

My unit's lens cover had a hard time closing. This was at any angle and appears to be a persistent problem. I did not experience this with the MX20. This may be a new issue Samsung needs to address. Both units have good quality Schneider lenses with multiple coatings. It would be a bummer to have the lens get damaged because of a faulty cover.

Both units have swivel handles on the right side and have standard camera mounts. The difference between the 34x zoom of the SC-MX20, and the 42x of the SMX-F34 is negligible. Anti-shake helps the zoom focus better at longer ranges. The difference between the ranges just isn't that impressive.

The boost in the SMX-F34's internal memory eliminates the need for a memory card (I currently do not have one installed). A memory card makes transfers to external devices a snap, but isn't necessary. Given the battery life, 16gb is more than enough even at higher resolutions.

The SMX-F34 has a `still images' mode. Another addition is 'time lapse' which is the one I really wanted to try. This turned out to be something of a bummer.

When the camera is in use and plugged in - it does not charge. The time-lapse video I made lasted 7 minutes 39 seconds. I started it Tuesday morning and stopped it Wednesday night. When I unplugged the camera, it gave me a low battery warning and shut down. I checked the connection then tried making another time-lapse that lasted 24 hours. No, it didn't work.

The 3 hour battery charge isn't nearly enough to keep an overnight time lapse going. This was disappointing. I thought it might be possible to use the SMX-F34 as a short term surveillance camera. This is just not possible given the short battery life.

Still, given that the prices are similar, the SMX-F34 is the better buy due to the increased internal memory. Watch out for that faulty lens cover. This problem may not have been specific to my unit.

A further note:
I would encourage you to NOT skimp when choosing a tripod! At the higher magnification a tripod becomes necessary. Pick a good one. The one I used I purchased because it was light and cheap. It was supposed to be used to hold a pair of binoculars (10x), at 34x or 42x ev. It ended up slipping.
...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on Samsung SMX-F34 Flash Memory Camcorder w/16GB Memory & 42x Intelli-Zoom (Blue)

... I have an older hdr-fx1, but wanted a small pocket video camera.
This camera video is not as good as the full size, but is very nice in 1080i. It is not a 1080p camera, so saying it is "full HD" to me is really not true. The GPS tagging works, as well as using a standard DVD burner to make disks that have to be read on a BD reader. Curiously, if you use a Sony BD burner, which I also have, the video is fine, but none of the menus are burned into the standard DVD disk. I have a fast XP computer, and you will need that to burn the AVCHD disks.
The sound got hollow and very strange when the background was a waterfall, and also at other times with background sound.
This camera eats batteries, so have 2 or a charger with you.
Video is good, but for this price, is a 720p Vado, Flip or Kodak a better deal? Except for the GPS, the older model has 5.1 surround and is cheaper.
Overall, it is small and a good camera, but pricey. ...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on Sony HDR-TG5V High Definition Handycam Camcorder with Built-in GPS Receiver and 10x Optical Zoom

... the price was wonderful, for what i was looking for, its easy to use,recomend this for anyone who is looking for something small and quality HD ...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on Sony Webbie MHS-PM1 HD Camcorder (Orange)

... I previously owned a Canon VHS camcorder and was very pleased with it. Therefore I had no qualms about making this purchase decision. It is easy to use and has similar features to the camcorder I have. I did end up purchasing a spare battery so that I have it available when I know I will be using it for extended periods of time. The camera has all that I want in a digital camcorder. ...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on Canon DC310 DVD Camcorder with 37x Optical Zoom

... The Canon HF10 and HF100 are the best camcorders in their price range, and arguably the best consumer cams up to a price of $1250. The cams are basically the same, the HF10 has built in memory, and possibly a better grade of the same sensor, although this could be sample variation. The cam is small, lightweight and easy to use. At the 24p setting, it has excellent low light capabilities. The sharpness and range of the lens are simply outstanding. Do not be fooled by the HF200, the HF100 has a better and bigger sensor. The next upgrade in quality is the Canon HF S100, which sacrifices a very small amount of low light quality for broad but incremental improvement in all other areas. If you plan on editing the video on PC, be sure to buy Cineform's Neoscene for $99. This program will allow you to edit your video easily--the included software is useless. Get a Transcend 16gb SDHC if you need more recording space.
Other pluses: The Spotlight mode is perfect for recording concerts or theatre events for you kids. The Easy button gives good results for the point and shoot moments. You can take pictures while shooting video if you first set the camera to 1920x1080. Purchase a BP819 clone on eBay for extended battery life for $25. Surprisingly, the imager is superior to the HF11 (though the HF11 has a faster bitrate possibility) and to any of the Hard Disk models, even if those models have the same imager. This is presumably due to the internal electronics. For higher quality, look to the HF S100 or the Panasonic GH1. ...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on Canon VIXIA HF10 Flash Memory High Definition Camcorder with 16 GB Internal Flash Memory and 12x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom

... It's almost too small to hold without getting a finger over the lens. It easy / simple to operate although we have not investigated all the features. ...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on Sony HDR-CX100 AVCHD HD Camcorder w/Smile Shutter & 10x Optical Zoom (Silver)

... We bought this because it was so inexpensive, but the quality on it is really bad. Not only is the sound and picture quality lacking, the LCD screen went out on our Paris trip (great timing) and we sent it back to get fixed. They fixed it under warranty but it took forever, so we bought a good quality Canon in the meantime. I guess my 6-yr-old will have the most expensive kids' camera on the block now. Don't buy this! ...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on Aiptek A-HD+ 1080P High Definition Camcorder (Silver)

... I have owned a HDR HC1, HC3 and now this camera. They have served me well. My HC3 has taken over a thousand hours of video. I use it for semiprofessional shoot at ballet performances (HD) on a tripod with three other cameras. I drag them with me when I am snowboarding, hiking or traveling in Europe. My cameras are dented and dirty but the video they shoot is still stunning. I still like archiving to tape. ...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on Sony HDR-HC9 6MP MiniDV High Definition Handycam Camcorder 10x Optical Zoom

... I make videos on youtube. So when my digital camera crapped out on me, I thought I'd upgrade to an actual camcorder. But with only $200 saved up, a high end one was out of the picture.

The Samsung SC-MX20 was right up my alley. Good price, nice quality, cool features. Overall, this camera is great. Just thought I'd point out a few things.

1. If you are used to really good cameras, you'll be disappointed with this. It's great for amateur work and quick vids, but for high quality video making, this isn't for you. Movement is sometimes quite pixelated.

2. Zoom. Wow. I love it. Can see farther than I can. But for far zoom, I'd recommend a tripod. You know how shaky it can be if you hold it...

3. Nice sound quality. With my old camera, one of my big problems was the "bubble mic". It would pick up not only my voice, but the AC, Computer, ice cream truck outside, etc. Now, it's much more focused in on the subject matter.

4. Swivel grip and lcd screen are very flexible and versatile. great for odd angles.

5. The Schnieder Lens is very clean, but again, pixelation problems. This might be fixed with the sports setting. I haven't tried it yet. And I dig the manual lens cover switch.

6. I was hoping for still photos. No such luck. The closest is interval shooting, and that is pretty nifty...

So overall, it's a 4 star. What I was looking for (mostly) and in price range. Get it. Unless you're super picky. ...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on Samsung SC-MX20 Flash Memory Camcorder w/34x Optical Zoom (Red)

... We LOVE our new camera, it's compact and the memory is amazing. Simple to use. ...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on Canon FS200 Flash Memory Camcorder with 37x Optical Zoom (Sunrise Red)

... I was very impressed with the quality and size of this cam. Though it lacks a lot of features of higher priced cameras, it makes up for it with size and ease of use. The biggest feature that is missing is the ability to manually control focusing and other features, but at the same time you can pull it out of a large pocket, open the cameras screen and start recording within just a few seconds. The 30 gig hard drive is enough to hold a ton of video. Since I received it, I have shot video all day at the SD zoo, Wild Animal Park, Sea World, Disneyland, and a couple of family gatherings, and still have a lot of space on the drive. I would suggest a couple of upgrades for this camera that can be purchased separately, one which is a necessity, which is an extra battery. You will only get a 1.5 hours of recording time at most. If you like checking what you just recorded it can be much less. These batteries can range from 30 - 75 on the net from my own research, some generic ones come with wall and car chargers, which tend come in handy. The other upgrade I would suggest would be lens filters and extra shooting lenses. I was able to get a 3 piece lens kit and a 2 shooting lens kit that fit this camera for around [...]. Most these lenses are just to broaden the scope of what and how good you can shoot something. The one lens I would make a priority wold be the uv lens it will protect the cameras lens and slow the degradation of the lens from uv light, and gives a little to the shooting quality. Another good purchase would be a lens hood, just to cut out more sun and glare. If you spend between an [...], you will go from having a decent fun camera to a pretty good and functional camera. Overall, for the couple hundred I spent on a refurbished model and the [...] I spent on upgrades, it well outperformed similar classes of cameras I researched, and most importantly I enjoy using it. ...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on JVC Everio GZ-MG330 30 GB Hard Disk Drive Camcorder with 35x Optical Zoom (Silver)

... This is my 3rd Sony camcorder over the past 11 years. My first was the TRV-310 which used Digital 8 tapes and at the time was the high end for consumer camcorders. We used it for travels all over the world and were very pleased with the quality. It was especially good in low light, which tends to be where we used it most (indoors in regular incandescent light, which I would guess would be 75% of the total recording).

We had our first child and upgraded to the DCR-HC85 mini DV camcorder and again were very pleased. We shot over 70 hours of tape and over Christmas converted all the tapes to a hard drive through a 3rd party company (who has time to convert tapes at a 1:1 ratio plus setup time?) because were were tired of creating long index pages for each tape and then digging though them to find the small section we wanted (1 terabyte drive to hold it all!). The only issue I had was that as comcorders started moving to digital, the low light quality got worse. This one was frustrating indoors with shadows, backlit settings created dark, grainy videos, etc.

About 2 weeks ago, I decided it was time to bit the bullet and buy the XR520V. I am absolutely impressed. I was very skeptical about the low light specs on the Sony site (11 lux vs. 4 lux I had on the TRV310 and 8 lux on the HC85). I guess because of the larger CMOS sensor,the higher resolution and going back to an optical lens, the low light is excellent. Perfect for indoor use even in pretty low light (finally!).

The one feature I like the most is the index of each section of video recorded. If you are like me, you have hundreds of 30 second to 2 minute clips which were impossible to index on a tape. This indexes by date, so you can scroll through the dates and see thumbnails of each clip. This is so much better than fast forwarding through a tape (if you can call it FF!). Again, hooray!

Pros:
*Great low light
*Outstanding video quality
*Instant on by just opening the LCD screen
*Index thumbnails grouped by date (even my kids like this since they can pick out their favorites instantly!)
*Much better controls on the camera (record, zoom are also on the LCD screen, so big fingers don't have to squeeze into the hand strap and then find the zoom)
*Nice optical stabilization and zoom (be warned that in full HD mode, it will track every shake and although not jittery, it is noticable). Zoom is very smooth and doesn't "jerk" like older models if you moved it too fast.
*Touchscreen menus are much better than previous models
*37mm filter diameter, so I can keep most of my lenses from the last 2 camcorders (again, keep in mind that with HD, you will need to upgrade wide angle or zoom lenses due to resolution, but UV should be fine).
*Nice, compact size. I'm not carrying a large bag with me everywhere we go.

Cons:
*You should budget spending at least another $300-400 for accessories. The included battery is functional, but you may get caught short on a long trip without some way to keep it charged in the car. You will also need software to be able to convert the video to HD due to the AVCHD compression (Sony Vegas seems to be the best for this at about $80 on Amazon); a good UV filter to protect the lens; HDMI cable; new case (as I would lose this camcorder in my current case for the HC85) and a 1TB hard drive to save video (to start!). Blu-Ray will be a much later purchase for us.
*No HDMI cable included.
*Using the HDMI cable, it appears the camcorder will only output a 1080i signal max. Not sure I understand that one, but in the setup of the camera, it doesn't give an option for 1080p output throught HDMI. What gives?
*GPS is nice, but I have to go outside to get a satellite to get my location. I think it will be a novelty for me as I get tired of doing this and just quit bothering. Maybe if I am on family vacation somewhere and I want to tag it, otherwise, I will spend a lot of time chasing satellites.

I have to say overall, I will thoroughly enjoy this camcorder. We have 2 kids 4 and 2 and this is so much easier to use and carry around than our older model. I also like the quick on, so we don't miss their spontaneous sing alongs. It is also nice to take videos over a weekend trip and then just plug it into the TV, go to the index and pick out what we want to watch. Instant gratification! No more finding a tape and going back and forth to find the scenes we want (plus the previous camcorders FF is about 2X FF max).

I only got the 520V over the 500V for the extra drive space. Normally, I never try to max out a drive or flash card in a camera to avoid loss of data. I regularly copy over from my camera and never max out the flash card, so I imagine I will do the same here, but with no option to get an extra tape when I need it, it was worth the $200 for the extra space. I would never want to get caught short here!

4 stars only due to price and "forced" cost of needed accessories.

Enjoy! ...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on Sony HDR-XR520V 240GB HDD High Definition Camcorder w/12x Optical Zoom

... The video I have shot so for has been outstanding. I have tried it in the Hd and normal Dv and both have been crisp and clear. ...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on Sony HDR-FX7 3-CMOS Sensor HDV High-Definition Handycam Camcorder with 20x Optical Zoom

... i find it hard to imagine in this day and age that i could buy a camera and then have to fight to get the images or film clips loaded to the computer. yet here it is. i'm having to download programs from the internet to make my computer see the video from this camera. it feels insane. eventually it will work and everything will be fine, but in the mean time, it's annoying. didn't sanyo think that the apple computers needed support?
the camera itself is great, easy to use and understand. i'm reticent to take it out in certain situations - i mean it looks like a gun. ...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on Sanyo Xacti HD1010 4MP MPEG4 High Definition 1080i/1080p Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom

... The 70x zoom and optical image stabilization on this device are truly in a class of their own, especially at this price point. I've only had it about a month now, but I'm very satisfied.

The image quality is definitely lacking, especially in low-light conditions. It has some problems with focus in dim light as well. I was expecting this, though. I don't need pristine home-videos. If I cared much about that, I would have paid at least twice as much for a better camera and I would probably still have been disappointed. Having said that, I always record at the highest video quality. Anything lower is unacceptable to me. At the highest quality setting, I can fit about 3 hours of video on a 16 GB card. Not bad.

To see an example of the zoom and image stabilization in a real-life filming situation, check out this YouTube video:

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I filmed this by hand (no tripod) in a noisy crowd with my 6-year-old son bouncing around on the seat next to me. Wait until the very end of the video when I zoom all the way out again. I think you will be surprised. ...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on Panasonic SDR-S26 SD Camcorder (Red)

... Panasonic SDR-H80 SD & HDD Camcorder (Black)this product is great outdoor during day light. It does not perform very will indoor unless you have enough light.

I was disappointed a little bit with the video image quality. it is not agood choice if you trying to buy both still image and video camera in one.

I bought this cammera because the reviews was so good on it. I also bought it because of its size, 60 G HD and some feature they describe. I give it 3 out of 5 because you still can take a good video recording if you have enough light. talking still image with Panasonic SDR-H80 is useless. Panasonic sell video DC light and Shoe Adaptor. it might be a good idea to buy both video DC light and Shoe Adaptor along with the camera if you are using it indoor. Finally, If you are not good at shooting video, I advise you to stay a way from this product.
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Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on Panasonic SDR-H80 SD & HDD Camcorder (Black)

... Pros:
Awesome image quality and color. LCD screen surprised me that I could see it in daylight very easily. Touch controls work very well for me using the stylus. My previous two camcorders were Sony DVD. This Panasonic HD blows them out of the water!

Cons:
1) Not as advertised
2) Video editing software is barely adequate, and very spartan in its features.

Summary:
Panasonic, on their own webpage with their own product flyer claimed this camera had Time Lapse capability. It does not! I contacted Panasonic via their customer service asking about this and so far have only received a run around from them! Being directed to a telephone number, which when called inserts you into a horrendous automated system that is extremely difficult to navigate. Once you get to where you can ask for technical assistance, you are put on hold. After 20 minutes I gave up.

It is False Advertising, pure and simple! Shame on Panasonic!

Other than the deceit about the time lapse photography feature I really like this camcorder. The image quality and color are far superior to the two Sony DVD camcorders I had owned previously. The still shot capability is quite impressive also. Certainly not on a par with a dedicated DSLR, but from a point and shoot standpoint the images are quite good. The burst mode, of 60 frames per second is a stunner!

The camcorder is quite handsome in its black and chrome livery. It is small and light, but not too much so. It feels like a quality instrument.

I am quite satisfied with the camcorder overall, and if it actually had Time Lapse as advertised, I would have been thrilled with it. ...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on Panasonic HDC-HS250-K HHD HD Camcorder (Black)

... Sony HDR-XR500V 120GB HDD High Definition Camcorder w/12x Optical Zoom

The quality of the product surpassed my expectations. The clarity of the video in lower light conditions is impressive. The big problem I had with my previous camcorder was the picture would look grainy when taken indoors under normal indoor lighting conditions. This camera does a great job in lower/low light conditions. The fireworks and twilight modes are excellent. A feature that may not catch your eye at first but really adds alot to the product is the smiles shutter. While taking video, the camera will take digital stills when the camera detects a smile. The pictures taken this way lead to more natural looking smiles then pictures your subjects pose for. It is a nice treat to find some photos taken on your camera after you are done videoing. The included software and downloaded update makes is easy to transfer, store, and search downloaded content to my PC running Windows Vista 64-bit. You can easily create an AVCHD disc with direct burn through the computer (equipped with a dvd or bluray burner) without the need to tranfer anything to the computer first. Picture quality is phenomenal. Would highly recommend this product to anyone. ...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on Sony HDR-XR500V 120GB HDD High Definition Camcorder w/12x Optical Zoom

... I make videos on youtube. So when my digital camera crapped out on me, I thought I'd upgrade to an actual camcorder. But with only $200 saved up, a high end one was out of the picture.

The Samsung SC-MX20 was right up my alley. Good price, nice quality, cool features. Overall, this camera is great. Just thought I'd point out a few things.

1. If you are used to really good cameras, you'll be disappointed with this. It's great for amateur work and quick vids, but for high quality video making, this isn't for you. Movement is sometimes quite pixelated.

2. Zoom. Wow. I love it. Can see farther than I can. But for far zoom, I'd recommend a tripod. You know how shaky it can be if you hold it...

3. Nice sound quality. With my old camera, one of my big problems was the "bubble mic". It would pick up not only my voice, but the AC, Computer, ice cream truck outside, etc. Now, it's much more focused in on the subject matter.

4. Swivel grip and lcd screen are very flexible and versatile. great for odd angles.

5. The Schnieder Lens is very clean, but again, pixelation problems. This might be fixed with the sports setting. I haven't tried it yet. And I dig the manual lens cover switch.

6. I was hoping for still photos. No such luck. The closest is interval shooting, and that is pretty nifty...

So overall, it's a 4 star. What I was looking for (mostly) and in price range. Get it. Unless you're super picky. ...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on Samsung SC-MX20 Shoot & Share memory camcorder w/34x Optical Zoom (Blue)

... After quite a bit of research for a compact, non-HD video camera, I settled on the JVC Everio. Its solid-state recording (using SDHC cards rather than a hard drive) makes it really light-weight and more durable.

It is loaded with features and provides great video. (Don't really use the still photo feature.) However, please read the other reviews that reference the free conversion software you need to edit 16:9 video.

The controls all are convenient with one-handed operation, the viewfinder highly visible and the anti-shake mechanism provides really good "jitter-free" takes (I recorded my wife on horseback for almost an hour and, despite my arm feeling like jelly, the images were rock solid).

For the money, this camera performs flawlessly. Only HD could improve it, and then only if you needed that degree of performance. Personally, I'm very happy with the standard def version - on my 65-inch HDTV, the picture blows you away! ...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on JVC Everio S GZ-MS100 Flash Memory Camcorder with 35x Optical Zoom

... The camera itself is really quite good, with proper lighting the unit is capable of recording high quality stills and moving footage. The microphone is also above average. Essentially this is a really good unit, but it is susceptible to an extremely devastating single point failure. If the ac adapter breaks the unit essentially becomes an expensive paper weight. This is due to the fact that one cannot find replacement parts for this camera, so I would recommend a different unit. ...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on Canon FS100 Flash Memory Camcorder with 48x Advanced Zoom (Silver)

... Flip MinoHD Camcorder, 60 Minutes (Black)

I can watch the movies on the little screen on the Flip but so far haven't been able to load it to the computer. The sound is there, but no picture,just a question mark where the movie should be. I also can't see it on TV, maybe because I have Direct TV and there's no input buttons on it . I'll get someone in that knows more about computers than I do and see if they can load it to the computer. If they can, then I'd give it 5 marks for the clarity of the pictures and the ease of handling it,. ...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on Flip Mino Camcorder, 60 Minutes (White)

... Great piece, plus inexpensive. Took to Europe. Easy to use, easy to view and delete. Good battery power. Small and easy to store. Would recommend. ...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on Creative Labs Vado Pocket Video Camcorder (Silver)

... I've had this camcorder for 7 months now and have been somewhat pleased with it overall. The reason I only gave it 4 stars is for some annoying issues I have with it.

First off, you can only transfer your video clips if you have the power cord attached. This is inconvenient if you want to get one or two clips onto your computer and have a fully charged battery on the camcorder. Also, once you have your camcorder connected to your computer (via USB cable), you cannot turn the camcorder off unless you disconnect the USB cable. I'm guessing Canon felt it was necessary to protect interruptions during transfer of your video clips. But who would be dumb enough to disconnect or turn off their camcorder in the middle of a transfer?

Another issue I have is that if you don't want to use ImageMixer 3 SE software program to access your video files via your computer you'll have to follow this path from your hard drive: G:\ (or whichever drive it's assigned to) PRIVATE\AVCHD\BDMV\STREAM\00000.MTS. If you use the ImageMixer 3 SE software it basically adds another set of steps in order to view your clips on your computer. Because once you copy your video files using ImageMixer software, you must open the ImageMixer 3 SE Player if you want to view your video. Another step. The ImageMixer 3 SE Player doesn't display which video file you're viewing. That is such a simple thing to have showing that I wonder why it was left out. So you click File then Select File. Choose a file and click Open. The files are number like this example: 20090622091442 (Year, month, day, hour, minutes, seconds). That's great if you can remember which clip number among many is showing in the viewer. Note: the long number is automatically generated from using the ImageMixer software to copy the video to your computer. If you go directly to your hard drive (see above path) then you won't get the data (long file number). It will just be 00000, 00001, 00002.MTS, etc.

From here I must give this camcorder a big plus. I've dropped this camcorder twice. It was on a tripod and the tripod fell down on a ceramic floor. The camcorder still worked and with no visual scars. Then it fell off a handle bar mount on a bicycle and tumbled into the street. It's scratched up but it works fine. I think good construction and a little luck kept if from imminent death.
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Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on Canon VIXIA HF11 AVCHD 32 GB Flash Memory Camcorder w/12x Optical Zoom

... After looking over the various models of Canon FS series camcorders, the Canon FS 11 appears to be one of the best. Coming with 16 GB of internal memory, this camera will record up to 10 hours and 25 minutes of video (LP - 3 mbps). By comparing to other top models on the Canon website, this model is arguably the best model that Canon makes.

Use the link below to do side-by-side comparisons of various Canon camcorders on the official Canon Website.

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Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on Canon FS11 Flash Memory Camcorder with 16GB Internal Flash Memory and 48x Advanced Zoom

... Not sure what the other reviewer is talking about, but I have this camera and it definitely comes with a USB port and cable. It is very easy to use and takes great pictures. ...
Check Amazon Price and Read More Reviews on Canon DC410 DVD Camcorder with 37x Optical Zoom