Shop for digital camcorders

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.5 stars out of 6 reviews

The Bottom Line: Like its cousin, the flash-based HF11, Canon's Vixia HG21 delivers excellent HD video quality and performance albeit in a slightly larger, heavier package. However, you do get more storage space and a lower price. Read review

Specs: CMOS, Built-in flash, 17.3 oz, 3 in, 3.1 in, Canon VIXIA HG21 - Camcorder - Consumer - Hard disk drive, - Flash card, 5.4 in, 12 x x Zoom lens - 4.8 mm - 57 mm - F/1.8-3.0

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.9 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 14 reviews

The Bottom Line: Though their geotagging capabilities are mostly novelty and their interfaces could use a complete overhaul, the top-notch video quality, performance, and consumer-friendly feature sets of the Sony Handycam HDR-XR500V and HDR-XR520V make them worthy camcorder options. Both are overpriced, but since 14 hours of recording time is plenty--especially if supplemented with flash media--the HDR-XR500V is the better deal of the two. Read review

Specs: Exmor R CMOS, Built-in flash, 18 oz, 2.8 in, 5.4 in, 3 in, 12 x x Zoom lens - 5.5 mm - 66 mm - F/1.8-3.4, Sony Handycam HDR-XR500V - Camcorder - Consumer - Hard disk drive, - Flash card

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.5 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 29 reviews

The Bottom Line: A solid hard-drive based HD camcorder, the Canon HG10 nevertheless has its share of annoying quirks. Read review

Specs: CMOS, 2.07 megapixels, Built-in flash, 1.1 lbs, 5.1 in, Canon HG10 - Camcorder - Consumer - Hard disk drive, 3.2 in, 3 in, 10 x x Zoom lens - 6.1 mm - 61 mm - F/1.8-3.0

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 38 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Sony Handycam HDR-SR1's combination of hard disk capacity, easy adapatability, great design, and a broad feature set make it the consumer HD model to beat for 2006. Read review

Specs: ClearVid CMOS, 1.6 lbs, 6.5 in, 10 x x Zoom lens - 5.1 mm - 51 mm - F/1.8-2.9, 3.1 in, 3.3 in, Sony Handycam HDR-SR1 - Camcorder - Consumer - Hard disk drive

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 3 reviews

Specs: CMOS, 1.5 lbs, 2.8 in, 4.1 in, Sony HVR-A1U - Camcorder - Professional - Mini DV (HDV), 7.5 in, 10 x x Zoom lens - 5.1 mm - 51 mm - F/1.8-2.1

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

Specs: CMOS, None, 2.2 lbs, 7.5 in, 5.5 in, Canon XF100 - Camcorder - Professional - Flash card, 10.6 in, 10 x x Zoom lens - 4.25 mm - 42.5 mm - F/1.8-2.8

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 6 reviews

Specs: ClearVid CMOS, None, 6 lbs, Sony HVR-HD1000U - Camcorder - Professional - Mini DV (HDV), 10 x x Zoom lens - 4.4 mm - 54 mm

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 5.0 stars out of 1 review

Specs: CMOS, None, 2.4 lbs, 5.5 in, Canon XF105 - Camcorder - Professional - Flash card, 10 x x Zoom lens - 4.25 mm - 42.5 mm - F/1.8-2.8, 10.6 in, 7.5 in

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 13 reviews

The Bottom Line: Sony's Handycam HDR-SR11 and SR12 60GB hard-drive-based AVCHD camcorders deliver top notch performance and image quality. Read review

Specs: ClearVid CMOS, Built-in flash, 1.2 lbs, 12 x x Zoom lens - 4.9 mm - 58.8 mm - F/1.8-3.1, 5.4 in, 3.3 in, Sony Handycam HDR-SR12 - Camcorder - Consumer - Hard disk drive, 3 in

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.9 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 3 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Sony Handycam HDR-XR550V fares well compared with the competition, though its video could be a bit sharper and the interface less cumbersome. Unless you absolutely need to store a lot of video on the camcorder--which I don't suggest--or have large hands and therefore could benefit from the extra grip the hard drive provides, the cheaper and nearly identical flash-based CX550V is a better deal. Read review

Specs: Exmor R CMOS, Built-in flash, 1.1 lbs, Sony Handycam HDR-XR550V - Camcorder - Consumer - Hard disk drive, - Flash card, 2.9 in, 10 x x Zoom lens - 3.8 mm - 38 mm - F/1.8-3.4, 2.8 in, 5.6 in

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 5.0 stars out of 2 reviews

Specs: 3 ClearVid CMOS, None, 4.6 lbs, 6.7 in, 13.7 in, 7 in, 20 x x Zoom lens - 4.1 mm - 82 mm - F/1.6-3.4, Sony Handycam HDR-FX1000 - Camcorder - Consumer - Mini DV (HDV)

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

Specs: 3CCD, None, 2.6 lbs, 20 x x Zoom lens - 4.2 mm - 84 mm - F/1.6-2.9, 4.6 in, Canon GL1 - Camcorder - Consumer - Mini DV, 5.3 in, 10.7 in

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.0 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 23 reviews

The Bottom Line: An uninspiring entrant in Sony's HD camcorder lineup, the Sony Handycam HDR-SR5's video quality and performance simply don't deliver for the price. Read review

Specs: ClearVid CMOS, Built-in flash, 1.2 lbs, 3 in, 5.5 in, 3.2 in, Sony Handycam HDR-SR5 - Camcorder - Consumer - Hard disk drive, 10 x x Zoom lens - 5.1 mm - 51 mm - F/1.8-2.9

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.0 stars Good

  Overall score: 6.6 (3.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 2.0 stars out of 4 reviews

The Bottom Line: As a relatively inexpensive DVD camcorder with solid, though not remarkable, performance, the Panasonic VDR-D210 is a decent choice for video snapshooters. Read review

Specs: CCD, 0.46 megapixels, None, 1.1 lbs, 5.6 in, 3.6 in, 2.6 in, Panasonic VDR-D210 - Camcorder - Consumer - DVD, 32 x x Zoom lens - 2.3 mm - 73.6 mm - F/1.8-3.7

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 23 reviews

The Bottom Line: The hard-drive-based analog of the HDR-HC7, the Sony Handycam HDR-SR7 finally delivers a cutting-edge HD video experience, complete with great video and compatibility frustrations. Read review

Specs: ClearVid CMOS, Built-in flash, 1.3 lbs, 5.9 in, Sony Handycam HDR-SR7 - Camcorder - Consumer - Hard disk drive, 10 x x Zoom lens - 5.4 mm - 54 mm - F/1.8-2.9, 3 in, 3.2 in

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 5 reviews

Specs: 3CCD, Built-in, 4.4 lbs, 10 x x Zoom lens, Panasonic DV PROLINE AG-DVC20 - Camcorder - Consumer - Mini DV

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 1 review

Specs: Exmor R CMOS, Built-in flash, 26.1 oz, 3.4 in, 5.9 in, Zoom Lens, 10 x x 2.9 mm - 29 mm - F/1.8-3.4, 2.9 in, Camcorder, Sony Handycam HDR-TD10 - Consumer - Flash card

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

Specs: Exmor R CMOS, 1.9 lbs, 11.7 in, Sony NXCAM HXR-NX70U - Camcorder - Professional - Flash card, 4.4 in, 4.7 in, 10 x x Zoom lens - 3.8 mm - 38 mm - F/1.8-3.4

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.9 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 3 reviews

The Bottom Line: A very good prosumer HD camcorder, the Panasonic HDC-HS300 still isn't as good a deal as the similarly featured but flash-based TM300 and has the same annoying touch-screen interface. Read review

Specs: 3CMOS, Built-in flash, 16.2 oz, 5.6 in, 2.9 in, 2.8 in, 12 x x Zoom lens - 4 mm - 48 mm - F/1.8-2.8, Panasonic HDC-HS300 - Camcorder - Consumer - Hard disk drive, - Flash card

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

Specs: Exmor R CMOS, Built-in, 16.2 oz, 5.6 in, Sony Handycam HDR-TD20V - Camcorder - Consumer - Flash card, 2.8 in, 10 x x Zoom lens - 3.2 mm - 32 mm - F/1.8-10, 2.5 in

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.5 stars out of 2 reviews

Specs: 3CCD, 3.1 lbs, 10 x x Zoom lens - 3.7 mm - 37 mm - F/1.8-2.8, JVC GY-HM100U - Camcorder - Professional - Flash card, 10.7 in, 7 in, 5.3 in

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

Specs: MOS, 4 lbs, 16.8 x x Zoom lens - 2.9 mm - 48.7 mm - F/1.8-2.6, 17 in, Panasonic AVCHD AG-AC7 - Camcorder - Professional - Flash card, 8.5 in, 8.8 in

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 3 reviews

Specs: 3CCD, None, 3.7 lbs, Panasonic AVCCAM AG-HMC150PJ - Camcorder - Professional - Flash card, 13 x x Zoom lens - 3.9 mm - 51 mm - F/1.6-3.0, 6.1 in, 6.5 in, 15.6 in

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 2.5 stars out of 13 reviews

Specs: CCD, 2.9 megapixels, None, 1.8 lbs, Sony Handycam DCR-TRV280 - Camcorder - Consumer - Digital8, 3.3 in, 5.9 in, 20 x x Zoom lens - 2.5 mm - 50 mm - F/1.6-2.4, 3.9 in

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

Specs: 3 Exmor CMOS, 4.6 lbs, 13.5 in, 6.8 in, 20 x x Zoom lens - 4.1 mm - 82 mm - F/1.6-3.4, 7.4 in, Sony Handycam HDR-AX2000 - Camcorder - Professional - Flash card