Shop for digital camcorders

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.3 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 5.0 stars out of 2 reviews

The Bottom Line: While it's got a great shooter feature set and good video quality, the Canon Vixia HF G10 still feels a bit expensive for what it offers. Read review

Specs: HD CMOS Pro, 19.2 oz, 3.1 in, 3 in, 10 x x Zoom lens - 4.25 mm - 42.5 mm - F/1.8-2.8, 5.9 in, Camcorder, Canon VIXIA HF G10 - 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!

The Bottom Line: The low-end HF R series announced at CES survives the annual purge for the slowly dying category. Read review

Specs: CMOS, 8.3 oz, 2.2 in, 32 x x, Zoom lens - 2.8 mm - 89.6 mm - F/1.8-4.5, Camcorder, Canon VIXIA HF R400 - Consumer - Flash card, 4.6 in, 2.1 in

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 21 reviews

The Bottom Line: An extremely minor upgrade from the HV20, the Canon Vixia HV30 remains a quality HDV camcorder with a couple of performance issues. Read review

Specs: CMOS, Built-in flash, 1.2 lbs, 5.4 in, 3.5 in, Canon HV30 - Camcorder - Consumer - Mini DV (HDV), 3.2 in, 10 x x Zoom lens - 6.1 mm - 61 mm - F/1.8-3.0

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.8 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 5.0 stars out of 1 review

The Bottom Line: A fine follow-up to last year's M3xx series, the Canon Vixia M4xx series should please most home-movie-oriented videographers despite its relatively high price. If you don't need the EVF, the M400 is your best buy, but if you'll be shooting a lot in sunlight, it's worth it to step up to the M41. Read review

Specs: CMOS, 12.3 oz, 2.8 in, Canon VIXIA HF M400 - Camcorder - Consumer - Flash card, 2.9 in, 5.2 in, 10 x x Zoom lens - 6.1 mm - 61 mm - F/1.8-3.0

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

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

The Bottom Line: The low-end HF R series announced at CES survives the annual purge for the slowly dying category. Read review

Specs: CMOS, 8.3 oz, Camcorder, Canon VIXIA HF R42 - Consumer - Flash card, 4.6 in, 2.1 in, 2.2 in, 52 x x, Zoom lens - 2.8 mm - 89.6 mm - F/1.8-4.5

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

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

The Bottom Line: The Vixia HF G20 announced at CES incorporates a new sensor and lower price. Read review

Specs: HD CMOS Pro, 1.3 lbs, 3 in, Camcorder, Canon VIXIA HF G20 - Consumer - Flash card, Zoom lens - 4.25 mm - 42.5 mm - F/1.8-2.8, 10 x x, 6.3 in, 3.1 in

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

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

The Bottom Line: A larger sensor and longer lens are among the improvements Canon incorporates into its top-of-the-line consumer and compact pro models. Read review

Specs: CMOS, 27 oz, 4.3 in, Camcorder, Canon XA20 - Professional - Flash card, 20 x x, Zoom lens - 3.67 mm - 73.4 mm - F/1.8-2.8, 3.3 in, 7.2 in

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

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

The Bottom Line: A larger sensor and longer lens are among the improvements Canon incorporates into its top-of-the-line consumer and compact pro models. Read review

Specs: HD CMOS Pro, 27 oz, 4.3 in, 3.3 in, 20 x x, Zoom lens - 3.67 mm - 73.4 mm - F/1.8-2.8, Camcorder, Canon VIXIA HF G30 - Consumer - Flash card, 7.2 in

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

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

The Bottom Line: The low-end HF R series announced at CES survives the annual purge for the slowly dying category. Read review

Specs: CMOS, 8.3 oz, 2.2 in, 4.6 in, Camcorder, Canon VIXIA HF R40 - Consumer - Flash card, - Internal flash memory, 2.1 in, 32 x x, Zoom lens - 2.8 mm - 89.6 mm

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 2 reviews

Specs: HD CMOS Pro, None, 1.7 lbs, Camcorder, Canon XA10 - Professional - Flash card, 3 in, 6.3 in, Zoom lens, 10 x x 4.25 mm - 42.5 mm - F/1.8-2.8, 3 in

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.9 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 19 reviews

The Bottom Line: Canon's XH A1 and XH G1 are excellent camcorders for entry-level professionals and independent filmmakers, with hard-to-beat prices for what they offer. Read review

Specs: 3CCD, None, 4.7 lbs, 13.8 in, 20 x x Zoom lens - 4.5 mm - 90 mm - F/1.6, 7.4 in, Canon XH A1 - Camcorder - Consumer - Mini DV (HDV), 6.4 in

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.5 stars out of 1 review

Specs: HD CMOS Pro, 10.9 oz, Canon VIXIA HF M500 - Camcorder - Consumer - Flash card, 2.7 in, 4.8 in, 10 x x Zoom lens - 6.1 mm - 61 mm - F/1.8-3.0, 2.5 in

• 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, 8.8 oz, 32 x x Zoom lens - 2.8 mm - 89.6 mm - F/1.8-4.5, 2.2 in, 2.1 in, 4.5 in, Canon VIXIA HF R300 - Camcorder - 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: HD CMOS Pro, 10.9 oz, Canon VIXIA HF M52 - Camcorder - Consumer - Flash card, 10 x x Zoom lens - 6.1 mm - 61 mm - F/1.8-3.0, 4.8 in, 2.7 in, 2.5 in

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 32 reviews

The Bottom Line: Canon's first flash-based camcorder, the Canon Vixia HF10, delivers excellent HD video quality and performance in a tiny package. Read review

Specs: CMOS, 13.4 oz, 5.1 in, 2.9 in, 2.5 in, Canon VIXIA HF10 - Camcorder - Consumer - Flash card, 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: 7.8 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 3 reviews

The Bottom Line: A fine follow-up to last year's M3xx series, the Canon Vixia M4xx series should please most home-movie-oriented videographers despite its relatively high price. If you don't need the EVF, the M400 is your best buy, but if you'll be shooting a lot in sunlight, it's worth it to step up to the M41. Read review

Specs: CMOS, 12.3 oz, 5.2 in, 2.8 in, 2.9 in, Canon VIXIA HF M40 - Camcorder - Consumer - Flash card, - F/1.8 - 3.0, 10 x x Zoom lens - 6.1 mm - 61 mm

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 29 reviews

The Bottom Line: While it's more expensive than its sub-$600 competitors, the Canon Vixia HF20 and Vixia HF200 deliver a more extensive feature set for the extra money. The HF200, which lacks internal memory, is probably a better buy than the HF20, though the HF20's all-black body is a bit classier looking. Read review

Specs: CMOS, 2.99 megapixels, Built-in flash, 12 oz, 2.8 in, Canon VIXIA HF200 - Camcorder - Consumer - Flash card, 2.4 in, 15 x x Zoom lens - 4.1 mm - 61.5 mm - F/1.8-3.2, 4.9 in

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.9 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 55 reviews

The Bottom Line: This outstanding performer raises the bar for prosumer MiniDV camcorders. Read review

Specs: 3CCD with Pixel Shift, None, 2.6 lbs, 4.6 in, 5.4 in, 20 x x Zoom lens - 4.2 mm - 84 mm - F/1.6-2.9, 12 in, Canon GL2 - Camcorder - Consumer - Mini DV

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 3 reviews

The Bottom Line: Though they're an excellent trio of camcorders, the Vixia HF S21, HF S20, and HF S200 are significantly more expensive than their respective competitors, especially since the S20 and S200 lack electronic viewfinders. If you can forgo some of the subtleties of the manual controls, you can probably get what you need with a cheaper camcorder. Read review

Specs: CMOS, Built-in flash, 16.6 oz, 3 in, Canon VIXIA HF S21 - Camcorder - Consumer - Flash card, 2.9 in, 10 x x Zoom lens - 6.4 mm - 64 mm - F/1.8-3.0, 5.8 in

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.3 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 2 reviews

The Bottom Line: If you're looking to shoot great HD video on the cheap, keep looking; the Canon Vixia HF R series delivers decent video at best, even for its modest price. But for a low-priced model with mic and headphone jacks, the HF R100 is a pretty good deal. Read review

Specs: CMOS, Built-in, 11.3 oz, Canon VIXIA HF R100 - Camcorder - Consumer - Flash card, 2.7 in, 20 x x Zoom lens - 3 mm - 60 mm - F/1.8-3.6, 2.4 in, 4.8 in

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.4 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 18 reviews

The Bottom Line: Convenient, well-designed camcorders that look pricier than they are, models in the Canon FS series--FS11, FS10, and FS100--nevertheless deliver typical budget video in line with their budget price tags. Read review

Specs: CCD, 9.2 oz, 2.3 in, 37 x x Zoom lens - 2.6 mm - 96.2 mm - F/2.0-5.2, Canon FS100 - Camcorder - Consumer - Flash card, 4.9 in, 2.4 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: An excellent flash-based prosumer HD camcorder, you may nevertheless pass on the Canon Vixia HF S100 because it lacks an eye-level viewfinder. It's probably a better buy than the identical--but more expensive, because it has 32GB built-in memory--Vixia HF S10. Read review

Specs: CMOS, Pop-up flash, 15.9 oz, 5.4 in, 2.7 in, Canon VIXIA HF S100 - Camcorder - Consumer - Flash card, 10 x x Zoom lens - 6.4 mm - 64 mm - F/1.8-3.0, 2.8 in

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.9 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 26 reviews

The Bottom Line: Canon returns to the state of the art in DV but doesn't set a new standard. Read review

Specs: 3CCD, None, 7.7 lbs, 8.9 in, Canon XL2 - Camcorder - Consumer - Mini DV, 19.5 in, 8.7 in, 20 x x Zoom lens - 5.4 mm - 108 mm - F/1.6-3.5

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 29 reviews

The Bottom Line: One of a pair of Canon's first flash-based camcorders, the Canon Vixia HF100, delivers excellent HD video quality and performance in a tiny package. Read review

Specs: CMOS, 13.4 oz, 5.1 in, 12 x x Zoom lens - 4.8 mm - 57 mm - F/1.8-3.0, 2.5 in, 2.9 in, Canon VIXIA HF100 - Camcorder - Consumer - Flash card

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.7 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 45 reviews

The Bottom Line: Canon's HV20 camcorder is a great choice for HD-happy amateurs, but its low-light performance could have been better. Read review

Specs: CMOS, Built-in flash, 1.2 lbs, 5.4 in, 3.5 in, 10 x x Zoom lens - 6.1 mm - 61 mm - F/1.8-3.0, Canon HV20 - Camcorder - Consumer - Mini DV (HDV), 3.2 in