Shop for digital camcorders

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.0 stars Good

  Overall score: 6.2 (3.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: Sony's Handycam DCR-SX45, SX65, and SX85 standard-definition camcorders pack a megazoom lens at a reasonable price; one look at the standard-definition video, though, and you might regret not spending a bit more for an HD model. Read review

Specs: Advanced HAD CCD, 8.1 oz, 4.9 in, 2 in, 2.2 in, 60 x x Zoom lens - 1.8 mm - 108 mm - F/1.8-6.0, Sony Handycam DCR-SX45 - 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!

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, Camcorder, Canon VIXIA HF R40 - Consumer - Flash card, - Internal flash memory, 4.6 in, 2.1 in

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.0 stars Good

  Overall score: 6.2 (3.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 1.0 stars out of 7 reviews

The Bottom Line: Sony's Handycam DCR-SX45, SX65, and SX85 standard-definition camcorders pack a megazoom lens at a reasonable price; one look at the standard-definition video, though, and you might regret not spending a bit more for an HD model. Read review

Specs: Advanced HAD CCD, 8.1 oz, Sony Handycam DCR-SX85 - Camcorder - Consumer - Flash card, 2 in, 60 x x Zoom lens - 1.8 mm - 108 mm - F/1.8-6.0, 2.2 in, 4.9 in

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.0 stars Good

  Overall score: 6.2 (3.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 2.5 stars out of 8 reviews

The Bottom Line: Sony's Handycam DCR-SR68 (and larger-capacity SR88) offers up ample storage and a megazoom lens at a reasonable price; one look at the standard-definition video, though, and you might regret not spending a bit more for an HD model. Read review

Specs: Advanced HAD CCD, 9.9 oz, 60 x x Zoom lens - 1.8 mm - 108 mm - F/1.8-6.0, 2.6 in, 2.2 in, Sony Handycam DCR-SR68 - Camcorder - Consumer - Hard disk drive, - Flash card, 4.2 in

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.0 stars Good

  Overall score: 6.2 (3.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 1 review

The Bottom Line: Sony's Handycam DCR-SX45, SX65, and SX85 standard-definition camcorders pack a megazoom lens at a reasonable price; one look at the standard-definition video, though, and you might regret not spending a bit more for an HD model. Read review

Specs: Advanced HAD CCD, 8.1 oz, 4.9 in, 60 x x Zoom lens - 1.8 mm - 108 mm - F/1.8-6.0, Sony Handycam DCR-SX65 - Camcorder - Consumer - Flash card, 2.2 in, 2 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, 2.4 in, Canon FS100 - Camcorder - Consumer - Flash card, 37 x x Zoom lens - 2.6 mm - 96.2 mm - F/2.0-5.2, 2.3 in, 4.9 in

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

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

Specs: MOS, 6.5 oz, 2.4 in, Panasonic HC-V100M - Camcorder - Consumer - Flash card, 34 x x Zoom lens - 2.38 mm - 81 mm - F/1.8-4.0, 2 in, 4.4 in

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.4 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 7 reviews

The Bottom Line: Panasonic has listened. The third incarnation of the AG-DVX100 offers unrivalled bang for the buck in a prosumer standard-definition MiniDV camera. Read review

Specs: 3CCD, 3.8 megapixels, None, 3.7 lbs, 10 x x Zoom lens - 4.5 mm - 45 mm - F/1.6, 14.3 in, Panasonic AG-DVX100B - Camcorder - Professional - Mini DV, 5.5 in, 6.3 in

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.0 stars Good

  Overall score: 6.8 (3.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 1 review

The Bottom Line: Panasonic's HDC-TM40, TM41 and SD40 are some of the cheapest camcorders you can buy with a zoom lens and manual controls. If you care about video quality, spend a little more money on another model; if you don't, buy the cheapest one of these you can find, adjusting for the cost of memory for the SD40. Read review

Specs: MOS, 6 oz, 2.3 in, Panasonic HDC-SD40 - Camcorder - Consumer - Flash card, zoom, 16.8 x x 2.9 mm - 48.7 mm - F/1.8-2.6, 4.3 in, 2 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, 12 in, Canon GL2 - Camcorder - Consumer - Mini DV, 5.4 in, 4.6 in, 20 x x Zoom lens - 4.2 mm - 84 mm - F/1.6-2.9

• 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, 8.7 in, 19.5 in, 20 x x Zoom lens - 5.4 mm - 108 mm - F/1.6-3.5, 8.9 in, Canon XL2 - Camcorder - Consumer - Mini DV

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.0 stars Good

  Overall score: 6.6 (3.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 7 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Sony Handycam DCR-DVD650 offers an all-in-one, on-the-go way to capture standard-def video and burn it to a DVD, but hard-disk-drive and flash-memory models are otherwise a better option. Read review

Specs: Advanced HAD CCD, 13.8 oz, 3.5 in, 5.1 in, 60 x x Zoom lens - 1.8 mm - 108 mm - F/1.8-6.0, 2.2 in, Sony Handycam DCR-DVD650 - Camcorder - Consumer - Flash card, - DVD

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

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

Specs: MOS, Built-in flash, 8 oz, Panasonic HC-V500 - Camcorder - Consumer - Flash card, 4.7 in, 2.1 in, 38 x x Zoom lens - 2.35 mm - 89.3 mm - F/1.8-4.2, 2.6 in

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.0 stars Good

  Overall score: 6.0 (3.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 2.5 stars out of 26 reviews

The Bottom Line: Given its mediocre video quality, the Sony Handycam DCR-SR42 seems overpriced for what it delivers. Read review

Specs: Advanced HAD CCD, 13.4 oz, 2.9 in, 2.8 in, Sony Handycam DCR-SR42 - Camcorder - Consumer - Hard disk drive, 40 x x Zoom lens - 1.9 mm - 76 mm - F/1.8-4.1, 4.5 in

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.6 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 8 reviews

The Bottom Line: Though its video isn't perfect, the Canon FS200 is one of the better standard-definition consumer camcorders available. Read review

Specs: CCD, 7.9 oz, 4.8 in, 37 x x Zoom lens - 2.6 mm - 96.2 mm - F/2.0-5.2, 2.2 in, 2.3 in, Canon FS200 - 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!

The Bottom Line: Despite a perceived lull in the camcorder market, Sony announces 10 models at CES. Read review

Specs: Exmor R CMOS, Built-in flash, 16.2 oz, 10 x x, Zoom lens - 3.2 mm - 32 mm - F/1.8-3.4 G, 2.5 in, 5.2 in, 2.8 in, Camcorder, Sony Handycam HDR-TD30V - Consumer - Flash card

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.0 stars Good

  Overall score: 6.1 (3.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 9 reviews

The Bottom Line: As a scaled-down version of JVC's GZ-HD7, the GZ-HD3 ditches some of the fancier features, but its price is still higher than we'd like for this camcorder. Read review

Specs: 3CCD, 1.3 lbs, 6.1 in, 10 x x Zoom lens - 3.2 mm - 32 mm - F/1.8-2.4, 3 in, 3.2 in, JVC Everio GZ-HD3 - Camcorder - Consumer - Hard disk drive

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.0 stars Good

  Overall score: 6.2 (3.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 17 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Sony Handycam DCR-SR45 has a good design and reasonable feature set for its price, but the video quality doesn't measure up to the rest of the package. Read review

Specs: Advanced HAD CCD, None, 12.3 oz, 40 x x Zoom lens - 1.9 mm - 76 mm - F/1.8-4.1, 3 in, 4.4 in, Sony Handycam DCR-SR45 - Camcorder - Consumer - Hard disk drive, - Flash card, 3 in

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 31 reviews

The Bottom Line: A bargain for a three-chip camera, the Panasonic PV-GS250 is a great choice for an amateur with serious aspirations or just a discerning eye. Read review

Specs: 3CCD, Built-in flash, 1.1 lbs, 5.7 in, Panasonic Palmcorder Multicam PV-GS250 - Camcorder - Consumer - Mini DV, 2.9 in, 10 x x Zoom lens - 2.85 mm - 28.5 mm - F/1.6-2.8, 3.2 in

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.0 stars Good

  Overall score: 6.3 (3.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 13 reviews

The Bottom Line: If this camcorder cost $500, we'd give it a much higher rating. But for its quadruple-digit price, we expect far better performance and video quality from the JVC Everio GZ-HD7. Read review

Specs: 3CCD, 1.5 lbs, 7.3 in, 3.6 in, 3 in, 10 x x Zoom lens - 3.3 mm - 33 mm - F/1.8-1.9, JVC Everio GZ-HD7 - Camcorder - Consumer - Hard disk drive

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.0 stars Good

  Overall score: 6.6 (3.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 2.5 stars out of 5 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Panasonic SDR-H80 has the zoom power of a telescope and a lot of storage in a compact body, but the video results are not nearly as thrilling. Read review

Specs: CCD, 10.6 oz, 2.6 in, 2.1 in, Panasonic SDR-H80A - Camcorder - Consumer - Hard disk drive, - Flash card, 4.2 in, 70 x x Zoom lens - 1.5 mm - 105 mm - F/1.9-5.7

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

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

Specs: MOS, 6.4 oz, 2 in, 34 x x Zoom lens - 2.38 mm - 81 mm - F/1.8-4.0, Panasonic HC-V100 - Camcorder - Consumer - Flash card, 2.4 in, 4.4 in

• 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, 5.5 in, 10.6 in, 10 x x Zoom lens - 4.25 mm - 42.5 mm - F/1.8-2.8, Canon XF100 - Camcorder - Professional - Flash card, 7.5 in

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 2.0 stars out of 1 review

Specs: CMOS, 2.2 in, 2 in, Zoom, 30 x x 2.47 mm - 74.1 mm - F/1.8, 4.7 in, Camcorder, Samsung HMX-H300 - Consumer - Flash card

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.0 stars Good

  Overall score: 6.8 (3.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.5 stars out of 2 reviews

The Bottom Line: A functional trio of camcorders, the Panasonic HDC-SD80, TM80, and HS80 are notable for their manual exposure controls (unusual for their price class) and well-designed touch-screen interface, but otherwise you can find better options. Of the three, the SD80 is the best choice simply on price. Read review

Specs: MOS, 9.3 oz, 4.3 in, 37 x x Zoom lens - 2.38 mm - 81 mm - F/1.8-4, Panasonic HDC-HS80 - Camcorder - Consumer - Hard disk drive, - Flash card, 2.5 in, 2.4 in