HD Camcorders: Reviews

Updated October 2009

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Best pocket HD camcorder

*Est. $160 Compare Prices

Experts say that the Pure Digital Flip UltraHD is easy to use and records better footage than its closest competitors. While the Flip UltraHD is convenient, cheap and easy to carry, reviews say you won't get the best… video quality or features. For example, the Flip UltraHD only has a 2x zoom; you won't be able to get much closer to your subject. Still, an HDMI connector -- something that's missing on some more expensive pocket HD camcorders -- lets you watch HD video directly on your TV. Other features that draw kudos include a built-in USB connector, two hours of video storage and dead-simple shooting and sharing. But critics caution that the footage from any pocket camcorder will always look jittery (every shake of your hand comes through) and it can't match the vibrant, high-resolution video you'll get with full-featured camcorders, though those cost much more.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

CamcorderInfo.com: CamcorderInfo.com subjects a few pocket HD camcorders to its usual rigorous testing. The Flip UltraHD produces a slightly better ...

CNET: Like other sources, CNET finds that the Flip UltraHD's footage looks slightly better than most other pocket camcorders', although ...

Laptop Magazine: The Flip UltraHD is an Editor's Choice pick here. Tester Dana Wollman praises its plentiful built-in memory, bigger screen and ...

The Washington Post: This test pits the Pure Digital Flip UltraHD against the similar Kodak Zx1. The Kodak shoots slightly better video, but the ...

Creative Mac: This website is aimed at videographers and other creative professionals who use Mac computers. Reviewer Ko Maruyama finds the ...

Amazon.com: The Flip UltraHD averages four stars (out of five) in over 250 user reviews. Several reviewers like the UltraHD's video quality ...

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Best HD camcorder overall

Canon Vixia HF S10

*Est. $1,140 Compare Prices

For the most beautiful high-definition video, the Canon Vixia HF S10 outshines the competition, experts say. Footage is sharp and bright, and the HF S10 allows for more manual control over shooting than some other highly… regarded HD camcorders. The Canon's low-light performance isn't the best, however. The Canon HF S10 can store about three hours of top-quality HD video on its 32 GB internal memory, or you can record to memory cards. A less expensive option is the Canon Vixia HF S100 (*Est. $1,000), which omits the internal memory and records only to memory cards.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

CamcorderInfo.com: CamcorderInfo.com exhaustively tests the Canon Vixia HF S100 (which lacks internal memory, but is otherwise identical to the HF ...

InfosyncWorld.com: Reviewer Mike Perlman rates the Canon Vixia HF S10 higher than any other camcorder. Tests are thorough and critical, covering ...

CNET: The Canon Vixia HF S10 makes CNET's list of the best HD camcorders. Editor Lori Grunin provides a full written review as well as ...

Videomaker.com: Associate editor Tom Skowronski tests the Canon Vixia HF S10 for this magazine aimed at video professionals. He finds only one ...

DigitalTrends.com: The Canon Vixia HF S10 gets the highest score of any camcorder in its class at DigitalTrends.com. After detailed testing, ...

Amazon.com: With about 30 reviews, the Canon Vixia HF S10 averages 4.5 out of five stars . Several of the reviews are thoughtful and helpful, ...

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Best budget HD camcorder

Canon Vixia HF200

*Est. $600 Compare Prices

Reviewers say that the Canon Vixia HF200 strikes a great balance between performance, features and price. This HD camcorder offers most of the important features you'll find on the highly regarded Canon Vixia HF S10… (*Est. $1,140). Experts say the Canon HF200's HD footage looks beautiful; it's notably better than the video produced by inexpensive pocket camcorders like the Pure Digital Flip UltraHD (*Est. $160), although not quite as rich as video shot with the Canon HF S10 (which costs nearly twice as much). The Canon HF200 shaves costs by recording only to SDHC cards rather than to internal memory.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

CamcorderInfo.com: CamcorderInfo.com thoroughly tests the Canon Vixia HF20 (which is identical to the HF200, except it includes internal memory) and ...

CNET: The Canon Vixia HF200 beats mid-priced rivals from Sony and Panasonic by providing more features, earning a spot on CNET's list ...

DigitalTrends.com: The Canon Vixia HF200 is an Editors' Choice pick here. After testing the HF200, reviewer David Elrich calls it "probably the best ...

Videomaker.com: This magazine is aimed at video professionals, but reviewer Tom Skowronski finds the Canon Vixia HF20 (which is identical to the ...

Amazon.com: The Canon Vixia HF200 averages four stars (out of five) from more than 60 users. A few are disappointed with the footage quality, ...

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Longest recording time

Sony Handycam HDR-XR520V

*Est. $1,300 Compare Prices

If you want to shoot long stretches of uninterrupted video, the Sony Handycam HDR-XR-520V high-def camcorder offers the longest recording time on the market: 29 hours of the highest-quality video, thanks to its 240 GB… hard drive. Testers say the Sony camcorder shoots rock-steady video and virtually eliminates grainy noise in low light. It also includes fun gadgets like a GPS receiver (for tagging videos with your location) and a mode that automatically picks out your best clips and edits them to music. However, experts say the Sony camcorder can't quite match the Canon HF S10's (*Est. $1,140) all-around video quality and extensive manual controls. If you can get by with less recording time, the 120 GB Sony Handycam HDR-XR500V (*Est. $930) is otherwise identical.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

CamcorderInfo.com: CamcorderInfo.com's thorough review evaluates every aspect of the Sony HDR-XR520V, comparing it with several of its peers. ...

CNET: CNET's Lori Grunin finds the Sony Handycam HDR-XR520V "generally first-rate," but also overpriced and overstuffed with memory. ...

InfosyncWorld.com: InfoSyncWorld.com awards the Sony HDR-XR520V the second-highest rating of any camcorder, just behind the Canon Vixia HF S10. ...

Videomaker.com: Videomaker.com doesn't compare camcorders with each other, nor is an objective rating system used. However, reviewer Brent ...

TrustedReviews.com: Reviewer James Morris conducts a very complete review of the Sony HDR-XR520 (the version of the Sony HDR-XR520V intended for the ...

TechRadar.com: TechRadar.com, which is based in the U.K., awards the Sony HDR-XR520 a perfect five stars. Reviewer Rob Hull finds its video ...

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6 picks including: Amazon.com, PC Advisor…

Panasonic HDC-TM300 *Est. $1,175

5 picks including: CamcorderInfo.com…

Sony Handycam HDR-CX100 *Est. $500

4 picks including: Amazon.com…

Canon Vixia HV40 *Est. $800

4 picks including: About.com, Amazon.com…

Canon Vixia HG20 *Est. $655

3 picks including: Amazon.com, CamcorderInfo.com…

Pure Digital Flip MinoHD *Est. $160

3 picks including: Amazon.com, CamcorderInfo.com…

Kodak Zi6 *Est. $130

2 picks including: Amazon.com, CamcorderInfo.com…

Canon Vixia HF S100 *Est. $1000

2 picks including: Amazon.com, CamcorderInfo.com…

Canon Vixia HG21 *Est. $800

2 picks including: Amazon.com…

Panasonic HDC-HS300 *Est. $1,200

1 pick including: CamcorderInfo.com, Videomaker.com…


	Kodak Zi8 HD Pocket Video Camera (Black) NEWEST MODEL from Amazon.com New: Too low to display In Stock. Average Customer Review:


	Panasonic HDC-TM300 Twin Media HD Camcorder (Black) from Amazon.com New: Too low to display In Stock. Average Customer Review:


	Sony HDR-CX100 AVCHD HD Camcorder with Smile Shutter & 10x Optical Zoom (Black) from Amazon.com New: Too low to display In Stock. Average Customer Review:


	Canon VIXIA HV40 HD HDV Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom from Amazon.com New: Too low to display In Stock. Average Customer Review:


	Canon VIXIA HG20 AVCHD 60 GB HDD Camcorder with 12x Optical Zoom from Amazon.com New: Too low to display In Stock. Average Customer Review:


	Flip MinoHD Camcorder, 60 Minutes (Chrome) from Amazon.com New: Too low to display In Stock. Average Customer Review:


	Kodak Zi6 HD Pocket Video Camera from Amazon.com New: Too low to display In Stock. Average Customer Review:


	Canon VIXIA HF S100 HD Flash Memory Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom from Amazon.com New: $899.00 In Stock. Average Customer Review:


	Canon VIXIA HG21 AVCHD 120 GB HDD Camcorder with 12x Optical Zoom from Amazon.com New: Too low to display In Stock. Average Customer Review:


	Panasonic HDC-HS300 HDD HD Camcorder (Black) from Amazon.com New: Too low to display In Stock. Average Customer Review:

HD Camcorders: Reviews

Best pocket HD camcorder

Best HD camcorder overall

Best budget HD camcorder

Longest recording time

HD Camcorders by Price Range