Canon Vixia HF S10

For stunning HD video, experts and users say you can't beat the Canon Vixia HF S10. Canon's top-of-the-line consumer camcorder impresses experts with its sharp, bright 1080p footage and imposing array of manual controls. Beginners aren't forgotten though; the Easy Mode function makes getting great results as simple as pointing and shooting. Build quality is solid. Critics find only two real drawbacks. First, the Canon's low-light footage looks a little grainier than one of its main rivals', the Sony Handycam HDR-XR520V (*Est. $1,300). Second, some experts wish for a viewfinder and a lens ring; however, most say Canon's control dial allows the user good mastery over the 10x optical zoom and focus, and the 2.7-inch LCD screen gets no complaints. Reviewers say you can cut costs without sacrificing quality by opting for the Canon HF S100 (*Est. $1000), which lacks only the HF S10's built-in 32 GB flash memory. A less expensive option is the smaller, lighter Canon Vixia HF200 (*Est. $600); reviews say it's a slight step down from the top-rated HF S10, but its video quality and features are still very good.

CamcorderInfo.com thoroughly tests every feature of the Canon Vixia HF S100 (identical to the HF S10 except for built-in memory), comparing the camcorder with its closest competitors. InfoSyncWorld.com tests the HF S10 nearly as thoroughly. Reviews at CNET, Videomaker.com and DigitalTrends.com cover the important points about the Canon HF S10 in a more concise way. Amazon.com is a good place to find out whether owners like it.