Canon Vixia HF S100

The Canon Vixia HF S100 is the same camcorder as the critics' favorite Canon Vixia HF S10 (*Est. $1,140), with two differences: The HF S100 has no internal memory, and it costs less. If you don't mind using SDHC cards, reviews say it's a good deal. Expect to pay $20 for an 8 GB card that holds an hour of high-definition footage, or more for a bigger card (the HF S10 can hold about three hours of top-quality HD video on its 32 GB built-in flash memory). Like its top-rated big brother, the HF S100 offers the sharpest 1080p footage in tests, plus robust controls for advanced users and an easy mode for beginners. Both camcorders have 2.7-inch LCD screens and a dial to control the focus and 10x optical zoom, although some testers say the traditional focus/zoom lens ring on the Panasonic HDC-TM300 (*Est. $1,175) allows finer control. The HF S100 also shares the HF S10's slightly disappointing low-light performance.

CamcorderInfo.com runs its usual comprehensive battery of tests on the Canon Vixia HF S100, comparing it with its closest competitors. InfoSyncWorld.com and the U.K.'s Which? magazine also thoroughly test the HF S100 and rate it alongside other camcorders. Amazon.com posts more than 40 owner reviews of this model, some of them very detailed.