Canon Vixia HG20

The Canon Vixia HG20 wows reviewers with its sharp, vibrant footage -- just not quite as much as the newer Canon Vixia HF S10 (*Est. $1,140), which is now the top-rated high-definition camcorder on the market. Still, reviews say you won't be at all disappointed with the HG20's video quality, and its 60 GB hard drive offers the advantage of storing five and a half hours of top-quality video, which can be supplemented by adding SDHC memory cards. The HG20 is also one of the least expensive hard-drive camcorders available. Battery life is a negative, however, with users saying the standard battery supplied with the HG20 lasts only one or two hours. Additionally, reviewers report hearing wind noise, as well as noise from the HG20's hard drive and zoom motor, on their footage. Some wish the Canon had a viewfinder to help when bright sunlight washes out the LCD screen, or a lens ring for manual focus rather than the supplied joystick. Canon does offer an upgraded model with a viewfinder and a bigger 120 GB hard drive, the Canon HG21 (*Est. $800). Both cost much less than the camcorder with the biggest hard drive, the 240 GB Sony Handycam HDR-XR520V (*Est. $1,300).

CamcorderInfo.com's tests are exhaustive, expert and hard to beat, and its review of the Canon Vixia HG20 includes comparisons with several close rivals. Reviews at CNET and the U.K.'s TrustedReviews.com aren't quite as extensive, but they're still detailed. Plenty of user reviews at Amazon.com give a good indication of the HG20's real-life performance.