Kodak Playsport Zx5

Plenty of expert sources recommend the Kodak Playsport Zx5 as a good, rugged pocket camcorder that shoots decent HD video -- but we found way too many owner complaints that the Zx5 leaks underwater, freezes up (even after a firmware update that was supposed to fix the problem), or simply quits working. We found similar complaints for the earlier Kodak Playsport Zx3 (*Est. $125), which Kodak still sells alongside the Zx5, although plenty of owners do report no problems with these camcorders.

The Zx5 isn't much different from the Zx3, experts say -- in fact, in some ways it's slightly worse. The Zx5 is rated to withstand a drop of 5 feet, and like the Zx3, it's waterproof to 10 feet. Both camcorders shoot in full 1080p high-definition and can snap still photos. There's no built-in memory, so you'll have to add an SD/SDHC memory card. Kodak's bundled editing/sharing software is still PC-only. Unlike the Zx3, the Zx5 doesn't have a user-removable battery or an included HDMI cable -- you have to buy your own, to hook the camcorder up to your HDTV and watch your footage -- and CamcorderInfo.com and CNET both say the Zx5's new autofocus system leaves some sections of the frame soft and smeary. Overall, the Samsung HMX-W200 (*Est. $145) gets more consistently good reviews among pocket camcorders.

Plenty of top expert sources test the Kodak Playsport Zx5's video-shooting performance in detail, including CamcorderInfo.com, CNET, TrustedReviews.com and ConsumerReports.org. However, none of these sources actually drops or submerges this rugged camcorder, and when some owners at Amazon.com do, they find problems.