HD Camcorder Review

Reviews of high-def camcorders

The latest $1,000-plus high-definition camcorders can put near-professional quality in the palm of your hand, reviews say. But no-frills, $200-and-under pocket camcorders have bitten off a huge chunk of the market, with the first truly inexpensive HD models emerging within the past year.

Top review sources mostly test top-of-the-line, expensive camcorders. CamcorderInfo.com does this more exhaustively than any other source. Reviews go on for pages and include minutiae that simply can't be found anywhere else. CNET tests the latest camcorders almost as thoroughly. Those more interested in the tiny pocket HD camcorders that buyers are gobbling up can find useful information at PC World, Gizmodo.com and Britain's Pocket-Lint.com. ConsumerReports.org provides unbiased testing, but discussion is brief and not always the most current. We found more up-to-date tests in computer publications such as Laptop Magazine, PCMag.com and Macworld.

Many camcorders sold in the U.S. are also available elsewhere. The chief difference is that non-U.S. versions record video in a format that's compatible with TVs used in those parts of the world. Because these camcorders are otherwise identical, some overseas review sites provide useful insight for buyers regardless of where they live. Pocket-Lint.com, TechRadar.com and PC Advisor (all based in the U.K.) provide thoughtful reviews with numeric ratings.

Just as almost all new TVs are now HD, so are most new camcorders. If you haven't yet made the switch to HDTV, don't worry: You can watch your HD camcorder's movies on a standard-definition TV. In fact, experts say HD camcorders can record standard-definition video better than most SD camcorders.

Waterproof camcorders: A good idea, but iffy execution

The first waterproof, pocket-sized HD camcorders hit the market in the summer of 2009. Gizmodo.com testers hate one of them, the DXG-U579VS (*Est. $130), especially its "barfy color, contrast and grain."

"This is one of the worst waterproof cameras I have ever used, even if it's the cheapest and does 720p video," says tester Brian Lam, who posts several photos and a short video clip to back up his argument. "Maybe you can recommend it to a merman you hate?"

But DXG's super-cheap camcorders often get bad reviews anyway. A waterproof camcorder from Sanyo -- a highly regarded, major camcorder brand -- seemed more promising in early reviews. But owners at Amazon.com have mixed feelings about the Sanyo VPC-WH1 (*Est. $330). Some love it, some find the video quality atrocious, and some say it leaked and died the first time they used it underwater.

Overall, reviewers say the only real solution is an expensive one: an HD camcorder and a good (separately purchased) waterproof housing. Gizmodo.com's Joel Johnson posts footage of his sea-diving trip, complete with schools of colorful fish and delicate underwater plants, shot with a Canon Vixia HF20 (*Est. $815) with a Canon WP V1 waterproof case (*Est. $465).

"The whole rig is simple, capable, durable, and -- especially compared to similar underwater gear of just a couple years back -- cheap enough that it won't be a tragedy when it gets lost at sea," Johnson says.