Sony Handycam HDR-SR12

An extremely high memory capacity -- nearly 15 hours of the highest-quality video – gives the HDR-SR12 lots of recording flexibility. And reviewers' praise of this camcorder goes on and on: top-notch HD video, excellent audio, razor-sharp still photos and fun features including a NightShot mode. However, the long recording memory is offset by a short battery life of about 40 minutes per charge in testing. The Canon HD camcorder records to tapes, which are easy to edit, but each tape can only hold about an hour of top-quality video.

CamcorderInfo.com has by far the most comprehensive review of the HDR-SR12 and rates the camcorder against dozens of others. Although the reviews at Videomaker.com and DigitalTrends.com aren't comparative, they are stringent and detailed. ConsumerReports.org's test is equally rigorous, but you have to be a subscriber to read about it. User reviews at Amazon.com bolster experts' findings, and they reveal a few flaws.