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Which Type of Camcorder is Best?

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With So Many Types of Camcorders, How Do You Know Which is Best?

So you are wondering, which is the best camcorder? Analog camcorders are pretty much a thing of the past. Digital camcorders are now dominant. They offer the advantage of much easier editing and higher quality audio/video. However, for consumers going out to shop for their first camcorder or their first one in several years, there can be confusion due to the number of options.

Flash Memory Camcorders

Some people feel flash memory offers the best type of camcorder. Read more to decide if they meet your needs.

Flash memory camcorders record to an internal flash drive and/or memory cards. Some of their advantages include:

  • small size based on the size of the media they use
  • ample storage for the average user; many models have 16 GB of memory which translates into 10 hours of video. Most models are hybrid (they allow storage to the internal flash memory drive and removable media cards allowing for more storage) and can therefore offer much more storage.
  • many models offer the ability to record to at least two types of media: the internal flash drive, memory cards, and some even have a DVD drive
  • Flash based camcorders are considered to be very durable due to their lack of moving parts

    The disadvantages of a flash based camcorder include:

  • Video quality is somewhat lower
  • Editing can be a bit more complicated than with MiniDV. Users must choose compatible software/video editing programs to edit film on the PC and generally need to "archive" footage.


    • If you're looking for the smallest possible camcorders, you should visit our page on Pocket Camcorders.

    Shop for Flash Memory Camcorders

    Best 2011 Camcorders - Flash Memory

    Panasonic HDC TM900K

    Panasonic HDC-TM900K 3 MOS 3D Compatible Camcorder with 32GB Internal Flash Memory (Black)

    Panasonic HDC-TM900K 3 MOS 3D Compatible Camcorder with 32GB Internal Flash Memory (Black)

    Amazon Price: $672.00 (as of 02/16/2012)Buy Now

    This Panasonic video camera is one of the best flash memory camcorders available. It features the Advanced 3MOS sensor system with outstanding detail and color, a Leica Dicomar 35mm wide angle, F1.5-F2.8 lens that allows improved low light performance, and hybrid optical image stabilization for smooth video without the jitter. It can capture both 2D and 3D video. It recores in full 1080/60p and also offers a 24p cinema mode.

    Other features include 20x intelligent zoom, multiple scene modes, including a tele-macro mode for extreme closeups, and 32GB of internal flash memory storage. Audio is another strength for this device, offering 5.1Ch Surround Sound and a zoom mic with wind noise canceller. The camcorder can also capture 14.2 megapixel still images.

    If you're looking for something that will go easier on your budget the the HDC-TM90K model should be considered.

    Canon Vixia G10

    Canon VIXIA HF G10 Full HD Camcorder with HD CMOS Pro and 32GB Internal Flash Memory

    Canon VIXIA HF G10 Full HD Camcorder with HD CMOS Pro and 32GB Internal Flash Memory

    Amazon Price: $1,179.00 (as of 02/16/2012)Buy Now

    This is one of the best camcorder models provided by Canon. It has a larger 1/3" type sensor and provides excellent low light shooting. It offers 32GB of built in flash storage as well as 2 SDXC compatible memory card slots, a 10x HD video lens with an 8 blade iris and a manual focus ring for precise focus and easy control. The touch panel also provides touch and track focus and exposure control. It records 1920 x 1080 resolution video and provides a 24p and 30p mode.

    The Dynamic SuperRange OIS helps to assure a steady view throughout the zoom range. This video camera offers 38 scene modes including a tele-macro mode for extreme closeups, face detection technology, and instant auto focus. Users can be more creative with their movies as well. This device offers a variety of cinematic filters and the ability to add music. There are also a number of tools to assist users in getting better results, such as focus and exposure aides and a mini-advanced accessory shoe to add external lights, microphones, and even a remote control. This device offers 5.1ch Surround Sound and allows you to downconvert your HD video to SD when desired.

    Canon Vixia G10 Review

    Canon Vixia HF G10
    by BHPhotoVideoProAudio | video info

    105 ratings | 35,276 views
    curated content from YouTube

    Sony Handycam HDR CX560V

    Sony HDR-CX560V High Definition Handycam Camcorder (Black)

    Sony HDR-CX560V High Definition Handycam Camcorder (Black)

    Amazon Price: $998.00 (as of 02/16/2012)Buy Now

    This camcorder also shoots 1920x1080/60p HD video and offers a 24p recording mode. It has 64GB of flash memory storage onboard and offers a 3.5" touch screen for easy control. Other features include a wide angle 3.8 mm - 38 mm - f/1.8-3.4 G lens, 10 x optical zoom, built in GPS for location and geotagging of photos and video, face/smile detection, headphone and mic jacks, and 12 megapixel still image capture. The back illuminated sensor helps significantly in low light situations

    Thinking About an HD Camcorder?

    High Definition (HD) camcorders can offer improved video quality and are available in almost any format. However, HD video requires more memory. Most users will need an external hard drive to store/work with this video.

    Hard Disk Drive Camcorders (HDD)

    HDD camcorders offer some unique benefits, only you can determine if they are the best type of camcorder for your needs.

    Hard Disk Drive or HDD Camcorders record video to an internal hard drive. They offer a number of advantages for consumers:

  • no moving parts to fail
  • allow for quick editing in camera
  • often offer hybrid models with additional storage via memory cards.
  • eliminates errors like recording over old films or being unable to film because the user forgot to bring along tapes/memory cards

    There are a couple of drawbacks to the HDD camcorder models:

  • they tend to be the most expensive models on the market
  • hard drives can fail (back up is of course recommended) although they have numerous mechnanisms to prevent damage

    • Shop for Hard Disk Drive Camcorders

    The Best Camcorders of 2011 - Hard Disk Drive

    Panasonic HDC HS900K

    Panasonic HDC-HS900K 3 MOS 220GB HDD 3D Compatible Camcorder (Black)

    Panasonic HDC-HS900K 3 MOS 220GB HDD 3D Compatible Camcorder (Black)

    Amazon Price: $899.95 (as of 02/16/2012)Buy Now

    This hard drive camcorder features the Advanced 3MOS sensor system, hybrid optical image stabilization, and a 220GB hard drive. It can capture both 2D and 3D video. The 35mm wide angle, f1.5-2.8 Leica Dicomar Lens is ideal for getting everything in the shot and achieving great looking images even in low light. It records 1080/60p video and offers a 24p mode as well.

    Other features include 12x optical zoom, 20x intelligent zoom, 11 scene modes plus a tele-macro mode for extreme closeups, and a manual control ring for easily making adjustments. This camcorder can also capture 14.2 megapixel still images and has a wind noise canceller function for improved audio.

    Panasonic HDC HS900 Review

    Panasonic HDC-HS900 Review
    by infosyncvideos | video info

    110 ratings | 42,874 views
    curated content from YouTube

    Panasonic HDC HS80K

    Panasonic HDC-HS80K HD HDD Camcorder (Black)

    Panasonic HDC-HS80K HD HDD Camcorder (Black)

    Amazon Price: $329.00 (as of 02/16/2012)Buy Now

    This affordable camcorder has a 33.7mm wide angle lens with 42x zoom, and hybrid optical image stabilization. It offers 11 scene modes, a soft skin mode and tele-macro. This device can capture 3 megapixel still images and offers a zoom microphone and wind noise canceller.

    Images and video are stored on the 120GB HDD or cards in the expansion slot. This device also offers a 2.7" touchscreen.

    Panasonic HDC HS80K Sample

    Panasonic HDC-SD80 Full HD Camcorder Test Video - A Little Planet
    by nkw5540 | video info

    20 ratings | 8,206 views
    curated content from YouTube

    Mini DV Camcorders

    Is Mini DV the best type of camcorder. It depends on your needs. Find out about their advantages and disadvantages here.

    Mini DV camcorders record to a mini digital tape. They offer a number of advantages for consumers:

  • the camcorders are smaller than older tape based models based on their smaller sized media
  • the mini DV tapes can be re-recorded if desired
  • mini DV tapes can hold up to 3+ hours of video on a single tape
  • mini DV camcorders are less expensive than many of their counterparts
  • the mini DV tapes are readily available and relatively inexpensive
  • for those who do a great deal of editing, mini DV allows for frame-by-frame edits
  • video quality with mini DV is very good (better compression than other formats)and there are high definition mini DV camcorders available for those who want the highest quality video

    There are of course some drawbacks to mini DV camcorders:

  • although fairly durable, tape is a more fragile format than other removable media and back up on a external hard drive is recommended
  • transferring films to PC is a bit more complicated than with some other digital formats; involving a firewire connection, video capture software, and slow (real time) transfer of the video.
  • it's generally hard to skip segements of tape with Mini DV than other digital formats as users have to fast forward and rewind
  • Although users can connect the camcorder to their TV for playback the tapes themselves have to be downloaded and burned to DVD to be played directly.
  • tapes can be accidentally recorded over

    • A Few MiniDV Camcorders

    While flash memory and hard drive camcorders now rule the market, there are miniDV models, from previous years, still available online.
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    DVD Camcorders

    Are DVD devices the best type of camcorder? Again it depends on what you want. Compare the advantages/disadvantages here.

    DVD camcorders record directly to a mini DVD. They offer several advantages:

  • mini DVD is a more durable format than tape, offering security as well as the ability, in the case of DVD-RW, to be re-written thousands of times
  • many newer DVD players are able to play the disks from the camcorder directly without having to hook up the camcorder itself
  • in camera editing is possible with DVD-RW disks but frame-by-frame editing not possible
  • faster transfer to computer than mini DV
  • some DVD camcorders are flexible and also allow recording to memory cards and flash memory

    A DVD camcorder also presents some disadvantages:

  • image quality is not as good as that of mini DV due to more compression (there are however, high definition models available for improved video quality)
  • disks can get scratched
  • there are a variety of disks/formats which might be used and buyers must be sure they are compatible with their DVD player.
  • DVD-R disks can't be rewritten, DVD-RW disks are more expensive but allow rewriting, and DVD-RAM can often be used with computers
  • they are a bit larger than mini DV camcorders
  • Record time per disk is less than for many other formats.

    • Shop for a DVD Camcorder

    A Few DVD Camcorders

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    Need More Help Choosing a Camcorder?

    1. PC World: Tips on choosing the right type of camcorder.
    2. Yahoo!Tech A description of the features to look for when selecting a camcorder.
    3. PC World: Tips about choosing a palm style, hand, or shoulder style camcorder.
    4. Consumer Reports: Tips from Consumer Reports on selecting the right camcorder.

    Best Camcorder: Was this page helpful? Let us Know!

    If you didn't find the camcorder you want, be sure to visit our online home electronics store.

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    • Reply
      pmolinero Sep 10, 2010 @ 2:09 pm | delete
      Wow, you have an awesome lens with camcorder reviews. I bought a new one recently and I decided for a camcorder from JVC with HDD and I am quite happy with it. I didn't want this hazzle with tape pr memory card.
    • Reply
      affiliatew Mar 13, 2010 @ 10:27 pm | delete
      I especially like the 70x Optical Zoom Panasonic camcorders. - www.MiniCamcordersBlog.com
    • Reply
      CoolFoto Jan 3, 2009 @ 9:43 pm | delete
      You have reviewed a lot of camcorders. Would you consider adding a review of the Flip Mino Camcorder? I just started using it, never tried using one before, and I love it. The picture is great at 640x480, but starts to blur if enlarged. I made a lens of my experiences www.squidoo.com/flip-camcorders. Here's 5* for you and a lensroll to mine.
    • Reply
      offeroftheday Dec 18, 2009 @ 5:38 pm | delete
      We like the Flip Mino too. It's compact and low cost (<$130 on Amazon now).
    • Reply
      alteredkat Jan 3, 2009 @ 8:36 pm | delete
      Great info here...will pass it on to DH (poor guy is one who has to take all our vids off current cam and onto computer = a lot of work apparently)...we need to upgrade...thanks btw for visiting my dehydrating pears lens...I appreciate it! Your avatar always makes me smile :)
    • Reply
      OhMe Dec 2, 2008 @ 1:36 pm | delete
      Great info and great lens. Thanks.
    • Reply
      debnet Aug 26, 2008 @ 3:23 pm | delete
      We just bought a Panasonic SDRH40...glad to see it listed here :) We just wanted soemthing that would record, easy to use but not all singing and dancing or that would cost the earth. Another great lens Christine :)
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    Photo Credits (all photos copyrighted, no derivative work allowed)

    Introduction: pinkiwinkitinki.
    Mini DV Camcorders: Joshua Davis.
    DVD Camcorders: Claudecf.
    Flash Memory Camcorders: Andrew.
    Hard Disk Drive Camcorders: beketchai.

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    mulberry

    There are a variety of camcorder formats on the market. This page will help you discover which is the best type of camcorder for you. more »

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