Best Digital Camcorder 2012

High definition video cameras help you capture all those special moments and keep them forever with perfect crystal clarity. A good camcorder use to cost a lot of money and not many people could afford them, but a recent price drop for some of the best cameras has put them within reach of some of the more price sensitive consumers. Keeping that in mind, we've reviewed four camcorders; a top-end Canon, a compact flip camcorder, and two medium-class video cameras that offer great performance for a little less money.

What Makes a Good Camcorder?

Resolution: Resolution, measured in pixels or megapixels, tells you how much data can fit into the image. The higher the number, the crisper and clearer your image will be. Just think of the difference between HDTV and regular TV.

Low Light: How well does the camera perform in low light? For indoor shooting, you need a camera that can handle lower light levels.

Stabilizer: Remember the Blair Witch Project? If you don't want your videos to be that shaky, you need a camcorder with an image stabilizer. Unless of course you have the hand of a surgeon or plan to shoot everything from a tripod.

Battery: Always double-check battery life. Some new camcorders use a lot of juice, and battery life can be an issue.