High-definition camcorders now dominate the market. This is great news for consumers because not only do you get the superb image quality of high-def, but there are HD cameras to suit every budget.
Prices for HD camcorders start at under £100 and can exceed £1,000, but what's important is to select the HD model perfect for you. The main things to consider – as well as price – are size, design, storage and sharing options.
Pocket-size shooters have a convenient design and can be taken anywhere, so are great for YouTube-style clips. Mid- and high-end models are bigger but have larger LCD screens and more creative features to play with.
There are a variety of ways of storing HD movies: hard drive, flash memory or removable storage card (such as SD and Memory Stick). Large hard drives enable you to record for longer while removable storage adds the simplicity of swapping cards when they're full.
If you're a fan of sharing videos (by email or uploading to sites such as Vimeo and YouTube), check out a camcorder's specifications. Some offer instant/fast (Wi-Fi) upload and some let you do it via the free editing software supplied with your HD cam.
Creative Vado HD (£80)
Great value cam with fuss-free web uploading and decent screen
This Vado HD is as sleek as they come with a great finish. It feels light, but is still reassuringly solid; definitely something you can sit happily in the breast pocket of your ski jacket confident you wont be emptying it out as shards of silicon at the end of the day. Video quality is fantastic considering the price.
Read: Creative Vado HD review
Sony MHS-PM5K (£170)
Sony's pocket-sized Full-HD shooter also snaps 5MP stills
Another one of the best pocket HD camcorders is the PM5K. It has been nicknamed by Sony as 'the bloggie' and it's great for shooting and sharing HD movies. It's solid but still compact, offers fast YouTube upload and has an innovative 270° rotating lens.
The bloggie's built-in USB arm makes for a fast and convenient connection to PC or Mac and it delivers flexibility because it stores movies to SD and Memory Stick media.
Read: Sony MHS-PM5K Bloggie review
Flip MinoHD (£179.99)
Distinctive ultra-compact HD cam offering 2 hours of recording
The Flip Mino HD's slimline design and superb ease of use have made it a must-have pocket-cam. It manages to cram in two hours of recording on its internal 8GB memory and you can record and review your clips on its 2-inch LCD screen. PC connection is straightforward and it's like grease lightning when uploading clips to the web.
Read: Flip MinoHD review
Samsung HMX-H200 (£250)
A top-quality SD/SDHC camcorder with 1080p recording
Conventional looks are a welcoming feature of Samsung's H200 HD camcorder, but it's also pleasing to note the simplicity provided by a touchscreen LCD and a photo mode that produces 4.7MP stills. The 20x optical zoom is impressive, as is the basic, but fun, Intelli Studio software – which launches when the H200 is connected to a PC via USB. Probably the best low-end full HD camcorder available at the moment.
Panasonic HDC-SD60 (£400)
Full HD cam with a whopping 25x optical zoom and 2.7-inch LCD
For those seeking a traditional camcorder, Panasonic's SD60 won't let you down. Touchscreen controls make it a doddle to use, while the 35mm wide-angle lens lets you cram even more into a shot. Not ideal for shooters who want fast web sharing but the intelligent auto controls ensure top-notch visuals. Superb value price-wise.
Canon LEGRIA HF R18 (£400)
Family friendly, Full HD cam with 32GB flash memory
Versatility is the watchword for the well-crafted Canon R18. This HD cam records to a 32GB flash memory but can also capture to SD/SDHC removable storage cards. The 2.7in LCD screen and 20x optical zoom are standout features, but you'll also love the HD to SD in-camera conversion that turns high-def clips into web-friendly sized ones.
Sony HDR-XR105 (£450)
Sony's XR105 is equipped with Carl Zeiss optics and an 80GB hard drive
More serious-minded moviemakers will love the Sony XR105's smooth 10x optical zoom and the capacity of its 80GB hard disk drive, which offers up to 33 hours of recording. SteadyShot image stabilisation helps rid your clips of bumpy footage, while Smile Shutter and Face Detection features add functionality to 4MP stills shooting.
Canon LEGRIA HF M36 (£500)
Smart HD visuals and touchscreen-tech in perfect harmony
The Canon LEGRIA HF M36 features an internal 8GB flash memory, but through a feature known as Relay Recording users can continue to capture video onto SD/SDHC cards. The 2.7in LCD screen is a tactile and responsive touchscreen version, while the optical zoom is a very respectable 18x. The 3.3MP stills are somewhat limited but the HD movie clips are sumptuous.
Panasonic HDC-SDT750 (£1,250 approx)
Full HD camcorder with 3D conversion lens for, yes, 3D recording!
Moviemakers who want to stay ahead of the curve need look no further than the amazing SDT750, which comes with a 3D conversion lens that records right-eye and left-eye images simultaneously through its two lenses. It also offers 3D playback on 3D compatible TVs. What's more it features a 3in LCD, electronic viewfinder and nearly 8MP stills.
Sony NEX-VG10 (£2,000 approx, lens dependent)
Super-stylish Sony HD camcorder compatible with interchangeable lenses
Full manual control and optical image stabilisation are impressive additions, but the fact the VG10 uses interchangeable lenses is the real deal-maker here. Sony's powerful movie-making tool is compatible with a wide range of interchangeable E-mount and A-mount lenses delivering enthusiast and semi-pro moviemakers the shot-making versatility usually the preserve of DSLR users.
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