Camcorders review
High definition camcorders come in many shapes and many sizes. Which one is good for you? Which is best hd camcorder or which digital camcorder has best rating and reviews?
We looked at many ratings, camcorder reviews and many groups of digital camcorders. And here is the final result of our research from many camcorder reviews. So the question is , which is the best hd camcorder?
Digital camcorders are rated in six types or groups:
- MiniDV models
- DVD models
- Flash memory models
- Combination hard-disk and flash models
- Combination DVD and Flash models
- Hard disk models
Best rated MiniDV camcorder
1. Canon ZR900 
- -excellent image stabilizer
- -good picture quality, low light quality, ease of use and audio quality
- -full auto switch
2. Canon ZR950
- very good picture quality and image stabilizer
- good low light quality, ease of use and audio quality
- full auto switch
3. Canon ZR960
- Very good picture quality
- good low light picture quality, ease of use
- poor image stabilizer
- fair audio quality
Then next three places are:
JVC GR-D870 MiniDV Camcorder
But even as JVC GR D870 is placed on the sixth position, the rating is not bad at all. The only poor performance is in low light setting and image stabilizer is rated as excellent. Just for comparison, the price is around $240. So my choice would be the #1 Canon ZR900 ZR930 . Same price, better performance.
DVD Camcorders
1. Canon DC410
Performance:
- Excellent image stabilizer
- Very good picture quality
- Good ease of use and audio quality
- Fair rating for low light picture quality
2. Canon DC 330
Performance:
- Very good picture quality and image stabilizer
- Good low light picture quality and ease of use
- Fair is audio quality
3. Panasonic VDR-D50
Performance:
- Good picture quality, image stabilizer and audio quality
- Very good in ease of use
- Fair in low light picture quality
- Price is very good
Again, you have to decide what is better for you. Who is mainly going to use the camcorder? My choice is #1 Canon DC 410. The price is higher, but performance over all is the best.
Flash Memory Camcorders
1. Canon FS11
- Excellent in image stabilizer
- Very good picture quality
- Good in ease of use and audio quality
- Fair in low light setting
Basically no negative rating. Price is a bit high, but you pay for very good performing camcorder.
2. Samsung SMX –F34
- Very good in image stabilizer and audio quality
- Good grade in picture quality, low light picture quality, ease of use
- No negative rating
- Very good price
3. Panasonic SDR –S7
- Very good image stabilizer
- Good picture quality, ease of use and audio quality
- Fair low light performance
- Very good price
4. Sony DCR- SX 41
- Very good rating in picture quality
- Good low light performance, ease of use and audio quality
- Fair rating for ease of use
- No negative grade given
Fair price. Comparing with # 3 Panasonic, Panasonic is easier to use, but has fair grade for low light performance , but is a little cheaper. What is more important for you?
I would go with #2 Samsung, because the price is very good. But again, if the best performance grade is teasing you, and in long run, it always plays a role with my choice, I will buy #1 Canon.
On the last place is
JVC GZ- MS100 with poor rating for low light performance, but excellent rating for image stabilizer. Price is $330, which is more than #2 placed Samsung SMX F34. So, no buy for me.
Combination Hard –Disk and Flash Camcorders
1. Panasonic SDR-H80 price$ 400
- Very good rating for ease of use and image stabilizer
- Good picture quality
- Fair grade low light performance and audio quality
- No negative grade
- Price is good for this group
2. Sony DCR- SR85 price $ 400
- Good rating for picture quality, low light performance, ease of use, image stabilizer
- Fair for audio quality
- No negative marks
Fair price
3. Sony DCR-SR85 price $ 550
- Excellent rating for image stabilizer
- Good grade for picture quality
- No negative rating
- “ Hot shoe” (proprietary Sony connection) for Microphone input
- Fair rating for low light performance and ease of use
Last place is for
JVC Everio GZ MG 680
Combination DVD and Flash Camcorders
1. Sony DCR-DVD910 price $ 550
- Excellent rating for image stabilizer
- Good rating for picture quality and ease of use
- Fair rating for low light performance and audio quality
- “ Hot shoe” (proprietary Sony connection) for Microphone input
- Price is highest in the group
2. Sony DCR-DVD650 price $ 300
- Good grade for picture quality and image stabilizer
- Fair performance grade for low light performance, ease of use and audio quality
- Good price
- No negative rating for performance
3. Sony DCR –DVD 610 price $ 315
- Very good grade for image stabilizer
- Good grades for picture quality and low light performance
- Fair grade for ease of use and audio quality
- Hard Disk Camcorders
1. Panasonic SDR- H60 price $500
- Excellent grade for image stabilizer
- Very good for ease of use and audio quality
- Good grade for picture quality
- Fair grade for low light performance
2. JVC GZ- MG730 price $ 700
- Excellent rating for image stabilizer
- Very good rating for picture quality
- Good for ease of use
- Fair for audio quality
- Poor grade for low light performance
3. JVC GZ_MG365 , MG 330 price $ 550
- Excellent grade for image stabilizer
- Good grades for picture quality, audio quality and ease of use
- Poor grade for low light performance
We hope this camcorder review will help you in choosing the HD camcorder and you won’t need to go through all those confusing camcorder reviews again.
