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Introduction
Types of digital camcorders
Best mini camcorders
Best SD digital camcorders
Underwater camcorders
Single-use camcorders
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HD Camcorders
Best SD digital camcorders
Best SD digital camcorders

Compared to tiny camcorders like the Flip Mino, regular standard-definition camcorders are loaded with features -- better lenses, better microphones and the ability to do some things manually (like focus). MiniDV -- an older format that records to tapes -- is the least expensive SD camcorder option. Each tape can hold as much as two hours of footage.
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A year ago, the MiniDV-based Panasonic PV-GS320 (*Est. $465) was the top budget pick in reviews. Prices for competing choices have fallen so far, the Panasonic is now one of the more expensive standard-definition camcorders on the market. In fact, you could spend about $100 more and get a decent budget HD camcorder. Still, this Panasonic's video quality certainly holds its own in tests.
"This MiniDV camcorder captures stunning footage," Macworld reviewer James Galbraith writes. In another major test, the Panasonic PV-GS320 was the only SD camcorder to score "very good" on both audio and video. Owners at Amazon.com say outdoor video looks especially crisp.
Unfortunately, reviewers say Panasonic -- like many manufacturers -- is concentrating on its HD camcorders and letting its standard-definition camcorders languish. While the camcorder is listed as current at Panasonic's website, availability at retail is very tight, and some are selling it at above MSRP.
Other MiniDV choices are more available, and more economical. For example, the Canon ZR900 (*Est. $230) is notably less expensive than the Panasonic PV-GS320. It is widely regarded as a great entry-level camera with some surprising features for its price point. Video quality with decent lighting is described as good in all professional reviews we've seen, though there's a difference in opinion about the ZR900's performance in low light. One comparative review says that it's a good performer when things get dim, but Consumer Guide disagrees, saying, "This camera's low light performance is in line with most other entry-level units--that is, poor." There is a night mode that helps improve low-light performance, but at the expense of more video grain and slower autofocus.
Other features that are unusual for an entry-level camcorder include optical image stabilization, which works to counteract minor handshakes and a microphone jack. The camera lacks a memory card slot, but it's not really needed since this camera can't capture still images. User reviews are limited, but indicate that those who purchased the ZR900 understanding that it's an entry-level camera are pleased.
Although it's more expensive, calling the Canon ZR950 (*Est. $260) a step-up camcorder is not entirely accurate. True, the ZR950 adds an SD memory card and the ability to capture still images, but it takes away the microphone jack -- something experts say is important for many users. Image quality is about the same as the ZR900 according to most reviews; however, Laptop magazine casts a dissenting vote, calling footage "disappointing compared with those of other MiniDV camcorders."
The JVC GR D850 (*Est. $200) has received less editorial coverage, but the editors at Laptop magazine are sufficiently impressed to award this camcorder an Editors' Choice designation. Michael Patrick Brady says that the GR-D850 is "a refreshingly unpretentious camcorder that not only keeps its operation simple and direct, but provides excellent, high-quality video." Brady adds that this camcorder is a little bulkier than its competition, but that it's still comfortable to use, and offers great stability even when zoomed out to its maximum 35X optical zoom. Battery life is also a strong point. Negatives include the lack of an optical viewfinder, though the 2.7-inch LCD screen stands up well to bright light and even sunlight. There's also no microphone input. User reviews are limited but positive.
Experts usually prefer MiniDV to other camcorder formats because it is easy to edit and produces great results. However, if all you want to do is shoot and view, camcorders that record directly to DVDs can be a good choice as well.
The Canon DC330 (*Est. $300) is one DVD standard-definition camcorder that fares well in tests. Picture quality is good and it's a decent low-light performer. One notable negative is that it's a little slow from the starting gate to power up.
The Canon DC330 can record up to 108 minutes (using double-sided media). If you want to record longer stretches of video, hard-drive-based camcorders like the JVC Everio GZ-MG330 (*est. $360) are an attractive choice. That camcorder can fit more than 37 hours of footage on its 30GB hard drive, and even seven hours when shooting at top quality. Impressions of video quality are mixed. CNet is not a fan, and complains of persistent video compression artifacts. British review site Techradar.com is far more positive, however, calling video performance "first rate." TrustedReviews, another British site, splits the difference and calls image quality "decent."
The Sony DCR-SR220 (*Est. $635) boasts a 60GB hard drive, but its maximum recording time isn't that much more prodigious at 41 hours. When recording at top quality, however, things look more in line as it can store 14 hours of footage -- or twice that of the GZ-MG330. In the one professional review we saw, it gets good grades for picture quality -- aided by optical image stabilization, a feature that helps even out jumpy images due to hand shake. User reviews are limited but positive. One negative is that the DCR-SR-220 costs as much as an HD camcorder.