The Sony HDR-CX700V is the high-end camcorder from Sony, and we won’t be deceitful if we say that the camcorder is loaded. In addition to having the capacity of capturing 1920 = 1980 HD video @ 60p, the Sony HDR-CX700V also comes with a 16GB of gigantic internal flash memory and in case you want some additional storage the camera also comes with a SD Memory card slot/Memory Stick Duo. Some other highlights for the camera includes the likes of a Sony G-series 10x optical lens having maximum wide angle of 26.3mm and an additional en suite GPS receiver to geo-tag your HD footage. As for the low-light photos the Sony HDR-CX700V comes loaded with a backside-illuminated sensor and a huge, 1/2.88 in CMOS sensor which places the circuitry on the back of the chip for preventing it from stopping the incoming light.

Long time ago, recording videos was something that was limited only to expensive and big camcorders but now you can capture video content on smartphones, iPod Touch or any digital camera. But there is a big difference in quality between the professional level equipment and these handy devices and there is a price difference too. Sony Bloggie Touch MHS-TS20 is pocket camcorder having eight gigabytes of storage space and the price of this gadget is $199.99. It is a good middle ground device, the video quality is good, they are easy to carry around and the price too is not really high. This category of camcorders is expanding constantly but Bloggie is unique amongst them due to the great video quality at different resolutions. It also has a photo shooter and a touch screen display. The options inside will certainly satisfy most of the users. I will recommend this gadget if you are looking for an inexpensive mini camcorder. Perhaps,  [...]

Kodak PlayTouch or Zi10 is the successor to the Zi8 and the new device now has a touch screen but the video quality is compromised on. Beneath the cover on the body’s right side, there is a SDHC/SD card slot and there is almost no internal memory for storing videos. On the left, there is AV jack and a door which protects Mini-HDMI and the Micro-USB ports along with a flip out USB connector. There are cables provided by the manufacturer for watch of them. Kodak PlayTouch has a single Select/Record button on the back close to the three inch touch screen LCD. The display is bright enough and the manufacturer has put in LCD Glare Shield feature which sounds fancier than what it actually is. This feature will make the screen more visible in bright sunlight by changing from Normal picture to Black & White or high saturation. These settings don’t have any effect on the video but they can still help while shooting. You will hold  [...]

Panasonic HDC-TM700K uses progressive method for recording twice the amount of data as compared to the interlace data. Interlacing needs 2 images for producing complete picture but the progressive method can record single image as complete picture. Along with that, the 60 Progressive recording of this camcorder gives you 60 pictures per second. This results in very dense information of image with intricate detail and the motion too is silky smooth. Progressive method is recommended if you are shooting the detailed designs; you will get more natural images. It is also very effective while shooting detailed designs in places of moir patterns or while capturing any sports events where the subjects move a lot. You can also take photo shots from the video, the details are all really good. Panasonic HDC-TM700K is based on Leica Dicomar lenses just like other HD  [...]

The camcorder market is really crowded and hence the only way new products can survive is if they have some unique features or if they are offered at a lower price. The competition get stiffer in the pocket video cameras market and the Panasonic HM-TA1 will find it hard to make a cut simply because there are no unique features and the price too is not lowered down. There are plenty of camcorders and cameras available in the market and there are some multifunction gadgets like smartphones and the iPod Touch. I find no reason to recommend the TA1 ahead of all these gadgets. What’s worse is the design which is a very poor and there is not much to like. The camcorder is compact with cool video quality at least for bright conditions. However, the TA1 is unremarkable otherwise and has nothing new to offer as compared to existing products from Sony, Kodak and Flip. Panasonic HM-TA1 is a candybar minicamcorder  [...]

Sony Handycam HDR-CX550V has a big screen and with touch screen interface. I found it quite easy to work around with. The screen can be viewed easily even in direct sunlight which is hard to find in camcorders these days. I have just one complaint – judging manual focus on it or on the EVF was not easy. This problem can be attributed to the fact that the camcorder doesn’t have focus assist so you don’t get to magnify the subject on the screen or on the viewfinder while you use manual focus. There is no peaking control for amplifying the edge displays. The manual, instead, instructs you to focus, zoom in and zoom out. Beneath the screen, there are buttons for NightShot (infrared) and intelligent auto mode. There is also a direct-to-DVD and playback mode. The former can be used with Sony’s DVDirect dock or through the software when you connect it to a computer. You can control the GPS switch and you also get a manual power button along with automatic operation when the EVF is pulled  [...]

Pocket HD camcorders are one step below the HD camcorders in terms of video quality and they do the same thing as the higher end video recorders. These tiny gadgets shoot and upload your most memorable moments, though not in high definition. The relevant software is preloaded on to the device and through this, you can share the video clips from any computer. However, most of them don’t support Mac computers. The main advantages of a pocket HD camcorder are its compact design, low price and user friendly interface. Some of these camcorders do offer full HD resolution of 1,920x1,080 and there are the intimidating options of editing and playing too. But then these options make the mini camcorders less user friendly and the cost goes up too. Mini camcorders are made just to shoot the videos and nothing else. HD video is not just limited to high resolutions alone. You need a good lens for recording HD video (which small mini camcorders cannot house). These mini camcorders also face a stiff  [...]

Panasonic has made four different models for the same product and this seems a bit too much. All four of these are entry level HD camcorders with the price range between $500 and $700. The HDC-SD60, TM60 and TM55 are based on the same internal hardware and they only differ by built in memory technology. TM55 has 8GB memory, TM60 has 16GB and SD60 doesn't come with internal memory. The TM60 model is available only on best buy. The HS60 has the maximum storage space, it comes with 120 GB internal hard disk but the design has been changed a little inorder to incorporate the big hard disk. We got the SD60 model in our labs for testing and the manufacturer says that the quality is similar in all these four devices. On the back of the Panasonic HDC-SD60K, there is a switch for selecting from playback, video and  [...]

Previously, I got Vixia HF S1x series in my labs but that was about an year ago and it didn't have an electronic viewfinder. You cannot live without an EVF if you are a pro. Due to the Canon Vixia HF S20's high resolution screen, the on screen buttons are really big and the interface is quite user friendly. You can view the screen well in direct sunlight too but you will have to find a sweeetspot because it is a bit reflective and shiny. Our only gripe with regards to the interface is the menu system which is a bit frustrating. Firstly, the scroll area is located on the inside edge so the screen is blocked by the hand when you scroll. Secondly, the screen supports multitouch gestures and hence it is difficult to move an entry at a time. While testing, I frequently scrolled pass the feature that I wanted to select and there were lots of wrong entries selected. I am sure you will get on with it fine after some acclimation but I still recommend you to try it before purchasing the Canon Vixia  [...]

This is an entry level camcorder and records video in a built in hard drive. The highlights of this device is the small size, big storage capacity and also the megazoom lens. All this seems really tempting at a price of $400. The interface is also user friendly in spite of the menu system which seems endless. You won’t find much shooting options in here but this is not unexpected in a basic camcorder like this. Another typical features of such camcorders is the mediocre photo quality. This will be apparent if you are watching the videos on a large HDTV. Sony Handycam DCR-SR88 is recommend if you are not too concerned about the video quality and just want to shoot no matter what. The camcorder has a megazoom lens and yet fits easily in the pocket of your coat. This video recorder has 120 GB of storage space and if you don’t need this big space, then check out the SR88 which has the same features but comes with an 80 GB hard drive. The battery of the Sony Handycam DCR-SR88 protrudes  [...]