The Sony HDR-FX1000 is a new version of HDR-FX1. This handheld camcorder contains enough manual controls and features. However, if you’re a professional videographer, you’ll likely be disappointed with its lack of precise controls and design. It’s not a shoulder-mount, and it doesn’t have the stability and comfort of a larger body.

Sony designed the HDR-FX7 for aspiring pros and beginners as an entry-level production camcorder. This camcorder is capable of recording impressive high definition videos and still images with ease.

Sony’s HDR-XR520V, selling for roughly $1500, is a good travel companion, thanks to its new added feature – the built-in GPS mapping system. Moreover, it has much more to recommend it. From sharp video quality and a 240 GB hard disk drive to a wealth of video features, the HDR-XR520V is a worthy addition to Sony’s camcorder family. The design of external controls is a gleaming indication that this camcorder appeals to the advanced tourist crowd, rather than the budget filmmaker brigade.

The Samsung SC-MX20 is an upgrade of the SC-MX10 model. Price range for this model is at $200 – $350. Like its predecessor the SC-MX10, it is also equipped with a single 1/6 inch CCD sensor with a great 34X zoom lens. Ideal for beginners with its properly streamlines menus that are strategically grouped together, intuitive manual controls and a swivel grip that is fun to use are all great qualities for this camcorder. However, this camcorder performs below par where it matters – taking videos.

Sony has opted for the hybrid approach; that’s why it didn’t choose to build any flash-memory-only standard definition camcorders. This gave birth to the SR65 and the SR85, except that the latter has a larger HDD capacity.

Given its touch screen design, the Sony DCR-SR300 suits the casual shooters, who will mostly stick with the camera’s Easy mode. If you’d prefer a hard-drive-based camcorder instead of a tape- or mini-DVD-based one, then this model is good for you.

The Sony DCR-SR65 came out in 2008 with Sony’s bid to produce camcorders that are more compact. The DCR-SR65 launched together with the other Sony hard disk based camcorders, the DCR-SR45, DCR-SR85 and the DCR-SR220. The DCR-SR65 measures 3in X 4.4in X 3in (HxDxW) and weighs about 14.1 oz.

The Sony DCR-SR42 is Sony’s entry level Hard Disk Drive (HDD) camcorder released last March of 2007. A 1/6 inch Advanced HAD CCD imaging sensor capable of recording videos in MPEG2 format powers this standard definition camcorder. Like many Sony camcorders, the DCR-SR42 has three video quality settings with its high quality setting (recording at 9Mbps), medium quality (recording at 6Mbps) and low quality (recording at 3Mbps).

The Panasonic SDR-H60 Camcorder is a full featured camcorder that packs many elements for a very competitive price. This camcorder is Panasonic’s number one single-chip, standard definition hard drive camcorder. Its 60GB hard drive provides enough space for recording 14hrs of high quality videos and 54hrs of low quality videos. If that is not enough, you can continue recording in MPEG 2 format thru an SD or SDHC memory card that you can place in its built-in memory slot.

The HDR-UX20 is Sony’s top DVD Handycam for 2008. It captures video in AVCHD format with a resolution of 1920 x 1080. This resolution is a step up from other Sony models, which have a resolution of only 1440 x 1080. It can store High Definition (HD) videos at 16Mbps in its 8GB internal flash memory or in a Memory Stick Pro Duo card. Its Hybrid Plus ability enables this camcorder to record videos in both types of media. Video recording comes in three options with HD HQ at 9Mbps, HD SP at 7Mbps and HD LP at 5Mbps. You can then choose to record these HD videos on DVD media.

The Sony DCR-SX60 palm-sized camcorder offers easy touch screen navigation, great auto mode and a highly developed videography structure. Its simple, well-organized design has a nice layout with easy-to-navigate buttons. The DCR-SX60’s Easy Mode makes basic recording simple, even for users new to the Sony architecture.

The Sony DCR-SR200, released March, 2007, is an upgrade of the Sony DCR-SR100 that gave Sony great reviews from its customers. The DCR-SR200 has a 1/3 inch ClearVid CMOS sensor that replaces the 1/3 inch CCD sensor used by the older DCR-SR100.

Sony released their DCR-SR45 in 2008, together with three other standard definition camcorders (DCR-SR65, DCR-SR85 and the DCR-SR220). Their small sizes and the capability of recording to its internal hard disk drive or an option to record to a Memory Stick Duo PRO inserted in its built-in memory slot characterized them all. The DCR-SR45 measures about 3in x 4.4in x 3in (WxDxH) and weighs only 12.3 oz.

The Sony DCR-DVD 508 is Sony’s replacement for the DCR-DVD505 camcorder. The DCR-505 received many great reviews from consumers when it came out in 2006 and Sony produced the DCR-DVD 508 to follow in its success. The new DCR-DVD 508 is equipped with a more powerful CMOS imaging sensor and a better optical image stabilization system.

If you’re always on the go, ready to shoot those once-in-a-lifetime moments, then the Panasonic SDR-S7 is good for you. Although larger than a cell phone, it is small enough to slip in your pocket or bag for you to take everywhere you go. You can grip it and it sits easily in the palm of the hand; anyone who lays eyes on it always immediately remarks about its size.

The Panasonic AG-DVX100BP is the first camcorder to offer a 24 frames-per-second feature. It’s the first consumer camcorder to produce a film look. This is a very good B roll cam or independent film cam. People might think that you shoot the videos using a film camera.