The Canon VIXIA HF S200 is one of the three High Definition (HD) camcorders that will lead Canon’s prosumer camcorders for 2010. The HF S200 is a Flash Memory camcorder with two SD/SDHC memory card slots and packed with features and controls that will suffice the needs of many beginner and intermediate users alike. Its eight-megapixel resolution will deliver vivid images with crisp colors and details. Features like Touch and Track, a native 24p video recording mode and a 5.1 Channel Surround Sound capability will provide excellent videos in any environment or setting.

The Canon VIXIA HF S20 is one of the main camcorders on the Canon’s line up for 2010. This High Definition camcorder runs on a1/2.6-inch CMOS imaging sensor with a resolution of 8.59 megapixels and records in AVCHD format. This camcorder captures videos with an effective resolution of 3264 x 1840 pixels or 6.01 megapixels. Still photos are 3264 x 1840 pixels or 6.01 megapixels for a 16:9 photo and 3264 x 2456 pixels or 8.02 megapixels for a 4:3 photo.

The Canon VIXIA HF S21 is one of the latest camcorder in the HF S series from Canon that includes the HF S20 and the HF S200. The HF S21 is an upgrade to the HF S11 and leads the Canon’s flash camcorder series. It features an improved touch screen LCD, 64 GB of internal flash memory and two SD/SDHC memory slots.

The following camcorders in our comparison are versatile devices that cater to both beginners and intermediate users alike. For a start, these are all High Definition (HD) camcorders. With high definition capability very accessible in low-priced camcorders, we can’t expect anything less for a camcorder in the $500 – $1000 price range. We will examine and rate each camcorder based on Value (what the camcorder has to offer), Quality (video performance in different environments), Ease of Use (user-friendliness), Control (manual options) and Overall performance. I gave a maximum score of five to each of the categories mentioned.

The following camcorders in our comparison are the best midrange prosumer camcorders in the market. With a price range of $1000-$2000, these camcorders are suited for beginner film enthusiasts and videographers alike. These are more than just your basic High Definition (HD) camcorders. These camcorders have great video quality combined with user-friendly functions and boosted manual options for video diversity. We will examine and rate each camcorder based on Value (what the camcorder has to offer), Quality (video performance in different environments), Ease of Use (user-friendliness), Control (manual options) and Overall performance. A maximum score of five goes to each of the categories mentioned.

The Sony DCR-DVD 405 came out in 2006 to replace one of Sony’s successful DVD camcorders, the DCR-DVD 403. The DCR-DVD 405 is equipped with a 1/3-inch Advanced HAD CCD imaging sensor that is identical in specifications to those of the DVD 403. This is a bigger imaging sensor than most entry-level camcorders. The bigger size also translates to more crisp and clear videos and a better low light performance. The 1/3-inch imager has an effective resolution of 2.5 megapixels when capturing videos in 4:3 aspect ratio. The camcorder is also capable of capturing videos in wide screen mode, 16:9 aspect ratio, at 2.06 megapixels effective resolution.

Sony gradually shifted from tape-based media to hard disk drive storage producing the HDR-SR1 only seven months after Sony’s first hard disk camcorder, the HDR-SR100. Not only that, the HDR-SR1 offers high definition in AVCHD format, which is a derivative of MPEG-4 H.264 codec jointly developed by Sony and Panasonic.

Among Sony’s sleeker models is the HDR-CX7 AVCHD camcorder. It’s akin to Panasonic’s HDC-SD1 in size. Both camcorders record in high definition AVCHD to flash media. The HDR-CX7 uses Memory Stick while the HDC-SD1 uses SDHC cards. At about $1200 MSRP, the HDR-CX7 exemplifies low-profile, silent-running, rapidly-deployable speed.

The Sony HDR-HC7 is equipped with a 1/2.9-inch ClearVID CMOS sensor with a resolution of 3.2 megapixels. It has an effective resolution of 2.2 megapixels working in wide screen video mode (16:9 aspect ratio), 1.2 megapixels in normal mode (4:3 aspect ratio) and 3 megapixels in still photography.

The Sony’s HDR-HC3 camcorder is an upgraded version of the former HDR-HC1 handycam. It features great evolution in features that can accommodate most prosumer demands, compared to its predecessor. Dimensions for the camcorder are 3.2in x 5.5in x 3.1in (W x D x H) and it weighs approximately 19.8 oz. It is not the smallest High Definition (HD) camcorder in its category but it is portable enough to fit in your pocket or a handbag.

Sony releases a quality and affordable high definition camcorder with the HDR-HC1. This camcorder provides crisp image and gives good performance in many conditions. With a price range below $2,000, the HDR-HC1 can compete with other HDV personal video devices in its category.

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-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.

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.

HDR CX100 is 2.3-inches by 2.4-inches by 4.5-inches and weighs 11.7 ounces including battery and Memory Stick Duo; at this weight and dimensions, it is a compact camcorder. Although not very small and sleek, it still comfortably fits in a jacket pocket. It is available in three colors: black, silver, and red. With clean lines and a combination of matte and glossy look and feel, it has a very neat design. It is nearly identical to its sibling, the HDR-XR100, only the 80GB hard drive is replaced by 8GB of …

Sony launched the HDR-CX500V and HDR-CX520V in July of 2009. They are both flash memory camcorders. The main differentiating point between these two siblings is the internal memory: CX500V has 32GB of internal memory and CX520V offers 64GB of internal memory. When compared to the HDR-CX12, Sony has made some very important and useful changes, or some may say improvements, in the CX500, which include the lens, stabilization, and a full 1080p output.
Like all the other Sony camcorders that have a “V” at the end of their names, the CX500V …

Sanyo’s VPC-HD2000, a vertical, pistol grip camcorder, is the first consumer camcorder to capture full high-definition videos at 60 frames per second. Its strongest offerings are video performance, low light sensitivity, manual controls and a number of options for still photography. It features 10X optical zoom and 16X advanced zoom.
It is called a “Dual Camera” because Sanyo has incorporated a point and shoot camera and a camcorder both in one device. Even if it is an easy-to-use machine, it is tiring to hold the camcorder in position for a very long time because of the lack of a handgrip. The VPC-HD2000 is a good camcorder designed with both beginners and experts in mind.

Sanyo Xacti is a high definition camcorder with 10x optical zoom. One of its most exciting aspects is its vertical design and small size. Designed to fit in a jacket pocket, it is very portable. It renders good results for a camcorder of its size. It weighs around 9.9 ounces (with the battery and SD card). It has a pistol-like-grip, designed for simple, one-hand operation with the thumb. This makes it comfortable to hold the camcorder for long periods.
One of its exceptional features is its video quality. On the front …

Hitachi DZ-BD7HA is the first camcorder that can record to a Blu-ray disc and one that has it all wrong. It has a few features that do not have little potential.
You will need an extremely expensive Blu-ray disc reader to view the video. It features the worst auto and manual controls. It has bad auto and manual focus. Most of its manual controls operate from the LCD. The USB and HDMI terminals are on the LCD. Despite of the facility to record to HDD, Blu-ray, and SD/SDHC, the still pictures are recorded to a SD/SDHC card. One of its worst features is its low light performance. It has the capability to deliver good results only in very bright light.
Over and above Hitachi DZ-BD7HA is a very expensive camcorder that also happens to be the worst performer when compared to other camcorders like the Canon HR10 and Sony HDR-UX7.

The Canon HV40 comes from a rich heritage of MiniDV/HDV camcorders. While the HV40 is not a revolutionary release, it does continue the legacy by adding to the great quality of the HV30. The major new feature is the addition of 1080/24p frame rate. This mode is a welcome addition for those who want to shoot in cinema mode. 1080/30p is also still supported.

The HMX-H106 is a Flash Memory camcorder that is light weight, sleek, and stylish and it operates without any noise. It uses the Progressive Scan technology to deliver high quality video. It captures HD quality video in progressive mode (1080/30p). The resulting videos are clearer, crisper, and detailed even if the subject is in motion. This technology delivers smooth images even when the video is played back at 2x, 4x, or 8x the normal speed.
The HMX-H106 features a 37 mm wide-angle Schneider lens that is specially designed to deliver detailed …

The HDR-HC9 features a 1/2.9-inch ClearVid CMOS sensor that provides good clarity and detail. It delivers quality video performance at 1080p resolution in HD format, or 530 lines of horizontal resolution in SD format. The CMOS censors require less power, thus extending battery life. The 3.2 megapixels technology takes the digital photography experience to the next level. It has an ability to shoot high-resolution (6.1-megapixel) still images.
It has a 10x optical/20x digital zoom. The optical zoom helps to bring the subject closer and the Digital zoom interpolation makes extreme digital …

The Panasonic HDC-HS9 is a very compact High Definition camcorder. The HDC-HS9 qualifies as a Hybrid camcorder because it can record on both an internal hard disk and removable flash memory cards. While this hybrid model does overcome some of the drawbacks of hard drive camcorders, the hard disk still adds to the size and cost of the device. The HDC-HS9 is roughly $300 more than the equivalent HDC-SD9 which could easily buy two 32GB SDHC cards. One of the better features of this camcorder is its high quality picture and sound. It allows you to set the camcorder at a Digital Cinema mode and shoot in the progressive 1080/25p format (25 frames per second). The Progressive scanning captures pictures that have film-like quality. The colors are vivid and the pictures are clear and crisp.

VIXIA HF S10 has a lot in common with its sister model, the HF S100. The only difference between the two is that HF S100 lacks a built-in memory. HF S10 is designed for people who require a professional camcorder at a reasonable price.
VIXIA HF S10 is Canon’s flagship consumer flash memory camcorder. One of its better features is the professional quality 10x HD Video lens that captures perfect pictures comparable to those taken from a professional camera.  It delivers pictures that are crisp, clear, and with the least flare and …

The Sanyo VPC – FH1 HD 1080p Flash Memory Camcorder is another state of the art video camera that brings a new meaning to video recording. Running on a full HD mode of 60fps (frames per second); this compact camcorder captures smooth motion and clearer videos. With Sanyo’s proprietary CMOS technology, the Sanyo VPC – FH1 HD 1080p records at full 60 frames per seconds, having the ability to capture bigger frame rates, producing clearer and better images.  The VPC- FH1 also features 16x Advanced Optical Zoom for video which …