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.

It’s hard to imagine a better Father’s Day gift for dad than preserving family memories with a cool new gadget. A new high definition video camera is the perfect complement to the HDTV and Blu-ray player that mysteriously showed up in the living room last year. This year’s digital camcorders offer ultimate portability, full high definition recording (1080p), face tracking, and automatic smile detection. Choosing the best camcorder can be difficult, and June 21st is just around the corner, so to simplify your decision here are 5 of the best camcorders for dads.

The Sony HDR-CX12 High Definition Memory Stick PRO Duo Handycam Camcorder is a great innovation over its predecessor Sony HDR-CX7. Built with class and style, the HDR-CX12 from Sony boasts of high-end CMOS sensor (1/3-inch), and up to 16Mbps bit rate, which is better than the Sony HDR-CX7, but still lower than the 24Mbs on Canon’s HF S10 and HF S100. It has 12X Optical Zoom / 150X Digital Zoom which is more powerful than other Sony Camcorders, but about average for it’s class.