camcorder Tests (P. 10/13)

"Sony Handycam HDR-SR7E"

Published on: 10/2007

On test: Sony HDR-SR7

Sharing a perch at the top of Sony's HD prosumer camcorder line, the Handycam HDR-SR7E manages to combine a raft of cutting-edge capabilities without forgetting that its primary function is capturing high-quality HD video. → More

"Canon HG10"

Published on: 10/2007

On test: Canon HG10

It's been a long wait, but the hard disk drive-based, AVCHD-compatible Canon HG10 is here. Based on the innards and lens of the HV20 and costing around £750, the HG10 nevertheless uses an almost completely different design, one that takes a few chances -- not necessarily successful ones. → More

"Panasonic VDR-D310"

Published on: 10/2007

On test: Panasonic VDR-D310

Unless you want to make the leap to high-definition footage, the Panasonic VDR-D310 is the most high-end Panasonic DVD camcorder you can get for around £400. Considering that the company's high-def DVD camcorder, the HDC-SD5, retails for a good £300 more, the D310 clearly appears to be designed for users who want high-quality video without investing the significant money required for high-def. → More

"Sony NSC-GC1"

Published on: 10/2007

On test: Sony NSC-GC1

Every company wants to get a taste of YouTube's popularity, and Sony's no exception. In a jarring change from the company's Cyber-shot and Handycam lines of digital cameras and camcorders, Sony released the NSC-GC1 net sharing cam, a pocket camera/camcorder designed specifically for YouTube and its myriad Web video analogs. At just £180, the GC1 aims squarely at casual users with more interest in style and simplicity than complex photography or video production. → More

"JVC Everio GZ-HD3"

Published on: 10/2007

On test: JVC Everio GZ-HD3

When we reviewed JVC's Everio GZ-HD7 a few months ago, it did all right, but we concluded that its features, performance and image quality didn't live up to its high price tag. JVC followed up the HD7 with the Everio GZ-HD3, a scaled-down version, which includes the same triple-CCD design and many of the same features. → More

"Sanyo VPC-HD2"

Issue: 10/2007

On test: Sanyo Xacti VPC-HD2

Why carry two devices, when you can get a digital camera and video recorder all in one? At a street price of about £375, the Sanyo VPC-HD2 has much to recommend it, with its 7MP sensor, 10x optical zoom and an ISO range of 50-1600. → More

"Sony DCR-SR72E Camcorder"

Published on: 9/2007

On test: Sony DCR-SR72E

JVC may have pioneered hard disk-based camcorders for consumers, but Sony is now competing at full strength, with an even more substantial range of alternatives for both standard and high definition. The DCR-SR72E sits in the middle of the five standard definition hard disk-based camcorders Sony currently has available in the UK. Despite being really quite small, it still packs a 60GB hard disk on board, so has plenty of potential for the holiday-bound videomaker. But how does it fare against other HDD-based camcorders, and other formats? → More

"Genius G-Shot DV1210"

Published on: 9/2007

On test: Genius G-Shot DV1210

The Genius G-Shot DV1210 is a dinky camcorder that's pleasingly straightforward. It's light and easy to use, and at this price is perfect for the younger, or clumsier, user. We took it for a test drive to find out if the DV1210 has the features and the ambition to extend beyond YouTube. It's available online for around £130, a strikingly low price for a camcorder. → More

"Panasonic HDC-SD1"

Published on: 8/2007

On test: Panasonic HDC-SD1 EG

One advantage of using flash memory cards as a recording medium in camcorders is that they facilitate smaller designs. The body of Panasonic's 500g HDC-SD1, which records high definition 1,440x1,080-pixel AVCHD video to SD cards, is a bit smaller than camcorders which use other formats but its tubular shape retains a bit too much bulk to be truly compact. → More

"Canon MD101"

Issue: 8/2007

On test: Canon MD101

We're seeing more and more camcorders that use hard disks and memory cards for video storage. For the budget-conscious, though, Mini-DV is still the best option. Canon's 2006 range of budget camcorders won numerous awards in Shopper, including Best Video Product 2006 for the MV960, so we had very high expectations of the new MD101. → More

"Canon HV20"

Issue: 12/2007

On test: Canon HV20

Sales of high-definition camcorders are increasing rapidly and provide the clearest evidence yet that older, established formats such as MiniDV are approaching obsolescence. it's no surprise when you consider HD-ready TV sets are sweeping aside their analogue counterparts in homes, so it's natural to assume that an HD camcorder will be the next item on shopping lists. → More

"Canon HV20 HD camcorder"

Published on: 6/2007

On test: Canon HV20

Compared to Panasonic's sleek HDC-SD1, the Canon HV20 HD camcorder looks a bit ungainly, mostly because it has a large MiniDV tape mechanism grafted on to one side. → More

"JVC Everio GZ-HD7E HD camcorder"

Published on: 6/2007

On test: JVC Everio GZ-HD7

Sony’s tape-based HDV models kicked off the move to high-definition camcorders, but now that format seems to be settling into the semi-professional realm. Instead, Sony and Panasonic have opted for a new H.264-based format called AVCHD for their latest consumer-oriented HD camcorders. JVC, however, is not part of the club. So this month’s GZ-HD7E eschews trendy MPEG-4 in favour of good old-fashioned MPEG-2, as does HDV. But that’s not the only difference between JVC’s new baby and Sony’s latest models. The GZ-HD7E is in the unique position of being the only consumer camcorder to record what JVC calls ‘Full HD’. Where the highest-resolution version of HDV only operates at 1,440 x 1,080, the GZ-HD7E can capture at up to 1,920 x 1,080, although it still uses field-based interlacing so the Full HD name is a little misleading. Ironically, JVC’s professional HD camcorders are in the other HDV camp – they record in the progressive 720p mode, where frames are 1,280 x 720 with no fields. → More

"Canon HV20"

Published on: 6/2007

On test: Canon HV20

When Canon first showed us the HV10, we were surprised that the company chose a vertical form for its first compact high-definition camcorder. In our review, we found that the vertical design brought with it some irksome ergonomic issues. Canon's follow-up, the HV20, includes all the same features as the HV10, plus 24p recording, an HDMI output, a longer-lasting battery, and an accessory shoe -- all in a horizontal design that's more comfortable to use. → More

"Panasonic SDR-S10 camcorder"

Published on: 6/2007

On test: Panasonic SDR-S10

Convergence has been one of the watchwords of the computer revolution. But although camcorders have been able to take photos for years, and most digital cameras have a movie recording function, no device yet has truly mastered both domains. Camcorders are too big to compete with pocket cameras, and cameras too small to accommodate the storage requirements of video. Weighing in at under 200g, however, Panasonic’s SDR-S10 certainly looks like it could be a contender for the convergence crown. → More

"Sony DCR-SR42 Handycam camcorder"

Published on: 6/2007

On test: Sony DCR-SR42

When you're recording a special occasion, keeping things simple is the safest way to go. Just point, press a button and let the camcorder do the rest. That's the approach championed by the Sony DCR-SR42 Handycam camcorder (available for around £300 online), which reduces arcane recording features to a minimum and saves files to a hard drive so there's no need to buy Mini DVD discs or MiniDV tapes. At its highest quality setting, the Sony DCR-SR42 Handycam camcorder's 30GB hard drive can record up to seven hours of video. → More

"Panasonic SDR-S10"

Published on: 6/2007

On test: Panasonic SDR-S10

Panasonic takes a step sideways from its powerful triple CCD and hi-def shooters to deliver a quirky, all-weather flash memory camcorder with more than a touch of class. It's light on the pocket and the waistline (supposedly it's the world smallest SD camcorder), but image quality risks being equally frothy, thanks to a modest 800K sensor inside. → More

"Sony DCR-HC96Sony DCR-HC96 MiniDV Handycam"

Published on: 6/2007

On test: Sony DCR-HC 96 E

The £360 inc VAT Sony DCR-HC96 MiniDV Handycam, Sony's high-end MiniDV camcorder, offers step-up features such as a higher-capacity battery, a charging dock and the ability to capture higher-resolution video than can other HC series models. → More

"Sanyo Xacti VPC-HD2 HD video and still camera"

Published on: 6/2007

On test: Sanyo Xacti VPC-HD2

The Sanyo Xacti VPC-HD2 is the high-definition model in the company's line of "digital media cameras" all of which record video and photos to an SD (secure digital) card. → More

"JVC Everio GZ-HD7"

Published on: 6/2007

On test: JVC Everio GZ-HD7

As many camcorder manufacturers have discovered, three low-resolution sensors can sometimes take you a lot further than a single high-resolution sensor. But while this may be the case for a standard-definition world, it doesn't mean the same is true for hi-def. JVC's Everio GZ-HD7 is a 3CCD hard-drive-based HD camcorder that attempts to follow this theory. It offers a good range of manual features, but can its high-definition image quality justify its four-figure price tag? → More

"Panasonic SDR-H20"

Issue: 7/2007

On test: Panasonic SDR-H20

The SDR-H20 is the first hard disk camcorder we've seen from Panasonic. The company calls it a hybrid camcorder, as it can also store video on SD cards. The 30GB hard disk holds seven hours of footage at the highest quality setting of 9MBit/s. This is the equivalent of seven MiniDV tapes or 21 8cm DVD-r discs, so it should be sufficient for a two-week holiday. If you run out of space, the SD memory card slot is compatible with SDHC cards, which have capacities of up to 8GB. → More

"JVC Everio GZ-MG155 HDD"

Issue: 7/2007

On test: JVC Everio GZ-MG155

Although Sony and Panasonic have also introduced camcorders that record to tiny internal hard disks, JVC's Everio G series leads the way, offering hours of DVD-quality recording before you need to download your clips. The GZ-MG155 has a 30GB hard disk and an SD memory slot. → More

"Canon DC50 DVD camcorder"

Published on: 5/2007

On test: Canon DC50

The Canon DC50 is a stylish Mini DVD recorder, with all the bells and whistles you'd expect from a Canon camcorder. If you already own a Canon digital camera, you'll feel right at home with the company's Canon DC50 camcorder, thanks to the similar control systems. → More

"JVC Everio GZ-MG155"

Published on: 5/2007

On test: JVC Everio GZ-MG155

The JVC Everio GZ-MG155 is an excellent choice for users who want a versatile camcorder. The sleek-and-intuitive JVC Everio GZ-MG155 fits comfortably in your hand, in part because it stores files on a 30GB hard drive rather using a bulky DVD drive. → More

"Panasonic HDC-SD1 High Definition SD Camcorder"

Published on: 5/2007

On test: Panasonic HDC-SD1 EG

Once in a while we get to try out products that aren’t just interesting or cool but mark the start of a revolution. The Panasonic HDC-SD1 camcorder is such a device – a camcorder that can capture images at 1080i resolution without the need for tapes. It’s not the first consumer level High Definition camcorder on the market, with Sony's HDR-HD3 being its second stab at the market. However, while the HD1 and HD3 record onto MiniDV tapes the Panasonic HDC-SD1 records onto SD card. → More