Top-Rated HD Camcorders – Reviews and Comparison 2010
Capture videos of your magic moments
Smart Review features only top-rated digital camcorders. Those camcorders with the highest owner ratings are listed here. See the latest flash memory and high definition (HD) camcorders for 2009-2010. Read the Smart Review 2010 Camcorder Buying Guide to help you decide what type of camcorder you should purchase. Top-Rated Camcorders listed below all have received owner reviews of 4 stars or better.
Deep Discount Prices – This site offers Camcorders through Amazon.com and other high rated vendors at deep discount prices with free shipping on most models.
 *New for 2010. The Canon HFS200 is the top of the line of Canon’s consumer flash memory camcorders. Compact in size. New 1920 x 1080 Full HD (1080p) recording. Records high definition video to SDHC memory cards. New for 2010 is an additional SDHC card slot (2 total). The camcorder will automatically record to the 2nd SDHC card when the first is full. Also new is a larger 3.5-inch high resolution screen ( with 4x more pixels than last years model). Its larger imager provides 8 megapixel still images, Microphone Terminal with Manual Audio Level Control, Dual ShotCapture allow video and photos without switching modes and Digital DV III image processor. Included are advanced features such as optical image stabilization, Large 10x optical zoom and , a large 1/2.6 inch CMOS imager (better for low light), AVCHD H.264, and has a true 24p Cinema mode. and a 30p mode. The HFS-200 records at up to 24mbps (the AVHCD best bit rate). At maximum quality , you can record about 2 hours and 54 minutes to two 16gb SDHC cards.
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| *New for 2010. The top of the line compact Panasonic HDC-TM700K Dual Flash camcorder features a built-in 32gb of internal memory to record full HD video (you can also use SDHC/SDXC memory cards). This camcorder features High-density, ultra-smooth video at 1080/60p Recording (Full-HD 1920 x 1080, 60 Progressive frames Recording). It also includes a fast F1.5-F2.8 lens that was created for the HDC-TM700 to help in low light situations. The new lens has a wider 35mm wide-angle lens which can fit more people and more of the background into the frame than a conventional lens. The imaging sensor consists of three 1/4.1-inch 3MOS sensors (3 x 3.05mp) which can provide up to 1,920×1,080 of HD resolution. Takes 14.2 megapixel still pictures. Included are advanced features such as optical image stabilization, 12x optical zoom and , Manual controls and a focus ring, electronic viewfinder, accessory shoe, 24p cinema mode, and microphone input, and Time Lapse Recording.
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*New for 2010. The Canon HF S20 is the top of the line consumer dual flash memory camcorder from Canon. Compact in size. New 1920 x 1080 Full HD (1080p) recording. Records to SDHC memory cards or its built-in 32GB flash drive. New for 2010 is an additional SDHC card slot (2 total). Also new is a larger 3.5-inch high resolution screen (4x more pixels than last years model). For 2010, the HFS10 has been upgraded to 8 megapixel still images, Microphone Terminal with Manual Audio Level Control, Dual ShotCapture allow video and photos without switching modes and Digital DV III image processor. Included are advanced features such as optical image stabilization, Large 10x optical zoom and , a large 1/2.6 inch CMOS imager (better for low light), AVCHD H.264, and has a true 24p Cinema mode. and a 30p mode. The HFS-10 records at up to 24mbps (the AVHCD best bit rate). At maximum quality , you can record about 2 hours and 54 minutes to its internal 32GB flash drive. More recording time is also available if you use SDHC memory cards after filling up the internal memory drive.
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| The latest Professional Panasonic AG-HMC40 Flash Memory Camcorder is highly rated and feature rich. Panasonic’s AVCCAM line has features usually only seen on pro camcorders that are much more costly. Pro features include: (HDMI out, date/time stamp, remote zoom, XLR option, etc.). Unlike most Professional Camcorders which record to MiniDV Tape, this camcorder records to SDHC memory cards. Also included is a fast ( f1.8- 2.8 ) 12x Leica Dicomar Lens. The imaging sensor consists of three 1/4.1-inch 3MOS sensors (3 x 3.05mp) which can provide up to 1,920×1,080 of HD resolution, and can capture 10.6 megapixel still pictures as well as 1080p quality video. At full resolution the camcorder records to AVCHD at up to a 24mbps bit rate. At maximum quality , you can record over 2 hours and 54 minutes of video to a 32gb SDHC memory card.
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New for 2009. The Canon HFS100 is a top of the line consumer flash memory camcorder. New 1920 x 1080 Full HD recording. Records to SDHC memory cards. For 2009, the HFS100 has been upgraded to 8 megapixel still images, Microphone Terminal with Manual Audio Level Control, Dual ShotCapture allow video and photos without switching modes and Digital DV III image processor. Included are advanced features such as optical image stabilization, Large 10x optical zoom and , a large 1/2.6 inch CMOS imager (better for low light), AVCHD H.264, and has a true 24p Cinema mode.
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| *New for 2010. The top of the line compact Panasonic HDC-HS700K HDD (Hard Disk Drive) camcorder features a built-in 240gb harddrive to record full HD video (you can also use SDHC/SDXC memory cards). This camcorder features High-density, ultra-smooth video at 1080/60p Recording (Full-HD 1920 x 1080, 60 Progressive frames Recording). It also includes a fast F1.5-F2.8 lens that was created for the HDC-HS700K to help in low light situations. The new lens has a wider 35mm wide-angle lens which can fit more people and more of the background into the frame than a conventional lens. The imaging sensor consists of three 1/4.1-inch 3MOS sensors (3 x 3.05mp) which can provide up to 1,920×1,080 of HD resolution. Takes 14.2 megapixel still pictures. Included are advanced features such as optical image stabilization, 12x optical zoom and , Manual controls and a focus ring, electronic viewfinder, accessory shoe, 24p cinema mode, and microphone input, and Time Lapse Recording.
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**New for 2010** Sony’s latest HDD hard disk based high definition camcorder with a huge 240gb hard drive. Features a new wide angle G-Lens (26.3mm) with 10x Optical zoom. High end Optical SteadyShot image stabilization w/ Active Mode (compensates for greater degrees of camera shake to deliver stunningly smooth video). Compact size. Other features: 12 megapixel still images, Larger 3.5 inch Xtra Fine LCD display (921K pixels), built-in GPS to geotag your video or pictures. The HDR-XR550V has a Large 1/2.88-inch back-illuminated “Exmor R” CMOS sensor for better low light performance. Bionz image processor improves the speed and quality, as well as improving battery life. HDD Smart Protection protects the built in hard drive should you accidently drop your camcorder. Full HD (1920 x 1080) video capture.
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*New for 2010* Sony’s latest 16gb dual flash drive based mid-range high definition camcorder from Sony. Captures 1920 x 1080 Full HD video. Ultra small and compact size. Records to the 16gb of internal memory or Memory Stick PRO Duo Media. Features a 25x optical zoom. 3 megapixel still images, 2.7-inch screen (230,000 pixels), and a 1/4-inch back-illuminated “Exmor R” CMOS sensor. (designed to let you shoot video in lower lighting conditions). BIONZ™ image processor improves the speed and quality, as well as improving battery life. Smile Shutter technology lets the camcorder automatically take still photos when your subject smiles.
 The CX150 uses the AVCHD compression format to record high definition video. Carl Zeiss® Vario-Tessar® lens with Steadyshot 25x optical image stabilization.
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One of Panasonic’s latest Professional Camcorders, the AG-HMC150 Flash Memory Camcorder is highly rated and feature rich. Panasonic’s AVCCAM line has features usually only seen on pro camcorders that are much more costly. Pro features include: (HDMI out, SMPTE Time-Code generater/reader, date/time stamp, remote zoom, XLR inputs, Waveform and Vectorscope displays, etc.). Unlike many Professional Camcorders which record to MiniDV Tape, this camcorder records to SDHC memory cards. Also included is a fast ( f1.8- 2.8 ) 13x 28mm wide angle lens. The imaging sensor consists of three 1/3-inch CCD Progressive Imagers which can provide up 1080p of HD resolution. At full resolution the camcorder records to AVCHD records video at up 24mbps bit rate. Record from 3 and 12 hours of video (depending on the recording quality chosen) to a 32gb SDHC memory card.
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*New for 2009. The Canon HV40 is the top of the line Canon consumer MiniDV camcorder. The HV40 has received high professional ratings. The HV40 is the replacement model to the highly rated HV30. Included are advanced features such as optical image stabilization, a large 1/2.7 inch CMOS imager (better for low light), external headphone and microphone terminal, includes a true 24p Cinema mode. and 30p mode. Movies in the theater are shot at 24p or 24 frames/second. Running at this speed with your HV40 can give your videos a film effect, and it also is better for low light filming. The HV40 records to MiniDV tape using HDV compression. Still pictures are taken with up to 3.1 megapixels, and recorded to a separate MiniSD memory card.
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Flash Memory Camcorders – This is a roundup of the best rated flash memory based digital camcorders. Flash memory camcorders use built-in solid state memory or flash memory cards to store the incoming video. (Dual Flash camcorders use both). The recording mechanism has no moving parts. They are usually smaller and lighter than other types [...]
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HDD Camcorders – This is a roundup of the top-rated HDD (Hard Disk Drive) based digital camcorders. HDD camcorders use Hard Drives (same as a notebook computer) to store the incoming video. Hard Drives have the advantage of very long recording times. Some of these camcorders can also record to memory cards (They are called [...]
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Professional Camcorders – This is a roundup of the best-rated professional camcorders. Professional camcorders are larger than consumer camcorders, have larger imagers, superior image processors, and larger brighter lenses. They provide superior video which is a favorite of indy and professional videographers. Professional camcorders also have advanced features such as 24p, time code, and XLR [...]
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Best Low Light HD Camcorders- This is a roundup of camcorders that are best suited for low light conditions. Poor performance in low light is the number one complaint of people using camcorders. There are several factors that help in low light conditions. One is the size and type of imager (the chip(s) that light [...]
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Choosing a Camcorder – Buying a camcorder can be confusing. With so many choices and features you need to understand what is important and what is not. This camcorder buying guide will help you sort out the facts on camcorders and what models best fit your needs. Only camcorders with the best ratings are listed [...]
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MiniDV Camcorders This is a roundup of the top-rated MiniDV digital camcorders. MiniDV camcorders use tapes to record the incoming video. MiniDV has been around a long time, and most professional camcorders still use this format. They record HD using the HDV compression which does an excellent job of recording video with minimal artifacts. One [...]
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