The Video Buff
Christmas Gift Guide: Fantastic ideas for your favourite digital video buff
We select our top digital video cameras to get the budding Spielberg in your family started on their directorial debut this Christmas
If your family is anything like mine, your brother probably thinks he's a dab hand with a video camera (apparently it's a male thing; like operating the remote on a VCR). Whenever the family gets together, it always seems to be my big bro who's in charge of movie-making duties, while the rest of us waste time preparing, cooking and serving the lunch.
If this all sounds familiar – even if it’s your best mate who’s the video camcorder hog – then why not buy them a shiny new camcorder for Christmas? If nothing else, the advancements in technology should ensure their videos are at least slightly watchable. In other words, everyone wins!
To help you pick the perfect video camera for your videographer, we've compiled a list of the best products on the market. Here is a shortlist of some of our personal favourites.
Plus we’ve rounded up the best digital video camcorder bargains for Christmas so you can capture all your Yuletide festivities -- without becoming a pauper!
Kogan Touchscreen Video Camera
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Kogan Touchscreen Video Camera
The Kogan Full HD 1080p Touchscreen Video Camera is an incredibly impressive camcorder for the asking price. It represents a perfect introduction to high-definition video (especially if you're tightening your purse strings this Christmas).
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MyVideo HD camcorder
The Memorex MyVideo HD pocket camcorder won't bowl you over with its performance or build quality, but its feature set is a good value for the price.
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Canon Legria HFS11 HD camcorder
The Canon Legria HFS11 is the premier choice for hands-on enthusiasts. It will also suit novices who aren't afraid of using camcorder menus. If you want the very best in video quality, this camcorder is pretty hard to pass up.
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Pinnacle Studio HD 14
Pinnacle Studio HD 14 will require that you invest some time in learning to use the program, but the result will be professional-looking movies that you can be proud to share.
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Panasonic HDC-TM300 HD camcorder
The Panasonic HDC-TM300 HD camcorder is a great option for enthusiasts and amateurs alike. It combines user friendly controls with in-depth manual features, and is capable of taking excellent HD video. Highly recommended.
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Adobe Premiere Elements 8
Adobe Premiere Elements 8 is an appealing upgrade for anyone interested in organising videos, editing them, and compiling them into attractive, fun movies. With its underlying power and its significantly improved ease of use, it's a good value.
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Kodak ZI8 HD camcorder
The full-featured Zi8 captures the best HD pocket-camcorder footage we've seen, plus it has shooting options galore. Tere are some interface and key usability issues and digital zoom often get in the way.
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Milennius Memmoir Full HD camcorder
There's plenty to like about the Millennius Memmoir HD camcorder. Although it stumbles in some areas, the $429 price tag more than makes up for any shortcomings. If you're shopping on a budget and require HD video, this is probably the best option on the market.
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Liquid Digital Solutions Agent V5 Full HD webcam
With its high quality picture and recording capabilities, it’s hard to not consider the Agent V5 as a viable webcam option — just make sure you have enough room for it on your desktop.
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Pure Digital Flip UltraHD pocket camcorder
The Flip UltraHD is a better performer than the MinoHD and we prefer it, thanks to its doubled storage capacity, sharper-coloured footage, better zoom, user-replaceable battery and HDMI-out port.
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Medion Life E47000 pocket camcorder
If you want a 'proper' camcorder with all the HD connections included and the bonus of a fairly good resolution camera built in, you’d do well to give the Medion Life E47000 a look. An accomplished model with an unbeatable price tag — just watch out for battery drain.
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Flip Mino HD camcorder
The Flip does have its limits. Bear those limitations in mind though and the Flip Mino HD is a dream, and a great fit for someone who wants the portable ability to shoot great-quality video without lugging around a full-sized camera.
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Sanyo Xacti VPC-FH1 camcorder
To be fair, the Xacti FH1 is hardly an expensive piece of kit: we think its asking price is fair given the overall still and video quality and the advanced capabilities of the camera. It’s simply that when a product promises Full HD at 1920x1080 and 60fps progressive capture at that, we expect superlative results. The Sanyo Xacti FH1 gives reasonable results and provided us with some memorable footage.
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Sony HDR-XR520 high-definition video camera
The Sony HDR-XR520 is a rock-solid HDD video camera that improves on its predecessors in nearly every way. On the other hand, it's unlikely that many consumers will be able to afford it at its current price point.
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Sony HDR-XR520 high-definition video camera
The Sony HDR-XR520 is a rock-solid HDD video camera that improves on its predecessors in nearly every way. On the other hand, it's unlikely that many consumers will be able to afford it at its current price point.
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Canon Legria HF S10 HD flash memory camcorder
The Canon Legria HF S10 is one of those rare camcorders that will please all types of user. It combines beginner-friendly features with in-depth manual controls and produces unmatched video quality to boot. Unfortunately, it's also prohibitively expensive.
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Sanyo Xacti VPC-CG10 (EXP) high-def video camera
If you're a fan of pistol grip camcorders, the Sanyo Xacti VPC-CG10 is one of the best-value HD options on the market. It's compact, stylish and capable of taking some impressive video and photos.
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Panasonic SDR-H80-K digital video camcorder
The Panasonic SDR-H80 is an excellent hard disk-based camcorder with plenty of user-friendly features. If you're in the market for an affordable standard-def camcorder, this model will not disappoint.
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Oregon Scientific ATC3K Action Camera
While not without its flaws, the Oregon Scientific ATC3K Action Camera is an excellent product for the asking price. If you're an outdoors enthusiast keen to chronicle your exploits, look no further. It's the best valued sports camcorder on the market.
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Sony HDR-HC9 camcorder
If you prefer the familiarity and reliability of HDV tape, the Sony HDR-HC9 is one of the best (and only) options on the market. Sticklers for value may want to check out Canon’s HV30 though — it’s every bit as good, yet cheaper.
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Sanyo Xacti HD1010
The Sanyo Xacti HD1010 is one of the best HD camcorders we've reviewed in this price range, combining comprehensive manual features with top-grade video quality. Despite the unwieldy controls and difficult menu interface, it remains a winner.
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Kogan Technologies Full HD 1080p Video Camera
Kogan has made a career out of undercutting big-name vendors with cheap hardware, but the Full HD 1080p Video Camera really takes the biscuit. Despite a cavalcade of flaws, it remains insanely good value for money. A full HD camcorder for under $400? Yes please!
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Samsing VP-HMX20C high-definition camcorder
The Samsung VP-HMX20C might not be perfect, but for $1199 it ticks all the right boxes. Users will be particularly impressed by its Full HD resolution and extensive recording options. Without question, it's one of the best 'value choices' on the market.