The Sony HDR-SR8E is a stylish and easy to use HDD camera with a gargantuan 100GB hard drive. It might not be the cheapest model out there, but you definitely get what you pay for.

While not quite the prime grade beef of the industry, DVD camcorders have improved by leaps and bounds. If you have the technology to support it, this is a very solid product.

All up, the Panasonic VDR-D310 certainly has number of limitations. But, provided you can accept these, its excellent video quality and the convenience of instant DVD burning make it a very notable DVD camcorder.

The DCR-SR62E is a much better option than some other HDD models on the market; especially if you're a first time user. It strikes the right balance between picture quality, useful features and price.

The DC210 performs solidly for an entry-level, low resolution camera. However, it's difficult to recommend in the face of superior DVD models which are only slightly more expensive.

Canon's DC230 is a good choice for those after a mid-range digital video camera that combines good quality video with a strong feature-set and the convenience of DVD recording.

The Sony HDR-SR5E is an excellent HD HDD camera that offers great value for money. Simply put, it is one of the best models in this price range that we've seen.

The MV920 records poor quality video, but this is to be expected from a camera at this price point. If you simply want something to point and shoot with and aren't really concerned about the quality of the footage, this may be a good choice, but for a little more cash you can get something better.

The Canon HV20 offers an affordable introduction to high-definition video. While not particularly outstanding, it performs solidly in every area and will satisfy the majority of users.

With only a 0.8 megapixel CCD sensor, the MD120 isn't a camera for those who want high quality images. However, it's ease-of-use and relatively low price should appeal to beginners.

If you're an indie filmmaker with a medium-sized budget on your hands, you could do a lot worse than this consumer/professional hybrid camera.

If you are willing to forgive the sub par visuals, the DCR-SR42E is a pretty decent camera; especially for inexperienced users. However, there are plenty of similarly priced non-HDD cameras on the market that will give you a superior performance.