Solid 720p video, particularly for its size; slightly slicker ultraslim yet functional design; large 2-inch LCD; easy to use; integrated lithium ion rechargeable battery; HDMI output; FlipShare software compatible with both Macs and Windows machines.
THE BAD
Fairly pricey; no SD/MMC card expansion slot; no cable included for HD output to HDTVs.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Still one of the nicest models available, the second-generation Flip MinoHD offers a slightly improved design, double the memory, and an HDMI output for the same price that the original MinoHD used to cost.
Solid 720p video, particularly for its size; slightly slicker ultraslim yet functional design; large 2-inch LCD; easy to use; integrated lithium ion rechargeable battery; HDMI output; FlipShare software compatible with both Macs and Windows machines.
THE BAD
Fairly pricey; no SD/MMC card expansion slot; no cable included for HD output to HDTVs.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Still one of the nicest models available, the second-generation Flip MinoHD offers a slightly improved design, double the memory, and an HDMI output for the same price that the original MinoHD used to cost.
Excellent video quality and performance; nicely designed interface; fast battery charging.
THE BAD
No eye-level viewfinder; expensive; lens cover rattles when closed.
THE BOTTOM LINE
An excellent flash-based prosumer HD camcorder, the Canon Vixia HF S11 has the advantage of an excellent image stabilizer but it disappointingly lacks an eye-level viewfinder.
Camcorder, CMOS, 12 x, Flash card, Hard disk drive, 17.3 oz
THE GOOD
Excellent video quality; 120GB hard drive; attractive, understated design; eye-level viewfinder.
THE BAD
Wind filter not as dependable as previous Canon models; manual focus pretty useless.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Like its cousin, the flash-based HF11, Canon's Vixia HG21 delivers excellent HD video quality and performance albeit in a slightly larger, heavier package. However, you do get more storage space and a lower price.
Camcorder, CMOS, Flash card, 5.0 megapixels, 4.3 oz
THE GOOD
The ContourHD records high-definition video at 720p. Laser sights and a rotating lens help to aim the camera while mounted without the need for a viewfinder. Simple, one-handed operation and the included 2GB microSD card and rechargeable battery make this one of the most easy-to-use helmet cams we've tested.
THE BAD
The unit is not waterproof or submersible. Low-light performance is poor.
THE BOTTOM LINE
While not as rugged as its competition, the ContourHD features video quality and user-friendliness that is far better than any other helmet cam that we've tested.
Very good 720p HD video for its class; 5x optical zoom; nice LCD; full featured for an inexpensive minicamcorder.
THE BAD
Component cable not included; slow AF, still-camera performance; poor photo quality; pistol grip not for everyone.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Sanyo's dual-camera Xacti VPC-CG10 has the design and features to easily shoot both HD-quality movies and 10-megapixel photos, but slow performance and mediocre photos keep it from being a solid do-it-all device.
Very good 720p HD video for its class; 5x optical zoom; nice LCD; full featured for an inexpensive minicamcorder.
THE BAD
Component cable not included; slow AF, still-camera performance; poor photo quality; pistol grip not for everyone.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Sanyo's dual-camera Xacti VPC-CG10 has the design and features to easily shoot both HD-quality movies and 10-megapixel photos, but slow performance and mediocre photos keep it from being a solid do-it-all device.
The X-Driven DRS-1100 viewer program pairs video with an accurate Google map showing vehicle location. Driving video and GPS information are automatically recorded.
THE BAD
The software viewer interface is a little rough in some places, and not always intuitive to use.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The X-Driven DRS-1100 performs its basic task of recording potential accidents well, but a number of small problems with the included viewer software hamper its usability.
Camcorder, Advanced HAD CCD, 60 x, Flash card, DVD-R (8cm), DVD+RW (8cm), DVD-RW (8 cm), DVD+R DL (8cm), 13.8 oz
THE GOOD
Simple operation; records to DVDs or Memory Stick flash media.
THE BAD
Soft video; noticeable purple fringing on subjects; DVDs not ideal storage medium.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The Sony Handycam DCR-DVD650 offers an all-in-one, on-the-go way to capture standard-def video and burn it to a DVD, but hard-disk-drive and flash-memory models are otherwise a better option.
Comfortable, compact design; 34x zoom lens; 16GB internal memory; good audio quality; relatively easy to operate.
THE BAD
Slow autofocus performance; long zoom lens lacks optical image stabilization.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The Samsung SMX-F34 is a serviceable inexpensive standard-definition camcorder, but the money goes more to storage and the megazoom lens than to video quality.
Comfortable, compact design; 34x zoom lens; 16GB internal memory; good audio quality; relatively easy to operate.
THE BAD
Slow autofocus performance; long zoom lens lacks optical image stabilization.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The Samsung SMX-F34 is a serviceable inexpensive standard-definition camcorder, but the money goes more to storage and the megazoom lens than to video quality.
Comfortable, compact design; 34x zoom lens; 16GB internal memory; good audio quality; relatively easy to operate.
THE BAD
Slow autofocus performance; long zoom lens lacks optical image stabilization.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The Samsung SMX-F34 is a serviceable inexpensive standard-definition camcorder, but the money goes more to storage and the megazoom lens than to video quality.
Comfortable, compact design; 34x zoom lens; 16GB internal memory; good audio quality; relatively easy to operate.
THE BAD
Slow autofocus performance; long zoom lens lacks optical image stabilization.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The Samsung SMX-F34 is a serviceable inexpensive standard-definition camcorder, but the money goes more to storage and the megazoom lens than to video quality.
An interesting design doesn't offset the so-so video quality and performance, especially for the higher priced HMX-H106, H105, and H104. If you're set on this series, though, the no-memory-included Samsung HMX-H100 is probably the best deal of the bunch.
An interesting design doesn't offset the so-so video quality and performance, especially for the higher priced HMX-H106, H105, and H104. If you're set on this series, though, the no-memory-included Samsung HMX-H100 is probably the best deal of the bunch.
An interesting design doesn't offset the so-so video quality and performance, especially for the higher priced HMX-H106, H105, and H104. If you're set on this series, though, the no-memory-included Samsung HMX-H100 is probably the best deal of the bunch.
An interesting design doesn't offset the so-so video quality and performance, especially for the higher priced HMX-H106, H105, and H104. If you're set on this series, though, the no-memory-included Samsung HMX-H100 is probably the best deal of the bunch.
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