It looks more like an mp3 on the outside but the video quality is solid.

The Vado features high quality HDMI connectivity and an included HDMI cable that provides 1080i output to an HDTV.

One cool feature is the one-touch video uploading to YouTube and Photobucket. Oh, and not to mention the 8GB internal memory.

Another plus? It includes a removable, rechargeable battery. Which means, you could always carry an extra battery if needed.
The camcorder also has a flexible built-in USB charger.

You will also be able to watch your videos on the 2″ LCD screen which is pretty large for such a small camera.

A con is that Mac users aren’t quite as fond of the Vado. You have to download another program to be able to use it on your mac.

It is a pretty straightforward camcorder with easy buttons and controls.

Bottom line: the Vado is pretty inexpensive but the quality is still good. It is great for those people that need a camcorder handy, but don’t want to spend a lot of money.

Here are the specifications.

One thing that stands out about the HD CX12 is its still photo quality. It comes complete with Face Detection and Smile Shutter technology. All of the other reviews I have read agree that the still photos are quite impressive for a camcorder.

The camcorder also has a “Cam Control dial” (the shiny round circle in the corner), which prevents you from having to rely completely on the touch screen. This is good because you can do some adjustments while you are actually recording, and not have to pause to use the touch screen.

No viewfinder on this one, but who needs them? With the screen, most people just forget about viewfinders anyways.

As far as video goes, the resolution, noise, low light quality, accurate colors, and white balance all get pretty decent scores.

Another plus is the “One Touch Disc Burn” button. You can easily burn a DVD copy of your video using the supplied software.

The HD CX12 also has a Quick On button, allowing you to put the camcorder in sleep mode. Instead of taking the time to turn it on and off when recording something that you have to be ready, just press a button and your camcorder will be ready.

There isn’t any built in memory, which turns some people off, but it’s not something I would have to have.

One disadvantage is the screen size, which is 2.7” compared to some models with a 3.2” screen.

A couple of other small features that are missing are a headphone jack and a built-in USB port. The docking station does have a USB port.

Click here to check out the specifications.

If you are looking for a mini HD camcorder, don’t get caught up in comparing them to the more expensive, larger, and nicer HD camcorders. Remember, you are buying a smaller, less expensive camcorder (and less quality), one that actually fits right in your pocket.

Probably the best thing about the Kodak Zx1 is that it is built to resist rain and dirt, plus more. The rubberized rugged outside is made for people on the go, people in action.

The actual video is decent. It runs off of AA batteries, which is handy so you don’t have to carry a charger, just a couple extra batteries. And, you can easily upload YouTube with built-in software.

The Zx1 also has an expandable SD/SDHC card slot that can hold up to 32 GB.

The video quality probably doesn’t quite live up to the same as the Flip Mino, which we reviewed earlier, but the outer protection and being weather resistant makes up for that.

Specifications.

The Panasonic HDC-SD9 is one of lightest full-size camcorders. This is great, no tired arms!

The image stabilization works pretty well. The camera has some other cool features like flash media storage and a pre-record feature. I like the pre-record feature a lot. It will automatically store three seconds or recordings in a cache prior to hitting the record button. Three seconds is a lot when you are shooting sports, or your kids and animals do something funny! The only bad side to this feature is that it has to be activated to work, which uses more battery power than it would otherwise, but worth it I think!

The video quality is ok, not great, so you might be sacrificing some quality for the small size. If you are more than just amateur, this probably wouldn’t be the best camera for you. If you are just starting out, it would work just fine for your needs.

It also has an “Intelligent Shooting Guide”, to help those out that are just beginning to learn how to use a camcorder.

With all the pros and cons, I’d probably rate the camcorder as good. Not bad, not the best. But it works.

Here are the specifications.

Is the Everio GZ-HD40 worth the money?

The menu design is not really in order, which doesn’t make it easy for beginners. Some of the controls are pretty small. Some people have commented on the hand strap, saying it isn’t comfortable. But, the camcorder is small enough to just carry around easily.

It does have the awesome 120GB hard drive. It has great color in good light.

A lot of complaints I read were about unattached accessory shoe cover. The little piece of plastic just comes off of the camcorder, which makes it easy to lose, or for kids and pets to pick up.

Another thing that was missing was that the camcorder doesn’t have optical image stabilization, which most people are getting used to with their cameras and camcorders now.

The camera isn’t bad overall but you might be able to find a cheaper camcorder that is just as good if not better.

This camera is definitely more of a family type camcorder than some sort of amateur filmmaker. It wont fit just in your pocket but it is compact enough to take it with you on vacations trips to the ballpark, and pretty much anywhere!

One of the coolest things about the HF20, is that it includes the Pre-Record feature that captures the action 3 seconds before you press the record button. This way, you’ll never miss a moment of the action!

The camera isn’t cluttered with a lot of buttons and things on the outside. It does however; provide you with many options and settings for your photos and videos. Canon’s face detection technology and Optical Image Stabilization are just a couple examples of these.

For specifications, check out Cannon’s website.

If you haven’t, you should!

The Flip Mino HD is the smallest on the market right now, which is one reason why I like it. No one wants to lug around a big camera. The Mino HD is definitely something you can take right along with your wallet or purse. How cool is that?

My favorite thing about the camera has to be the fact that you can personalize it. I love this feature. You can get a solid color or even get one with cool and funky designs.

One downside is that the new HD version comes with an internal rechargeable battery that you can only get from Flip Video Support. The previous camcorders used regular AA batteries, which obviously was more convenient

The camera can be a little shaky, but a tripod will fit on easily to help with that.

All in all, you might not want to use this camcorder professionally, but if you just need something for candid moments like when one of your kids is doing something funny (or your pet ), this is the camcorder for you.

Specifications.

Sanyo recently unveiled the upright VPC-TH1. The TH1 offers a larger 30x optical zoom but smaller 2-megapixel CMOS sensor.

The VPC-TH1 is a different take: a highly compact camcorder in a horizontal form factor new to Sanyo. It records in 1280 x 720P video at 30fps and options for standard definition. It has a new long life battery, which Sanyo targets for 180 minutes of record time.

It also takes HD-quality photos. The camcorder has a 3-hour 20-minute long continuous recording time, in HD of course. it is available in silver, red, and blue.

Here are the specifications.

This week at CES, Sony showed off its new HDR-CX100 Flash Memory Handycam camcorder. The CX100 records 1,920×1,080 high-definition video. It also includes 8GB of embedded flash memory, a Memory Stick PRO Duo card slot, 10x optical zoom, and a 2.7-inch LCD monitor.

It’ll also capture 4-megapixel photos, which includes Smile Shutter and face detection. Smile Shutter also works while recording video, simultaneously catching photos of people smiling when activated.

The price isn’t too bad, it sells for around $600. The release is in March and available in red, black, and silver.

Experts and users say you can’t top the Canon VIXIA HV30 as far as HD camcorders go.

This camcorder has excellent video quality, but it is just a slight upgrade from the HV20. It’s a tad bit bulky but, still pretty easy to use.

Canon says,

A couple pros:

* Best video quality among all types of HD camcorders
* Easy to use and hold
* Well designed

And a couple cons:

* A bit heavy at 1 pound, 5 ounces
* One-hour recording time per tape

Exact specificiations.