By Sony

• Video Capture: CCD sensor (in pixels) - 1/5"ClearVid Exmor CMOS sensor 2.36 megapixels Carl Zeiss Vario Sonnar T lens MPEG2 recording (3 modes) / Media - 60 GB hard drive / Viewfinder - No / LCD Screen - 2.7" hybrid Clear Photo LCD touch screen - 211,200 pixels Zoom and recording button on LCD screen Mirror mode Colour and brightness control Fingerprint resistant and anti-glare mode / Sensitivity (lux) - 5 in standard mode 0 in Super Night Shot mode / Optical Zoom - 15x
• Photo Mode: Photo Mode - Photo mode on memory card with built-in flash / Maximum resolution on memory card (in pixels) - 2304 x 1296 / Memory Card - Memory Stick Duo, Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro HG-Duo / Supplied Media - - / Sound - Dolby Digital 5.1 audio Dolby Digital stereo play / recording (with optional microphone) Built-in 3-channel microphone Microphone zoom Wind-break filter In-built loudspeaker / Webcam Function/ mini films - No
• Connectivity: Audio Output - No / Audio Input - No / Video Output - AV and S-video outputs / Video Input - No / DV in (IEEE1394, FireWire) - No / DV out ( IEEE1394, FireWire) - No / Computer Interface - USB 2.0 and PictBridge / Wireless Function - Wireless remote control / Compatible Platforms - PC and Mac / Supplied Software - Picture Motion Browser 3.0 software
• Misc: Possible power supply - NP-FH60 lithium battery for up to 2 hours of use NP-FH100 lithium battery for up to 9 hours 40 minutes of use / Accessories included - AC-L200 mains adapter, NP-FH60 lithium battery, docking station, RMT-835 remote control, AV cable, USB cable / Weight (in grams) - 470 / Dimensions - 81 x 76 x 129 mm /

sony standard definition hard drive camcorder, 2009-01-03
A nice easy to use camcorder with nice clear images on my tv`s (crt)
although my lcd is not as good but hey thats progress!

By Canon

• Widescreen-ready camcorder featuring: 30x optical zoom, easy shooting, intuitive navigation, true widescreen recording and 16:9 LCD and EVF, joystick controller, compact lightweight styling, microphone input and DIGIC DV.
excellent product, 2008-06-17
as a first time user with a camcorder, I have to say I'm really impressed. I took it to America with my family and am very pleased with the footage I took, lasting memories. Very good value, I left all the settings on easy so just pointed and shot the images, no "rocket scientist" needed! Definitely recommended. Only one small problem there is no wire to connect to my computer,(USB port)and all I've looked at are 4-6pin connectors, could someone tell me which one I need to buy.

By SANYO

• Sanyo XACTI CG9 Digital Camcorder Silver
A Good All-Rounder, 2008-12-28

My first impression of the CG9 was that it looks very plastic - which it is, but it also looks cheap. Certainly, the plastic covers over the SD/SDHC card slot and battery compartment don't imply a high quality product but, having use the camera, I've concluded this, along with the flimsy lens cover, is probably the only negative on this little piece of kit.

Performance-wise, and this is what counts more than cosmetic appearance, it is good. Video quality is good and the 60 fps high resolution mode is very good. I won't say it's the best available but it's probably a lot better than that found on other budget camcorders under £200 - £300. It can be a little slow to focus if you pan too quickly or in dim conditions but this is common to many. However, there is a 'High Sensitivity' mode which works very well (although will inevitably produce noisy images) and it managed to pick up an image when filming in almost total darkness in a disused railway tunnel. The stereo sound is superb and the wind filter worked well when tested on the coast (but perhaps not quite as well as that on the waterproof CA65).

An excellent feature is the 9 megapixel camera which sets this apart from probably all other camcorders - most of which can shoot only at 640 x 480 resolution or perhaps 3 megapixel on the more expensive models. The Sanyo VPC-CG9 will produce superb quality pics at 9 megapixel and below but, thanks to the new CMOS processor, will also shoot a 2 megapixel (1600x1200) image while filming at up to 640x480 30 frames per second without pausing the video. I'm sure this is unmatched by any other camcorder in its class.

The camcorder produces mpeg-4 video files which are smaller and much more manageable than the mpeg-2 still produced by the majority of camcorders, but thankfully this is changing with more manufacturers beginning to switch to this more efficient format. Being smaller, these files are much easier to edit and easier for a PC to handle. Most current video software packages eg Adobe Premiere Elements, Sony Vegas etc provide codecs for editing these - but check the version first if you're about to place an order.

With its 'pistol grip' the camcorder is easy and comfortable to hold; the video, zoom and still picture buttons are in just the right spot - unlike the more awkward positioning on the waterproof versions (CA65 and CA8 models) and being small and lightweight, it's easy to carry everywhere. So, it's a camcorder you will actually use, and enjoy using, rather than one which stays in its box or bag because you can't be bothered to lug it around!

As for the plastic body, I'm now questioning if this is really so bad..? During the current sub-zero temperatures, I've found it actually warm to the touch unlike my cold metal-bodied cameras and as the battery is directly beneath my palm, this is staying warm so probably extending its life. Also, the plastic design and close-seams might have made it rather more splashproof than others so I've actually grown to rather like this feature although it was quite a turn-off when I first opened its box!

By Panasonic

joyous.. but odd, 2008-11-07
just for the record.. i bought this camera from simplyelectronics.net.

this is a really nice camera. it shoots in 16:9, and can be changed to 4:3.
it also takes pictures with 3.1 megapixel quality, also in 16:9!
makes for lovely landscape shots.
it has an SD card recording mode, which has solved a lot of hassle.
it's just a shame it can only record stills onto the SD, and not video too.
both video and stills has up to 700X zoom, which is absolutely amazing.

video quality suffers a bit in low-light condition, but it's equipped with a range of handy filters, including a low-light filter for when you want to brighten up your Pictures, and a 'color night view' for video - which sorts it out perfectly.

while in picture taking mode, it has a really cool 'tele macro' function, which automatically zooms in and changes all the settings for when you see bugs and you want to capture them fast.

i've tried to cover everything i know so far, but if you want to ask questions send an email.

By SANYO

• 9.12 Megapixels CMOS image sensor
  2.5-inch LCD Display
  5.0x Optical Zoom
• MPEG-4, H.264 Digital Video: easy to upload movies to websites and blogs, or use them in podcasts. You can even load your movies onto your iPod, without having to convert the file format.
• 40MB Internal Memory and expansion slot for SD/SDHC memory cards
• Video and Still Image Stabilization; Real-Time Interpolation (12MP)
  High Quality Audio Recording (AAC-LC); Wind Roar and Red Eye Reduction; Web Cam Function
• Super fast start up time, flip up the screen and it is ready to go(DVD/HDD camcorder takes much longer to initialise)

Well pleased, 2008-07-07
This is a cracking bit of kit. It is an ideal home movie camera for taking shots of the kids and other home movie type stuff such as holidays and days out. The quality of picture is fine for this type of stuff. It is really simple to use and you can even do basic editing on the camera itself (cutting and joining clips). It is really easy to view shots on your TV and to copy onto either video or DVD. You also get a 9MP still camera as well and it fits in your pocket as it is not much bigger than a large mobile phone!! I bought it to replace my broken Panasonic mini DV camcorder and for £160 I think it is a bargain. I am well pleased with it.

By jazz

• Simple to use, palm-sized digital camcorder with one-touch recording and digital zoom
• Holds 60 minutes of video when using a 2GB SD memory card.
• Convenient Pop-Out USB connector for the fasted easiest sharing of your video
• Built-in software lets you easily e-mail videos, upload to YouTube etc, and capture still photos from video
• Watch videos instantly on TV with included cable

By Toshiba

• Video Capture: CCD sensor (in pixels) - 7 megapixel CCD sensor 11 megapixels with interpolation Video image definition: VGA: 640 x 480 (up to 30 fps) QVGA: 320 x 240 (up to 30 fps) / Media - In-built 64 MB memory and SD / MMC memory card slot / Viewfinder - No / LCD Screen - 2.5" TFT swivel screen / Sensitivity (lux) - Information not provided / Optical Zoom - 3x / Digital Zoom - 4x / Image Stabiliser - No / Focus - Information not provided
• Photo Mode: Photo Mode - Photo mode on memory card with flash (auto, on, off) / Maximum resolution on memory card (in pixels) - Fixed image definition: High: 3840 x 2880 Normal: 2592 x 1944 Low: 1600 x 1200 / Memory Card - SD Card and MMC / Supplied Media - - / Sound - Voice memos In-built speaker/microphone / Webcam Function/ mini films - Yes
• Connectivity: Audio Output - Output jack for MP3 function / Audio Input - No / Video Output - NTSC/PAL / Video Input - No / DV in (IEEE1394, FireWire) - No / DV out ( IEEE1394, FireWire) - No / Computer Interface - USB 2.0 / Wireless Function - No / Compatible Platforms - Windows 98, ME, 2000, XP, Vista Mac OS 9.0 or later / Supplied Software - Information not provided
• Misc: Possible power supply - Rechargeable lithium battery / Accessories included - Mini tripod, USB cable, TV cable, mains adapter, stereo earphones, travel case, strap, rechargeable lithium-ion battery / Weight (in grams) - 200 / Dimensions - 118.8 x 60.5 x 30.5 mm / Other Functions - 7-in-1 device: camcorder, camera, MP3 player, voice recorder, webcam, storage drive, movement detector LED light / Manual - Information available soon

By Panasonic

Great concept, but poor product and software not compatible with MAC, 2008-12-13
I bought this camcorder to record fishing videos using its underwater capabilities. I also thought it would be a kid-friendly camcorder to take to the beach etc.

Unfortunately, the resolution is absolutely terrible, even on the highest setting. I'm not being overly picky or expecting too much from a standard definition camcorder. It really is awful. Not what you would expect from a company like Panasonic. If you plan to watch the videos from this camera on a normal size television, you will probably be disappointed. Indoor shots are particularly poor. Add any kind of motion, and you will have trouble recognizing the subject. This is definitely not the camera for recording birthday parties and Christmas mornings. You could do better using your mobile phone.

The EIS also creates significant feedback noise when it is active (whenever your hands are moving) so any kind of action shot has a significant hum in the audio.

Finally, the software bundled with the camera for converting the .MOD files that this camera saves as video is not compatible with Mac OS, nor is a Mac version available. You can use IMovie to convert the files, but this adds another annoying step in an already disappointing experience.

On the basis of these three complaints, I sent this camera back to Amazon and got a full refund. I would definitely recommend that you avoid this camera at all costs. There are cheaper and better alternatives for the YouTube generation.

By Canon

• Video Capture: CCD sensor (in pixels) - 1/6" interlaced CCD sensor 1.07 megapixels including 710,000 effective in video mode and 800,000 in photo mode / Media - Flash memory with SDHC card / Viewfinder - No / LCD Screen - 2.7" LCD screen - 16:9 123,000 pixels / Sensitivity (lux) - 1.7 / Optical Zoom - 37x / Digital Zoom - Digital zoom: 2000x Improved zoom: 45x / Image Stabiliser - Electronic image stabiliser / Focus - TTL focus: minimum 1 cm
• Photo Mode: Photo Mode - Yes / Maximum resolution on memory card (in pixels) - 1152 x 864 / Memory Card - SD and SDHC cards / Supplied Media - - / Sound - 2-channel digital sound recording / Webcam Function/ mini films - No
• Connectivity: Audio Output - Headphones socket / Audio Input - No / Video Output - AV output / Video Input - No / DV in (IEEE1394, FireWire) - No / DV out ( IEEE1394, FireWire) - No / Computer Interface - USB 2.0 and PictBridge / Wireless Function - Wireless remote control / Compatible Platforms - PC and Mac / Supplied Software - Special software
• Misc: Possible power supply - Lithium battery / Accessories included - CR2025 lithium battery, WL-D88 remote control, CA-590 mains adapter, power cable, STV-250N cable, USB cable, BP-808 battery, WS30 strap and CD-ROM / Weight (in grams) - 260 / Dimensions - 58 x 60 x 124 mm / Other Functions - Focal length: 2.6 - 96.2 mm 24 x 36 equivalent: 41.5 - 1536 mm Maximum aperture: f/2.0 to f/5.2 Shutter speed: 1/2000th second - 1/6th second Exposure modes: EASY (automatic)

Great looking camcorder, good value for money, 2008-10-31
When I started looking into buying a camcorder some of the things I was quite specific about were:

1) Had to be Mac compatible
2) Recording to hard disk or memory card
3) Cost no more than £300

The relevance of the last point is that this is my first camcorder so I wanted to make sure that using a camcorder really is for me before splashing out on a more expensive high spec model.

After speaking to someone in the know about the recording format I was advised to go for the memory card option for two reasons; generally lower cost and because a memory card is not a moving part and therefore not in danger of breaking down. And with the low cost of SD cards on websites like Amazon the cost of additional memory sticks should be an issue. The camcorder only came with a 1GB SD card which holds about 15 minutes of footage.

This particular camcorder is light and fits very well in the hand, and the various buttons and controls are logically placed; zoom slider on top of the unit under the index finger, and the record/stop button at the back under the thumb. Note this is quite clearly designed for right-handed people as are all other camcorders I have seen.

The screen is clear and easy so even in bright conditions, and it swivels and rotates making is easy to see even holding the camera at awkward angles. You can even turn the screen around back to front so that you can see it whilst filming yourself ... should you wish to do so that is. The camcorder can be mounted on a tripod.

Obviously this is not a HD camcorder so some may argue that you sacrifice picture quality. For the average amateur home user my guess is that the quality is more than adequate.

The microphone seems to be as sensible as it needs to be without it picking up too much background noise and wind noise.

After putting the camcorder through its paces on a recent holiday I have only found two real points of criticism. If zooming in on an object too quickly the camera can lose focus - but as zooming too fast looks awful when playing back video footage this should never really be a problem. The second point is that the battery life isn't all that impressive - that said I found that it easily lasted a day on a full charge - so this issue can easily be dealt with either by making sure you keep the battery charged or by buying a spare battery.

One final point worth bearing in mind if/when buying memory cards is that you can get large capacity memory cards which will work with the camcorder, but that is not a guarantee that your computer can handle memory sticks over a certain size.

All in all this is a great little camcorder which is easy and intuitive to use. And for the beginner or very occasional user it represents great value for money in my view. It is a fun piece of kit to use, and with applications such as Apple's iMovie it really is a doddle making good quality holiday movies etc.

By Canon

• Video Capture: Sensor (in pixels) - 1/3.2" CMOS sensor with 3.31 megapixels / Media - Dual recording (120 GB hard drive SDHC card slot) / Viewfinder - 2.7" colour LCD screen 123,000 pixels - 16:9 / LCD Screen - 2.7" multi-angle Vivid wide screen - 211,000 pixels / Sensitivity (lux) - Approx. 0.2 lux (night mode) / Optical Zoom - 12 x / Digital Zoom - 200x or 40x / Image Stabiliser - Optical image stabiliser with large frequency range
• Photo Mode: Photo Mode - Hard drive to card / Maximum resolution on memory card (in pixels) - 2,048 x 1,536 / Memory Card - SD / SDHC / Supplied Media - - / Sound - 2-channel Dolby Digital (AC-3 2 channels) / Webcam Function/ mini films - No
• Connectivity: Audio Output - Headphones AV / Audio Input - Microphone / Video Output - AV Component HDMi / Video Input - No / DV in (IEEE1394, FireWire) - No / DV out ( IEEE1394, FireWire) - No / Computer Interface - USB 2.0 / Wireless Function - Wireless remote control / Compatible Platforms - PC and Mac / Supplied Software - PIXELA ImageMixer 3 SE DVSD Ver.31.0 for Win/Mac
• Misc: Possible power supply - BP-807 Lithium-ion battery (included) or BP-827 (not included) CA-570 mains adapter / Accessories included - HG21 camcorder, CR2025 lithium battery (for remote control), WL-D88 wireless remote control, STV-250N cable, CA-570 mains adapter, AC cable, BP-807 battery, IFC-400PCU cable, CTC-100/S cable / Weight (in grams) - Approx. 465 g / Dimensions - 80 x 77 x 138 mm / Other Functions - DIGIC DV II Image processor Assisted Focus (zoom, compensation) AE program

canon HG21 - super quality video, 2008-12-16
I have been playing with my new HG21 all day and am really impressed. It is very easy to use even without using the 'easy' button option. I was surprised how lightweight it was compared to my old canon MVX Dv camcorder and slightly smaller too. this makes it very easy to take out and about. The dull winter weather I thought would be a challenge, but the quality was more than I expected. It has a variety of recording types (standard play is still better resolution than my old (non HD camera) and higher qual is brilliant right up to 24mps). the large HD drive will hold 35 hours of standard play(about 12mps), more hours at LP, or less for higher quality- down to 11 hours of full top level. But beware if you want to use the top qual 25mps you need a super computer to be able to edit it -I have a HD sony viao laptop (intel duel 2.0ghz )but its too slow so I will have to content myself with the 17mps shoot until I can buy a bigger cpu! (plus you need 2gb ram)
The camera comes with some editing software -just as well as there are not many available and they can be pricy too- however it is fairly basic, but works (well I have not written any DVDs out yet but capture and playback was easy to master. thats how you can see how good the real quality of the movie is, as the LCD cannot do justice to it.)
The main reason I chose this model over the other slightly cheaper ones is the fact that it has a view finder as well as the LCD screen, as well as getting the best independent write ups when I seached the web.
So overall verdict is that I am very impressed so far -cant wait for some sunny weather!