Best Camcorders for the Web

As video-sharing websites such as YouTube continue to gain popularity, camcorder manufacturers are vying to produce the next hot direct-to-web camcorder. In this rush to appeal to consumers, compactness and easy uploading features are the trends--often at the expense of video quality. Here are three attractive options among the burgeoning direct-to-web category of camcorders:

JVC GZ-MS100 from $298.21	JVC has been heavily promoting its new GZ-MS100 model as the YouTube camcorder. The GZ-MS100 YouTube button that keeps recordings to YouTube's 10-minute maximum and easily uploads captured video onto the video-sharing website. Recording onto SD cards, the camcorder has as much memory as you see fit, and weighing in at about 9 ounces, your arm won't soon get tired. Unlike most of its competitors, the GZ-MS100 has a video quality high enough for non-web purposes. A smart choice for PC owners, but Mac users beware: the JVC GZ-MS100 isn't compatible.
Pure Digital Flip Video Mino from $149.50	With the new Flip Video Mino, Pure Digital takes a step ahead of its direct-to-web competition. Smaller and sleeker than the Flip Video Ultra, the Mino also takes higher quality video. Its USB port flips out on top, and the LCD screen makes it easy to preview your footage—even on a sunny day. Compatible with both PCs and Macs, the Flip Video Mino is a versatile, portable, and chic camcorder; you'll be showing it off as much as the videos you take with it.
Sony NSC-GC1 from $290.79	Sony's NSC-GC1 is a bare-bones, direct-to-web camcorder that has the necessities that you need to upload your videos to the web—and nothing else. Small enough to fit in your pocket, it is armed with a pivoting 2.4 inch LCD display that flips out from the side of the camcorder. The video quality is low—appropriate only for YouTube—so your videos won't be hitting the big screen anytime soon. But for casual users who have an urge to share an opinion, a song, or other creative talent with the world, the NSC-GC1 will do the job.