Finding the Right Inexpensive Camcorder for You

There's a lot of variety in camcorders now, and if you're confused by the different types of inexpensive camcorders, this handy guide will help you figure out which one best suits your situation.

If you haven't done any research on camcorders in a few years, you're in for a shock. Over the past year or two, the camcorder landscape has changed dramatically thanks to a number of powerful technological innovations and some clever, inventive new design ideas. The variety now available in camcorders is a great benefit to the consumer, but it's definitely a lot harder to determine which model is the best with so many bells and whistles floating around. Finding a simple, straightforward, and inexpensive camcorder can seem like a real chore.

For the purposes of this article, let's define an 'inexpensive camcorder' as one whose price is less than $350. To the average consumer, that would seem like a fairly reasonable cost for home video recording, in line with their expectations. There are lots of camcorders that fit this price range and offer high-quality features, but it's important to understand what you're getting (and what you're not getting) from an inexpensive camcorder.

Believe it or not, it is possible to get high-definition video recording from a sub-$350 camcorder. It's also possible to get a tapeless (that is, it records to internal or removable flash memory, or a hard disk drive) camcorder for less than $350. In rare cases, you can find camcorders that offer both! In most cases, however, there will be some sacrifices that separate these inexpensive camcorders from their high-end $500+ counterparts.

Web-Video/Compact

Pure Digital Flip Video MinoHD

from $159.00

Creative Vado HD

from $49.70

Kodak Zi6

from $129.99

Inexpensive camcorders can roughly be divided into three categories: web-video or compact camcorders, which record to internal flash drives and have both standard and high-definition variants; tapeless standard-definition camcorders, which record to removable memory cards or hard-disk drives; and traditional, standard-definition camcorders that record to MiniDV cassette tapes.

Web-Video or Compact Camcorders

The first category, tiny, barebones web-video camcorders, ironically offer the best image quality. The Kodak Zi6, Flip MinoHD, and Creative Vado HD are all very small, inexpensive camcorders that allow consumers to shoot short video clips in 720p high-definition resolution. Their videos will fit modern HDTVs and provide a level of clarity and detail that standard-definition camcorders simply cannot match. These camcorders can be found for between ($150 - 250 in HD, the standard-def variants are much cheaper, $75 - $150).

There are, however, some drawbacks. These camcorders lack any significant features beyond their high-definition video. Of the three camcorders mentioned above, only the Kodak Zi6 has optical zoom capabilities, and it's a measly 2x at that. Image stabilization is also lacking. Tests we've performed with the Flip MinoHD reveal that while it does provide sharp, impressive images, it does not handle motion or panning very well at all. These camcorders are not intended for long videos. They are for short, brief clips meant to be shared on the Internet via email or over video sharing services like YouTube and Vimeo.

Tapeless, Standard-Definition Camcorders

The next category, tapeless, standard-definition camcorders trade image quality for greater versatility. While they lack the detail and resolution of high-definition camcorders, these models provide substantial recording capacity, long optical zooms, image stabilization, and a variety of modes and functions for manipulating your video. For example, the JVC GZ-MG330 records video to a 30GB internal hard disk drive, which can hold nearly 38 hours of standard-definition video.

Tapeless, Standard Definition

JVC GZ-MG330

from $143.85

Canon FS10

from $497.92

In contrast, the Flip Mino models (whether HD or SD) can hold only a maximum of 1 hour of video. This type of camcorder offers the best bang for your buck, with prices in the range of $250 - $350. If you're really looking to get the most for your money, and take advantage of the new, more convenient tapeless technology, it's hard to find a better deal than these camcorders.

Standard-Definition MiniDV Camcorders

Standard-Definition MiniDV

JVC GR-D850

The final category is traditional, standard-definition MiniDV camcorders, which record to cassette tapes. A year ago, these camcorders were a fairly decent option for cheap video recording, but now that web-video and tapeless camcorders have had time to mature, it's hard to recommend picking a MiniDV camcorder over them. MiniDV camcorders can currently be found at prices between $150 and $300; when you could spend the same amount of money and get either high-def video or hours and hours of tapeless recording instead, why would you bother with the flimsy, bulky, low-capacity cassette tapes?

For the average, casual camcorder consumer, a standard-definition tapeless camcorder is well suited to shooting family events, special occasions, or other important memories. If you're interested in quick, painless, high-quality ways to get your video on the web, or to take short bursts of video with friends and family, the web-video camcorders will satisfy. MiniDV, long the mainstay of mainstream camcorders and until recently a decent budget option, seems to finally be running out of steam.