Foreword:

Sony HDR XR520VE, a high definition resolution camcorder with 240GB disk space is about to capture the market very soon. If you discuss it in terms of features, then this camcorder has almost everything that the other competing camcorders do not.

Sony HDR XR520VE supports optical image stabilizer. Also it provides 12x optical zoom and 150x digital zoom. The display lens used on this camcorder is HD quality LCD display with TFT active matrix. HDR XR520VE is believed to have a fine quality of viewfinder resolution in the range of 124,000 pixels. The best use of Sony HDR XR520VE is for geo-tagging using GPS features, which not only trace your new location but also inform the time change as you arrive at a new location. And another best facility included in Sony HDR XR520VE is Map Index function. Using this feature you can find movies and photos just by clicking on recording location.

+Ves:

• First class HD definition video recording.
• Geo-tagging video facility using GPS.
• Map Index function, where you can find Movies and Photos just by clicking on Recording Locations.
• Crisp and Clear HD quality screen with LCD display and TFT active matrix.
• Massive storage of 240Gb, which is almost enough to store up to 101 hours of video shoot.
• Optical Viewfinder with a high quality of resolution of the range 124,000 pixels.
• No cam shake even while walking, and thus you can video shoot moving objects smoothly.
• Longest Video shoot due to high storage facility.
• HD quality print during low light shooting.
• Built-in GPS tracking system.
• A new Exmor R back-illuminated CMOS sensor introduced for the first time.
• Massive disk space with 240GB Hard Disk along with Memory Stick.
• Auto Face Detection facility.

-Ves:

• Menu System is not user friendly.
• There is no Wind Filter facility.
• No manual shutter speed for faster performance.
• Bigger in size thus making it heavier.
• Also expensive when compared with camcorders falling under the same category.
• It supports limited PC software only and finding this software is a problem.
• Battery support has a short span. It does not last for long.
• The menu interface of this camcorder is considered a bit tricky and not user friendly.
• Also the view finder does not extend much.

Final Word:

Sony HDR XR520VE is a good powerful camcorder having 1920 x 1080 pixel video resolution in AVCHD format. This camcorder has a disk space of 240 GB which can store up to 101 hours of HD videos. Also, this cam produces Photo-quality 3.2 inch with extra fine LCD display. The Sony camcorder makes use of BIONZ high speed image processor and the processor speed is normally faster when compared with other camcorders.

Foreword:

The development of pocket camcorders is stirring promptly, and the Kodak Zi8 HD is the present ruler of high-definition, economical video. It is a sensible choice if one wants to shoot full HD videos smoothly. The Zi8 HD is the earliest pocket camcorder offering full 1080p high-definition resolution & some types of image stabilization in addition to being capable of capturing 1080p videos at a rate of 60 frames per second. It can capture still JPEG snapshots with 5-megapixel resolution. Its 128 MB memory can be extended to 32 GB using the internal SD and SDHC memory card reader. Moreover, posting videos on public networking websites for instance, YouTube and MySpace is so much easier here.

The Kodak Zi8 HD is an extremely slim gadget, really a pocket camcorder projected for slipping into pants or shirt pockets. It consists of a 2.5-inch LCD display. The back pane has four keys:

• Playback/Preview
• Video mode
• Menu
• Delete

The joystick key at the middle is a tiny rubber nub that hardly sticks out of the camcorder and its tiny size creates navigating tricky initially, but becomes easier after a few minutes of practice.

+Ves:

• Li-ion battery.
• Flexible USB arm.
• 1080p 30fps HD resolution.
• External microphone jack.
• Slim and wide.
• Less pudgy.
• Smart-face tracking technology.
• Compatible with Windows and Mac OS.
• Can edit and trim videos.

-Ves:

• No internal storage.
• No optical zoom.
• Software is convenient, not so powerful.

Final Word:

Kodak Zi8 HD is not devoid of its faults and restraints. It lacks optical zoom, similar to all pocket camcorders, but has digital zoom up to 4 X. At 1080p and 720p/60fps, it can record about 10 minutes per GB. At 720p/30fps, it can record 15 minutes per GB and in WVGA mode, it can record 25 minutes per GB. If you’re looking for an accessible, user-friendly camcorder that never compromise on performances, in that case the Kodak Zi8 HD is the finest way to go.

Foreword:

Flip Video UHD is considered to be one of the best camcorders when compared to the camcorders from Sony, Panasonic or Canon. The simple plug and play video feature provided by Flip Video UHD is one of the unique features seen in any of the best selling camcorders. Here it provides the option to plug your USB and watch the movie there and then itself. Also don’t worry about the software related issue because Flip Video UHD comes with in built software’s loaded for almost all USB’s available on the market.

Flip Video UHD directly records the video into its in-built flash memory type storage hard disk. The designs have changed a lot between its first and second versions. The new one comes with some Ultra design modification than its previous standard version. Also as far as size matters, the new Flip Video UHD is a bit narrower than its previous versions; but the thickness remains the same for both versions. Also the new Flip Video UHD is available in multiple colors such as pink, black, white and orange. Flip Video UHD comes compatible with 2 AA size batteries.

Flip Video UHD has a very good HD 1.5 inch LCD screen on the back for instant view of captured videos. Also Flip Video UHD comes with loads of software for PC sharing.

+Ves:

• Flip Video UHD has a very high effective sensor resolution of 5.6 MP resolution.
• It comes with 2x zooming facility.
• It provides a good range of white balance.
• This camcorder also provides the video capture in various formats like MPEG 4 with resolution of 640 x 480 pixels.
• It has a 2 GB flash integrated memory, which can accumulate 30 – 45 minutes of video capture.
• It comes with built in speakers, in camera movie editing facility as well as a tripod mounting.
• Drivers and utilities for PC sharing are provided with the purchase of Flip Video UHD.
• Flip Video UHD comes with LCD display of 1.5 inch.
• It has a built in microphone slot for audio input device.
• It supports various PC operating systems such as Windows Vista and XP also Mac OS.
• It has a built in viewfinder form factor with 70000 pixels of display resolutions.

-Ves:

• Flip Video UHD makes use of 2 AA batteries, but these are not rechargeable.
• There is no Power Device usage in Flip Video UHD.
• It has only 2 GB of built in memory that is less in comparison to that with Sony and Canon, which provides in built memory of 8 GB or more.
• Digital zoom only up to 2x, which is also less when compared with other available camcorders.

Final Word:

Flip Video UHD is worth buy for short time video shooters. Also Flip Video UHD enables simple plug and play USB devices, which make it comfortable to share it with your partner. Flip Video UHD is really a pocket sized camcorder, which can easily fit into your jean pocket.

Foreword:

The new Creative Vado comes with a 2 inch anti glare LCD display. The new Creative Vado is available only in black color and unlike other camcorders its lens is projected outside its body. This new Vado camcorder is slightly heavier than its previous versions and we can see the microphone placed on the other side of Vado camcorder. The important point to be noted is that for the first time Creative Vado is introducing a mini HDMI connector which supports 1080i video to your HDTV and also the new Creative Vado is available in 8 GB built in memory and also mini HD’s 4 GB which together can store upto 2 hours of HD video shoot.

Like many of other camcorder Creative Vado also provides two ways of video shoot i.e. VGA resolution and Standard Play mode. If you shoot using VGA resolution then you can capture upto 1 hour of videos and for Standard play mode it can capture upto 2 hours of Video shoot. The battery life of Creative Vado is quite okay.

+Ves:

• Just press the Record button and you get 2 hours of video shoot with Creative Vado with 2x zoom facility.
• Creative Vado provides simple sharing between pc and your new Creative Vado. Simply plug the Creative Vado‘s USB cables to your laptop and you can share it or post it on video sharing sites like YouTube.
• For the first time Creative Vado has introduced USB charging facility. So now do not worry about those old fashioned AA disposal batteries. Simply charge using USB cables and enjoy video shoot upto 2 hours.
• Creative Vado comes with 2 inch Anti Glare LCD display. Now watching video with your friends or relative on Creative Vado is a great fun.
• Creative Vado is encased with a customized pouch, A/V cable, spare battery and battery charger, in case you need Creative Vado for a longer video shoot.
• Creative Vado comes with solid 720p video resolution.
• Creative Vado is now available with 8 GB built in memory along with 4 GB mini HD.
• Creative Vado introduces mini HDMI which outputs the 1080i video on your HDTV.

-Ves:

• Creative Vado does not provide a flash memory slot.
• Also the main disadvantage with Creative Vado is for Mac users. Mac users might have to manually copy paste video files from Creative Vado to their PC.
• White balance is slightly off in Creative Vado. Due to this, we can see that some colors are amped.
• Creative Vado does not support Viewtype finder.
• We need to make use of USB cable each time to share videos from Creative Vado

Final Word:

Creative Vado is a great camcorder available for this price. Also Creative Vado provides almost all features like other powerful camcorders. Creative Vado also has a massive storage in built memory with 8 GB and also it supports miniHD of 4 GB. Also the battery life is quite wonderful with 2 hours of video shoot. Creative Vado also provides a great way of sharing videos online using USB cables provided during the time of Creative Vado purchase. Also Creative Vado supports USB charging, which is a quite interesting idea.

Foreword:

Here comes the next version release after H20, from the manufacturers of Canon. But the main difference between HF200 and HF20 is that HF20 comes with 32MB of internal memory, whereas HF200 does not.

Canon VIXIA HF200 is smaller and more powerful than its previous versions. The main point to be considered is that even though it has smaller physical size, it is empowered with 15x zooming power. Many camcorders do not provide for the features like jacks for input, headphone and microphone, etc. HF200 is rich in all these features plus it has such a smaller size that it can be placed easily inside the tight jeans pockets.

+Ves:

• It is compact and lighter in comparison to its previous version HF100
• It has a powerful zooming lens of 15x zoom power
• HF200 has a SDHC memory card that makes it lighter
• Resolution power is 1920 x 1080 pixels
• High Resolution lens of 3 MP
• Built in Flash facility
• Face Detection capability
• Display used is LCD with TFT screen in 2.7 colors
• It has built in Microphone and headphone jack
• The image format is JPEG
• It has an excellent HD quality of video playback
• The menu system is updated with smoother touch and larger font size
• This camcorder also provides for a microphone jack

-Ves:

• Stereo music is not of good quality and does not compile with 5.1 surround
• The budget is expensive than expected. Wish it would have been in cheaper rates
• It does not support TV tuner which can be a major drawback
• No Floppy Drive slot available on this camcorder
• Doesn’t support Viewfinder features on this camcorder
• This camcorder does not come with in built Digital Player Recorder, which is another major drawback
• Relative expensive than many other camcorders providing same features
• Also many of the external controls are not supported on this camcorder
• This camcorder is bit noisy and produce some flashy sound during low light environment.
• It produces terrible quality of video of moving objects. Most of the camcorder are good at producing HD quality even for moving object
• Cannon’s camcorder cannot be interfaced or connected to PC unless using a power chord

Final Word:

For $750 price, Canon’s HF200 is worth buying. It has a powerful lens with 15x zooming power and 3.83 MP lens. HF200 is very much compact and lighter when compared to many other camcorders available with the same price range. This camcorder also shoots very good HD quality videos of slow moving object and still objects. Also the plus point of this camcorder is that it has large fonts for usage. Also the canon provides the complete pack with fully loaded software’s and necessary accessories.