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Panasonic HDC-TM900K (32gb Dual Flash Memory) 2011
Best Camcorder under $500: Low Light Performance - As with video quality, a camcorder with a larger sensor will have better light gathering ability, and low light performance. Those camcorders with larger lenses will also help in low light situations. The above camcorders that have large CCDs will do well in low light, however only the professional camcorder will give you BOTH a larger sensor and larger lenses for excellent low light ability. Poor low light performance is the number one complaint of people buying camcorders. If low light performance is important, get a camcorder with a larger CCD Sensor. Smart-Review lists sensor size with each camcorder for better comparision. See our camcorder comparison list. Some reviewers have reported that buying a video light makes a big difference (which it should) in low light situations. High Definition (HD) or Standard Definition? - Today you have two choices in camcorders. Standard Definition, which is up to DVD quality or worse, or High Definition which greatly exceeds DVD quality. In the future, all camcorders will be high definition, as that is the way the industry is headed. Most camcorders sold today are high definition. With a high definition camcorder, you usually have the option of recording in either standard or high definition. Even if you record in high definition, you can still play it through your standard (non HD) TV set. To future proof your videos, you can record in high definition today and eventually be able to able to transfer them to Blueray disc, Playstation 3, HD Tivo or another device. Most HD camcorders allow you to connect your camcorder directly to an HDTV through its HDMI or component input. When you hook up one of the top rated high definition camcorders to an HDTV, you will see stunning quality close to that of the best broadcast/cable HD programming such as the Discovery Channel. These camcorders can produce very high quality HD video. Top-Rated consumer High Definition (HD) camcorders include:
Panasonic HDC-TM900K (32gb Dual Flash Memory) 2011
Best HD Camcorder under $500:
3MOS Imagers: Panasonic for 2011 has released the latest version of this technology called 3MOS to consumer camcorders, which is designed to improve on 3CCD and give better low light performance. These camcorders below all have 3MOS imagers, and better lenses to improve low light performance.
Panasonic Camcorders with 3MOS Imagers: Panasonic 2011
HDC-TM900K (32gb Dual Flash Memory),
Panasonic Panasonic HDC-HS900K (220gb HDD Camcorder) Optical Zoom - Optical Zoom refers to how close an object can be "zoomed in". So a camcorder with a 10x zoom can bring a distant object about 2 times closer than a camcorder with a 5x zoom. Larger zoom lenses can give you more options. If you see a reference to digital zoom, this is an electronic representation of optical zoom, and really just crops the picture and you lose resolution. With optical zoom, you do not lose resolution. When buying a camcorder, digital zoom should not be a consideration in our opinion to purchasing a camcorder, while optical zoom should be considered. Most of our top-rated camcorders come with a 10x zoom which is good for most applications.
2010-2011 Consumer Camcorders with External Microphone Jacks:
Panasonic HDC-TM900K (32gb Dual Flash Memory) 2011
Camcorder with microphone jack under $500:
Panasonic HDC-TM900K (3.5-inch screen), the professional Sony HDR-FX7 has a large 3.5 inch screen. Canon for 2011 has introduced a new line of camcorders with a large 3.5-inch screen, now with a touchscreen, and high resolution (922,000 pixels). Canon Vixia HFS30 (32gb Dual Flash Memory) 2011, Canon HFS20 (32gb Dual Flash Memory), and the Canon Vixia Canon HFS21 (32gb Dual Flash Memory).
Manual Features/Zoom - Automatic focusing is standard on all camcorders. However there are times when you may wish to manually focus your camcorder. Examples are low light, macro (closeup), shooting through glass, and indoor shots where automatic focusing is not as effective. All professional camcorders can focus manually. Most of our top rated camcorders include the manual focus option.
Image Stabilization (IS) - Image Stabilization is a technology that reduces the blurry video that you could get in low light, using a zoom lens, or riding in a car. (Sony camcorders call their image stabilization SteadyShot). This technology compensates for any movement of the camcorder you are holding to give you sharp video, even in low light. This is a very valuable and useful feature. Almost all camcorders now have this feature. This also helps when using your zoom out to its full magnification. As you zoom in, any shaking of the camcorder is magnified. Optical (as opposed to digital) stabilization is considered to be best.
3D Camcorders - In 2011-2012 a new type of camcorder has hit the scene, the 3D camcorder. Panasonic is the current leader in this field as they are introducing several models this year. The nice thing about these 3D camcorders is that you can shoot regular HD with them, and then when you want to shoot in 3D you put the 3D conversion lens on the camcorder. That way you have two camcorders in one. Most of these camcorders do not come with the 3D conversion lens, but are what is called 3D compatible. That means that they can record in 3D with the proper lens. The 3D lens is not compatible with older models. Top 3D Camcorders for 2011:
Panasonic HDC-TM900K (32gb Dual Flash) Built-in Video Light/Flash - Many camcorders have a built in flash (for the snapshot feature - still pictures) and/or a video light for lower light situations. Our camcorder comparison page will note if this is included. External flash units and video lights are available as accessories for many camcorders. (See our accessories page for each top-pick camcorder).
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Top-Rated Camcorders - Smart-Review only displays the best Top-Rated HD camcorders available on its site.
Smart-Review recommends that you read the owner reviews that are conveniently provided with each Top-Rated camcorder on Smart-Review.com.
The overall average review is noted with a star rating for each camcorder, between 1-5 stars. We list only those camcorders that score 4 stars
or higher. We find owner reviews to be valuable based on our own experience in buying electronics.
Video Recording: Flash, Dual Flash, MiniDV Tape, or Harddrive? - Camcorders today store video in a variety of ways, and each
type has its advantages and disadvantages. The most popular camcorders have shifted from MiniDV, to DVD, to FLASH Memory and HDD (Harddrive) camcorders.
Each method of storage of video has its advantages and disadvantages as can be seen below:
Video Quality - Most camcorders do a good job in bright sunlight outside. However, camcorders that have larger video sensors (CCD's) perform
better than camcorders with smaller ones (especially in low light). The video sensor is the area that light hits (like the retina in your eye). The larger it is, the more fine
detail can be recorded. Larger sensors generally come with higher priced camcorders. So if video quality, colors, and fine details are important,
a camcorder with a larger sensor will perform much better than that of one with a smaller sensor. Another factor in image quality is the lens size and the optical qualities of the lens. Higher end
camcorders have bigger lenses and higher optical quality. 
Professional Video Quality - If uncompromising video quality is top on your priority list, then a professional quality video camera may be your
choice. A professional video camera/camcorder will generally be much larger than its consumer siblings. This helps in several ways. One is that the
video sensors will be larger for better quality, and the lenses will be bigger for better light gathering and low light performance. Today, these professional
camcorders come in two flavors. Standard definition (TV quality) and High Definition. Several of the professional models have been used to make
documentaries and even full length movies. These are a favorite of indie (independant) filmmakers and those that record important events such as
weddings. These larger camcorders also have the option of interchangeable lenses, separate microphones, wireless microphones, and many other options not
available on consumer camcorders. Almost all professional camcorders incorporate the 3ccd sensor technology. The camcorders listed below are professional models.
3CCD/3MOS Imaging Sensor - A 3ccd imaging sensor is a special sensor that is composed of 3 separate sensors. One for each color (red, blue and green). Most professional camcorders use the 3ccd sensor array. These type of sensors have generally been better than a single sensor. The advantage of a 3CCD sensor is that with the data from each of the three sensors, you can find out the exact hue, brightness, and saturation of each pixel, you're no longer interpolating (which is estimating). Most of the professional camcorders (above) have 3ccd.
Microphone - Almost all camcorders record in stereo sound. All have built in microphones. For better quality you can buy higher quality microphones, and even get a wireless microphone for some models. Several camcorders have a built in surround sound recording system (Dolby 5.1).
There are two ways to add an extra microphone to a camcorder. One is to plug it into a microphone jack (if available), or what is called an accessory shoe which allows accessories to attach to your camcorder. An external microphone will give you superior sound and eliminate any sounds that are come from the camcorder itself.
LCD Size and resolution - The LCD is the screen that you use to compose your video, and view menus for the camcorder. Many are touchscreens
which makes going through the menus easier. (You just touch a choice on the menu). LCD stands for
Liquid Crystal Display, the current technology used for such displays. A larger LCD screen is much easier to see. In addition to size its also
important to look at the resolution of the screen (i.e. how many pixels does it have). The more pixels used for a screen the better.
So for both LCD size and number of pixels on the screen, higher is better. Many models also have touchscreen capabilities built into the screen.
Snapshot Feature - Many of the newer camcorders offer the ability of the camcorder to take pictures (still photos) with your video camera. Many list the size
of the pictures they can take in megapixels. Image quality varies from camcorder to camcorder, but you should not expect the same quality as a
dedicated digital camera. Use this feature more as a convenience when you don't have your digital camera with you.
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Top Rated Digital CamcordersThe best camcorders for 2012, rated 4 stars or better. Deep discount prices. Consumer and professional camcorders with advanced cutting edge features. See the latest advanced High Definition models. |
Canon Powershot CamerasThe point and shoot Canon Powershot cameras have resolutions up to 14.7 megapixels and many advanced features. Canon Elph cameras are easy to carry, yet are full featured. Deep discount prices. Best 2012 reviews. |
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