Digital Video Camera & Camcorder Review

As the year draw to an end, I thought it would be a good idea to recap on 2005 and look at the best digital video cameras and camcorders for the year.

camcorderinfo.com has done a fantastic job of collating the best camcorders of the year. They write:

Best Camcorder Over $2,000: Sony HDR-FX1
We’re including the Sony HDR-FX1 in the 2005 CamInfo Select because it shipped too late in 2004 to make the 2004 consideration. The HDR-FX1 is truly revolutionary as the first camcorder to bring high-definition in the HDV format to prosumers and high-end consumers. While JVC had the first HDV camcorder, Sony’s FX1 brought the performance and features that high-end users demand.

Best Camcorder Under $2,000: Sony HDR-HC1
This award was perhaps the easiest to give out. If you read our review of the HDR-HC1 you’ll immediately know how floored we were by this model. The gorgeous, sharp video, with its vivid colors, knocked our socks off. Better still, the inclusion of manual controls made us feel comfortable shooting with a Sony once again. No camcorders in the $1,250 - $2,000 range even come close to the HDR-HC1 in quality or anything else.

Best Camcorder Under $1,250: Canon Optura 600
The Optura 600, Canon’s 2005 top of the line Optura, wowed us with its sharpness and clarity. The huge 1/2.8� CCD was a major component of its success, boosting up the camcorder’s low light performance beyond what we usually expect from a Canon model. Our only issue with the 600 was its handling. The matchbook-style body means that designers have to scramble to find a place for all those buttons. In the end, the real estate got a little tight and we found ourselves doing finger gymnastics to access some of the controls. Happily, we can say that the Optura 600 is undoubtedly the best consumer camcorder that Canon has put out this year, and worth the money for those looking to combine both performance and portability.

Best Camcorder Under $1,000: JVC GR-X5
The GR-X5 performs excellently in low light thanks to JVC’s Auto Gain Control. It is not quite an adjustable gain function like you’ll find on a lot of Panasonics, but it gives dim pictures a huge boost with minimum noise. The GR-X5’s capacity as a digital still camera is among the best we’ve seen yet, with 1.23 effective MP with a boatload of features, including manual ISO. Even the JVC GZ-MC500 Everio could not match the X5’s color performance.

Best Camcorder Under $800: Panasonic PV-GS250
Panasonic’s real strength is manual control, and the PV-GS250 is no exception. The manual control set is great. The PV-GS250 comes equipped with more than any camcorder in its price range: aperture, shutter speed, white balance, gain (in 7 settings!), a focus ring. While Panasonics of the past have been criticized for poor handling on all these controls, the PV-GS250 has responded with a handy joystick that makes one-handed operation a viable option.

The PV-GS250 is one of the best choices for serious hobbyists and users focused on manual control. On top of all this, the camcorder also has all the jacks and ports you’ll need, and it’s one of those rare camcorders that grow with you. Beginners will appreciate its automatic controls, and as they learn more, they will be able to take advantage of the wealth of manual features

Best Camcorder Under $300: JVC GR-D27
The D270 hits most of the sweet spots that a bargain cam should. It’s easy to use, but has enough manual controls to keep you from getting bored. Shutter speed, white balance, exposure (in a limited functionality), and even simple gain on/off are included. Handling is great, particularly the straightforward menu system and coated LCD screen, which cuts down on glare. And if none of these features ever lure you into trying them, perhaps you’ll find some fun with the 25x optical zoom.

and the camcorder of the year 2005…

Camcorder of the Year: Sony HDR-HC1
Sony’s HDR-HC1 is the first high-definition camcorder that is truly for the consumer. Its $1500 price tag brings high-definition video recording to a whole new group of people. When we got our hands on it and tested it we were floored by the stunning beauty of the pictures it produced. The colors were rich and well defined, and had a sharpness that seems to set the visible world in relief.

For further info on the awards, see camcorderinfo.com

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