Best Budget Camcorders / Camcorder HQ's Buyer's Guide

Last updated on 03/29/2011

Now that pretty much every kind of gadget is a capable camcorder -- mobile phones, tablets, even digital still cameras -- the appeal of low-end stand-alone camcorders is a bit limited. But manufacturers are still finding ways to keep budget-friendly video cameras relevant with impressive zoom ranges and creative interfaces. Below, you'll see three of our favorite affordable camcorders.

Sony FS2
Pocket camcorders are everywhere these days. Every manufacturer makes one, somebody you know has one, and they all seem pretty much the same. But manufacturers are starting to add features to separate their shoot-n-shares from the pack. There are water-proof varieties, models with optical zoom, and now even one that shoots in 3D. These features are certainly enticing, but one in particular sticks out to us this year: Sony's Bloggie FS2, which gives users a helpful front-facing LCD. Pocket camcorders want to party and laugh and help you remember all the dumb things you did when you were young. 3D is enticing in that regard, but chances are you'll have more fun looking at yourself while you and your friend immortalize Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance" on digital video. And it's not all in the screen either. With the FS2 you get 1080p video, two hours of recording time, and digital image stabilization for about $180 bucks. The features are more than just some gimmick, so this Bloggie's hard to beat.
Panasonic T70
What's the biggest draw of standard-def camcorders? Big zoom ranges. How big? How about 70x, with optical image stabilization? That's what you get with the Panasonic T70. That huge range also starts from a very wide (33mm lens) frame. This means you get more in every shot and each step along your zoom range is more effective. Furthermore, the image stabilizer is active, adjusting as you zoom to stay steady even at the 70x end of things (though a tripod would still be a good idea). This SD shooter also likes to make things easy, with auto-functions galore including autofocus with face recognition and subject tracking. That means it's easy to focus on moving targets, like your favorite player down the field. Basically, all you have to do is keep the subject in the frame, and the camera takes care of the rest -- it might even flatter you with its "Skin Smoothing" mode. With 4GB of built-in flash storage (plus an SD/SDHC/SDXC slot), a massive zoom, and every automatic feature you could ever hope for, all for about $270, this shooter is the way to go when it comes to SD.
Samsung HMX-Q10
So you're ready to make the leap, take the plunge, or step it up to a high-def camcorder, but you don't want to spend everything you've got. Pocket cams are the most obvious option; they're cheap, but also severely limiting. Instead, pick up a tried-and-true video camera like the Samsung Q10. For the price of a nice standard-def camcorder, you get a camera that shoots decent 1080i HD resolution. It isn't the top resolution you can get, but it's a huge step up from standard def. It also packs a versatile BSI CMOS sensor, designed to reduce image noise in low light. It comes with standard-for-the-genre features like optical image stabilization, a 10x zoom range, and scene recognition to automatically adjust for brightness, contrast, and movement. The biggest draw, though, is ease of use. The Q10 locates its advanced controls on its touchscreen LCD, leaving the physical controls greatly simplified and easy to master. Furthermore, the camcorder can flip easily for left or right-handed operation. In short, this camcorder is about as easy to use as a pocket-cam, but with much more control when you want it. The Q10 records exclusively to cards, but it's as much HD power as you're going to find for $260.
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