Affordable HD Camcorders Hit the Market

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There was a time not too long ago when the average Joe couldn’t even dream of purchasing an HD camcorder. Sure, money is still tight for many people, but thankfully the prices of many cool gadgets are dropping dramatically as certain technology becomes more accessible and cheap to manufacture. This article takes a look at four HD camcorders that are priced low enough to make buying one more than just a dream.

It doesn’t matter what their age or background, lifestyle or profession, everyone enjoys the benefit of being able to capture life’s special moments on film, and sometimes digital cameras aren’t enough. Whether you’re a fourteen-year-old boy wanting to record your friends performing skateboarding tricks or a sixty-five-year-old-woman hoping to capture her grandchild’s first steps, an HD camcorder’s clear, crisp and vivid videos are worth every penny.

Let’s be clear: HD camcorders are still quite pricey; “cheap” ones are just south of a grand. That being said, some amazing deals can be found online with a little snooping, though consumers should be wary of HD camcorders that sell for anything less than about five hundred dollars. Some things, including the price of an HD camcorder, are too good to be true.

Truth be told, not everyone who purchases a pricey HD camcorder is in need of one. Sure, their video capabilities are amazing and sharp, but if you’re just looking to upload videos onto YouTube, a better investment would be a good point-and-shoot digital camera with video capabilities. Often, camcorders -- whether HD or not -- end up gathering dust in the closet.

Before you blow big bucks on one of these cutting-edge cameras, be honest with yourself. Are you really going to be shooting lots of video? It’s important to accurately assess whether you'll actually be using a camcorder frequently or just occasionally. Also think about whether anyone will be eager to watch your HD videos that you may not have the time or patience to edit. If you have a special event coming up, consider borrowing or renting a camcorder rather than blowing all your spare cash on a trinket that will be used once or twice and end up as shelfware.

If you’ve decided, after all of this, that an HD camcorder is for you -- well, then it’s time to get shopping. Here’s a look at four excellent HD camcorders that are in the sub-$1,000 range.

Canon Vixia HV30

With a price range between $555 and $972 , the Vixia HV30 is Canon’s latest attempt at offering the public an HD camcorder that incorporates advanced features for videographers seeking out the ultimate in HD video and digital photo quality. Truth be told, it’s not much of an upgrade from its predecessor, the HV20 , but like the HV20 it provides a top-notch performance. Unlike its predecessor, Canon’s HV30 has a sleek, black body; features 30p progressive mode; and supports a high-capacity BP-2L24H lithium-ion battery, but other than that, the two models remain the same.

Canon’s Vixia HV30 is a well-designed consumer camcorder with a useful feature set, excellent overall performance and excellent video quality. Though relatively bulky at one pound, 5.4 ounces, the camera’s build quality is solid, with tethered covers over its Advanced Accessory Shoe, HDMI/FireWire ports and mic/headphone/component out jacks.

Other awesome features include a full HD CMOS sensor and an advanced DIGIC DV II image processor, which deliver breathtaking detail and some of the best in color reproduction. SuperRange Optical Image Stabilization and Instant Auto Focus also give users the shot control that HD demands. The HV30’s Genuine Canon 10x HD video zoom lens and its ability to shoot in HD and standard definition recording modes are just two more reasons the Vixia HV30 has loads of devoted followers.

Next: Panasonic HDC-SD9 >>
 

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