Camcorders going tapeless: top DVD, hard drive, and flash-media models

Updated August 2, 2006

We miss the era, brief though it may have been, of the no-brainer camcorder decision--that time about a year ago when we could simply declare that MiniDV was the best choice and move on to more difficult questions. Now we have to make a chart and take it on a case-by-case basis.

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Medium	Pros	Cons	Best for
MiniDV	Highest quality Longest recording time Broadest selection of models to choose from	No random access Low compatibility with playback devices	Video you'll want to edit HDTV playback
DVD recordable (3-inch disc)	Immediate access to any clip High compatibility with playback devices Cheapest media	Poor editability Short recording times Requires larger form factors Compression artifacts in videos	Immediate distribution or playback
Flash media/hard drive	Immediate access to any clip Facilitates tiny devices	Compression artifacts in videos Poor editability Low compatibility with playback devices	Quick-and-dirty videos Situations when portability is paramount concern

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Product name	JVC Everio GZ-MG505	Sony Handycam DCR-SR100	Panasonic VDR-D300	Sony Handycam DCR-DVD505	Sanyo Xacti VPC-HD1	JVC Everio GZ-MC500

Review date	August 1, 2006	July 19, 2006	March 24, 2006	March 31, 2006	April 11, 2006	August 16, 2005

Editors' rating (Editors' rating explained)	7.4 Very good	7.4 Very good	7.3 Very good	7.5 Very good	7.0 Very good	7.1 Very good

Buying choices	Prices from online stores: Searching for pricing data...	Prices from online stores: Searching for pricing data...	Prices from online stores: Searching for pricing data...	Prices from online stores: Searching for pricing data...	Prices from online stores: Searching for pricing data...	Prices from online stores: Searching for pricing data...

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Review summary	A well-designed hard-disk-based camcorder, the JVC Everio GZ-MG505 produces video and stills that look great on TV. But its price might make you hit Pause.	The Sony Handycam DCR-SR100 is a solid hard-drive-based option, especially if you like Sony's touch-screen interfaces.	Rivaling its MiniDV competitors in a variety of shooting conditions, the Panasonic VDR-D300 doesn't force you to compromise video quality for the convenience of shooting directly on DVD.	Full-featured but somewhat bulky, the Sony Handycam DCR-DVD505 DVD camcorder matches its MiniDV competitors in most areas, while offering the convenience of direct-to-disc recording.	If you want the latest in cool toys, the Sanyo Xacti VPC-HD1 certainly has the right gadget quotient. Once you look at the image quality, however, its allure dims quite a bit.	This extremely compact, nicely designed camera should please technophiles who want both photo and video capabilities and can afford to splurge.

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Basic Specs
	• Camcorder • Electronic • 10 x • 5.0 megapixels • 300 x • 1/4.5" • F/1.8-2.4 • 3CCD • 14.3 oz • Lithium ion • Automatic , Manual • Hard disk drive Full specifications	• Camcorder • 1 year parts warranty • Electronic (Super Steady Shot) • Built-in flash • 1 • 10 x • 3.05 megapixels • 120 x • 1/3" • F/1.8-2.9 • Advanced HAD CCD • 1.3 lbs • 0 lux • Lithium ion • Automatic , Manual • Hard disk drive Full specifications	• Camcorder • Electronic • Built-in flash • 10 x • 700 x • 1/6" • F/1.8-2.8 • 3CCD • 20.6 oz • 1 lux • Automatic , Manual • DVD-RW (8 cm) , DVD-R (8cm) , DVD-RAM (8 cm) Full specifications	• Camcorder • Electronic (Super Steady Shot) • Built-in flash • 1 • 10 x • 120 x • 1/3" • F/1.8-2.9 • CMOS • 1.1 lbs • 0 lux • Lithium ion • Automatic , Manual • DVD-RW (8 cm) , DVD+RW (8cm) , DVD-R (8cm) Full specifications	• Digital camera • JPEG • 2.2 in • LCD passive matrix • 5,000,000 pixels • F/3.5 • Lithium ion • Automatic , Manual Full specifications	• Camcorder • Electronic • Pop-up flash • 10 x • 200 x • 1/4.5" • F/1.8-2.4 • 3CCD • 0.7 lbs • Automatic , Manual • Microdrive Full specifications