Editors' Top Camcorders
updated June 5, 2006

If you're a serious amateur videographer or an independent professional, you'll settle for nothing less than a three-chip camera with extensive creative controls. These models not only provide a CCD sensor to capture each of the three color channels, but also put the manual controls you need at your fingertips. They're compatible with a broader range of accessories and other devices than lower-end cameras, too, and that's important if you want to capture high-quality sound or put your own video studio together. -- Lori Grunin, senior editor

Editors' Top Camcorders:

Budget camcorders | Home-movie camcorders |

Pro and semipro camcorders

| Compact camcorders | Prosumer camcorders

Pro and semipro camcorders

Camcorders	Editors' rating	Price	Summary
Panasonic AG-HVX200 Released: 11/22/2005	8.9 Excellent	$5099	With its AG-HVX200, Panasonic raises the bar again, bringing us professional HD versatility and quality at a lower price than ever. Specs: Camcorder , 3CCD , DV , DVCPRO , DVCPRO HD , P2 Card

Sony HDR-FX1 Released: 11/15/2004	8.2 Excellent	$4015	Though it lacks some audio flexibility and isn't recommended for 24fps shooting, the HDR-FX1 provides advanced consumers with professional-level video controls and entry-level pros with an affordable starting camcorder. Specs: Camcorder , Super HAD 3CCD , 12 x, Mini DV (HDV) , 921600 pixels, 4.4 lbs

Panasonic AG-DVX100B Mini DV Camcorder Released: 11/15/2005	8.4 Excellent	$1899-$3595 from 4 stores	Panasonic has listened. The third incarnation of the AG-DVX100 offers unrivalled bang for the buck in a prosumer standard-definition MiniDV camera. Specs: Camcorder , 3CCD , 10 x, Mini DV , 3.8 megapixels, 3.7 lbs

Canon XL2 Released: 09/01/2004	7.9 Very good	$2799-$3799 from 6 stores	Canon returns to the state of the art in DV but doesn't set a new standard. Specs: Camcorder , 3CCD , 20 x, Mini DV , 7.7 lbs

Panasonic AG-DVC60 Released: 10/01/2004	7.8 Very good	Email me when product is available	At its price point, an unrivaled value in an entry-level shoulder-mounted DV camera. Specs: Camcorder , 3CCD , 16 x, Mini DV , 5.7 lbs

Canon XL H1 Released: 01/01/2006	7.7 Very good	Email me when product is available	Canon's semipro high-definition XL H1 video camera is a winner for event, reality, ENG, and documentary shooters, but its price is high. Specs: Camcorder , 3CCD , 20 x, Mini DV (HDV) , 1.17 megapixels, 5.3 lbs