Best budget camcorders

(Nov 23, 2009)

Lori Grunin
Senior Editor Digital video isn't cheap, but recently, prices on basic camcorders have come down far enough to put them in reach of home video makers on a budget. You should expect to spend at least $250 on a decent, full-featured--that usually means a zoom lens--digital camcorder. Affordable models generally offer fewer features and smaller sensors than their pricier relations, but many of them capture high-quality footage that will put your old analog camcorder to shame. The camcorders on this list are all widely available for less than $500.