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Cheap camcorders

Lori Grunin Lori Grunin, Senior Editor June 9, 2009

Yes, the title on this page says it all: these video cameras are cheap, just about the cheapest you can buy in a digital model without dropping down a class to these low-resolution, bare-bones camcorders intended strictly for Web video. You won't get a lot of bells and whistles, and their small sensors generally make them poor choices for low-light shooting. But if you're accustomed to capturing clips with the movie feature on your point-and-shoot still camera or want something better than gimmick-marketed-for-YouTube models, you might be pleasantly surprised at the quality you'll get from these models. And one thing's for sure: cheap video is (usually) better than no video at all.

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Camcorder buying guide,
Editors' top camcorders,
Camcorders forum
Product name
Price $269.96 to $299.99 $219.99 to $385.95 $335.00 to $429.95 $199.99 to $282.84 $252.94 to $399.77 $249.00 to $299.65
CNET editors' rating
Average user rating
Review date June 08, 2009 June 30, 2008 May 28, 2009 March 09, 2009 October 03, 2008 October 22, 2008
The Bottom Line The JVC Everio GZ-MS120 is a nice little flash-memory-based standard-definition camcorder. Convenient, well-designed camcorders that look pricier than they are, models in the Canon FS series--FS11, FS10, and FS100--nevertheless deliver typical budget video in line with their budget price tags. If storage amount, zoom range, and easy operation are on your list of needs before video quality, check out the Sony Handycam DCR-SR47. The Samsung SC-MX20 has an attractive price, but you get what you pay for. The Panasonic SDR-SW20's only saving grace is its water-, shock-, and dust-proof body (and even those have limitations). Otherwise, there's no reason to buy this pocket camcorder. The JVC Everio GZ-MS100 is an average budget SD-card-based camcorder that's more attractive for its small design and relatively average video quality than its unique interface and one-touch uploads to YouTube.
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Features
Lens apertureF/1.8-4
F/2.0-5.2
F/1.8-6.0
F/1.6-4.3
F/1.8-2.4
F/1.8-4
Media typeFlash card
Flash card
Flash card
Hard disk drive
Flash card
Flash card
Flash card
Optical zoom35 x
37 x
60 x
34 x
10 x
35 x
Optical sensor typeCCD
CCD
Advanced HAD CCD
CCD
CCD
CCD
Video input typeCamcorder
Camcorder
Camcorder
Camcorder
Camcorder
Camcorder
Digital zoom800 x
2000 x
2000 x
Info unavailable700 x
800 x
Weight8.5 oz
9.2 oz
10.6 oz
9.9 oz
1.2 lbs
7.9 oz
Image stabilizerElectronic
Electronic
Electronic (Steady Shot)
Electronic
Electronic
Electronic
Optical sensor size1/6"
1/6"
1/8"
1/6"
1/6"
1/6"
Manual focusManual
Automatic
Automatic
Manual
Automatic
Manual
Automatic
Manual
Automatic
Manual
Automatic
Full specifications Full specifications Full specifications Full specifications Full specifications Full specifications Full specifications
Buying choices