16:9 widescreen mode Digital Camcorders

The Bottom Line: Sanyo's dual-camera Xacti VPC-CG10 has the design and features to easily shoot both HD-quality movies and 10-megapixel photos, but slow performance and mediocre photos keep it from being a solid do-it-all device.

Specs: Camcorder, CMOS, 5 x, Flash card, 6 oz

The Bottom Line: Sanyo's dual-camera Xacti VPC-CG10 has the design and features to easily shoot both HD-quality movies and 10-megapixel photos, but slow performance and mediocre photos keep it from being a solid do-it-all device.

Specs: Camcorder, CMOS, 5 x, Flash card, 6 oz

The Bottom Line: If underwater YouTubing were a market segment, the Sanyo Xacti VPC-E1 would be the camera to get. But the awkward design and slow performance make it hard to recommend for landlubbers.

Specs: Camcorder, CCD, 5 x, SD Memory Card, SDHC Memory card, 6.0 megapixels, 8.3 oz

The Bottom Line: If underwater YouTubing were a market segment, the Sanyo Xacti VPC-E1 would be the camera to get. But the awkward design and slow performance make it hard to recommend for landlubbers.

Specs: Camcorder, CCD, 5 x, SD Memory Card, SDHC Memory card, 6.0 megapixels, 8.3 oz

The Bottom Line: If underwater YouTubing were a market segment, the Sanyo Xacti VPC-E1 would be the camera to get. But the awkward design and slow performance make it hard to recommend for landlubbers.

Specs: Camcorder, CCD, 5 x, Flash card, 6.0 megapixels, 7.7 oz

The Bottom Line: If you don't shoot in low light and don't plan on using it to shoot still images, this feature-rich camcorder is a bargain.

Specs: Camcorder, CCD, 35 x, Mini DV, 6.8 megapixels, 13.4 oz

The Bottom Line: Though small and well designed, the JVC Everio GZ-MG57's performance and video quality can't match the competitions'.

Specs: Camcorder, CCD, 15 x, Hard disk drive, 1.33 megapixels, 14.5 oz

The Bottom Line: The Sony Handycam DCR-DVD205 is as middling as its sibling, the DCR-DVD305; however, it eschews the impractical features of the DVD305 for a lower price tag, making it a better bargain.

Specs: Camcorder, Advanced HAD CCD, 12 x, DVD-R (8cm), DVD+RW (8cm), DVD-RW (8 cm), 0.69 megapixels, 1.1 lbs

The Bottom Line: Unless this camcorder's low-resolution, low-quality stills are important to you, you might as well go for Sony's less expensive DCR-HC26.

Specs: Camcorder, Advanced HAD CCD, 20 x, Mini DV, 0.34 megapixels, 0.9 lbs

The Bottom Line: There are better choices than the Sony Handycam DCR-DVD305, a so-so DVD camcorder.

Specs: Camcorder, Advanced HAD CCD, 12 x, DVD-R (8cm), DVD+RW (8cm), DVD-RW (8 cm), 0.69 megapixels, 1.1 lbs