F/1.8-2.5 Digital Camcorders

The Bottom Line: An interesting design doesn't offset the so-so video quality and performance, especially for the higher priced HMX-H106, H105, and H104. If you're set on this series, though, the no-memory-included Samsung HMX-H100 is probably the best deal of the bunch.

Specs: Camcorder, CMOS, 10 x, Flash card, 13.4 oz

The Bottom Line: An interesting design doesn't offset the so-so video quality and performance, especially for the higher priced HMX-H106, H105, and H104. If you're set on this series, though, the no-memory-included Samsung HMX-H100 is probably the best deal of the bunch.

Specs: Camcorder, CMOS, 10 x, Flash card, 13.4 oz

The Bottom Line: An interesting design doesn't offset the so-so video quality and performance, especially for the higher priced HMX-H106, H105, and H104. If you're set on this series, though, the no-memory-included Samsung HMX-H100 is probably the best deal of the bunch.

Specs: Camcorder, CMOS, 10 x, Flash card, 13.4 oz

The Bottom Line: An interesting design doesn't offset the so-so video quality and performance, especially for the higher priced HMX-H106, H105, and H104. If you're set on this series, though, the no-memory-included Samsung HMX-H100 is probably the best deal of the bunch.

Specs: Camcorder, CMOS, 10 x, Flash card, 13.4 oz

The Bottom Line: Sony's Handycam DCR-SR80 is a respectable hard-drive-based camcorder if you don't mind its touch-screen interface.

Specs: Camcorder, Advanced HAD CCD, 12 x, Hard disk drive, 14.1 oz

The Bottom Line: Sony's top midlevel MiniDV camcorder delivers quality video that is worth the step up from its less-expensive siblings.

Specs: Camcorder, Advanced HAD CCD, 12 x, Mini DV, 0.69 megapixels, 0.9 lbs

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: 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

The Bottom Line: The Sony Handycam DCR-DVD203 is a solid performer with many of the features that impressed us in the more expensive DCR-DVD403.

Specs: Camcorder, Advanced HAD CCD, 12 x, DVD-R (8cm), DVD+RW (8cm), DVD-RW (8 cm), 0.9 lbs

The Bottom Line: If recording to DVD grabs you, this Panasonic offers decent features for family and business videography.

Specs: Camcorder, CCD, 10 x, DVD-R (8cm), DVD-RAM (8 cm), 1.1 lbs