F/1.8-3.0 Digital Camcorders

The Bottom Line: An excellent flash-based prosumer HD camcorder, the Canon Vixia HF S11 has the advantage of an excellent image stabilizer but it disappointingly lacks an eye-level viewfinder.

Specs: Camcorder, CMOS, 10 x, Flash card, 15.9 oz

The Bottom Line: Like its cousin, the flash-based HF11, Canon's Vixia HG21 delivers excellent HD video quality and performance albeit in a slightly larger, heavier package. However, you do get more storage space and a lower price.

Specs: Camcorder, CMOS, 12 x, Flash card, Hard disk drive, 17.3 oz

The Bottom Line: An excellent flash-based prosumer HD camcorder, you may nevertheless pass on the Canon Vixia HF S100 because it lacks an eye-level viewfinder. It's probably a better buy than the identical--but more expensive, because it has 32GB built-in memory--Vixia HF S10.

Specs: Camcorder, CMOS, 10 x, Flash card, 15.9 oz

The Bottom Line: An excellent flash-based prosumer HD camcorder, you may nevertheless pass on the Canon Vixia HF S10 because it lacks an eye-level viewfinder. And the identical--but cheaper, because it has no built-in memory--Vixia HF S100 may also be a better buy.

Specs: Camcorder, CMOS, 10 x, Flash card, 15.9 oz

The Bottom Line: The Hitachi DZ-BD10HA is the most hybrid of hybrid camcorders and still manages good video and photo quality. But it's also slow and expensive.

Specs: Camcorder, CMOS, 10 x, Mini BD-R, Mini BD-RE, DVD-R (8cm), DVD-RW (8 cm), DVD-RAM (8 cm), Hard disk drive, 17.6 oz

The Bottom Line: Like its cousin, the flash-based HF11, Canon's Vixia HG20 delivers excellent HD video quality and performance albeit in a slightly larger, heavier package. However, you do get more storage space and a lower price.

Specs: Camcorder, CMOS, 12 x, Flash card, Hard disk drive, 16.4 oz

The Bottom Line: Like its sibling the HF10, Canon's flash-based Vixia HF11 delivers excellent HD video quality and performance in a tiny package. However, the HF11 delivers a bit more value for its lower price.

Specs: Camcorder, CMOS, 12, Flash card, 13.4 oz

The Bottom Line: One of a pair of Canon's first flash-based camcorders, the Canon Vixia HF100, delivers excellent HD video quality and performance in a tiny package.

Specs: Camcorder, CMOS, 12 x, Flash card, 13.4 oz

The Bottom Line: Canon's first flash-based camcorder, the Canon Vixia HF10, delivers excellent HD video quality and performance in a tiny package.

Specs: Camcorder, CMOS, 12 x, Flash card, 13.4 oz

The Bottom Line: An extremely minor upgrade from the HV20, the Canon Vixia HV30 remains a quality HDV camcorder with a couple of performance issues.

Specs: Camcorder, CMOS, 10 x, Mini DV (HDV), 1.2 lbs