JVC GR-D770 (camcorder - Mini DV)

Pros: 16:9 recording, large LCD, photo light, 34x optical zoom

Cons: VGA stills, OK battery life

Summary: The GR-D770 is an excellent camcorder. Now that every TV in my house is wide screen, I wanted a Wide screen camcorder. The JVC is amazing for the price. The video is very high quality and smooth, though not HD. The colors are saturated and the sound quality is good (even on the built in speaker). The 2.7" wide screen viewfinder is relatively good, though a higher resolution would have been better. It is nice that JVC included an SD slot, but the VGA stills are rather low quality. The photo light is very bright and convenient. The automatic function is nice. There is also a very helpful menu that displays battery life, but unlike Sony's HandyCam line, it does not show how many minutes left next to the battery meter. The menu system is a little confusing. You have to first put it into "Manual Mode" before you can access it. But the navigation is made simple with the built in joystick. Overall, this is a camcorder to behold.
The Amazing Video, large lens, and wide 16:9 shooting, makes up for low quality stills and a quirky menu system.
I would recommend this camcorder to everyone who wants good quality at a low price.