• Built-in software for instant viewing, editing, and one-click emailing
• Integrated video uploading to AOL, MySpace, YouTube and other video sharing sites
• Easily snap still pictures from video
• Simple editing tools let you make custom-edited movie mixes with music
• Create and organize your personal video library

So what’s the drawback?  The picture is ok, but as a professional producer, I want more. Also you are relying on the internal audio recorder which picks up everything in the room with an echo.  There is only a 2x zoom.  Most camcorders give you up to 20x zoom.  There’s also not a lot of ability to change options.  What you see is what you get.  But hey for the price, you can’t beat what it offers!

Consumer Camcorders – With this option and for the prices they are now offered at, you get great picture quality and options galore.  But again, with most of them, you have to rely on an internal microphone which is ok, but for professional quality sound, you should be able to hook up a lapel or a handheld microphone.  There are some consumer camcorders where you can plug a mic (wired or wireless) into a mini-plug.  I would certainly recommend you get this option for best quality sound.  Go to Microphone Recommendations for some good choices. 
There are three capture choices to consider in this category. 

• Mini DV tapes 
• Hard Drive and memory cards
• Mini DVD Discs

Professional Camcorders - These will give you superior picture quality, more features, great service from the manufacturers, powerful zoom lenses, and peace of mind that you are getting the best quality that money can buy.

But you need to consider if you really need a pro camcorder.  If you are just doing web video, I say forget it.  But if you are looking to make DVD, shoot commercials and seminars, this is the way to go.

Our recommendation for capture: 

Mini DV tapes are nice and you have a hard copy for the future but you need to download your footage in real time.  As for mini DVD disc camcorders, I’m not a big fan.  I’ve seen too many problems with them.  One little scratch on the surface of the disc and you may lose your footage. 

Go for the hard drive or memory card camcorders.  This is the wave of the future.  They are very reliable and when you are finished recording, you simply move the footage from the camcorder or your memory card to your computer's hard drive.  Yes it takes a little bit of time to move the files, but hardly the amount of time that it takes to download a tape!  And if you really want a hard copy for backup, buy an external hard drive and copy all your raw footage to that.  The prices are coming down every day for external hard drives.  And think of the time you will save copying your video files to your computer! 

Our Camcorder Picks: 
(Every effort has been made to pick models that will fulfill the needs of a business.  Your needs may be different.  Models may discontinue without notice or be out of stock at our preferred vendors.)
Click on any of the links below for more info or to purchase from our trusted partners

Prices are subject to change

Low end:

Flip Video - These are great little camcorders.  Small efficient, inexpensive.  Record quick video on the fly.  An internal hard drive makes it easy to transfer your data to your hard drive via a USB attachment (connected to the body).  Drawbacks:  Internal mic isn't that great, no input for an external mic or headphones.  Only 1 to 2 hour recording depending on the model.  Weak on zooming.  Small LCD screen.

Flip Ultra             $149.99
Flip Ultra HD        $199.99
Flip Mino             $179.99
Flip Mino HD        $229.99

Sony Webbie - Sony brought this out to battle the Flip Camera.  A little better on the zooming, but not much (although it does have a 30x digital zoom).  Swivel Lens.  Download videos from the web.  It uses a memory card which you can get anywhere from 330 to 990 minutes of recording (but remember that the battery lasts only 85 minutes!).  There is a slightly larger version for $30 more so you can hold it like a normal camcorder (see image to the right).  More settings and features than the Flip.  Drawbacks: same as the Flip.

Webbie HD Vertical (Silver)         $164.95 (Free Shipping)
Webbie HD Horizontal (Silver)     $189.95 (Free Shipping)
Webbie HD Verticle (Orange)      $164.95 (Free Shipping)
Webbie HD Horizontal (Orange)  $189.00 (Free Shipping)
Webbie HD Verticle (Purple)        $164.95 (Free Shipping)
Webbie HD Horizontal (Purple)    $189.99 (Free Shipping)

Medium End:

These picks were made due to the on board hard drive, the microphone input, and the headphone connector.  The lowest priced models that had those 3 features.  The fact that they are Hi-Def compatible is a great plus as well!  (Click here to see our article on whether to go Hi-Def)

Sony HDR-XR500V    $1299.95
Canon Vixia HG21    $899.00

High End:
Standard Def	Canon GL-2 $1,949.95
Hi-Def	Panasonic HVX200A $4,999.95