Hard Drive Camcorders

Panasonic SDR-H80

Whether you want to film the moon and stars or just someone very far away having a nosebleed, the compact Panasonic SDR-H80's 70x zoom will let you do it. Its standard-definition video won't blow you away, but it offers loads of storage and its price is reasonable too

Editor's rating 6.6

Sony Handycam DCR-SR47

An entry-level standard-definition hard-drive-based camcorder, the Handycam DCR-SR47 isn't for hi-def fanatics. But, if plenty of storage, a 60x megazoom lens and a compact and lightweight body are on your list of priorities, the DCR-SR47 will be well worth investigating

Editor's rating 6.6

JVC Everio GZ-MG730

JVC bucks the trend for standard-def camcorders to have low-res sensors with the Everio GZ-MG730, its top-of-the-line hybrid camcorder. Small enough to fit in your pocket, it manages to cram in a 30GB hard drive plus microSD card expansion and a 7-megapixel sensor

Editor's rating 6.6

Sony Handycam DCR-SR85

The Sony Handycam DCR-SR85's 60GB of storage means you can take it on holiday without worrying about running out of space. Plus, you can save video and stills to Memory Stick Pro Duo cards up to 8GB, making it a 'hybrid' camcorder. It's easy to operate, too, thanks in part to a responsive, 69mm (2.7-inch) touchscreen LCD

Editor's rating 6.6

JVC Everio GZ-MG330

High definition may be all the rage, but not everyone is ready to make the leap to shooting in HD. Some just want a small, unobtrusive camcorder that records good-quality footage and doesn't cost the earth -- JVC delivers that with the MG330 that offers a 30GB hard drive and 35x optical zoom for under £250

User rating 7.0

Editor's rating 7.0

Sony Handycam DCR-SR45E

The best thing about the Sony Handycam DCR-SR45E is the touchscreen -- and the compact size, and probably the price, too. It is still a basic camcorder, however, with only standard-definition videos that won't appear that sharp if played back on a full-size TV screen

Editor's rating 6.2

Sony Handycam DCR-SR290E

Seeing is believing with Sony's Handycam DCR-SR290E. Its giant 69mm (2.7-inch) wide-screen touchscreen LCD allows you to see clearly through the Zeiss-branded 10x optical zoom lens. Along with Super SteadyShot image stablisation, you'll be looking at some excellent video

Editor's rating 7.4

Sony Handycam HDR-SR5E

The Sony Handycam HDR-SR5E is a bargain, with its HD video support, hard disk-based recording and Sony provenance. It feels solidly built, with some nice design touches and the controls in the places you'd expect to find them. With plenty of features, you're looking at the real deal

Editor's rating 7.0

Sony Handycam DCR-SR42

The Sony Handycam DCR-SR42 is a lightweight camcorder with a 30GB hard drive and has a bundled dock and built-in lens cover. It uses a touchscreen menu system on its 64mm LCD. It has decent stereo audio and its zoom is easy to control

Editor's rating 6.0

Panasonic SDR-H250

Panasonic brings a 3CCD hard drive camcorder to the table with the SDR-H250. It helpfully provides an option to record to a memory card and it offers many useful scene modes, but it will struggle to keep up with hi-def models

Editor's rating 6.7

Sony Handycam DCR-SR80

If you're the type of videographer that puts the camcorder in Easy mode and concentrates on pointing the lens in the right direction and zooming when appropriate, the Sony Handycam DCR-SR80 should be great for you. Performance is pleasing and image quality is impressive -- you could definitely do a lot worse

Editor's rating 7.1

Sony Handycam DCR-SR40

Sony's Handycam DCR-SR40 is a decent choice for an entry-level hard-drive-based camcorder. Tweakers and still-image buffs will probably want to move up the line, but casual shooters, such as those who just want to document birthday parties and the occasional holiday, should enjoy the convenience of being tape and mini-DVD free

Editor's rating 7.0

JVC Everio GZ-MG77

JVC's hard-disk-based GZ-MG77 has sacrificed some of its features for affordability -- it only has a single CCD, as opposed to its more expensive 3CCD sibling, the MG505, and the zoom comes nowhere near tape-based models. If you're a casual user, however, who wants to record straight to hard disk, it might just suffice

User rating 6.7

Editor's rating 5.0

JVC Everio GZ-MG20

While casual users will find the MG20's nine-hour footage capacity is more than enough for general use, compulsive videographers will be better off opting for a removable hard-disk camera. But the overwhelming reason to opt for the MG20 is its tin-can size

User rating 8.0

Editor's rating 8.1