DVD Camcorders

Canon DC50

Most camcorders offer still pictures as an afterthought -- not the Canon DC50. With its useful features, fine video details and a surprisingly robust photo mode, this DVD-based camcorder presents both a very good home-movie recorder and a competent snapshot camera

Editor's rating 7.2

Canon HR10

The Canon HR10 is camcorder that records to DVDs in the AVCHD format. It has an excellent complement of manual controls, including some nice image and digital effects, as well as Instant AF for changing the focus quickly. All in all, this camcorder produces some great video

Editor's rating 7.2

Panasonic VDR-D310

The Panasonic VDR-D310 is the most high-end Panasonic DVD camcorder you can get. With a 10x Leica lens giving it a significant edge, it clearly appears to be designed for users who want high-quality video without investing the significant money required for hi-def

Editor's rating 7.3

Canon DC220

Canon's mid-range DC220 is a feature-rich DVD camcorder. Controlled with a tiny, well-located joystick, you can choose from program, shutter-priority or night exposure modes and a wealth of white balance settings. With a 35x optical zoom lens and strong image stablisation, this camera impresses

Editor's rating 6.0

Hitachi DZ-HS300E

Hitachi's DZ-HS300E is a budget hybrid HDD/DVD-based camcorder, ideal if you want the stability of hard drive recording with the easy playback and distribution of a DVD. It's not a bad performer, but the image quality is far from perfect

User rating 5.0

Editor's rating 5.6

Sony Handycam DCR-DVD205

If you're shopping around for a low-end DVD camcorder without too many superficial features, the DCR-DVD205 could be the solution. While it's lacking in some basic connections, such as USB, and its image quality is no more than mediocre, it does offer widescreen video and reasonably fast autofocus

Editor's rating 6.0

Canon DC10

Canon's DC10 has an almost identical design to its sibling, the DC20 -- the latter benefits from a higher resolution CCD for stills photography and a night mode. If you're used to MiniDV, you might find the DC10's footage disappointing, but casual users may well find the convenience of straight-to-DVD recording more than compensates

Editor's rating 6.3

Hitachi DZ-BX35E

Like most low-end camcorders, the Hitachi DZ-BX35E, which includes a 25x optical zoom lens and sub-megapixel CCD, isn't loaded with fancy features, but it's intuitive to use and ergonomically sound. Its image quality isn't the best in its class, though, and you can get a better Hitachi for not much more money

Editor's rating 6.2

Hitachi DZ-GX3200E

The DZ-3200E offers only two megapixels, compared to its big brother DZ-3300E's three, but with its video almost as pleasing and at £100 less, this could be the budget choice for those looking for a compact DVD camcorder with 10x optical zoom

Editor's rating 6.6

Hitachi DZ-GX3300E

Hitachi's DZ-GX3300E won't blow you away with its middle-of-the-road image quality, but a quick start-up time and the ability to edit video in the camera might appeal. Similarly, the camera's 10x optical zoom, 3-megapixel CCD and fairly standard feature set will neither wow nor disappoint

Editor's rating 6.6

Canon DC40

Canon's DC40 cements its place among the best of the DVD camcorders with its broad, useful feature set, zippy shooting performance, attractive design and good video quality. It does suffer from many of the same performance flaws as its competitors, but if your heart is set on recording to DVD, it's well worth a look

Editor's rating 7.7

Canon DC20

The DC20 offers a f/1.8, 10x optical zoom lens, coupled with a single CCD whose image quality leaves something to be desired, particularly in low light. However, as with most DVD camcorders, what you sacrifice in features you regain in simplicity and hassle-free operation

Editor's rating 6.2

Sony Handycam DCR-DVD405

The Sony Handycam DCR-DVD405 features Dolby 5.1 Surround recording and delivers above-average video and stills in a compact, comfortable package. Before you commit, though, give the touch screen an in-store tryout as it can make or break your experience with this product

Editor's rating 7.1

Sony Handycam DCR-DVD505E

Thanks to a large LCD screen and responsive performance, shooting with the Sony Handycam DCR-DVD505E is a pleasure -- throw in its superior video quality and the camcorder makes an excellent alternative to MiniDV models if you're looking for straight-to-player convenience

Editor's rating 7.5

Panasonic VDR-D300

DVD camcorders have typically sacrificed quality for convenience compared to MiniDV models in the same price range. The Panasonic VDR-D300 breaks that mould by offering video quality that's noticeably better than that of many competing DVD camcorders, as well as three CCDs for excellent colour, even in low-light situations

Editor's rating 7.3

Sony DCR-DVD203

The Sony Handycam DCR-DVD203 has many of the features that made the DCR-DVD403 one of our top DVD camcorders, including solid video quality, speedy start-up and DVD convenience. It's not quite as good at low-light shooting and doesn't cut it for still photos, though

Editor's rating 7.3

Hitachi DZ-MV750E

The Hitachi DZ-MV750E offers a compact, easy-to-use, lightweight design, several formats of DVD and a hefty 16x zoom, but the useless 25-minute battery life and poor quality video and still pictures make it very difficult to recommend, even at this price

Editor's rating 5.8

Sony Handycam DCR-DVD7E

Although MiniDV camcorders offer superior image clarity and longer record times than DVD camcorders, there is something uniquely pleasurable about popping a DVD straight out of the Sony Handycam DCR-DVD7E and into your home player. If you're not looking to be the next Tarantino, the 7E makes a viable choice

Editor's rating 7.2

Hitachi DZ-GX20E

Hitachi's DZ-GX20E offers speedy start-up, solid video quality in a variety of lighting conditions and the ability to edit video in-camera. With a 10x optical zoom, a 2-megapixel CCD, a basic set of features and decent overall performance, it's not a standout. But it's worth considering if you want the convenience of DVD recording at a reasonable price

Editor's rating 6.9

Sony Handycam DCR-DVD403

The Sony Handycam DCR-DVD403 leaves its underachieving predecessors in the dust, offering superior video quality, improved performance, above-average photos and a no-compromise feature set

Editor's rating 7.5