Cool Camcorders for Hot Weather

Video technology is changing fast. Standard def is losing out to sharper HD resolutions, the line between camcorder and digital camera is becoming increasingly blurry, and it seems like newer, better products are coming out every day. One thing that doesn't change, however, is people's need for an effective way to capture life's best moments. Whether you're into making Wonder Years-esque family videos or just want something new to post on YouTube, one of these cameras will fulfill your task.

Don't let its long name daunt you—though the price tag may make you gasp. The Sony Handycam DCR-DVD508 ($899.99 list) currently holds the coveted PC Mag Editors' Choice title. Despite being a standard def miniDVD camera, its performance is top notch. It's easy to use—in fact, it includes an "Easy" mode—and doubles as a 6.1-megapixel camera. The LCD touch screen is smaller than its predecessor's, the 505, which has a 3.5-inch screen. Nonetheless, the 2.7-inches the 508 provides are plenty to work with. The 508's color rendering is spot on; even its night mode surpasses the competition, with no streaking or smearing.

If this doesn't sound like quite what you're looking for, try the Sanyo Xacti VPC-HD2 ($699.99 list). This compact HD camcorder offers pretty good video and even better still images (they top out at 7 megapixels), plus it's extremely portable. The 10x optical zoom range begins at 38mm and zooms to 380mm, so you have a fair amount of freedom in your shots. The HD2 is compatible with SD and SDHC memory cards, and it encodes video as an MPEG-4 file so file sizes stay small. The camera also includes an HDMI port so you can achieve the best possible digital output.

Sanyo's first generation HD camera, the Xacti VPC-HD1, ironically, sells for more than its successor with a street price of $800. This camera is perfect for someone who likes to keep things light. It weighs just 7.4 ounces without its battery and measures 3.1 by 4.7 by 1.4 inches. Now that's tiny! The HD1 captures video to an SD card which, when set to the highest quality, stores about 30 minutes of HD footage (2 GB SD card). Like the HD2, the HD1 encodes video in MPEG-4 format. The quality doesn't match Sony's HD camcorders, but if a compact sized camcorder is your priority, Sanyo's cameras fit that requirement the best.

A little lower on the price spectrum is the Hitachi DZHS300A ($600 list). This camera offers a lot of flexibility when it comes to recording formats. It can record to either its internal 8GB hard drive (about 110 minutes of footage) or directly to miniDVD (about 18 minutes a side). The 300A also features a long 25X optical zoom. It is a standard def camera, however, so if you're looking for HD this isn't the camera for you.

Canon's DC40 ($899 list) is another standard def camera, and it boasts some enviable features. It has 10X optical zoom range, a 2.7-inch LCD, and stores video on 8cm miniDVD discs. Canon's menus are intuitive, placing controls in easy-to-find places so you're not forced to scroll through menus on a wild goose chase. The DC40 lets you take 4MP photos which are stored on a miniSD card, which is about half the size of the standard SD card.

Products discussed in this roundup:

Sony Handycam DCR-DVD508 ($899.99 list)
This high quality, standard def camera is user-friendly and packed with features, earning it the most recent Editors' Choice award.

Sanyo Xacti VPC-HD2 ($699.99 list)
Here's a compact HD camcorder offers pretty good video and even better still images, plus it's extremely portable. The camera also includes an HDMI port so you can achieve the best possible digital output.

Hitachi DZHS300A ($600 list)
The best feature of the Hitachi is its storage options. It includes both an 8GB internal hard drive and straight-to-miniDVD capabilities, as well as 25x optical zoom.

Canon DC40 ($899 list)
Canon's standard def camera includes a 2.7-inch LCD screen, 10x optical zoom, and let's you take 4-megapixel photos. It's also so easy to use it includes an "Easy" mode.

Sanyo Xacti VPC-HD1 ($800 street)
The lightweight, compact Xacti saves its video to MPEG-4 format. It lacks in quality, but if size is your priority, this is one of the smallest camcorders on the market.