Visiting the giant booths at the Consumer Electronics Show gives you a terrific sense of the latest and greatest videomaking gear. All of the top full-featured camcorder manufacturers were there including Sony, Canon, JVC, Panasonic and Samsung. I prefer full-featured models versus much less expensive Pocket Camcorders since they deliver much better video quality, have optical zooms—not digital—plus they record lifelike stereo sound. They may cost more but the payoff is worth it when you check out your family memories on a big-screen HDTV.
Sony dominates the full-featured market and they made a ton of announcements in Las Vegas (11 in all, ranging from $299-$1,599). First some general trends--high-definition camcorders have gone mainstream and Sony predicts 65% of all sold in 2012 will be HD. In fact, the company is not introducing any Standard Definition editions—and neither will other major companies. Sony still sells older models like the SX85 for awhile but don't expect anything new since the SD era is ending. Canon, JVC, Panasonic and Samsung only announced high-def camcorders
Fortunately, the price of HD has drifted down nicely as the new Sony Handycam HDR-CX190 has a list price of $299. JVC even went lower with the $229 GZ-E10. Also note that almost all 2012 models—from Sony and everyone else—use flash memory rather than Hard Disk Drives while camcorders with tapes and DVDs have gone the way of tube televisions. The flash memory can either be built-in (up to 96GB) or optional memory cards.
Camcorder Class of 2012
Sony
Sony Handycam CX760V
Sony Handycams run the gamut from a basic HD model for parents on a budget like the $299 CX190 to advanced models like the CX760V ($1,599) for budding film students. This and two other expensive models have an outstanding new feature called Balanced Optical Image Stabilization. Typically OIS systems adjust a single lens element to eliminate shaky videos. With this new arrangement, the entire lens block moves. The results I saw on a TV monitor were outstanding. Another standout is the replacement for the HDR-TD10, the first Full HD 3D camcorder. The new HDR-TD20 is now 34% smaller and has a wider-angle zoom lens. It's still expensive at $1,499.
Canon
Canon Vixia HF M52
Canon introduced six new models. All are high-definition with varying amounts of flash memory—either SD card slot only, 8GB or 32GB. Since this is 2012, Wi-Fi capability is part of the equation for several editions. Surprisingly, Canon—which has a reputation for high-quality, high-megapixel camcorders with its "S" series—has left that category and is sticking to relatively affordable ones ($349-$799). The more expensive Vixia HF M series have 10x optical zooms and Wi-Fi. They also have a cool feature that lets you record AVCHD or MP4 videos. With wireless capability, it's easy sending MP4 clips to YouTube or Facebook. The R series feature 32x zooms, OIS and 3-inch touch panel LCD screens.
Panasonic
Panasonic has seven new camcorders and although none have Wi-Fi, five feature the new AVCHD Progressive format that captures 1920x1080/60p video. I've used this before and it is by far the best quality available; you won't believe your eyes when you see it on a good HDTV. The premier model is the HC-X900M which uses an advanced 3MOS imaging system, has a wide-angle 12x optical zoom, records 5.1-channel surround sound, has 32GB of onboard flash memory and a 3.5-inch touch screen LCD.
JVC GX1 with LCD open
JVC
The company introduced seven new HD models ranging from the $229 GZ-E10 with a 40x optical zoom to the $899 GZ-GX1 which captures 1080/60p video. Although pricey, these "60p" cams deliver outstanding video for your 1080p HDTV. As part of the wireless trend, four models have Wi-Fi capability. With it you can wirelessly transfer photos and movies to a smartphone for sharing on the web. Also cool is Video Email that sends a low-resolution clip from the camcorder to up to eight email addresses. Live Monitoring also lets you watch in real time images on your phone or computer taken by the camcorder.
Samsung
Samsung made a splash with Wi-Fi still cameras at CES so it added the feature to the new QF20 ($349) which also has a 20x optical zoom, a 5MP sensor and optical imaging stabilization. If you don't want Wi-Fi, the similar Q20 costs $299. The new F80 ($199) may not have Full HD—it's 720p—but the 52x optical zoom is pretty impressive for the price.
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