Sony will release two new-high definition Handycams in its camcorder ranage in March, the HDR-XR520V and the HDR-XR500V.

The new Handycams may look similar to previous Sony camcorders, but they’ve had a serious update under the hood. Each has a new CMOS sensor called Exmor R, which Sony claims improves low light performance.

Another outstanding feature is the inclusion of the G lens - Sony usually reserves this for professional camcorder models. This gives you 12x optical zoom. Other features include Optical Active SteadyShot, which Sony says improves image stabilisation and a GPS receiver (this means you can tag your recordings by location as the camera comes with maps pre-installed).

The main difference between the two models is hard drive capacity (240GB in the XR520V versus 120GB in the 500V). Final pricing will be available closer to March.

Click here to find offers on camcorders from retailers near you.

By Caroline Warnes

Canon has unveiled six new additions to its digital video camera range which will be available in-store in mid-March.

The new range consists of three standard-definition camcorders and two high-definition camcorders, which Canon says are its smallest digital video cameras to date, as well as one professional-standard high-definition model.

The three standard-definition digital video cameras are the Legria FS21, FS22 and FS200. The FS21 and FS22 are flash-based models that have internal memory of 16GB and 32GB respectively. The Legria FS200 shoots straight to memory card and comes in four colours.

The Legria HF20 and HF200 (pictured above) are the two home high-definition digital video cameras. They both record Full HD 1920×1080 movies and weigh in at just 320g. The HF20 features 32GB of internal Dual Flash Memory, which is capable of around 12 hours of recording time. The Canon Legria HF200 record straight to SDHC cards.

Finally, the professional standard Canon Legria HF S10 is a high-definition model that shoots to 32GB of internal flash memory with the option of shooting to memory card.

Pricing for the new range will be available closer to the release date.

Click here to find offers on Canon digital video cameras and camcorders from retailers near you.

By Caroline Warnes

The VP-MX20 is Samsung’s latest camcorder and is designed with video sharing in mind.

The camcorder features a special mode that automatically adjusts the resolution to 640×480, which is the ideal resolution for uploading to the web and mobile devices.

You can also import video and play it on your portable media or MP3 player without needing to transcord the file.

Other features of the Samsung VP-MX20 include a Schenider lens and a swivel hand grip for capturing hard-to-reach shots. It boasts 10 automatic scene modes, face detection technology and a 2.7-inch screen for editing your footage while out and about.

The Samsung VP-MX20 comes in either black or red and retails for $379.

Click here to find offers on Samsung camcorders from retailers near you.

By Caroline Warnes

If you’re looking to buy a camcorder for the first time, the JVC GZ-MG330 is worthy of consideration.

It’s a basic entry-level model with a ultra-affordable price tag that most novice users will find easy to operate.

With its compact size and array of colours, the MG330 is designed to appeal to those who like their gadgets to look the part. It’s also relatively light for a camcorder and even fits into some shirt pockets.

The MG330 boasts a 2.7-inch LCD display, around which sits five buttons and a “Laser Touch” slider. These are used to access most of the camcorder’s functions. It comes with 30GB of hard drive on which video is stored and you can also add a MicroSD card to store digital still images.

Image quality isn’t the best, but that’s hardly surprising given that this camcorder is positioned for the entry-level market. Maximum video resolution is 720×480 pixels.

Surprisingly enough for an entry-level camcorder, the JVC MG330 has a nice array of manual features, including exposure, focus, shutter speed and white balance. However the automatic settings will most likely be enough for most new users.

Click here to find offers on JVC camcorders from retailers near you.

By Caroline Warnes

The first thing you notice about the Panasonic SDR-S7 camcorder is its size - and my goodness, is it small.

In fact, this model from Panasonic is just about small enough to fit in the palm of your hand (if you have a largish hand). It measures in at just 102×41x59mm, making it small enough to stow in most bags without you even noticing.

Obviously given its petite size, the SDR-S7 does not have all the features of more fully fledged models (for example, there is no hand strap, increasing the likelihood of dropping the camera), however it is a nice option for entry-level camcorder users.

It carries the very affordable recommended retail price of $549 (although Ted’s Cameras has it for just $454 here), which means it is the entry-level model in Panasonic’s 2008 range of camcorders.

It’s a flash memory model - footage is recorded to SD/SDHC memory cards. SDHC camcorders are very convenient to use because they have a longer battery life and allow you to play back your footage easily.

Video peformance is reasonable for an entry-level camcorder - just be warned that you’re not going to be creating any cinematic masterpieces on the SDR-S7.

Click here to find offers on the Panasonic SDR-S7 camcorder from retailers near you.

By Caroline Warnes

The MD225 Mini DV camcorder is Canon’s new entry-level model in the range, coming in with a recommended retail price of $399.

The recently-released MD225 is a solid performer for its budget price, recording to Mini DV and incorporating some nice specifications including a 41x Advanced Zoom Lens (this is Canon’s longest ever optical zoom on a camcorder yet) and image stabilisation technology for better video.

Other features of the MD225 include a 2.7-inch LCD widescreen, a large colour viewfinder, photo shooting to card and a microphone jack.

The Canon MD225 is perfect for first-time camcorder buyers, not only because of the price, but also because of the ease of operation. The camera features various automatic modes for novices so you will have help achieving better pictures in different shooting scenarios.

If you’re interested in purchasing the Canon MD225 Mini DVD camcorder, Ted’s Cameras is offering it for $349.95 (save $50 on the RRP) and you’ll also receive $25 worth of bonus camera accessories. Click here for more information on this offer, which finishes on June 1.

Click here to find offers on Canon camcorders near you.

By Caroline Warnes

The Sony Handycam DCRHC48 is a nice mid-range MiniDV camcorder.

Mini digital video (DV) camcorders are the technology to look for if you want digital recording in a compact design and longer recording times. They also offer greater flexibility when it comes to editing footage, thanks to the fact that digital video processes each movie frame individually. This means you can take out any frame to edit.

The major strength of the Sony HC48 is its image quality in most lights. In fact, it’s difficult to distinguish it from normal television broadcasts, even on a big screen.

If you’re a camcorder novice and simply want something you can point and shoot, then you’ll appreciate the Handycam HC48?s Easy mode, which means all settings are pretty much automatic. If you prefer to have a bit more control, switch to Normal mode so you can customise some settings such as Focus and White Balance.

The only issue we could find was the touchscreen, which operates all the settings. Like most of Sony’ Handycam MiniDV range, the screen is difficult to navigate, given its size.

Last but not least, you can also take still digital photos with the HC48, thanks to the 1-megapixel camera.

Click here to find offers on camcorders near you.

By Caroline Warnes