Black Friday Camcorder Deals

Our Camcorder of the Year has received praise throughout the industry for its brilliant HD video performance and feature set, including true 24P recording and outstanding low light. The body is not rugged, so it’s not necessarily the right choice for mountain expeditions, but weekenders and budding filmmakers will love it.

Pure Digital Flip Ultra

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This is the ultimate camcorder for YouTubers and others demanding easy upload and ultra-portability. The video quality is low, with small video files that are easy to transfer to the computer, then the Web. The Ultra Series, including this 2GB capacity (F260W), features built-in software for uploading – which means you can use any computer, anywhere, as long as you have the camcorder with you.

Panasonic PV-GS85

Another of our winners, the PV-GS85 won Best Camcorder for Under $300. We didn’t review this particular model, but all signs point to it being a fantastic value: optical image stabilization, independent shutter and aperture control, great handling, and a cold accessory shoe. The video performance will not wow anyone, but you’ll be hard-pressed to find more features at this price range.

Deal: Blackfriday.info reports that Circuit City is selling the Panasonic PV-GS85 for $246.99 – that’s more than $100 less than the initial MSRP.

Canon HG10

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The Canon HG10, an HD camcorder that records to a 40GB hard drive, took home our Best High-End HDD/Flash award based on its fantastic video performance and manual control suite. The AVCHD codec can lead to some editing and playback obstacles, but until the surrounding technology catches up, you can still play footage right out of the camcorder to your HDTV.

Deal: Dealtaker.com found a great deal on the Canon HG10 from CompUSA. You can pick up the HG10 for $999, but the deal is only good on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Sony HDR-SR5

The Sony HDR-SR5 is a solid choice for users who want an HD camcorder with minimum fuss. With a 40GB hard drive, the camcorder can hold up to five hours of video in the highest quality setting. Sony’s ubiquitous Easy mode setting is great for beginners. The AVCHD codec is frustrating to edit, but novice-friendly editing software is available. Like the Canon HG10, you can always start off by simply connecting the camcorder to the TV for playback.

Panasonic VDR-D210

Talk about bang for your buck! The Panasonic VDR-D210 is the only entry-level DVD camcorder to offer optical image stabilization and the most powerful gamut of manual controls in the market. Other highlights include a rear-mounted joystick, a clean, intuitive menu, and a cold accessory shoe. This is a great camcorder to learn on.

Deal: Walmart has leaked that it will sell the VDR-D210 on Friday morning between the hours of 5 and 11 a.m. for an incredible $198. Sears will be offering the VDR-D210 for $199 between the hours of 5 a.m. and 12 p.m on Friday. These are in-store deals only, and are not available online. 

Sony DCR-SR42

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The DCR-SR42 is Sony’s entry-level HDD camcorder, featuring a 30GB internal hard drive that offers more than 440 minutes of record time in the highest quality. The DCR-SR42 is exceedingly point-and-shoot friendly, touting an Easy mode and touch screen LCD. On the downside, the DCR-SR42 offers meager video performance, a small 2.5-inch LCD screen, and limited connectivity options.

Deal: Circuit City is running an incredible deal which includes the DCR-SR42, a camcorder bag, and an extended life battery for $529.99. The DCR-SR42 is regularly priced at $549, the extended life battery retails for $99.99, and the bag for $34.99. 

Sony DCR-DVD108

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Sony’s entry-level DVD camcorder, the DCR-DVD108, is equipped with a basic 1/6-inch imager, which means video quality is not the camcorder’s primary strength. However, those looking to simply capture memories to DVD for easy playback will be happy with the DCR-DVD108’s simplified menu structure, 40x optical zoom, and touch screen LCD. Sony’s Easy mode will also assuage the stress of shooting for any point-and-shooter.

Deal: Friday and Saturday only, Best Buy is offering a great $329 package for the DCR-DVD108, a camcorder bag, and a 10-pack of DVD-R discs. Normally, the DCR-DVD108 retails for $349, the bag for $34.99, and the DVD-R 10-pack for approximately $20.

JVC GZ-MG130

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The GZ-MG130 is JVC’s entry-level standard definition HDD camcorder, featuring basic imaging, a 30GB recording capacity, and a highly compact design. This camcorder offers a slew of automatic and manual controls compared to its competitors, and sports an LCD-mounted joystick for great menu navigation. The GZ-MG130 ships with a docking station that provides additional connectivity.

Deal: You can find the JVC GZ-MG130 for a staggering $329 at Best Buy on Friday and Saturday only, compared to its $499 MSRP. This deal includes the option to purchase a camcorder bag and tripod for an additional $20.

JVC GZ-HD7

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JVC’s 60GB HDD monster, the GZ-HD7, features three 1/5-inch CCDs, advanced external controls, and a manual focus ring. Other highlights include a professional aspherical Fujinon lens, large, pivoting viewfinder, and LCD-mounted joystick. Unfortunately, the GZ-HD7 came up a little short in the video quality department, outperformed significantly by rivals such as the Canon HG10 and Sony HDR-SR7. One of the GZ-HD7’s most foreboding characteristics was its prodigious price tag, which was well above the competition. No more…

Deal: Circuit City has lopped a whopping $600 off of the GZ-HD7’s original $1,699 MSRP, bringing the price down to $1,099. The GZ-HD7 can be reserved online and picked up at your local Circuit City.

Adobe Premiere Elements 4

Premiere Elements is one of the best pieces of video editing software. Simple enough for beginners, yet powerful enough for enthusiasts, it can work with most file formats (except AVCHD). Import your video, edit, add music, transitions, and titles, then export to DVD or the Web. The tools go well beyond the software that comes included with most camcorders.

Deal: On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday only, Circuit City is offering Premiere Elements 4 for a mere $39 with the purchase of any camera or camcorder. Normal retail price is between $79 and $99. This is a real bargain.