Camcorderinfo.com Select Awards 2008

Once again it's time for our hallowed yearly accolades celebrating the best in the industry. The year 2008 saw some interesting innovations, including the growth of the ultra-compact, ultra-cheap "YouTube camcorder" market,  as well as the continued migration of cameras and cell phones into the camcorder domain. Below are our top picks in each category. Note that the prices listed are based on average street price at time of publication.

Best Budget Camcorder – Pure Digital Flip Mino – Review, Specs, $159

Best Budget Camcorder: Pure Digital Flip Mino

The explosion of the ultra-budget, ultra-compact camcorder market has only served to underscore the fact that the originator is still the leader. Pure Digital third generation, YouTube-ready camcorder, the Flip Mino, is the company's best yet. Priced at $179, camcorders do not get any smaller or easier to use. True, there are no manual controls, but that is exactly what a lot of people are looking for – no fuss, no muss. Hit the record button and forget it. The interface is dead simple and the process for uploading to YouTube is a cinch. Read our full review of the Pure Digital Flip Mino here.



Runner Up: JVC Everio GZ-MG330 – Review, Specs, $335

Runner up: JVC Everio GZ-MG330

The GZ-MG330 is JVC's entry-level hard drive camcorder, yet retains many of the features that make its step-up siblings popular, including a solid array of manual controls, great performance-for-price, and intriguing "Laser Touch"control. The MG330 is available in blue, pink, and silver. Read our full review of the GZ-MG330 here.

Best Mid-range Camcorder – Samsung SC-HMX20  – Review, Specs, $669

Best Mid-range Camcorder:  Samsung SC-HMX20

The Samsung SC-HMX20 is the strongest camcorder the company has ever released. Recording to SD and SDHC memory cards, the performance is outstanding, the interface is among the simplest in the market, and it looks dead sexy. The huge 1/1.8-inch sensor made for excellent low light results, and the swivel grip allows for some unique handling possibilities. Read our full review of the Samsung SC-HMX20 here.

Runner Up: Sony HDR-TG1 – Review, Specs, $685

Runner up: Sony HDR-TG1

The Sony HDR-TG1 is an HD camcorder that takes on the ultra-compact size of the popular Pure Digital Flips, but throws in a full array of manual controls, and performance far, far above and beyond the Flip and its kin. When you consider it as a full-featured Sony HD camcorder, but smaller, its deal appeal is apparent. Read our full review of the Sony HDR-TG1 here.

Best High-end Camcorder - Canon HF11 – Review, Specs, $889

Best High-end Camcorder: Canon HF11

The Canon HF11is powerful, full-featured HD camcorder that records AVCHD video to either 32GB internal flash memory or SD/SDHC memory cards. Canon has consistently produced the sharpest, most vivid video for a couple of years now, with Sony running a close second. The Canon HF11 offers a comprehensive set of manual controls, yet works well enough in auto mode that point-and-shooters can enjoy both the experience and the results. Ironically, Canon's big technical push for the HF11 – the first camcorder to record at the maximum 24Mbps bitrate– seemed to have little impact on video quality. The previous generation HF10 looked just as good. The HF11 offers double the internal memory, but if you own a few high capacity SD/SDHC memory cards, the HF10 is just as good.  Read our full review of the Canon HF11 here.

Runner Up: Sony HDR-SR11 – Review, Specs, $899

Runner up: Sony HDR-SR11

The Sony HDR-SR11 is an all-around powerhouse camcorder. The performance was only a touch less superb than the Canon HF11, making all of their comparisons difficult to choose. The SR11, a 60GB hard drive camcorder, and its otherwise identical 120GB sibling HDR-SR12, offer better handling than the Canon. The Cam Control dial is almost like something you'd find on a pro model. However, we couldn't be swayed from the great color controls and 60i/30P/24P options on the Canon HF11. Read our full review of the Sony HDR-SR11 here.

Best DVD Camcorder - Sony HDR-UX20 – Review, Specs, $699

Best DVD Camcorder: Sony HDR-UX20

The HDR-UX20 is Sony's top of the line high definition DVD camcorder. Directed towards point-and-shooters who want the best possible image quality, the UX20 is incredibly flexible. There are three media choices: DVDs, MemoryStick Duo cards, or 8GB of internal memory. A decent set of manual controls are there if you want them, but the UX20's strength lies in its auto controls and multiple media choices. Read our full review of the XX here.





 

Best Hard Drive / Flash Memory Camcorder – Canon HF11 – Review, Specs, $889

Best Hard Drive / Flash Memory Camcorder: Canon HF11

The Canon HF11 records to 32GB internal flash memory, which is as large as many hard drives, but with the additional benefits from no moving parts – more shock and weather resistance, better battery efficiency, and faster access to data. If 32GB is not enough, it can be expanded easily with SD or SDHC memory cards. Of course, as we're mentioning several times in these awards, the Canon HF11 is also a fantastic camcorder. Read our full review of the Canon HF11 here.

Runner Up: Sony HDR-SR11 – Review, Specs, $899

Runner up: Sony HDR-SR11

The Sony HDR-SR11 is one of the best performing hard drive camcorder we've seen this year. If the 60GB capacity is not enough for you, try upgrading to the 120GB of space on the otherwise identical HDR-SR12. Both camcorders produce excellent video and offer some of the best handling around. Read our full review of the Sony HDR-SR11 here.

Best Tape Camcorder – Canon HV30 – Review, Specs, $669

Best Tape Camcorder: Canon HV30

The Canon HV30 is little more than last year's HV20 with a fresh coat of paint and the addition of 30P recording. But the HV20 won our 2007 Camcorder of the Year award, so why mess with success? The HV30 records video in the HDV format to MiniDV tapes, which are quickly disappearing from the scene in favor of flash memory and hard drive models. The HV30 is a good reason to consider tape: the video performance is outstanding, tapes are cheap and easily archived, and the $999 MSRP has dropped to nearly half that on the street. It's a great deal. Read our full review of the Cano HV30 here.

Runner Up: Sony HDR-HC9 – Review, Specs, $885

Runner up: Sony HDR-HC9

Like the Canon HV30, the Sony HDR-HC9 is minor upgrade from the previous year's model, in this case the Sony HDR-HC7. But also like the Canon, the progenitor was an excellent camcorder with little need for improvement. The HC9 offers outstanding video performance and a strong manual control set – more comprehensive than most Sonys, but sadly lacking the Cam Control dial found on the hard drive models that could have put it over the top. Read our full review of the Sony HDR-HC9 here.

Best Standard Definition Camcorder – JVC Everio GZ-MG330 – Review, Specs, $335

Best Standard Definition Camcorder: JVC GZ-MG330

The best standard definition camcorder requires a product that gives you the best bang for your buck. There are lots of good, fairly expensive standard definition camcorders, but with the price of HD dropping a little more each year, it's hard to justify the standard def purchase. The GZ-MG330 produced excellent video performance for its price range, and offers a fun and tantalizing "Laser Touch" control for menu interfacing. The low light performance was good, and the 30GB internal hard drive allows you to shoot an entire vacation's worth of memories without pausing.
Read our full review of the GZ-MG330 here.

Runner Up: Samsung SC-MX20 – Review, Specs, $231

Runner up: Samsung SC-MX20

The Samsung SC-MX20 is small, cheap, and slick, making it a great choice for consumers who want a lot of value for only a little green. The MX20 is not the best performing standard definition camcorder, but it compares well to other camcorders in its price range. Most importantly, it's the easiest full-featured camcorder to operate. The menu is laid out in a plain, understandable manner, yet it offers a range of controls and level of quality not attainable by ultra-compact "YouTube" camcorders like the Flip Mino. The MX20 also features a unique swivel grip, allowing for a multiple handling options.
Read our full review of the Samsung SC-MX20 here.

 

Most Innovative Camcorder - Pure Digital Flip Mino – Review, Specs, $159

Most Innovative Camcorder: Pure Digital Flip Mino

The Flip Mino is Pure Digital's third-generation camcorder in the Flip series. This latest model is not so innovative in and of itself, but a whole year of reviewing clones and knock-offs made us realize how absolutely dominant and influential the Flip is. The Mino is the smallest and slickest flip ever, all the while retaining its remarkably simple interface – nary a manual control to be had. Kodak, RCA, and others have tried to steal the thunder, with some small successes, but none have matched the elegant simplicity that makes the Flip Mino king.  Read our full review of the Pure Digital Flip Mino here.



Runner Up: Nikon D90 (Review, Specs, Recent News, $869.99) – Review, Specs, $10191

Runner up: Nikon D90

The Nikon D90 broke down the last barrier between cameras and camcorders when it became the first DSLR still camera to record HD video. Granted, the resolution is limited to 1280 x 720, and our testing showed that the video quality left something to be desired, but Nikon D90 set a new expectation: just as current point-and-shoot cameras are expected to record video (either standard def or HD), soon DSLRs will be expected to record HD video. Already, Canon is ready to deliver the EOS 5D Mark II, which promises to be even better. Too bad for them that Nikon got there first. Read our full review of the Nikon D90 here.

Editor's Pick – Samsung SC-HMX20 – Review, Specs, $669

Editor's Choice: Samsung SC-HMX20

We could not let the year pass without heaping accolades on the surprise hit, the high definition Samsung SC-HMX20. After years of producing decent but unremarkable camcorders, Samsung's 2008 top of the line model simply blew us away in our lab testing. The performance was nearly unbeatable in any kind of light, offering incredible sharpness, color, and sensitivity. It's also the coolest looking camcorder that has passed through our doors in a long time, with sexy curves and a damn useful swivel grip that allows for handling the likes of which no other camcorder can match. The SC-HMX20 is a great choice for beginners, as the menu and interface are much simpler than the standard full-feature camcorder. Well done, Samsung! Read our full review of the Samsung SC-HMX20 here.

 

Camcorder of the Year - Canon HF11 – Review, Specs, $889

Camcorder of the Year: Canon HF11

Last year this award was granted to the Canon HV20, an HDV camcorder with stunning video performance, excellent manual controls, and the best combination of special features. The Canon HF11 continues that tradition, shifting from tape to solid state memory while retaining the same superb performance and adding a few new tricks. Equipped with 32GB internal flash memory, capacity can be expanded through the use of SD and SDHC memory cards. The Canon HF11 also features 60i/30P/24P frame rates, expanding your options for low light shooting and flexing your aesthetic muscle. While no camcorder is perfect for everyone, the Canon HF11 offers so much, both for power users and point-and-shooters, that it will likely satisfy a great many. Read our full review of the Canon HF11 here.

Runner Up: Sony HDR-SR11 – Review, Specs, $899

Runner up: Sony HDR-SR11

Following hot on the heels of the Canon HF11, the Sony HDR-SR11 is very, very good camcorder in its own right, and perhaps even better suited than the Canon for certain users. The Cam Control dial located on the front of the body is a better option than the Sony touch screen, certainly, for making manual adjustments on the fly, and even better than Canon's joystick. However, the Canon HF11 offers a more expansive range of controls, including some useful color and sharpness adjustments. The Sony HDR-SR11's 60GB hard drive offers more recording space than the Canon HF11, and if that's not enough, you can upgrade to the HDR-SR12, which is identical but with a 120GB hard drive. Read our full review of the Sony HDR-SR11 here.