Camcorderinfo.com Select Awards 2009

It's time once again for our annual CamcorderInfo select awards. Every year, we honor those camcorders that stood out above the dozens that go through our labs. Each of these camcorders has survived a battery of tests designed to give a fair and balanced perspective on its performance. These models have also been carefully compared to the competition; our awards reflect those camcorders that our review process has shown to be superior products.

Though our choice for Camcorder of the Year might cost you a pretty penny, we also have a number of awards this year that focus on bringing you a great value. Standard definition models, mid-range high def models, and ultracompact budget camcorders are all easier on the wallet. And this year, we have a new category: Best Value.

Camcorder of the Year – Panasonic HDC-TM300 – Review, Specs, $1058

Among an array of compelling camcorders released this year, the Panasonic HDC-TM300 stands out in the crowd. Not only is the video performance impressive in all lighting conditions, but it also offers a seamless and enjoyable operating experience—for novices and experienced users alike. Though Panasonic has a number of top-tier models this year, we prefer the smooth, comfortable grip and convenient internal flash memory of the TM300. You may get slightly better motion from other camcorders and not all manual controls are easy to operate on the fly. So what features put the TM300 at the top? The manual control lens ring is a beautiful tool for shifting manual focus and the low light footage was bright and clear in any frame rate. Then there's the inclusion of a viewfinder and the excellent iA tools. As a complete package, the TM300 is, quite simply, a superb camcorder.


Runner Up: Canon Vixia HF S11 – Review, Specs, $1349

There are a number of camcorders that come close to besting the TM300 this year, but the Canon HF S11 leads that pack. With 64GB of internal flash memory and an upgrade in optical image stabilization, the latest model from Canon offers quite a lot for savvy consumers. We also noticed that the HF S11 had a slight edge in sharpness and motion. Unfortunately, the Canon has no viewfinder and only performed well in low light with very slow shutter speeds or a 24p/30p frame rate. If these deficiencies don't bother you—or if you dislike the touch screen interface of other manufacturers—the Canon HF S11 is an excellent option.

Camcorder of the Year Panasonic HDC-TM300		Runner Up Canon HF S11

Best Value – Sanyo VPC-HD2000 – Review, Specs, $600

Sanyo may have been slightly outdone by the major manufacturers this year, but only slightly. The excellent HD2000 had impressively smooth motion with its 60p frame rate, plus strong performance in low light and a slew of manual controls—available in both video and photo mode. With the US release of the HD2000, you'll also get compatibility with Apple's new iFrame video format. The convoluted menus and lack of optical image stabilization may deter some, but the HD20000 is a bargain package for just $600. That's hundreds of dollars cheaper than the flagship cams from the competition.


Runner Up: JVC Everio GZ-HM400 – Review, Specs, $749

It may seem unusual to declare anything a good value at $1000 MSRP, but the JVC HM400 is just that—and can easily be found for even less. It offers phenomenal video quality, 32GB of internal memory, and plenty of manual controls for hundreds of dollars less than the competition. Top models from Canon and Panasonic did turn in slightly better results in our testing labs, but only very slightly. The high resolution sensor and subsequent sharpness of the HM400 make it an especially compelling choice for a video-photo hybrid. The lack of alternate frame rates and disappointing low light performance are the only things keeping the HM400 from being the cream of the crop.

Best Value Sanyo VPC-HD2000		Runner Up JVC GZ-HM400

Best Ultracompact Camcorder – Pure Digital Flip UltraHD – Review, Specs, $179

Despite attempts by many manufacturers to oust the king, the Flip series still remains at the top of the heap. This year's efforts by Sony (the Webbie HD MHS-PM1) and JVC (the Picsio GC-FM1) offered their own share of advantages, including still photo capabilities and impressive performance. However, nothing can yet reach the impressive simplicity and seamless workflow of the Flip. This year brought some noteworthy improvements to the series, including an increase in capacity and an HDMI output. The UltraHD may be slightly bulkier than the Mino, but it's still a slick design with the added convenience of AA batteries and solid video performance. The most compelling feature? Flip's simple, intuitive editing software that makes file transfer and upload to YouTube a snap.


Runner Up: Sanyo Xacti VPC-CG10 – Review, Specs, $197

We'll be the first to admit that the Sanyo Xacti CG10 isn't nearly as simple to use as the Flip series. However, the CG10 offers the same compact size and affordability, plus so much more. The CG10 has a slew of manual controls, digital image stabilization, and video and still performance that far outstrips the competition. If you can handle the convoluted interface, the CG10 is, simply put, a lot more camcorder for your money. Unfortunately for Sanyo, ease of use is a significant component of purchasing decisions for camcorders under $200. For that reason alone, it can't steal the top spot away from Flip this year.

Best Ultracompact Flip UltraHD		Runner Up Sanyo VPC-CG10

Best Mid-Range Camcorder – JVC Everio GZ-HM200 – Review, Specs, $499

Given the tight strings on many purses lately, mid-range camcorders are likely to see a lot of action this holiday season. Of all the camcorders we reviewed for around $500, the JVC Everio HM200 stood out above the rest. It's light and compact, easy to use, has excellent video performance, and possesses one very unique feature: two SD/SDHC memory card slots that you can use to separate photos from videos or for continuous recording from one card to the next. The HM200 doesn't have optical image stabilization, but its digital stabilization fared very well in our testing labs and the HM200's color accuracy was simply amazing. Motion and sharpness may not be quite as good as what you find on more expensive camcorders, but for just $580, the HM200 is a great camcorder.


Runner Up: Canon Vixia HF20 – Review, Specs, $623

The Canon HF20 is definitely a strong performer, especially among mid-range camcorders. The sharpness of its videos and photos was very impressive, as was the rest of the camcorder's performance. In fact, its performance was far better than anything else we would consider to be a mid-range camcorder. Though it's lacking some of the robust features that high-end camcorder possess, it has more options than many competing camcorders and is still relatively easy to use. The problem with the HF20 is its price. Paying the $800 (MSRP) price tag will get you higher video quality, but it will also put a strain on your budget.

Best Mid-Range JVC GZ-HM200		Runner Up Canon HF20

Best Standard Definition Camcorder – JVC Everio GZ-MG670 – Review, Specs, $387

Though the MG670 from JVC is the first camcorder we reviewed this year, it just happens to also be the best standard definition camcorder of the year. The MG670 has an excellent range of features and is easy to use, but it was the camcorder's video performance that really set it above the rest. Like all of JVC's camcorders this year, the MG670 had incredible color accuracy, accompanied by excellent overall low light performance. This may not come as much of a surprise, since the MG670's predecessor, the JVC GZ-MG330, was our winner for 2008 standard definition camcorder of the year. And while the 670 may be more expensive than some of the competition, it also includes an 80GB hard drive and HD upconversion. It seems like JVC has really mastered this category and we hope that as long as consumers want no-frills, standard definition camcorders, JVC will be there to make them.


Runner Up: Canon FS200 – Review, Specs, $264

For a more affordable option in standard definition camcorders, we like the Canon FS200. Among camcorders at this price level, the FS200 has the best performance and still manages to offer a fair range of features. The video quality is not as good as what you'll find in JVC's top standard definition models, but it still looks good for standard definition. You'll also have to rely on external SD/SDHC memory cards, since the FS200 has no internal memory. For those willing to spend a little more, you can get some internal flash memory capacity on the Canon FS21 (16GB) or FS22 (32GB).

Best Standard Definition JVC GZ-MG670		Runner Up Canon FS200

Best Video-Enabled DSLR Camera – Panasonic Lumix GH1 – Review, Specs , $1468

Video-enabled SLRs are still relatively new to the industry, and it seems that a lot of manufacturers are still trying to work out the kinks. For some models, we ran into compatibility issues with the video format, while others were limited in the frame rate available for recording. An even more commonplace issue was the lack of manual controls actively available in video mode. The Panasonic GH1 managed to avoid all of those fates, capturing excellent video with a good range of options and controls. Better still, the quality of the video is quite good and the micro four-thirds format makes for a compact form factor. 

Runner Up: Canon EOS 5D Mark II – Review, Specs , $2469

With a $2699 price tag (body only), the Canon EOS 5D Mark II is significantly more expensive than the other video-capable DSLRs on the market. That being said, it was also an exceptional performer in both our still image and video testing. The camera captures crystal-clear HD video at a 1920 x 1080 resolution and a 30p frame rate. Plus, with Canon's new firmware upgrade, the camera offers manual control over aperture, shutter speed, and ISO in video mode. The Mark II is such a compelling choice for video that the only thing keeping it from taking our top honors in '09 is that daunting price tag.

Best DSLR with Video Panasonic GH1		Runner Up Canon 5D Mark II