Sony HDR-FX1000

The Sony HDR-FX1000 ($3199 MSRP) doesn't offer quite what you'd expect from a professional camcorder—most obviously noted by its lack of audio controls, connectivity, and a detachable lens. However, our tests show that it can hang with the pros when it comes to overall performance. The camcorder showed us the highest video resolution we've ever measured and it captured smooth, clean motion in our motion test. The HDR-FX1000's color and noise scores were also comparable to professional-grade camcorders. Seeing this excellent image quality coming out of a relatively cheap camcorder (compared to pro models) is rather surprising. The fact that the camcorder records HDV footage to MiniDV tape is another plus—tape is cheap and HDV is easy to edit.

The HDR-FX1000 is not for people who want to fine tune their image with precise controls. Yes, it has lots of manual settings, but their implementation is awkward and frustrating. It isn't easy to make adjustments while your shooting and the level of customization offered on the camcorder is disappointing. If you're looking for fancy dials, clean button layout, and smarter design check out a larger camcorder like the Canon XL H1A.

Overall, the HDR-FX1000 is a camcorder packed with excellent performance and a decent array of features. It isn't the easiest device to use, it doesn't handle with elegance, and it can't do everything that professional camcorders are capable of—but that doesn't mean its a bad product. If the clumsy manual control setup doesn't frighten you away, the HDR-FX1000 could be a good option if you're looking for professional-quality video at a relatively low price.