The best 10 camcorders in comparison

Recording videos is now easier than ever before. Every smartphone has a camera capable of shooting video at 1080p or even more. You might ask yourself if it's even worth buying a standalone camcorder. The resolution is not the only specification that matters. Camcorders typically have larger sensors and lenses, capable of delivering optical zoom. A dedicated video camera enables you to have more control over the quality of the recording, even in low light conditions. And, if you enjoy recording your sports adventures, you'll need a waterproof action camera. To help you find the best camcorder, we compiled a list with the most important specs and features.

Design and build

Since a camcorder would always be in the list of items to take on vacation, a compact and lightweight device ideal for traveling. However, you would not want to sacrifice usability and quality. Smaller chassis are not able to house all components of professional video cameras. Adding an optical zooming capability, for example, would prove to be an impossible challenge since optical zoom relies on multiple sizable lenses that act as a sort of mini telescope. The same goes for Wi-Fi capability, which requires a WLAN module, a flash, which needs a lightbulb and other components, and pretty much any feature.

You should also take into consideration the fact that compact camcorders have smaller battery packs, which translates into shorter battery life. Therefore, a smaller sized camcorder has fewer features and less impressive specifications than larger sized alternatives.

That said, finding the right balance between size and specs depends on your preferences. We recommend that you compile a list of all the features and specs you would want to have, and look for a lightweight, compact camcorder that meets your criteria. You can use the filters on our category page to find the right camcorder for your needs.

Most camcorders are made of plastic or aluminum alloys. Plastic, mostly in the form of polycarbonates, is used in most portable devices these days because it is considerably cheaper to produce compared to other materials and still provides satisfactory heat and shock resistance. It's also very flexible, which might be an advantage when you pack your camcorder tightly in your suitcase or backpack. However, flexible housing is not generally recommended since internal connections may be severed.

Aluminum alloys are often used for the chassis, as they are much more durable than polycarbonates. Mixed with other materials, they can gain flexibility, but most aluminum alloys are generally less flexible than polycarbonates.

Image sensor

Since the image sensor is the most important part of a camcorder, it's crucial to be acquainted with its key specifications of the sensor. Here's what you should take into account:

Sensor size

A larger sensor can use more light information in the production of the images, thereby dramatically increasing image quality. A larger sensor also improves the focusing of the camcorder, especially when isolating a particular subject in the scene.

Megapixels

Megapixels represent the number of pixels in the sensor, with one megapixel being equal to one million pixels. A pixel is like a digital tile of color. An image is composed of thousands or millions of different colored tiles. Therefore, the more megapixels a camcorder has, the higher the video quality will be. To find out more about megapixels and why they matter for image and video quality, you can consult our glossary.

Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS)

Compared to the more traditional CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) sensor, CMOS sensors are much more energy efficient. A CMOS sensor has a data throughput speed that's multiple times higher than that of a CCD since it has many more channels in data readouts, usually 3 to 8 times more. The high data throughput speed allows for a higher frame rate in burst mode. CMOS sensors are also superior when it comes to performance in low light conditions, and have multiple other advantages about which you can read more here.

Back-illuminated sensor (BSI)

BSI sensors use the same parts as front-illuminated sensors, but the components are arranged in such a way that the wires are behind the photocathode layer. This way, the amount of light captured is increased because the wirings are not blocking it anymore. For more insights into backside illumination, you can read our description of the term.

Optics

The optical lens is the part of the camcorder that helps the sensor create the image by redirecting the light that comes through the assembly, correcting optical aberrations in the process. It is also responsible for focusing tasks and controlling the amount of light that comes through the camcorder assembly - in other words, the exposure. The lense of the camcorder can be built-in or interchangeable in the case of system cameras. A camcorder with interchangeable lenses allows you to choose among various lens types.

Optical Image Stabilization (OIS)

Optical image stabilization works by continuously adjusting the inner lenses in real-time to compensate for the camcorder's movement or vibrations. The detection of the movement is made possible by gyro sensors.

Optical Zoom

The lenses are adjusted to zoom in on the subject. This method does not sacrifice the image resolution as it doesn't digitally zoom in by merely enlarging the image, as it is often the case for smartphones. The higher the optical zoom rating, the closer you can zoom in on the subject.

Viewfinder

Some camcorders have a viewfinder in addition to the live view on the LCD. A viewfinder is particularly beneficial when capturing while zooming in. The viewfinder is placed on eye-level and allows you to place the camera against your body, therefore providing a much more stable platform compared to the situation when you hold it far from your eyes and look at the screen on the back.

There are two types of viewfinders: electronic (EVF) and optical (OVF). An Electronic viewfinder is basically a small LCD display. The advantage of an EVF over an OVF is that you can see exactly how the final image or video is going to look. Opting for an optical viewfinder, on the other hand, provides you with better clarity and dynamic range, and also eliminates the delay found in some EVF systems.

Video Capturing Capabilities

Video recording quality

Two things matter when determining the video recording quality: the maximum video resolution and maximum frames per second (fps). Higher video resolution translates into sharp and smooth video recordings. The bitrate is also valuable when estimating the quality of the video recording. The higher the bitrate, measured in Mbps, the higher the quality will be.

Autofocus tracking

A camcorder with autofocus tracking analyzes the image that the sensor captures and keeps track of the object in focus, even when it's moving. Some camcorders can also focus on multiple objects at the same time. You can read more about continuous autofocus tracking here.

Focus Motor

For video cameras with interchangeable lenses, the camera body may have a built-in focus motor. This way, no matter what type of lens you use, your camera will be able to keep objects in focus without problems. However, some lenses come with their own focus motor, so you don't necessarily need a camera body with a built-in focus motor. If such a focusing mechanism is missing from both the lens and the camera body, you'll have to focus manually. Nowadays, all professional lenses have built-in focus motors.

Connectivity

Most camcorders have USB ports to connect with other devices. Firewire is also often used on professional audio and video equipment. In addition to wired connections, a camcorder may also have Near Field Communication (NFC) for short-range communication, as well as Wi-Fi for long-range wireless communication with other devices.