Camcorders

What's behind our camcorder Ratings?

• Overall score
  Overall score mainly reflects picture quality and ease of use. The displayed score is out of a total of 100 points.
• Picture quality
  Picture quality is based on the judgments of trained panelists who viewed recorded video images shot in good light at the highest quality setting available.
• Low-light picture quality
  Low light Picture quality is based on the judgments of trained panelists who viewed recorded video images shot in dim light at the highest quality setting available.
• Ease of use
  Ease of use takes into account ergonomics of the controls and displays, and user manual readability.
• Auto focus
  Overall assessment of the autofocus system, which takes into account speed and accuracy.
• Audio quality
  Audio quality represents accuracy using the built-in microphone, plus freedom from noise.
• Image stabilizer
  Image stabilizer reflects how well the model reduces the shakes in a scene. While it can be effective, using a tripod is the surest way to get a steady image.
• Display quality
  Display quality reflects image clarity, color accuracy, and contrast of the LCD as judged by panelists who viewed recordings of various scenes made in our lab. It also includes our judgment of the onscreen informational displays, the video playback under bright sunlight, and (if applicable) touchscreen usability.
• Versatility
  Versatility indicates features that increase a camcorder's utility or capabilities. These might include the presence of a built-in lamp, eyepiece viewfinder, manual image control settings, external microphone input, headphone output, and so on.
• Still camera
  Overall quality of the photo functions of the camcorder, which includes picture quality and handling.
• Battery life
  Battery life is how long the camcorder can continuously record images with the LCD viewer in constant use and occasional use of other features such as the zoom lens.