Huge storage for the money, but quality can't match the more expensive models in this group

The camera also has a powerful 35x optical zoom, but unfortunately the electronic image stabilisation leaves much to be desired, so images can quickly become unwatchable unless you're using a tripod at longer focal lengths

Impressive optical quality and storage space, though a touch expensive

Despite the standard camcorder layout, however, the HF10 feels more comfortable to use than the other similarly styled models on test, even though it's far from the smallest around

High resolution stills and laudable quality for the money, but image stabilisation isn't the best

The design also makes the Sanyo one of the smaller models on test in this Labs - the HD700 can even be squeezed into a jeans pocket, a rather painful feat if attempted with the bulky Canon HG10

Good quality optics and lots of storage, but not the most portable of camcorders

Those same users will also be pleased to find both an external microphone and headphone socket, allowing for more advanced sound recording. However, half the camcorders on test here have a microphone socket, so it doesn't give it much of an advantage

A good price for an HD camcorder, but poor design makes it awkward to use

More importantly, we had few complaints with image quality. It's quite noisy in low light conditions - hardly surprising given its relatively high sensitivity rating of 15 lux - and colours are a bit washed out, but in general the standard settings worked...

Creative's Vado is brilliant value for money and a fine little friend to fans of web video

Hardy. Cheap. Very simple to use

Maximum VGA quality. No exposure settings for low light conditions. Onboard software not compatible with Mac

The dinky little VGA camcorder will record up to 2 hours of video on its flash drive, separating them into clips that you can easily transfer to your computer using its built-in USB connector

The smallest, cheapest camera on test, but unsurprisingly, it also has the poorest image quality

The CG9 is as easy to use as it is to transport, featuring little in the way of physical controls, though various settings can be changed via the menu. The only frustration we encountered while using the device (aside from the ergonomics) was that the bat...

Not much to tempt you over last year's HV20 but Canon still rules the roost when it comes to raw picture quality

Good in low light. Great picture quality. Manual controls

Unfriendly menus. Awkward to hold. Uses tape

Look closer and you'll see some other giveaway changes. The hot-shoe cover no longer runs the risk of separation from its host, thanks to a handy tether. The ill-advised zoom 'strip' has been replaced with a far more traditional rocker. And the screen is...

Cheaper than the HF10, although you need to factor in the cost of storage cards

As with the HF10, the 1920 x 1080 maximum resolution provides enough data for editing and playing back footage on large HDTVs, and the high-quality lens produces bright and crisp images free from colour distortion. The camera is also extremely adaptable,...

The marker has been laid down. Sony's pulled off another AVCHD stunner that will be hard to beat this year

Sparkling footage, Mammoth hard drive, Huge LCD, Good controls

Occasionally sluggish auto focus, Stills don't match 10.2mp billing

The small downside is having to edit down 15 hours of probable fluff into something watchable. Thankfully AVCHD isn't the monster format it once was and most software packages will cope, but you'll still need a fairly hardcore PC to crunch all those frame...