Another big improvement, but this time it’s enough to make PowerDirector a worthy alternative to its mainstream rivals

A good price coupled with outstanding image quality – a good budget alternative to the Panasonic HDC-HS9

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

A new interface, smart albums, guided editing and photo merging keep Photoshop Elements ahead of the pack

Key improvements over the SD5 make this a still more enticing pocket HD camcorder prospect

A fully featured hard disk AVCHD camcorder with plenty of recording space

A great value camcorder that’s capable of some decent results.

Canon’s first hard disk-based AVCHD camcorder gets it mostly right, with a good level of features and the best image quality we’ve yet seen from the format.

A fully featured hard disk AVCHD camcorder with plenty of recording space

Refocusing on disc-related features makes Nero the top choice for optical disc authoring.

A dinky AVCHD camcorder, with respectable video performance and a reasonable price.

You still get a lot for your money, but HD optical burning only extends to data discs

Canon grabs the crown for the most fully featured HDV camcorder for under $1500

Yet another leap forward for After Effects, which cements its status as the leading PC video compositing tool.

Not only slightly cheaper than the last version, but now Encore CS3 and OnLocation CS3 are included too.

AVCHD support and some useful new effects keep this as the leading entry-level video editor.

Editing performance with HDV remains sluggish, but DV-editing ability is formidable.

Vegas has a huge array of editing features for the money, plus powerful bundled DVD authoring.

Surprisingly powerful for the price, even if the best features are reserved for the more expensive Plus version.

Some substantial new abilities, including support for the new wave of high definition optical discs.