When it comes to great Christmas gift ideas, it's hard to go past a digital camcorder. Whether your loved one dreams of making an Oscar-winning movie or just wants to stick a video of their dog on YouTube, there’s a camcorder to suit every taste and budget.
With that in mind, here are seven of the best camcorders on the market — from sports-friendly pocket cams to premium HD 3D offerings.
Canon Legria HF S21 ($1899, canon.com.au)
Canon's Legria HF S21 is the Ferrari of camcorders, without the supercar pricetag. It packs 64GB of on board memory plus dual SDHC cards that you can swap while filming, meaning you could – theoretically – shoot forever. The compact supercam also crams in a 3.5in touchscreen, and manages 8.59MP stills and 25p cinema-rate shooting.
Originally retailing for $1899, we recently spotted it online for just $1044.
GoPro HD Hero ($299, gopro.com)
If you’ve got a new BMX for Christmas and want to get some footage while risking life and limb, there’s no better camera for the job than a GoPro HD Hero. It shoots full 1080p footage from a wide-angle lens and comes with a waterproof multi-mounting housing. You’ll break before it does.
Kodak PlaySport Zx5 ($249, kodak.com.au)
Planning on falling about drunk this Christmas? Want to leave your valuables in the path of rampaging sugar-fuelled children? The Kodak Playsport Zx5 has you covered with its waterproof, shockproof, dustproof build that still manages full HD video, 5MP stills and has expandable SDHC memory – all for under $250.
If that still seems too high, have no fear: we've seen it online for as little as $130.
Sony HDR–TD10 ($1895, sony.com.au)
Sure, for 3D you could get the cheaper GoPro HD 3D package, but then you wouldn’t have a screen to view what you’re filming or the options a 'proper' camcorder offers. Two Exmor chips make for superb high quality footage with dual lenses that capture amazing depth, all in face-slapping three dimensions.
The cheapest we've been able to find this camcorder online is $1287 -- a tidy saving of $608.
With the Aussie summer heating up, it makes sense to get a camcorder that can be used underwater, especially if you're planning a beachside holiday. The Panasonic HM-TA20 is a Full HD pocket camcorder that can survive depths of up to three metres. It's also shock-proof and dust-proof and is capable of taking decent 8MP photos.
Olloclip for iPhone 4 and 4S ($69.95, olloclip.com)
Carrying camera lenses doesn’t have to mean a hernia – the Olloclip gives you wide-angle, macro and fisheye lenses all in your pocket. Clip on whichever you need and start shooting for an instant quality upgrade.
Millennius Pocketeye Full HD Camcorder ($99, millennius.com.au)
Boasting 1080p Full HD video recording, a 12MP still camera mode and an 8GB SD memory card, the Millennius Pocketeye Full HD Camcorder is a solid option for Christmas shoppers on a budget.
See also:
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