Best Pocket Camcorders / Camcorder HQ Buyer's Guide
Last updated on 03/14/2013
Things have changed since Pure Digital first unleashed the original Flip Video pocket camcorder in 2007. The Flip is now dead, for starters, but the concept lives on: small, relatively low-cost cameras that shoot decent video and make it easy to share over the web. Some of the newest models have accessory ports, LCDs on both sides of the body, or even waterproof casing. You probably already have a decent video camera on your cell phone or still camera, but if you want something that stands alone and does bit more than the run-of-the-mill Flip clone, start looking below.
The HX-WA30 isn't only portable, it's rugged too, withstanding water, dust and cold. Despite its small size, the January 2013 release shots in full 1920 HD and also takes 16 megapixel stills. Plus, this model includes creative and retouch effects and can take High Dynamic Range shots. Initial reviews are high; the WA03 looks to be a contender in the pocket category.
Great Video, Waterproof Body.
[Read our full Kodak PlaySport Zx3 Review]
This the best pocket camcorder we've ever seen. It shoots stabilized 1080p video, snaps 5-megapixel stills, outputs through USB and HDMI ports, and records to SD/SDHC cards. The 2.5-inch screen is pretty much par for the course, and it's all wrapped up in a grippy, waterproof body. Our reviewer gave it an A+ because it's so fun and easy to use, and is really a great value for the price. An excellent buy.
Best Pocket Camcorders / Camcorder HQ Buyer's Guide Comments & Questions (write your own!)
About HP v5040 (Carl Mangapit — 01/17/2012)
Have you heard of the HP v5040? How is it's performance? Thanks!
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Help with camcorder purchase (Robert Testa — 01/14/2011)
Hi,
I'm a professional Illusionist looking to film and edit myself performing "Magic Tricks" in my home made studio (a room with a black curtain on one side with about 3 halogen lights facing the curtain which I will be standing in front of).
At first, I was going to invest in a High-End 1080p camcorder to be mounted on a tripod with basic movements from the operator (pan up & down, some zoom) and use my second old MiniDV SD cam to have quick edits to (via iMovie '11), with the operator moving around a lot making rapid movements and quick zoom ins and outs (almost like an MTV Cribs style video where cam 1 is still, cam 2 is jittery). I know that editing HD and SD video together makes most people cringe (let alone the 16:9 & 4:3 nightmare), but I thought it might give a cool effect.
After reading your pocket camera reviews, I am now considering buying 2 (or 3) Kodak Playsport Zx5 cameras to do this with but I am afraid that the quality will be sub-par due to it being indoors and because it will be already compressed video that I will be editing.
If the Kodak Playsport Zx5 is not the greatest, I might even get it to be the second cam with a high end camera as my primary to make editing easier.
Any help would be greatly appreciated (even other camera suggestions).
Rob.
revelmagic.com
reply to this comment
I'm a professional Illusionist looking to film and edit myself performing "Magic Tricks" in my home made studio (a room with a black curtain on one side with about 3 halogen lights facing the curtain which I will be standing in front of).
At first, I was going to invest in a High-End 1080p camcorder to be mounted on a tripod with basic movements from the operator (pan up & down, some zoom) and use my second old MiniDV SD cam to have quick edits to (via iMovie '11), with the operator moving around a lot making rapid movements and quick zoom ins and outs (almost like an MTV Cribs style video where cam 1 is still, cam 2 is jittery). I know that editing HD and SD video together makes most people cringe (let alone the 16:9 & 4:3 nightmare), but I thought it might give a cool effect.
After reading your pocket camera reviews, I am now considering buying 2 (or 3) Kodak Playsport Zx5 cameras to do this with but I am afraid that the quality will be sub-par due to it being indoors and because it will be already compressed video that I will be editing.
If the Kodak Playsport Zx5 is not the greatest, I might even get it to be the second cam with a high end camera as my primary to make editing easier.
Any help would be greatly appreciated (even other camera suggestions).
Rob.
revelmagic.com
by James DeRuvo (01/15/2011)
It really depends on your forum. If this is for YouTube, then I'd say stick with the SD camera and dump the HD altogether. Most HD on the net isn't really 720p, but upconverted HD. The Playsport would be good and takes good video. But I'd suggest you snap up a few ZI8s while you can. The advantage of it is the external mic jack that you can plug a better microphone into.
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Flip or Kodak? (Jennifer — 12/18/2010)
My husband has a PC and I have a Mac but i'm guessing we'll both want to use the video camera. I'm trying to decide between the Flip UltraHD and the Kodak Playsport. Which is better for a PC and Mac household?
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Liam McCabe (12/20/2010)
Really doesn't matter either way, both work very well with both operating system.
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MAC compatible? (Diana — 11/30/2010)
I have a MAC. Is either the Play Sport or the Sony Bloggie a better match?
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Liam McCabe (11/30/2010)
Both work fine with Mac.
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KH (11/23/2010)
Do pocket camcorders capture motion smoothly? My daughter is a gymnast and we're looking for a quick and easy way to record her routines.
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by James DeRuvo (11/24/2010)
They pretty good. But understand that zoom is digital and as such youree actually enlarging the image not zoom the focal length. But capturing is pretty snappy. I think the Flip Mino andthe Kodak zi8 are the best.
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Mike M (10/20/2010)
any suggestions on best pocket camcorder for recording sports action in a high school sized gym?
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by James DeRuvo (10/21/2010)
Kodak Zi8 or the PlaySport. Flip MinoHD. Good quality. The Zi8 has a minijack for a better mic. It's what I use.
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Luminating feature? (Alma — 07/31/2010)
Is there such a thing as a camcorder in this category of low-price handhelds with decent resolution that has a light? In our business we would like our techs to be able to take pics of small inclosed spaces when the need arises.
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by James DeRuvo (08/03/2010)
There isn't one for the pocket variety with a light I know of, but give it time. You can always get a superbright LED light. CameraBright is a good place to start. They screw into the tripod mount.
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YES--There is a pocket camcorder with a light! (Jennifer — 10/08/2010)
The Insignia NS-DV720P has a built in light and it gets very good reviews from Consumer Reports.
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Kodak Zi8 video camcorder (Jean Porter — 06/30/2010)
Just bought two Zi8 Kodak video camcorders. Camera is great...we are returning both of them because of faulty built in Arcsoft Media Impression software built in the camera but doesn't import to computer. No support available for this software.
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Sally (07/27/2010)
I recently bought the Kodak Playsport as well and returned in due to the software not loading on either of my home computers and could get no support with it.
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You don't need the Arcsoft software anyway (George A Butel — 12/06/2010)
When you plug the camera into a usb slot, your PC will "see" one new hard drive in My Computer, called "Arcsoft SW," and another drive, called "Removable Disk," will also show up. Ignore the ArcsoftSW virtual drive, but open the Removable Disk, which contains 2 folders, DCIM and MISC. Ignore MISC, bu ppen DCIM, and there will be a folder inside it, 130EKZI8: your movies, as mov files, and still shots, as jpgs, will all be inside that folder. You can select as many as you want, and cut and paste anywhere you want on your computer's hard drive, and open them with whatever video or photo editing software you desire (not all video programs open mov files, though). I had no problem installing the ArcSoft software on my 64-bit Vista system, although I don't use it to import the files. If you could not install it, it could have been due to security software on your pc. I have a number of other programs by them, such as PhotoStudio 6, and I have never had any installation issues.
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francis canning (03/05/2010)
do these camcorders also take good stiil photos........what would be the best , at being pro . yet small in price and statue.... good zoom quick set up and easy to use ............. ps. i presume there are no tapes ........thanking you
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by James DeRuvo (03/06/2010)
Tape is stll around. The Canon HV40 comes to mind. But to be honest, digital stills on a camcorder aren't that great. Best bet for that pro look is the Canon t1i DSLR which shoot great stills, 15mp and also1080p video. But it does have a dslr pricetag.
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