There's been a steady proliferation of more affordable, if still pricey, high-definition camcorders in 2007. CNET.com.au picks the best from this year's litter.
Consumer high-def camcorders are clustering around the AU$2,000 mark -- starting from about AU$1,800 and going to about AU$2,500. In this roundup, we've nominated our favourite cameras based on the media they record video to: removable flash memory (Sony Handycam HDR-CX7K), miniDV/HDV tape (Canon HV20) and hard-disk (Sony Handycam HDR-SR7).
We've refrained from choosing a DVD camera however, because each disc can only store between 15 minutes and an hour of HD video depending on quality. And yes, flash-based camcorders are similarly constrained because they typically ship with a 4GB flash-memory card -- good for between 30 and 90 minutes of footage. However, the lack of moving parts and small-sized storage media make them tiny enough to carry around in a handbag.
Sony Handycam HDR-SR7 
If you've got the prerequisite high-def hardware in your lounge room and are in the market for a camcorder, this is the one to get.
Canon HV20
Canon's HV20 camcorder is a great choice for HD-happy amateurs, but its low-light performance could have been better.
Sony Handycam HDR-CX7K
A great high-def camcorder if you intend to carry it in your handbag. If you've got a little more space, though, plump for a hard-disk model.
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