Become a camcorder pro: A 10-step guide to making your footage shine

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  Kogan Full HD 1080p Video Camcorder Camera

  Kogan's camcorder talks a big talk at a low asking price. Although it doesn't deliver to the same standards as its competitors, it does offer an interesting choice for very entry level videographers.

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  Best hard-disk camcorders

  Hard-disk camcorders offer more space than you can poke the proverbial stick at, allowing you to record hours upon hours of footage. We nominate three of the best.

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  Top high definition camcorders

  High-def camcorders, while not exactly cheap, are now more affordable then ever. CNET Australia picks the best from this year's litter.

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  Canon HG21

  Bedecked in black, the HG21 is Canon's top dog, second-gen, high-def, hard-disk camcorder. It features 12x optical zoom, a CMOS sensor, optical image stabilisation and an electronic viewfinder.

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  Best flash memory camcorders

  Flash memory only camcorders are smaller and lighter than their hard-disk, DVD or tape brethren. We pick two outstanding high-def units plus a hardy, go anywhere standard-def model.

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  Canon HG20

  Canon's rapid ascent up the high-def, hard-disk camcorder totem pole continues with the HG20 and HG21 twins. Both share optical image stabilisation, 12x optical zoom and a CMOS sensor. The HG20 comes with a smaller 60GB hard-disk and misses out on a viewfinder.

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  Canon HF11

  It might not fit every hand, but the results it provides are excellent whether you're a manual fiddler or just want quick and easy automatic filming capabilities.

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  JVC Everio GZ-MS100

  The JVC Everio GZ-MS100 is an average budget SD-card-based camcorder that's more attractive for its small design and relatively average video quality than its unique interface and one-touch uploads to YouTube.

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  Oi!: Oregon Scientific's thrill-seeking camcorder

  Action lovers need not worry about capturing their high jinx anymore with the ATC3K.

More articles »

• 

  Top high definition camcorders

  High-def camcorders, while not exactly cheap, are now more affordable then ever. CNET Australia picks the best from this year's litter.

• 

  Best hard-disk camcorders

  Hard-disk camcorders offer more space than you can poke the proverbial stick at, allowing you to record hours upon hours of footage. We nominate three of the best.

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  Camcorder formats: which one is best?

  Prospective camcorder buyers are faced with a choice of four types of camcorder recording media: hard disk, flash memory, MiniDV/HDV tapes, or mini-DVD. We run through the pros and cons of all four formats to make your purchasing journey a little less like a trip through Dante's nine circles of hell.

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  Best flash memory camcorders

  Flash memory only camcorders are smaller and lighter than their hard-disk, DVD or tape brethren. We pick two outstanding high-def units plus a hardy, go anywhere standard-def model.

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  What to look for in a digital camcorder

  There are easily more than a dozen features to consider when shopping for a camcorder, and even more models to pick from. So before you cough up money for a camcorder, take note of the following key features to look out for.

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  Photos: Canon HF10 design and image quality

  Canon's first flash-based camcorder delivers excellent HD video quality and performance in a tiny package. We delve into its controls, as well as its video and still image quality.

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  Getting a complex(ion) over high definition

  Even make-up has entered the age of high definition.

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  How to take video in total darkness

  All sorts of interesting things happen in the dark, but how do you take a video of them? These tips will help you shoot video in even the darkest places.

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  Videography 101

  Struggling to figure out how to best record special events in your life? We've rounded up all our camcorder how-tos that might just turn you from Uwe Boll into Francis Ford Coppola.

• 

  Kogan Full HD 1080p Video Camcorder Camera

  Kogan's camcorder talks a big talk at a low asking price. Although it doesn't deliver to the same standards as its competitors, it does offer an interesting choice for very entry level videographers.

• 

  Canon HG21

  Bedecked in black, the HG21 is Canon's top dog, second-gen, high-def, hard-disk camcorder. It features 12x optical zoom, a CMOS sensor, optical image stabilisation and an electronic viewfinder.

• 

  Canon HG20

  Canon's rapid ascent up the high-def, hard-disk camcorder totem pole continues with the HG20 and HG21 twins. Both share optical image stabilisation, 12x optical zoom and a CMOS sensor. The HG20 comes with a smaller 60GB hard-disk and misses out on a viewfinder.

• 

  Canon HF11

  It might not fit every hand, but the results it provides are excellent whether you're a manual fiddler or just want quick and easy automatic filming capabilities.

• 

  JVC Everio GZ-MS100

  The JVC Everio GZ-MS100 is an average budget SD-card-based camcorder that's more attractive for its small design and relatively average video quality than its unique interface and one-touch uploads to YouTube.

More reviews »

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  Sony Handycam HDR-SR10

  The SR10 offers a good balance between value and quality in the emerging consumer HD video space.

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  Sony Handycam DCR-SR46

  Step up from the SR45 to the SR46 and you'll get an extra 10GB of hard-disk space for a total of 40GB. So, like the SR45, you get 40x zoom, video recording on to Memory Stick and a 2.7-inch LCD.

• 

  JVC Everio GZ-MS100

  The JVC Everio GZ-MS100 is an average budget SD-card-based camcorder that's more attractive for its small design and relatively average video quality than its unique interface and one-touch uploads to YouTube.

• 

  Kogan Full HD 1080p Video Camcorder

  Kogan's camcorder talks a big talk at a low asking price. Although it doesn't deliver to the same standards as its competitors, it does offer an interesting choice for very entry level videographers.

• 

  Sony Handycam HDR-SR12

  A little cheaper and a bit more capacious than its predecessor, Sony's top-dog consumer camcorder is the one to get should you have the desire to go high-def.

More popular reviews »

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  Sony Handycam HDR-SR12

  A little cheaper and a bit more capacious than its predecessor, Sony's top-dog consumer camcorder is the one to get should you have the desire to go high-def.

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  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.

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  Sony HDR-FX1

  For the price, the best HD camera currently available.

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  Sony Handycam DCR-PC350

  Its compact size and great stills and videos make the PC350 a top choice for a double-duty camcorder.

More editors' choice »