Best Camcorders - true MPEG Movie Mode, 5 to 14 Hours Battery Life, 3 to 5 in. Depth

'Comprehensive enthusiast features.'

'Input/output terminals.'

'Images were really smooth with very few jagged edges and no visible pixellation.'

'huge zoom and superb image stabilisation'

'Manual features.'

'Useful and accessible automatic and manual controls'

'high-quality performance'

'The HDR-CX160 features several automated modes for better recording, including Optical SteadyShot for more stable videos, Tracking Focus to keep focus on a moving object, and Wind Noise Reduction. '

'The camera is so light it almost feels like there is nothing there.'

'The HF M31 has 32MB of flash memory built in, which is enough for three hours of footage at the top quality mode. '

'It is also capable of taking excellent looking video — especially in bright lighting. '

'Images were exceptionally sharp in optimum lighting, with plenty of detail remaining in shadowed areas of the picture.'

'Good HD video quality'

'It fits comfortably in the palm of my hand, with the large lens and two built-in mic inputs on the front end and the battery, start/stop record button and video mode/photo mode indicator lamps on the back. '