I recently had the opportunity to try out the Canon HV30 Mini-DV camcorder. The camcorder records high-definition video onto a MiniDV tape and has a variety of different built-in automatic shooting modes as well as a variety of manual control options making the camcorder an excellent choice for an aspiring filmmaker on a budget, or a consumer who wants to shoot high quality home videos.

The Panasonic SDR-H40 is a standard definition hard disk camcorder with a 40GB built-in hard drive.

The H40 would be a great camcorder choice for someone who is looking for a moderately priced camcorder to record family vacations, graduations, and school events. The camcorders 40GB hard drive is capable of holding an entire school play or all the video from your week long vacation without ever switching out a tape, or downloading video to your computer.

The H40 is also equipped with an anti-shock shield that protects the hard disk from losing data if the camcorder is dropped by a child or gets tossed around in luggage.

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• Panasonic 2008 Camcorders

There's a lot of buzz these days about high-definition video. If you're currently shopping for a new camcorder this Beginners Guide to HD Camcorders can help answer some basic questions you may have about high-defintion camcorders.

If you've just started camcorder shopping, you've probably noticed that theres a pretty substantial price difference between different camcorder models. You can buy a MiniDV camcorder that costs $300, but you can also spend $3000 on one. So what's causing the price difference? This article "What Makes Camcorders Expensive?" explains some of the most common reasons for a price difference between models, as well as what you can expect from camcorders at different price points.

• Camcorders for Beginners
• Camcorder Buying Guide