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- #5 Handycam, HDR-CX405 From Sony
- #4 4K Action Camera From Vmotal
- #3 Vixia HF-G50 Camcorder From Canon
- #2 GoPro Hero9 From GoPro
- #1 Full HD Video Camera From SEREE
The Best Camcorders For 2021
We’ve looked at over 200 camcorders and chosen the 5 best HD camcorders available in 2021. While there are plenty of great models to be found on the web, we feel that the best camcorders offer something a little bit different. The best camcorders offer higher resolution, greater dynamic range, and manual control.
Whether you’re looking to capture incredible footage of your family vacation or capturing action shots of your child tackling a new challenge, our team of expert reviewers has the right camcorder for you.
We also offer advice on what you should look for when searching for the best camcorders. The items mentioned in this guide are in no exact order, so be sure to stay to the end, so you don’t miss the perfect model for your needs.
To give you this top 5 review, we have looked at 231 products and analyzed 3409 customer reviews.
#1. Full HD Video Camera From Seree
Best Budget Video Camera
Budget Option
The SEREE HD Video Camera is a great choice if you want something that works well and is affordable at the same time. It has a few different filming modes, and it can take both video and photos. At 3.9 pounds, it’s also fairly lightweight. The battery will last for up to six hours with a full charge.
- 16X Optical Zoom
- Built-In Microphone
- Six Hours Battery Life
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You can spend a lot of money getting a camera that works well, but if you want something that works well and is affordable at the same time, then the SEREE HD Video Camera is a great choice. It has a few different filming modes, and it can take both video and photos. It has a 16 times optical zoom, and it has night vision. The camera has a built-in microphone, and you can use an included remote to get some great footage.
The battery will last for up to six hours with a full charge. At 3.9 pounds, it’s also fairly lightweight. Our biggest gripe with this camera is that it can be challenging to get a clear shot when you’re trying to get close to something.
The focus can also be a little off sometimes, so if you’re trying to get a shot of something really far away, it can get a little blurry. But all in all, this camera has a lot going for it.
#2. GoPro Hero9 From GoPro
Best action camera with front-screen
Top Pick
The GoPro Hero9 Black is still one of our favorite action cams. It features a ruggedized body that can take a beating and still be waterproofed to 33 feet. While the Hero9 doesn’t have any serious flaws, its main disadvantage is the price. The Hero9 costs for a 12-gauge model and for a -guru model.
- Waterproofed
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The GoPro Hero9 Black has been out for a while and is still one of our favorite action cams. It features a ruggedized body that can take a beating and still be waterproofed to 33 feet. There’s a front-facing color touchscreen that works well for framing selfies and checking your composition while recording video.
GoPro’s software interface is easy to use, and you can adjust exposure and focus after shooting a scene. There’s a wide range of quality lenses available, with the standard 12-megapixel CMOS sensor providing excellent low-light performance. While the Hero9 doesn’t have any serious flaws, its main disadvantage is the price.
Regardless, we still think it’s one of the best action cameras and the perfect companion for someone who loves to take their camera along for the ride.
#3. Vixia HF-G50 Camcorder From Canon
Best Entry Level 4K Camcorder
Top Pick
Canon Vixia HF-G50 is at the entry-level of the 4K Ultra HD camera category. The compact body with a 20 times optical zoom has a 3.0inch LCD screen with 2,596,000 dots, a 3 button control pad, and a tiltable EVF viewfinder. With a 64GB memory card, this camera can record 4K video for up to 55 minutes.
- 20X Optical Zoom
- 3.0″ LCD Screen
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The Canon Vixia HF-G50 is at the entry-level of the 4K Ultra HD camera category, offering a compact body with a 20 times optical zoom. This is a well-rounded camera with excellent video performance, dual card slots for storage, a quality image processor, and fast autofocus. The 4K Ultra HD camcorder offers 35mm equivalent F1.8-2.8, a 20mm lens, with a minimum object distance of just 23.6 inches
It has a beautiful 3.0 Inch LCD screen with 2,596,000 dots, a 3 button control pad, and a tiltable EVF viewfinder. The Canon Vixia HF-G50 is at the entry-level of the 4K camera category, offering 4K video recording at up to 30 frames per second.
With a 64GB memory card, this camera can record 4K video for up to 55 minutes, and you can also perform timelapse recordings. While it is not the most powerful camera, it offers excellent video performance for the price.
#4. 2.7K Action Camera From Vmotal
Best Action Camera
Top Pick
The Vmotal 4K Action Camera is a sleek action camera that has a ton of features. It provides a lot of video and photo modes with a variety of frame rates and resolutions. The wireless connection allows you to transfer captured video and photos to your phone or PC with ease.
- Weather Resistant
- Auto Shot Mode
- Wireless Connection
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The Vmotal 4K Action Camera is a sleek action camera that has a ton of features. It was recently released to the public and has been very well received. It provides a ton of video and photo modes with a variety of frame rates and resolutions. It is equipped with a rugged body that is weather resistant and will withstand drops from as high as 6 feet without issue.
It gives you the ability to shoot in 2.7K ULTRA HD at 30 frames per second or 60 FPS in lower resolutions. During video recording, you have the choice of choosing between 5, 8, 12, or 16-megapixel resolution.
And it has an auto shot mode that gives you a choice of 3, 10, 15, 20, and 30 seconds delay before the camera takes a shot. The wireless connection allows you to transfer captured video and photos to your phone or PC with ease.
And the included remote app gives you the ability to change exposure, white balance, focus, and exposure. You can get the camera to perform pretty much any action you would want to do with it. It is quite versatile and provides a lot of value for the price.
#5. Handycam, HDR-CX405 From Sony
Best Budget Handycam
Budget Option
The Sony Handycam HDR-CX405 is a compact, lightweight camcorder with superb video quality. It has a rotating 2.7-inch LCD screen and a battery that holds up to 40 hours of continuous recording. When shooting, the camera has a 30x optical zoom, which is near the bottom of the range.
- Rotating 2.7″ LCD
- 27X Optical Zoom
- Image Stabilization
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If you want a compact, lightweight camcorder with superb video quality, the Sony Handycam HDR-CX405 is at the top of the class. This camcorder has a rotating 2.7-inch LCD screen and a battery that will record for 2½ hours of continuous recording. It can take both still and video images. When shooting, the Sony Handycam HDR-CX405 has a 27 times optical zoom, which is near the bottom of the range of the camcorders we tested.
It has excellent image stabilization and a dual record mode that allows you to take both video and still images at the same time. On the negative side, this camcorder lacks Wi-Fi and editing capabilities. But most people will be able to get by with just this model.
