Best HD Flash Based Camcorder for $600

[Mike82]

Whats the best HD Flash based camcorder? I was looking at the Canon HF 20 only because of its high data rate of 24Mbps but after doing some searching other camcorders have better video quality with a lower bitrate according to some people.

It will replace my old Sony HDR-HC1, love the camcorder but am tired of the tapes. I don't really have any complaints about the HC1 other than the tapes and a smaller camcorder would be nice. Only time i ever really seen bad performance was when i was taping a fast moving subject and in low light.

I have download clips from a HF 20 and couldnt really tell any differance in them when compared to the HC1.

[Persistence]

Beware of any AVCHD videocam that shoots in 1920x1080, particularly if in 24p at a high bitrate, unless you also own a quad core PC with a top notch dedicated video card. Otherwise, you simply won't be able to play or edit the files.

If you can get a 2008 Canon model for $600, that is probably a better buy than to spend $1,000 or more for the 2009 version of the same. The camcorderinfo site provides some fairly reliable reviews.

Most who view your videos will not notice whether it was shot in 1920x1080p, 1440x1080i, or even 1280x720 60p. A bitrate of 13 mbps is probably good enough for just about any static shot and even one with fairly complex motion. 24mbps would be superior for complex action, but be a waste (or simply create oversized files that are hard to play) for scenes with little motion or bad light. What viewers will notice most is whether the camera was stable, whether the focus drifts, and how bad the resolution or color balance gets in dark settings. Bad sound can also detract from any virtues of the video.