Canon HG10

There are high definition camcorders and there are HIGH DEFINITION camcorders. The difference? The former thinks it's done its bit simply by shooting at HD resolution, without giving the sharpness level and the overall picture quality that should come with it. The latter, on the other hand, is the real deal – high resolution, high detail... and high definition. The Canon HG10 belongs to the latter category.

Just a look at the device and it gives you an idea that it's not aimed at the casual vacationer. It's a little too big, a little too heavy, and a little too serious for that. The overall design doesn't break from the traditional camcorder look, even if it's a bit on the curvaceous side. The hard drive is placed on the right, over which you have the handstrap. The zoom toggle is located conveniently on top of the camera, while most other recording-related controls can be accessed from the rear.

The 2.7-inch LCD display is non-touchscreen, which is a pity considering the otherwise high specs of the camcorder. Instead it has the playback controls located at the bottom of the display with a jog cum d-pad based menu control system on the left of the screen. This is where Sony camcorders have an advantage. As much as one may crib about touchscreen, it's still the best option to have in camcorders instead of dodgy controls that are questionably responsive.