TOP 5 Camcorders under $500 for 2011

In our video camera reviews of 2011, looking for the best camcorder worthy of our TOP 5 list of Best Camcorders under $500, we found the best new features of camcorders this year include models recording at 1920x1080 Full HD 60p AVCHD high optical zoom choices, large LCD touch screens and the choice of recording format between internal flash drive and 2 flash memory SD card slots for virtually unlimited recording times.

Nowadays camcorder video camera reviews are riddled with bunches of letters and abbreviations, some of which we will describe here first:

You may wonder about the differences between SD, TM and HS in the model names, and these are best described as an SD card recording only to an external flash drive SD memory card which is inserted into a slot or sometimes 2 slots in the camcorder. TM means twin media when the video camera has an internal flash drive as well as one or two SD card slots, and HS records to a hard drive and possibly SD cards. You may also see the letters SD/SDXC/SDHC/SD cards, and the variation in letters indicate the speed of the card.

Optical image stabilization is shortened to OIS and CMOS (Complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor) is the image sensor chip which used to be CCDs (charge coupled device). CMOS is better in lower light. Video cameras under $1000 usually have just one CMOS chip but top end camcorders usually have 3 CMOS chips.

Bit rates are nothing to sweat over, but Full HD, 1920 x 1080, and AVCHD are the best picture qualities to look out for. The p in 1080p is for progressive which is better than 1080i for interlaced.

AVCHD is used exclusively by JVC, Sony, Canon and Panasonic and more commonly found in top end Consumer camcorders, Prosumer camcorders and Professional camcorders.

Compact camcorders have taken a giant leap forward this year both in features, value for money and picture quality with the BIG 4 Brands, Canon, JVC, Sony and Panasonic setting the standard. 

In our search for the best video camera with the features above for under $500, our TOP 5 selection of best HD camcorders all come just under the $500 maximum, and like our TOP 5 lists of 2010 we start with number 5 and work down to the best:

#5 on the TOP 5 list is the Fujifilm FinePix Real 3D W3 Camcorder

If 3D technology really floats your boat and you can accept 720p HD resolution instead of Full HD, you may like to check out the Fujifilm FinePix Real 3D W3 camcorder which has a rating of 4.5 stars out of 5 from 71 owner 3D camcorder reviews.  Who can argue with impressive reviews such as these?

The Fujifilm FinePix Real 3D W3 video camera has no internal flash memory, but captures 10 mp photos and video only to an SD card (SD memory card not included) with a dual 10-megapixel CCD and lens system which can be viewed instantly in 3D technology with no glasses required.

The 3.5-inch 1.15 million dot resolution widescreen auto stereoscopic LCD screen displays photos and video in 3D instantly through two 10-megapixel sensors and two Fujinon 3x optical zoom lenses. Auto or manual shutter speed and aperture for instant control in both 2D and 3D.

4th of the TOP 5 is the Panasonic HDC-SD90K 3D 2011                                                                                     

Just like the Panasonic SD 10 video camera chosen as the number 3 best camcorder under $500 of last year, the Panasonic HDC-SD90 3D best camcorders record only to SDXC/SDHC/SD flash drive memory cards at 28 Mbps High bit rate, recording Full-HD 1920 x 1080p.

With a 3" LCD touch screen, Intelligent 40x Zoom, Hybrid O.I.S. a 28mm wide-angle lens and a new zoom mic with wind noise canceller linked to the video camera zoom action the HDC-SD90 compact camcorders have 2D & 3D video capture capability. Note that 3D video can only be recorded with the optional Panasonic VW-CLT1 3D camcorder lens costing almost $200.

Number 3 on our TOP 5 list, the Sony HDR-CX160 2011                                                                                  

Eight buyers of the Sony HDR-CX160 2011 Best Camcorders which is 3rd of our TOP 5 have seen fit to write video camera reviews of their experience with this camcorder, and all 8 awarded video camera ratings of 5 stars out of 5!

With 16gb flash drive internal memory for up to 6 hours of recording, a 3.0” LCD touch screen, 30x optical zoom & 42x Extended Zoom, back-illuminated "Exmor R" CMOS sensor for superb low-light video, wide angle G lens, OIS with 3-Way shake-cancelling, built-in LED light and built-in USB 2.0 cable and intelligent auto with 90 different scene combinations, the Sony HDR-CX160 camcorder records 1920x1080p FULL HD video and 3MP still images.

Number 2 on our TOP 5 list is the JVC GZ-HM670BUS BUNDLE 2011                                                        

Just being pipped to the top spot of our TOP 5 list is the JVC GZ-HM670BUS video camera, and we recommend the bundle because it’s just $15 extra to the camcorder alone. Similar features to the Canon camcorder below at number one, with a 32GB built-in flash memory and just one SD card slot for SD/SDXC/SDHC/SD, a smaller 2.7" "Frameless" Touch Panel LCD screen, 40x optical zoom and  Advanced OIS  recording AVCHD & standard definition dual format with 24Mbps High bit rate recording. The kit contains a useful 8GB flash drive SDHC Memory Card and wallet, Carrying Case w/Strap, a mini table top tripod, a pack of LCD touch screen protectors and a lens and LCD screen cleaning kit.

Last year our number one choice of Best Camcorders for under $500 was a Canon camcorder, the Canon HF R100 video camera, and it’s a Canon camcorder that takes top spot again this year:  

Drum Roll please: ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪And The Winner Is*¨*•.¸¸♪♫ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪Our number one choice in the TOP 5 FULL HD Best Camcorders under $500 for 2011 is the Canon VIXIA HF R21 2011 Model

UK readers note that Canon UK name their camcorder range the Canon LEGRIA, not VIXIA as in the US, and to complicate matters further when looking to compare camcorders, they have changed the name of the R21 as reviewed here to the R28. So for Canon VIXIA HF R21 in the US, please read Canon LEGRIA HF R28 in the UK. Same camcorder, different country!

A 3 inch LCD touch screen and Smart Auto lets you check the action clearly and a genuine Canon HD video lens with 28x advanced zoom gets close to the action while dynamic OIS stabilizes a wide range of movements for smooth, steady video.                                               

With a 32GB internal flash drive and 2 SDXC memory card slots you could record forever almost with the Canon R21. Record for up to 12 hours with the internal flash drive before changing automatically with relay recording to external flash drives for another 12 hours with each 32GB SDHC card.

 A Canon DIGIC DV III image processor with Canon 3.28-megapixel FULL HD CMOS image sensor records your video at 24Mbps video in the highest bit rate in AVCHD. Canon camcorders have gone the extra mile and over delivered with features previously found in Prosumer camcorders costing twice as much as this Canon VIXIA HF R21 2011 video camera model with a microphone terminal giving manual audio level control and a headphone terminal, focus assist, HD-to-SD down-conversion and much more. Without doubt, this is the best Canon video camera at under $500 and a worthy winner of our TOP 5 FULL HD Best Camcorders under $500 for 2011.

The camcorder reviews 2011 in this TOP 5 selection are obviously only summaries, and all camcorders are priced at under $500 at the time of writing these video camera reviews. Some of these TOP 5 camcorder deals are discounted by as much as 33%, so if you are ready to buy now, don’t hang around as prices go up again.

All of these TOP 5 video cameras have many more features worth checking out, and you can read full information of these and over 200 more camcorders at http://www.uscamcorderreviews.com.

UK readers can do likewise at http://www.ukcamcorderreviews.co.uk. There are also video reviews of many camcorders on those sites, or from our Youtube Video Review Playlist goo.gl/rMMVh where you can subscribe to be notified as new video cameras are added.