The number of people using smartphone cameras has continued increasing. Despite this increase, the fact remains that this is not the most efficient way to record your best moments. As far as quality is concerned, a camcorder is the best option to record your happy moments.
A good example is when you are taking a walk in a nature park. In such a walk, you would want to get the clearest videos of wild animals. There are many professional camcorders on the market which may be beyond the reach of most customers.
Search for the best camcorders under $500 on Amazon.com
This is the reason we have compiled a list of the best camcorders under $400. Our review doesn’t just focus on price but also the reliability, versatility, and functionality of these camcorders.
Top Rated Video Camera with Projector
Sony HDRCX405 HDR-CX405/B Handycam Review
The Sony HDRCX405 HDR-CX405/B Handycam is a portable HD camcorder that offers basic functionalities in a lightweight and compact body. It prioritizes weight and size over image quality and other features. The camera’s sensor is small in size but performs much better than some of the large sensors. It produces 1080p movie at 60 fps even in low light conditions. The CX405 comes with a wide-angle ZEISS Len whose width is 26.8 mm. Its optical zoom is 30x while its Clear Image Zoom is 60x.
There is a small switch at the front of the camera to help you operate the lens cover. The camera gives you features like white balance, shutter speed, exposure, low lux, iris, and focus. Being an AUTO camera, it is simple to operate even for non-experienced photographers. The screen can be flipped and rotated forward to enable you to capture selfie videos and photos. The inbuilt software has video editing options that can be operated through the LCD screen. Some of its other features include the AVCHD & MP4 codecs, and the Active mode for image stabilization.
Top Video Camera with WiFi
Sony HDRCX405 Handycam Review
The Sony HDRCX405 Handycam is a 60p full HD camcorder that is able to capture memorable moments in amazing ways. It helps you get closer to the target with its 27x zoom option while its Carl Zeiss lens helps you to capture wider angles. The width of the lens is 29.8 mm which is good enough to capture a number of things you need in a shot. In terms of technology, you can get high definition 1080p videos with this camcorder. For still images, you can capture high quality 9.2 megapixels even in low light conditions. The low light sensitivity combined with Exmor R CMOS sensor reduces grains in the images and improves the image clarity.
The Exmor R CMOS sensor has been designed camcorders and compact cameras to relocate the photodiodes and maximize the light gathering capabilities. The Clear Image Zoom for this camcorder is 54x. This zoom level allows for comparison of patterns between the adjacent pixels so as to generate new pixels that match the selected patterns. This results in a high-quality realistic image of the subject. The LCD display is 2.7 inches. There is a SteadyShot image stabilization feature that compensates for any camera shake during capture. Its Face Detection technology is able to detect up to 8 faces and distinguish between those of adults and children.
Best Digital Camcorder for the Money
Canon VIXIA HF R700 Review
The Canon VIXIA HF R700 has an incredible 57x Advanced Zoom ideal for recording fun family trips. It has a SuperRange Optical Image Stabilizer that helps you capture distant objects in a more flexible way. With this camcorder, you don’t need to interrupt the scene so as to achieve smooth and steady video outputs even when you are shooting while walking. A removable SD card included enables you to record directly onto it to facilitate an easier transfer.
There is a Framing Assist feature that is available in both Manual and Auto modes. This feature helps you to keep faraway objects in view. A Highlight Priority Mode enables you to obtain the same vivid colors that a naked eye can see. An included LCD screen is clear and bright for both indoor and outdoor conditions. The camcorder comes with a powerful DIGIC DV 4 for outstanding image processing capabilities. It is equipped with a Full HD 3.28 megapixel CMOS Image Sensor that captures your memories in 1080p true resolution.
Best Rated Handycam to Buy
Sony DCR-SX45 Handycam Camcorder Review
The Sony DCR-SX45 Handycam Camcorder is an ultra-compact camcorder that features a 230K 3.0 inch LCD screen, an inbuilt LED video light, and a Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar professional quality lens. It has a powerful 70x extended zoom that delivers sharp and high-resolution images even for objects that are far away.
It works with the 60x optical zoom to move you closer to the action without distorting the image quality. One of its features is the Intelligent Auto. This feature is able to go beyond the traditional auto modes and give you 36 different possible scene combinations from 7 distinct modes. An inbuilt USB 2.0 cable allows for easy transfer of files. There is also a direct copy feature that helps in saving to an external hard disk without the help of a computer.
