May 2022
Camcorders: Aggregated Ranking Report
This report contains an aggregate consensus of Camcorder rankings posted by key online experts, as of May 2022.
At a glance - May 2022 Ranking
| Rank | Change | Price | Camcorder |
Lifewire
|
Popular Photography
|
Looxcie
|
Scary Mommy
|
What Camcorders
|
EP Films
|
TinyGrab
|
Family Vacation Critic
|
Wondershare Filmora
|
Digital Camera World
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
- | Check price |
Canon Vixia HF R800
|
4
|
-
|
1
|
6
|
-
|
1
|
10
|
3
|
2
|
1
|
|
2
|
- | Check price |
Sony HDR-CX405
|
5
|
5
|
2
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
7
|
2
|
3
|
2
|
|
3
|
- | $648 |
Panasonic HC-V770
|
2
|
-
|
5
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
9
|
1
|
7
|
-
|
|
4
|
- | Check price |
Panasonic HC-WXF991K
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
5
|
+1 | $1000 |
Canon Vixia HF G50
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
6
|
-1 | Check price |
Panasonic HC-V180K
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
4
|
-
|
6
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
7
|
- | Check price |
Sony FDRAX53/B
|
-
|
-
|
6
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
8
|
- | Check price |
Sony FDRAX33
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
10
|
-
|
|
9
|
- | $1898 |
Sony FDR-AX700
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
5
|
|
10
|
- | Check price |
Sony FDR-AX43
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
9
|
3
|
|
11
|
- | $320 |
Dji OSMO Action
|
6
|
-
|
-
|
7
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
12
|
- | Check price |
YeeHao 2053STR
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
7
|
-
|
6
|
-
|
-
|
|
13
|
- | Check price |
Canon Vixia HF G21
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
9
|
6
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
14
|
- | $1699 |
Canon Vixia HF G60
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
-
|
-
|
7
|
|
15
|
- | $1599 |
Canon XA40
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
5
|
-
|
-
|
10
|
We ranked Canon Vixia HF R800 #1 in May 2022 because:
- 8 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Camcorders” rankings.
- Out of those, 3 experts ranked Canon Vixia HF R800 as #1.
Lifewire
Best Value
|
Pros
Cost-friendly
Lightweight
Video quality
|
Cons
Unprofessional quality
|
Looxcie
Winner
|
Pros
Easy to Learn How To Use
Portable and Compact
Affordable
Positive User Experience
|
Cons
Poor microphone quality
No manual audio control for input mic
|
TinyGrab
Best Beginner Camcorder
|
Pros
52x advanced zoom.
Full HD video.
Slow and fast motion shooting.
Powerful battery.
|
Cons
Poor sound quality without an external mic.
No built-in memory.
|
Wondershare Filmora
Best Camcorder for YouTube
|
Pros
Lightweight and ease of use
Fantastic optical image stabilization to remove jerks and movements
HDMI output if you want to plug it into your TV
Color, adjustment, stabilization are all automatic with an option of self-customization
1080p on a 128 GB gives you 8 hours and reducing to 720 will give you up to16 hours of recording
|
Cons
You will need an external microphone if you are filming with it outdoors
Doesn’t have a manual audio control level for an external mic input
No built-in memory and you need to install memory card separately for recording
It is not one of the best low light camcorders
It is not even a cheap 4k camcorder as 4k resolution is absent on this video recorder
|
Digital Camera World
The best camcorder for families
|
Pros
Compact and lightweight
Easy to use
|
Cons
Not for feature fanatics
Limited still image resolution
|
We ranked Sony HDR-CX405 #2 in May 2022 because:
- 8 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Camcorders” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Sony HDR-CX405 as #1.
Lifewire
Best for Beginners
|
Pros
High resolution
Megapixel range
|
Cons
Lacks premium features
|
Looxcie
Under $200
|
Pros
Records 1080p at 60 fps
Small and Portable
SteadyShot stabilization
Good low-light performance
|
Cons
No mic jack
Can’t record while charging
|
TinyGrab
Best Budget Camcorder
|
Pros
Affordable.
Compact.
Exmor R CMOS sensor.
BIONZ X image processing.
30x optical zoom.
|
Cons
Cannot shoot in 4K.
Users report poor sound quality.
|
Wondershare Filmora
Best Budget Camcorder
|
Pros
Weighs less than a TV remote
Excellent lens with spectacular digital zoom
Two extra batteries, and a charger that you can charge from a wall socket or a car 12v outlet
Full HD Video/ 9. 2MP
30x optical zoom lens optical steady shot image stabilization XAVC S recording
|
Cons
Batteries takes 3hrs to charge
Uneasy to handle due to its small size
|
Digital Camera World
Equipped with a Carl Zeiss 30x optical zoom, this is a great option to capture all the action when it happens.
|
Pros
Irresistible price
Seriously compact
|
Cons
Expect some noise from the small sensor
SDXC card required for 1080p
|
Methodology: combine opinions of key experts
Identify Experts
We identify key publishers and experts that consistently review and recommend Camcorders.
Capture Rankings
For each publisher we find a currently recommended "top 10" list of Camcorders, it must be updated in the last 9 months.
Aggregate Rankings
We put all those lists together and aggregate them. The more frequently a product is recommended, the higher it is in our ranking
Experts chosen for May 2022 ranking
Lifewire
Popular Photography
Looxcie
Scary Mommy
What Camcorders
EP Films
TinyGrab
Family Vacation Critic
Wondershare Filmora
Digital Camera World
We ranked Panasonic HC-V770 #3 in May 2022 because:
- 6 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Camcorders” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Panasonic HC-V770 as #1.
Lifewire
Best Features
|
Pros
Premium features
Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity
Audio quality
|
Cons
Pricey
|
Looxcie
Under $600
|
Pros
Good sound quality for in-built mic!
Slow-motion performance
Compact and portable
Great in low light
|
Cons
Customer service quality
No loop for a neck strap
|
TinyGrab
|
Pros
Affordable.
HDR movie function.
20x optical zoom.
4 drive lens system.
Wi-Fi enabled.
|
Cons
Users report complicated set-up.
Poor battery life.
|
Wondershare Filmora
Best Camcorder Under 500
|
Pros
20x optical zoom brings the action closer
4-drive lens system produces high image quality
HDR Movie Function reduces bright spots for a professional look
Wi-Fi functions enable real-time broadcasting and monitoring
Motion sensor and Face Recognition function automatically capture faces at parties
Highest quality 4k video
Best camcorder under 500
|
Cons
Slo-mo mode exhausts a good amount of memory so if planning to capture slo-mo, get a big SD card
No built-in memory
Does not work well under moderate or low lighting
|
We ranked Panasonic HC-WXF991K #4 in May 2022 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Camcorders” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Panasonic HC-WXF991K as #1.
We ranked Canon Vixia HF G50 #5 in May 2022 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Camcorders” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Canon Vixia HF G50 as #1.
What Camcorders
|
Pros
It comes with a tiltable electronic viewfinder which gives you greater freedom while shooting videos.
It has dual SD card slots for greater storage capacity.
Unlike some other 4K camcorders, its manual controls are much more convenient to operate.
|
Cons
The absence of WiFi capability was a bit surprising.
You need to switch on the intelligent stabilization each time you turn on the camcorder
|
We ranked Panasonic HC-V180K #6 in May 2022 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Camcorders” rankings.
Looxcie
Zoom Beast
|
Pros
Super-sharp Full HD 1080p
Insane 90x Zoom
Compact design
Low Price
|
Cons
No microphone input
Menu layout needs work
Not great in dark
|
We ranked Sony FDRAX53/B #7 in May 2022 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Camcorders” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Sony FDRAX53/B as #1.
Looxcie
Under $800
|
Pros
Records in 4K and 1080p
Amazing Image Stabilization
Fast Auto Focus
Great In-Built Microphone
|
Cons
Interface is obtrusive
The display is vulnerable to glare
|
What Camcorders
|
Pros
It is highly recommended for hand-held recording, because of its Balanced Optical Steadyshot technology.
Intelligent autofocus means you never have to worry about losing focus, or having to readjust the focus yourself.
The default mic that comes with “5-directional technology” is able to reproduce a much clearer sound as compared to a normal mic.
Its low-light recording feature is a big plus, thanks to its newly-developed sensor.
|
Cons
Manual control settings are not as easy to use as we would like them to be.
While the focus works well while you’re moving and zooming when still, there are chances it may not work that efficiently while panning and zooming at the same time.
|
We ranked Sony FDRAX33 #8 in May 2022 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Camcorders” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Sony FDRAX33 as #1.
TinyGrab
Best Compact Camcorder
|
Pros
Lightweight.
Compact.
Manual controls.
Zeiss Lens.
Wi-Fi enabled.
|
Cons
Pricey.
LCD touchscreen could be improved.
|
Wondershare Filmora
Overall Best Camcorder
|
Pros
Portable
Remarkable image stabilization system for removing jerks
Long battery life
High-end audio and video quality
|
Cons
Poor touchscreen
Ports don’t show a live screening of 4k footages while shooting
Laying fingers on the MIC by mistake can spoil the sound so need to be careful
|
We ranked Sony FDR-AX700 #9 in May 2022 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Camcorders” rankings.
TinyGrab
Best 4K Camcorder
|
Pros
Compact.
12x optical zoom.
High-quality autofocus.
Dual media slots.
|
Cons
Shaky zoom.
|
Digital Camera World
High-spec but compact, the Sony AX700 is a capable 4K HDR camcorder
|
Pros
Easy to use
4K video quality
Built-in Wi-Fi
|
Cons
Big for a palm-sized camcorder
Probably not for casual hobbyists
|
We ranked Sony FDR-AX43 #10 in May 2022 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Camcorders” rankings.
Wondershare Filmora
Best Night Vision Camcorder
|
Pros
20x optical zoom and Clear Image Zoom of 30x for 4K1 / 40x for HD2
Fast Intelligent AF tracks focus to captures decisive moments
Built-in gimbal - Balanced Optical SteadyShot image stabilizer
4K1 movie recording and high-quality sound with a unique microphone
Versatile shooting w/ XAVC S, AVCHD and MP4 codecs.
Lightweight that makes it easy to carry
|
Cons
You need to search for the night shot function button as it is not where it is usually located
|
Digital Camera World
Portable and affordable, this is a fantastic 4K camcorder
|
Pros
4K recording
Light and compact
5.1 channel microphone
20x zoom
|
Cons
No HDR
Low-light performance can be noisy
|
We ranked Dji OSMO Action #11 in May 2022 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Camcorders” rankings.
Lifewire
Best Rugged.
|
Pros
Protective coating
Ability to shoot in various environments
RockSteady technology
|
Cons
Video quality is average
|
We ranked YeeHao 2053STR #12 in May 2022 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Camcorders” rankings.
We ranked Canon Vixia HF G21 #13 in May 2022 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Camcorders” rankings.
TinyGrab
|
Pros
20x optical zoom.
1080/60p quality.
8 blade iris.
Touch-sensitive LED panel.
Dual SD card slots.
|
Cons
Users report shaky focus and zoom.
|
We ranked Canon Vixia HF G60 #14 in May 2022 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Camcorders” rankings.
TinyGrab
Best Semi Professional Camcorder
|
Pros
9 blade iris.
1-inch sensor.
15x optical zoom.
5 axis image stabilization.
CMOS autofocus.
|
Cons
Stabilization needs improving.
|
Digital Camera World
A more affordable Canon 4K camcorder option
|
Pros
4K shooting
20x zoom
Dual memory card slot
|
Cons
Smaller sensor than Vixia HF G60
No Dual Pixel AF
|
We ranked Canon XA40 #15 in May 2022 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Camcorders” rankings.
TinyGrab
Best Documentary Camcorder
|
Pros
20x optical zoom.
4k 30p video.
Eight-bladed iris.
Optical and electronic image stabilization.
4 channels of LPCM audio.
|
Cons
Video quality is not as high as other options.
|
Digital Camera World
A 4K camcorder from one of the best in the business
|
Pros
Generous 20x lens
Professional-quality 4K video
1200x slow motion mode
|
Cons
Price puts it in pro realm
|