October 2021
Camcorders: Aggregated Ranking Report
This report contains an aggregate consensus of Camcorder rankings posted by key online experts, as of October 2021.
At a glance - October 2021 Ranking
| Rank | Change | Price | Camcorder |
EP Films
|
TopTenReviews
|
Popular Photography
|
Wondershare Filmora
|
Scary Mommy
|
Looxcie
|
What Camcorders
|
Lifewire
|
Digital Camera World
|
Family Vacation Critic
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
- | Check price |
Sony HDR-CX405
|
-
|
2
|
5
|
3
|
1
|
2
|
-
|
5
|
2
|
2
|
|
2
|
- | Check price |
Canon Vixia HF R800
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
2
|
6
|
1
|
-
|
4
|
-
|
3
|
|
3
|
- | Check price |
Panasonic HC-V770
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
7
|
-
|
5
|
-
|
2
|
-
|
1
|
|
4
|
- | $1099 |
Canon Vixia HF G50
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
2
|
-
|
6
|
-
|
|
5
|
- | $230 |
Panasonic HC-V180K
|
6
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
4
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
6
|
- | Check price |
Panasonic HC-WXF991K
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
|
7
|
- | $2198 |
Panasonic HC-X2000
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
8
|
-
|
|
8
|
- | $1098 |
Sony FDRAX53/B
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
6
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
9
|
New * | Check price |
Canon Vixia HF R80
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
11
|
|
10
|
-1 | $295 |
GoPro Hero8
|
-
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
6
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
11
|
-1 | $948 |
Sony FDR-AX43
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
9
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
-
|
|
12
|
-1 | $143 |
YeeHao 2053STR
|
7
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
6
|
|
13
|
-1 | $1898 |
Sony FDR-AX700
|
-
|
4
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
-
|
|
14
|
-1 | $1699 |
Canon Vixia HF G60
|
-
|
5
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
5
|
-
|
|
15
|
-1 | Check price |
Dji OSMO Action
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
7
|
-
|
-
|
6
|
-
|
-
|
We ranked Sony HDR-CX405 #1 in October 2021 because:
- 8 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Camcorders” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Sony HDR-CX405 as #1.
TopTenReviews
Best budget camcorder
|
Pros
Very affordable
Super compact and portable
|
Cons
Small sensor
SDXC card needed for 1080p
|
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
|
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
|
Lifewire
Best for Beginners
|
Pros
High resolution
Megapixel range
|
Cons
Lacks premium features
|
Digital Camera World
A budget belter from Sony
|
Pros
Irresistible price
Seriously compact
|
Cons
Expect some noise from the small sensor
SDXC card required for 1080p
|
We ranked Canon Vixia HF R800 #2 in October 2021 because:
- 6 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Camcorders” rankings.
- Out of those, 2 experts ranked Canon Vixia HF R800 as #1.
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
|
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
|
Lifewire
Best Value
|
Pros
Cost-friendly
Lightweight
Video quality
|
Cons
Unprofessional quality
|
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 October 2021 ranking
EP Films
TopTenReviews
Popular Photography
Wondershare Filmora
Scary Mommy
Looxcie
What Camcorders
Lifewire
Digital Camera World
Family Vacation Critic
We ranked Panasonic HC-V770 #3 in October 2021 because:
- 5 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Camcorders” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Panasonic HC-V770 as #1.
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
|
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
|
Lifewire
Best Features
|
Pros
Premium features
Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity
Audio quality
|
Cons
Pricey
|
We ranked Canon Vixia HF G50 #4 in October 2021 because:
- 3 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
|
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 Panasonic HC-V180K #5 in October 2021 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 Panasonic HC-WXF991K #6 in October 2021 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Camcorders” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Panasonic HC-WXF991K as #1.
We ranked Panasonic HC-X2000 #7 in October 2021 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Camcorders” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Panasonic HC-X2000 as #1.
TopTenReviews
Best camcorder overall
|
Pros
Prosumer style
Stunning image quality
Detachable handle with built-in light
|
Cons
Expensive
|
Digital Camera World
Powerful 4K camcorder for truly professional results
|
Pros
Prosumer form factor
Superb image quality
Incredibly versatile
Detachable handle with built-in light
|
Cons
Can be unwieldy for the unwary
|
We ranked Sony FDRAX53/B #8 in October 2021 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 Canon Vixia HF R80 #9 in October 2021 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Camcorders” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Canon Vixia HF R80 as #1.
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 GoPro Hero8 #10 in October 2021 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Camcorders” rankings.
TopTenReviews
Best action camera
|
Pros
Superb action footage
Tough for water and knocks
4K and 60fps
|
Cons
No front facing display
|
We ranked Sony FDR-AX43 #11 in October 2021 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 YeeHao 2053STR #12 in October 2021 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Camcorders” rankings.
We ranked Sony FDR-AX700 #13 in October 2021 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Camcorders” rankings.
TopTenReviews
Best portable high-quality 4K HDR camcorder
|
Pros
Super simple to use
4K and HDR quality
WiFi onboard
|
Cons
Pricey for hobbyists
|
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 Canon Vixia HF G60 #14 in October 2021 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Camcorders” rankings.
TopTenReviews
Best cheap pro camcorder
|
Pros
4K quality video
Dual memory cards
Full one-inch sensor
|
Cons
Not that portable
|
Digital Camera World
A great 4K camcorder designed for serious videomakers
|
Pros
4K shooting
Large one-inch sensor
Dual memory card slot
|
Cons
A relatively bulky option, best suited to semi-professional use
|
We ranked Dji OSMO Action #15 in October 2021 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
|