May 2023

Camcorders: MetaRanking

This page highlights the aggregate summary of Camcorder rankings posted by key online experts, as of May 2023.

Summary

Between 5 May 2023 and 7 May 2023, ReviewFinder team examined a total of 86 Camcorder endorsements from 10 reputable publishers.

56 Camcorders were endorsed in total, only 14 made it into this month's ranking (ReviewFinder requires a minimum of 2 endorsements to be included).

As of 7 May 2023, Sony HDR-CX405 takes the cake as the most critically-acclaimed camcorder with 9 expert endorsements. 1 expert out of 9 recommended it as the '#1 camcorder' this month. It is followed by Canon Vixia HF R800 and Panasonic HC-V770 , with 6 and 5 expert endorsements respectively.

Brand breakdown
Show all brands

Price breakdown
As can be seen in the chart below, lowest high-ranking camcorders start at $16.80 (Hyleton 1080P) and go up to $3301.65 (Panasonic HC-X1000E). Median camcorder costs $463.91 (Sony FDR-X3000).
$16.80
$3301.65

At a glance - May 2023 Ranking

Scroll horizontally to browse this ranking table
Rank Change Price Camcorder
TopTenReviews
Looxcie
Wondershare Filmora
Family Vacation Critic
Popular Photography
EP Films
Digital Camera World
Lifewire
TinyGrab
Scary Mommy
1
- $328
Sony HDR-CX405
2
2
3
2
5
-
2
3
7
1
2
- Check price
Canon Vixia HF R800
-
1
2
3
-
1
1
-
10
-
3
- Check price
Panasonic HC-V770
-
5
7
1
-
3
-
-
9
-
4
- $1898
Sony FDR-AX700
4
-
-
-
-
-
4
-
3
-
5
- $2198
Panasonic HC-X2000
1
-
-
-
-
-
8
-
-
-
6
- Check price
Sony FDRAX33
-
-
10
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
7
- Check price
Canon Vixia HF G60
5
-
-
-
-
-
6
-
4
-
11
- $948
Sony FDR-AX43
-
-
9
-
-
-
3
-
-
-
12
- $248
Panasonic HC-V180K
-
4
-
-
-
6
-
-
-
-
13
- $269
Dji OSMO Action
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
5
-
6
14
- Check price
Canon XC15
8
-
-
-
-
-
5
-
-
-
15
- Check price
YeeHao 2053STR
-
-
-
6
-
7
-
-
-
-
16
- Check price
Canon XA40
-
-
-
-
-
-
10
-
5
-
17
- Check price
Canon Vixia HF G21
-
-
-
-
-
9
-
-
6
-

Sorted by price:

Position in ranking Price Camcorder
#12 $247.99 Panasonic HC-V180K [buy] [more info]
#2 $250 Canon Vixia HF R800 [buy] [more info]
#13 $268.99 Dji OSMO Action [buy] [more info]
#3 $315.97 Panasonic HC-V770 [buy] [more info]
#1 $328 Sony HDR-CX405 [buy] [more info]
#6 $443.51 Sony FDRAX33 [buy] [more info]
#17 $693.01 Canon Vixia HF G21 [buy] [more info]
#11 $948 Sony FDR-AX43 [buy] [more info]
#14 $1191.01 Canon XC15 [buy] [more info]
#16 $1289.82 Canon XA40 [buy] [more info]
#4 $1898 Sony FDR-AX700 [buy] [more info]
#5 $2197.99 Panasonic HC-X2000 [buy] [more info]

We ranked Sony HDR-CX405 #1 in May 2023 because:

  • 9 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Camcorders” rankings.
  • Out of those, 1 expert ranked Sony HDR-CX405 as #1.
Critic endorsements:
TopTenReviews

Best budget camcorder

Pros
Very affordable
Super compact and portable

Cons
Small sensor
SDXC card needed for 1080p

Go to ranking

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

Go to ranking

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

Go to ranking

Family Vacation Critic

Go to ranking

Popular Photography

Best Budget

Go to ranking

Digital Camera World

With a 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

Go to ranking

Lifewire

Best for Beginners

Pros
High resolution
Megapixel range

Cons
Lacks premium features

Go to ranking

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.

Go to ranking

Scary Mommy

Best Camcorder

Go to ranking

We ranked Canon Vixia HF R800 #2 in May 2023 because:

  • 6 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Camcorders” rankings.
  • Out of those, 3 experts ranked Canon Vixia HF R800 as #1.
Critic endorsements:
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

Go to ranking

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

Go to ranking

Family Vacation Critic

Go to ranking

EP Films

One of the Best Camcorders out today

Go to ranking

Digital Camera World

The best camcorder for families

Pros
Compact and lightweight
Easy to use

Cons
Not for feature fanatics
Limited still image resolution

Go to ranking

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.

Go to ranking

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 2023 ranking

We ranked Panasonic HC-V770 #3 in May 2023 because:

  • 5 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Camcorders” rankings.
  • Out of those, 1 expert ranked Panasonic HC-V770 as #1.
Critic endorsements:
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

Go to ranking

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

Go to ranking

Family Vacation Critic

Go to ranking

EP Films

This is the Best hd Camcorder from Panasonic

Go to ranking

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.

Go to ranking

We ranked Sony FDR-AX700 #4 in May 2023 because:

  • 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Camcorders” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
TopTenReviews

Best portable high-quality 4K HDR camcorder

Pros
Super simple to use
4K and HDR quality
WiFi onboard

Cons
Pricey for hobbyists

Go to ranking

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

Go to ranking

TinyGrab

Best 4K Camcorder

Pros
Compact.
12x optical zoom.
High-quality autofocus.
Dual media slots.

Cons
Shaky zoom.

Go to ranking

We ranked Panasonic HC-X2000 #5 in May 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Camcorders” rankings.
  • Out of those, 1 expert ranked Panasonic HC-X2000 as #1.
Critic endorsements:
TopTenReviews

Best camcorder overall

Pros
Prosumer style
Stunning image quality
Detachable handle with built-in light

Cons
Expensive

Go to ranking

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

Go to ranking

We ranked Sony FDRAX33 #6 in May 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Camcorders” rankings.
  • Out of those, 1 expert ranked Sony FDRAX33 as #1.
Critic endorsements:
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

Go to ranking

TinyGrab

Best Compact Camcorder

Pros
Lightweight.
Compact.
Manual controls.
Zeiss Lens.
Wi-Fi enabled.

Cons
Pricey.
LCD touchscreen could be improved.

Go to ranking

We ranked Canon Vixia HF G60 #7 in May 2023 because:

  • 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Camcorders” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
TopTenReviews

Best camcorder with pro features for less

Pros
4K quality video
Dual memory cards
Full one-inch sensor

Cons
Not that portable

Go to ranking

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

Go to ranking

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.

Go to ranking

We ranked Sony FDR-AX43 #8 in May 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Camcorders” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
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

Go to ranking

Digital Camera World

Portable and affordable, this is a fantastic 4K camcorder / Editor's Choice

Pros
4K recording
Light and compact
5.1 channel microphone
20x zoom

Cons
No HDR
Low-light performance can be noisy

Go to ranking

We ranked Panasonic HC-V180K #9 in May 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Camcorders” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
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

Go to ranking

EP Films

A Budget HD Camcorder without WIFI

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We ranked Dji OSMO Action #10 in May 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Camcorders” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Lifewire

Best Rugged.

Pros
Protective coating
Ability to shoot in various environments
RockSteady technology

Cons
Video quality is average

Go to ranking

Scary Mommy

Best Handheld Video Camera

Go to ranking

We ranked Canon XC15 #11 in May 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Camcorders” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
TopTenReviews

Best camcorder for professionals

Pros
4K resolution
Professional quality

Cons
Limited zoom (10x)
Expensive

Go to ranking

Digital Camera World

Upgraded for professional use, a fantastic 4K camcorder with vast zoom range

Pros
4K recording
Pro audio solutions
5.1 channel microphone
Large ISO range (100-20,000)

Cons
10x zoom only
CFast cards for 4K recording

Go to ranking

We ranked YeeHao 2053STR #12 in May 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Camcorders” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Family Vacation Critic

Go to ranking

EP Films

Best camcorder for the price

Go to ranking

We ranked Canon XA40 #13 in May 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Camcorders” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
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

Go to ranking

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.

Go to ranking

We ranked Canon Vixia HF G21 #14 in May 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Camcorders” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
EP Films

Great HD Camcorder

Go to ranking

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.

Go to ranking