• PC World
• » Cameras
• » Camcorders

Razor-sharp, crystal-clear, and downright gorgeous. Digital video has always enjoyed those flattering descriptions, but it hid a couple of dirty little secrets--desktop computers simply weren't fast enough to deal with it, and digital video camcorders were expensive.

But the latest Pentium and Athlon processors make working with video files much more tolerable, and some new DV camcorders actually cost less than your computer. The combination of capable computer and digital video camcorder can be a powerful tool for capturing cherished memories or selling hot ideas.

Even blurry, jumpy, faded amateur movies give viewers a sense of being witnesses to an event, but the high-grade footage that a DV camcorder produces can impart professionalism and quality to your next product demo or shareholder briefing. Video can make your message--whether it's a sales spiel or news that the aliens have landed--believable.

Mini-DV camcorders hold several advantages over analog models (see "DV vs. Analog"). They reproduce better color, deliver superior picture sharpness and sound quality, and let you import your work into a PC more easily. And the video that they capture won't degrade over time, as analog video will.

DV camcorders still cost significantly more than analog models, however. While you can easily find an analog camera for less than $500, three of the four DV models we looked at for this review cost more than twice that amount: $1299 for Canon's Elura 2, $1400 for JVC's GR-DVM90, and a daunting $2000 for Sony's DCR-PC110. Panasonic's PV-DV401 is the one DV camcorder here to crack the $1000 price mark--it's a relative bargain at $900.

We set out not only to see how these cameras stack up against one another, but also to find out whether digital video cameras can be easy-to-use tools for an individual or a small-business owner.

Though each model has features that will appeal to most users, we found that in most situations the Sony captured the best-quality video--of course it's also the most expensive. The Panasonic, at less than half the price of the Sony, works adequately in many settings. The Canon will appeal to users who value compactness over everything else. The JVC, though not a bad camera, doesn't perform quite as well as the others.

Size 'em Up

The four digital video camcorders we looked at offer many features found in digital and even 35mm still cameras, including the ability to record still images. They all have zoom lenses, automatic and manual focusing, an LCD panel to frame subjects and watch playback, and several sophisticated exposure modes. But unlike digital still cameras, DV cameras use high-speed IEEE 1394 interfaces to transfer video to your PC (to work well, it should be a fast system with a monstrous hard drive).

Beyond those commonalities, the cameras we looked at vary in several significant ways--most obviously, in size and weight. The Canon, for example, is about the size of a standard package of Kraft singles and weighs slightly less than a pound, which makes it easy to carry around in a large pocket. The JVC and Sony models are roughly 20 percent larger than the Canon and weigh in at about 1.2 pounds. By far the largest camera in the group, the Panasonic is three times the size of the Canon.

As a rule, the smaller the camera, the harder it is to use. The Canon has tiny, cramped controls, and more than once we saw fingers covering the lens when we played back video. The JVC and Sony units also require nimble digits. In contrast, people with large hands will find the Panasonic's controls easier and more comfortable to use than those of the smaller cameras. (People with small hands, however, will have to stretch to reach some of the Panasonic's controls.)

The Panasonic's large case gives it a couple of other advantages over its smaller competitors: It comes with a 3-inch LCD display (0.5 inch larger than the screens of the others); and because its optical viewfinder rotates upward, you don't have to hold the unit directly in front of your face while you shoot.

All the camcorders share a drawback: You can't use most functions by feel. If you hold the Panasonic in your right hand supported by its strap, your thumb won't reach the tiny menu control on the back of the camera, so you'll end up using your left forefinger instead. To cycle through the menus, however, you'll have to use your right index finger to spin and push a wheel on the right side. The Sony has so many controls that you must look before you push, lest you press the wrong one.

• See more like this:
• DV,
• digital video,
• camcorder,
• video,
• video camera,
• video recorder,
• Canon,
• JVC,
• Panasonic,
• Sony