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JVC's Everio MS120 is a decent standard-def camcorder with expandable memory up to 64GB.

There are plenty of devices for capturing video these days, including cell phones, laptops, and digital cameras. But, for the time being at least, you'll get the best results from a dedicated camcorder. Of course, those aren't all created equal either.

The biggest decision you'll have to make before starting your search is whether to go standard definition or high definition. Standard-def camcorders are a cost-effective way to get good video for Web-sharing sites and for viewing on standard-definition TVs, and it's less demanding for playback and editing on computers.

However, you can get a good HD camcorder at a price only $100-$200 more than some SD camcorders. Obviously you may not have that extra cash, but if you're looking toward integrating your movies into a future high-def home theater experience, you'll want to think long and hard before buying a standard-definition camcorder.

Not sure where you fall? Visit our camcorder buying guide so you know what features you'll need to avoid making a disappointing purchase. If you already know what you want from a camcorder, here are some tips for further refining your choices to get the best possible deal.

New Flip UltraHD camcorder

(Credit: Pure Digital)

The success of Pure Digital's original Flip Video has launched a slew of copycat products, and Pure Digital CEO Jonathan Kaplan embraces it.

"It makes me even more proud of the team," he said in an interview this week. "Imitation is an absolutely fine form of flattery. I'm happy every time a competitor launches a new product."

Kaplan's sunny outlook on the competition likely stems from the relative lack of success they have had. Electronics makers much larger and longer-established than the San Francisco-based maker of tiny flash-based digital camcorders--like Sony and Kodak--have attempted to cut themselves a slice of the market. But none has tapped into the almost inexplicable appeal of the slightly boxy, plasticky handheld video camera with the pop-out USB arm, which gets a refresh on Thursday. Plus, now that Cisco Systems has agreed to purchase Pure Digital, the company will have an even bigger platform to stand on.

"We haven't seen significant erosion (of market share) from some of the bigger names that have entered, such as Sony, Kodak or RCA," said Ross Rubin, director of industry analysis for The NPD Group. Besides jumping into the market later, Sony's WebbieHD and Kodak's Zi6 are rendered less convenient and sometimes more expensive by either not including a USB connector or additional memory cards, according to Rubin.

As of February, Pure Digital's Flip cameras were the top selling of similar devices that cost $200 or less in its category, followed by Aiptek, which makes the A-HD camera, Taiwan's DXG Technology, RCA, and Sakar, according to NPD. Though NPD doesn't give out retail data on individual companies, Kaplan claims Pure Digital sells "under 10 million" Flip cameras worldwide per year. That's actually good enough to be the No. 2 seller of digital video camcorders in the U.S., regardless of price, putting them right behind Sony.

Now the device that basically invented the $200 flash memory-based digital camcorder category is getting some tweaks in an attempt to keep competitors at bay. The Ultra model, first introduced in 2007, is branching off into two devices: the Ultra II and the Ultra HD. ... Read More

(Credit: Samsung)

At CES 2009 and again at a spring lineup show, Samsung showed off its HMX-R10, a full HD camcorder with an "Active Angle" lens that's been angled up 25 degrees so you don't have to bend your wrist to get a level shot with the camcorder. I had my doubts that this strange-but-clever design would ever make it to stores, but it's available now for $500.

Samsung must be getting good feedback about the design, too, since its decided to add two standard-def models to its camcorder lineup: the SMX-C14 and SMX-C10. The difference between the two is that the C14 has 16GB of internal flash memory and the C10 has none; though both have SD/SDHC card slots.

I like that the optical zooms are kept to a sensible 10x, as these models are really designed to be handheld and anything longer than that would make for a shaky mess. Other features include a 2.7-inch LCD, the capability to recharge by USB or AC adapter, editing and uploading software that runs directly off the camcorder (no need to install anything on any computer, though it's likely Windows only), and the company's Touch of Color finish, which gives the black body a hint of blue or red, depending on the model you buy.

Look for them in July. No pricing was announced, but my guess would be in the $250 to $300 range for the C10, and another $50 to $100 for the C14.

Samsung SMX-C14 and SMX-C10 camcorders--photos

Get the fun, friendly Flip Ultra in your choice of colors.

(Credit: Woot.com)

I don't like to go to the Woot well too often, but today's deal is an outright winner (and it let me indulge my love of alliteration). Today only, you can get a recertified Pure Digital Flip Video Ultra F230 pocket camcorder for $59.99, plus $5 for two-day shipping (which just squeaks you in under the Hanukkah wire). You even get to pick the color.

In case you're unfamiliar with it, the Flip Video Ultra records VGA-quality video to internal memory, then plugs into your PC via a stowaway USB plug for easy uploading to friends, relatives, YouTube, etc. (Admirably simple built-in software makes this possible.)

The F230 model holds only 30 minutes of video, which is actually fine for the kinds of short-burst clips you're likely to shoot with this thing anyway.

And let's be honest: It's a toy. You wouldn't use this to record, say, a wedding, but it's fantastic for goofing around with friends, sharing cute clips of the kids with faraway relatives, and the like.

Because this is a refurb, it carries a 90-day warranty--but, really, what's to break? The Flip Ultra makes for an awesome stocking stuffer, IMHO, and at $59.99 it's quite a bit cheaper than you'll find it elsewhere. These will sell out before the day is done, I expect. Maybe before lunchtime.

(Credit: Hitachi)

Few things work better for getting consumers to adopt a new format than making it convenient. Hitachi's follow-up to its DZ-BD7HA Blu-ray camcorder does just that. Along with being able to record videos and stills in full HD (1,920x1,080) to a 8cm BD/DVD drive (that according to Hitachi is 20-percent quieter), you can capture "up to 4 hours 20 minutes of 1,920x1,080 video or 8 hours 40 minutes of 1,440x1,080 video onto the built-in 30 GB HDD." There's also an integrated SDHC slot that'll let you record video and stills to flash media, too.

While having access to three recording options is handy, what's equally convenient is a single-button dub from the hard drive or SDHC cards to the BD drive--either in high def for Blu-ray Discs or it will transcode HD video to standard-definition DVDs. There are built-in editing tools as well for cutting up your content before it hits a disc.

Look for the DZ-BD10HA ($1,099) in September 2008.

The SC-MX20 will be available in August for $279.99.

(Credit: Samsung)

Each month seems to bring a new YouTube-centric digital camcorder and July is no exception: Samsung has announced the SC-MX20, a $279.99 model that's the successor to the SC-MX10. It'll arrive in stores in August and come in blue, black, red, and white.

According to the news release, the camcorder has a 680,000-pixel CCD sensor that delivers a 720x480-pixel resolution that allows the SC-MX20 to capture video with "stunning color and clarity." That may be a slight exaggeration, but the new model does feature a Schneider lens with 34x optical zoom, a 2.7-inch LCD, advanced noise reduction (3-D Noise Reduction), Samsung's allegedly improved Advanced Image Stabilization, and Face Detection, "which can automatically detect up to five faces and adjust focus to ensure better composition." According to Samsung, the value priced SC-MX20 shares some features found in its higher-end SC-HMX20C, including its design.

What makes the SC-MX20 YouTube-friendly is a special Web and mobile-shooting mode that simply tells the camcorder to shoot video with YouTube-optimized video settings. According to the release, "By selecting the Web & Mobile mode, the camcorder's resolution is automatically adjusted to 640x480 (H.264 / AAC / MP4) and optimized for use on Web sites. Unlike other camcorders, users can easily import video from the SC-MX20 and play it on MP3 players and other portable multimedia players supporting H.264, without having to convert the files." Some CyberLink software is thrown in for editing and customizing video files.

As for memory, the SC MX20 has a slot for SD/SDHC (up to 32GB) and MMC+ memory cards, though the camcorder doesn't come with any memory, which means you'll have to supply your own card. According to the release, "thanks to H.264 compression, when in full resolution and when set to fine mode, users can record up to four hours of footage using an 8GB memory card, eight hours using a 16GB memory card, and up to 16 hours using a 32GB memory card. Furthermore, the SC-MX20 features the longest battery life in its class, lasting up to three hours."

While the overall specifications don't appear to be all that different from those of the SC-MX10, we're hoping the tweaks are really more than just tweaks. We'll let you know when we get our hands on one.

The Aiptek A-HD records 720p video on inexpensive SD cards.

(Credit: Aiptek)

In the market for a digital camcorder? You could spend $179.99 on one of those Flip Video Ultras, which let you record a whopping 60 minutes of YouTube-quality video. Or you could pay $119 for the Aiptek A-HD, which records hours' worth of high-definition (720p) video on inexpensive memory cards. Hmmm...

Yeah, talk about a no-brainer. The A-HD is a slim, pocketable camcorder (and 5-megapixel camera) with a swiveling 2.4-inch LCD and an SD slot that accommodates cards up to 8GB (good for about 4 hours of HD video--get one here for a measly $28). It captures video in H.264 format, which you should have no trouble editing in programs like Pinnacle Studio Plus 11. And it includes component-video outputs for connecting directly to your HDTV.

I haven't tried the A-HD myself, but I can tell you it has a few limitations--most notably its lack of an optical zoom. According to various user reviews, it falters when capturing fast-moving subjects, and it's not particularly good at recording audio. (Speaking of reviews, watch this unintentionally hilarious one on YouTube.)

Despite these weak spots, the A-HD could be a great starter HD camcorder, or even a secondary one for two-camera shoots. You can get it for $119.99 shipped from Amazon. Circuit City has it for the same price, though you'll likely have to pay sales tax as well. Even so, this is without a doubt the best deal you're likely to find on an HD camcorder. The Cheapskate is mighty tempted.