Digital Trends

Although hard to find, there were a ton of new camcorders nestled among the overwhelming forest of flat panel televisions at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) held in lovely Las Vegas. (Don't laugh, I actually like the town.)

 

Here are the broad strokes:

 

*DVD camcorders are more prevalent than ever as almost all manufacturers have jumped onto the disk-based bandwagon.

 

*Companies have cut back on the number of MiniDV tape models and cut prices.

 

*A gradual shift is occurring as non-tape formats (DVD, hard disk drive, solid state) become more common and less expensive.

 

*And since America has gone widescreen TV crazy, more camcorders than ever take true widescreen video rather than stretching it like the old days (three years ago).

 

Here are the details: Some industry types expect DVD cams to make up 40 percent of the 4.5-million camcorder market in 2006. Besides the convenience of simply popping the disk into a DVD player or PC, prices are dropping nicely with $399 marking the entry level such as the Hitachi DZ-BX35A. Sony, the dominant DVD camcorder seller, has lowered its prices too to $500 for the new DCR-DVD105. Panasonic is matching them. Their new VDR-100 due this month has a potent 30x optical zoom.

 

 

Sony DCR-DVD105 and Hitachi DZ-BX35A

 

Panasonic VDR-100

 

Expect an inexorable shift from tape-based formats to DVD, hard disk drives and flash memory throughout the year. Almost all of the top camcorder makers have cut back the number of new MiniDV tape editions and lowered prices here too. JVC unveiled the GR-D350 with a whopping 32x optical zoom for 300 bucks. Panasonic introduced the PV-GS29 for $299 and it has a 30x optical zoom. Canon's new ZR500 is also $299; this camcorder has a 25x optical zoom. These are great deals for casual home video makers. And please note: MiniDV camcorders still deliver excellent quality and offer a wide variety of editing options. The format still has the most market share but it may be eclipsed in 2006.

 

JVC GR-D350 and Panasonic PV-GS29

 

Hard disk drive based camcorders will go slightly more mainstream in 2006 as Sony leaps into the market with the DCR-SR100 (due May, $1,100). Although pricier than the competing JVC Everios, Sony's marketing muscle will make them a formidable contender. At CES, Sony execs said they would do to category pioneer JVC what they did to Hitachi in DVD-based models. In other words, obliterate them. Knowing the companies as I do, this was no idle boast. What sets this 30GB HDD camcorder apart from the Everios is its ability to record Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound. Surprisingly Sony is still the only camcorder maker to push this excellent system. With the proliferation of five- and six-speaker home theater systems, this is seems like a huge oversight by its competitors.

 

Sony DCR-SR100

 

What has spread across the entire camcorder landscape is widescreen recording and widescreen LCD screens. Other than the least expensive models, the vast majority of 2006 camcorders have these features. With them you can record widescreen 16:9 format video and frame it appropriately with the LCD (typically 2.7 inches). Since the entire width of the imaging device is used, you're recording true widescreen video for your new HDTV. Neat.

 

Here are my picks for CES' most intriguing camcorders. We have to preface this by saying we have not done any hands-on tests with production models so final decisions remain on hold until then.