Tapeless Camcorder Buyer's Guide
Detailed information on all of the major-brand camcorders which record standard definition video directly to flash memory (internal memory, SD card, Memory Stick, or Compact Flash card) and/or a hard drive or MicroDrive, for achieving the retro 1990s/2000s video aesthetic without the hassle of recording to tape or DVDs, and easy editing on your computer.
These are much less expensive, more convenient, and will give you higher-quality results than buying a vintage tape camcorder (VHS-C, Hi8, MiniDV, etc.) and adding a tapeless recording device (Mini DVR, ImmersionRC PowerPlay, etc.) to it.
Canon
JVC
Panasonic
Sony
NTSC models are primarily used in North America and Japan, while PAL models are primarily used in Europe and other parts of the world.
Other brands like Hitachi, Sanyo, Samsung, and Toshiba also made tapeless camcorders with some attractive features, but these are not recommended due to them generally having subpar video quality, some annoying design quirks, and lack of parts, accessories, and support.
Top Picks
Best for the "retro video aesthetic", long optical zoom, overall feature set, and convenience:
- Sony DCR-SX45, DCR-SX65, and DCR-SX85 from 2011-2012
Best for sharp, clear video, accurate color reproduction, and excellent optical image stabilization:
- Panasonic SDR-H200 (NTSC), SDR-H250 (PAL), and SDR-H280 (PAL) from 2007-2008
Best audio capabilities (external microphone jack, headphone jack, and on-screen audio level meter):
- Canon FS200, FS20, FS21, and FS22 from 2009
Desirable Features
- Lens thread: If you want to attach a fisheye lens, look for a model with a lens thread diameter indicated in millimeters. This will tell you which size of lens to buy. You can also use a step-up ring to convert a camcorder with an uncommon lens thread size (such as 30.5 mm) to a more common size of lens (such as 37 mm).
- Accessory shoe: A few JVC models feature a cold shoe and most Sony models up to 2008 feature an Active Interface Shoe for attaching accessories such as an external microphone or video light.
- Night vision: If you want infrared night vision, look for a Sony model listed as having SNS (Super NightShot, monochromatic green tint) or SNS+ (Super NightShot Plus, aqua blue tint).
- Optical image stabilization: For the smoothest hand-held video, look for a Panasonic or Sony model listed as having optical image stabilization (OIS). This is more effective than digital image stabilization (DIS) or electronic image stabilization (EIS).
- Time lapse: All JVC models from 2010 feature time lapse recording.
- Slow motion: Some Sony models from 2008 feature slow motion recording.
- HDMI output: Some JVC models from 2009 feature an HDMI output that upscales the video to 1920x1080, for easy connection to a modern TV or use with an HDMI capture device.
- A/V input: Some JVC and Sony models feature A/V input recording, allowing you to digitize video from analog video sources such as a VCR or an older tape-based camcorder.
Tips and Tricks
Windows
- MPEG-2 Video Extension: If you're using Windows 10 or newer, you may need to install the MPEG-2 Video Extension, which is a free download from the Microsoft Store.
- SDCopy: If you're using a Canon, JVC, or Panasonic camcorder, you can use a free program called SDCopy to copy the .MOD video files from the camcorder, losslessly convert them into standard .MPG files, and correct the aspect ratio of the video.
- Windows Movie Maker: Microsoft's Windows Movie Maker 2012 (part of Windows Essentials 2012) fully supports all of these camcorders and provides basic editing features.
- Picture Motion Browser: If you're using a Sony camcorder, you can use Sony's free Picture Motion Browser software to easily copy the video files from the camcorder, organize them, and perform simple lossless editing such as trimming and joining clips.
- Don't use Clipchamp: Do not use Microsoft's Video Editor (part of the Windows 10 Photos app) or Clipchamp, as they do not support interlaced video, and will cause horizontal stripes to appear on any scenes containing motion.
Mac
- iMovie: Apple's iMovie '08 (version 7) or higher fully supports all of these camcorders and provides basic and intermediate editing features. In iMovie 10, 4:3 aspect ratio video is automatically cropped to the widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio; to undo this, select the clip(s), click the cropping button, and choose "Fit".
- QuickTime Player: Apple's QuickTime Player can be used for simple editing such as trimming and joining clips.
Technical Info
Unless otherwise indicated, all of these camcorders record MPEG-2 video at 480i for NTSC, or at 576i for PAL.
Panasonic camcorders from up to 2009 use 704x480 resolution for NTSC or 704x576 resolution for PAL, while 2010 and newer Panasonics and all other brands use 720x480 and 720x576 resolution, respectively. (This is not to be confused with 720p, which is 1280x720 resolution.)
The resolution is the same regardless if you record video in 4:3 or 16:9 aspect ratio, due to the use of non-square (anamorphic) pixels.
The frame rate is 59.94 interlaced fields per second for NTSC (often abbreviated to "60i"), or 50 interlaced fields per second for PAL ("50i"). Each complete frame is made up of two interlaced fields, so these are also sometimes called "30i" or "25i", respectively.
These camcorders record audio using the Dolby AC-3 or MP2 codec at a sampling rate of 48 kHz. Some Sony models support recording Dolby Digital 5.1-channel surround sound audio, while all others record 2-channel stereo audio, except for a few low-end JVC models which record 1-channel mono audio.