What are the hottest upcoming camcorders in 2009? Read about our most promising prospects, from full-blown HD titans to pocket-sized Internet cams.
Canon Vixia HF S10
 This dual-memory juggernaut sent a supersonic shockwave throughout the CES show floor. Its 58mm filter diameter left all other top tier HD models shaking in their booths. Its massive 8-megapixel 1/2.6" CMOS chip is the biggest and baddest in its class. The Canon HF S10 is more of an enigma at this point than anything else. The video samples Canon showed us over a month ago blew us away. Why would Canon go and stuff a giant imager spewing with pixels inside a reasonably compact chassis? This camcorder has powershooters and amateur filmmakers written all over it. Aside from its wealth of manual controls, the Canon HF S10 has a customizable Control dial, three different frame rates and an excellent array of color adjustments and filters. The Canon HF S10 offers 32GB of internal flash memory, in addition to an SD/SDHC card slot for extra memory. This 24Mbps HD beast is at the top of our list, and a full review is right around the corner. Release: February 2009.
Panasonic HDC-HS300
 While stellar video quality can really turn us on, so can an architecturally sound camcorder. The Panasonic HDC-HS300 is the best example of what a top-of-the-line HD camcorder should look like, featuring a customizable lens ring, electronic viewfinder and a built-in 5.1 channel Surround Sound mic with oodles of settings. Panasonic also introduced a new touch-screen LCD and pumped up the hand strap for a more comfortable grip. Aside from a prosumer-styled design, the Panasonic HDC-HS300 contains an extensive set of manual controls and records to a 120GB HDD. Perhaps the most exciting news is that the Panasonic HDC-HS300 is packed with three individual CMOS sensors, collectively totaling to a 9-megapixel resolution. This is the highest we've seen on a consumer camcorder, and we can't wait to run the HDC-HS300 through the gauntlet. Oh, and the Panasonic HDC-HS300 can capture 10MP native still images, which is another consumer first. Price: $1400. Release: April 2009.
Samsung HMX-R10
 We simply couldn't forget about this strange little fellow. The Samsung HMX-R10 is one of the most peculiar looking camcorders we've ever encountered, and we mean that in an extraterrestrial kind of way. Stylistically, the HD "Memory Capsule" looks more like something on Captain Kirk's tool belt than a consumer digital imaging device. We were intrigued by the angled lens and super-compact body, which resembled a Sharper Image flashlight. Honestly, we can't make any early assumptions or predictions on video quality, for our love for this little mystery stick centers solely around its odd appearance. Release: Mid-2009.
JVC GZ-HM200
 What can we say? We're suckers for bling. The JVC GZ-HM200 looks like shiny Transformer from the late 80's. We were dazed by the JVC GZ-HM200's gleaming bodywork and dual SD/SDHC card slots. We also dug the vertical laser touch panel that now accommodates zooming, and the fact that a camcorder this compact can rock a 20x optical zoom is definitely a bonus. The JVC GZ-HM200 shoots 1920 x 1080 full HD video, courtesy of a single CMOS chip and is capable of one-touch YouTube uploading with built-in software. This is one little toy we can't wait to put to the test. Price: $580. Release: March 2009.
Sony MHS-PM1
 Sony decided to delve into pocket Internet video with gusto this year, and the new Sony MHS-PM1 is a small revelation. Aside from shooting 1920 x 1080 full HD video via a 5-megapixel 1/2.5" CMOS sensor, the MHS-PM1 features a new swivel lens that allows shooters to capture video in unconventional positions. Built-in Picture Motion Browser software enables users to upload that wild footage directly to YouTube where it will be terribly misrepresented by strangers you'll never meet. The Sony MHS-PM1 has a 5x optical zoom and records solely to Sony brand Memory Stick PRO Duo cards. The best part was that we could fit this little HD net cam in our pocket with ease. We'll see if the video quality antes up when we get a Sony MHS-PM1 in our labs, but right now this pint-sized soldier looks promising. Price: $170. Release: March 2009.
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