| JVC Everio GZ-MG330 |
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 The new JVC Everio camcorders are the smallest HDD camcorders on the market, according to the company, because they use new 1.3-inch hard drives, instead of the older 1.8-inchers. In our hands, we found them to be small, but not tiny, not as small as flash camcorders. Still, the Laser Touch control strip was cool, and the camcorder was very light to hold. The camera also uses microSD for still photos, which gives you a more portable option than just using the hard drive. Release: March 2008. Price: $450.
Pros: Smallest hard disk drive camcorder. Intuitive Laser Touch keeps fingers off screen.
Cons: Not as small as flash, not as much storage possible as with larger HDDs.
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| Sony HDR-SR12 |
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 Sony raised the roof with the introduction of the Sony HDR-SR12. It offers 1080i HD video that can be recorded to a massive 120GB HDD or Memory Stick PRO Duo card. The camcorder is also built like a tank and features swanky architectural goodies like retractable port enclosures and an ample touchscreen. Manual controls are not brimming out of it, but the multi-function Cam Control dial offers instant adjustment at your fingertips. There’s also an Easy mode for extreme novices whose only desire is to turn the camcorder on and press the Record button. The Sony HDR-SR12 delivers a beautiful HD image in most shooting environments, but low light gave us some issues. You'll get the best results from AVCHD compression if you're using an HDMI port for playback, and editing the footage requires a power plant computer to process the video. If you have an HDTV with HDMI or an HDMI editing suite, then the Sony HDR-SR12 is an all-around excellent camcorder. Release: April 2008. Price: $1100.
Pros: Great handling and construction. Excellent connectivity. Beautiful image in most lighting.
Cons: Poor low light performance in certain environments. AVCHD complicates playback and editing. Mediocre battery life.
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