The Bottom Line: Panasonic's HDC-TM40, TM41 and SD40 are some of the cheapest camcorders you can buy with a zoom lens and manual controls. If you care about video quality, spend a little more money on another model; if you don't, buy the cheapest one of these you can find, adjusting for the cost of memory for the SD40.

Specs: Camcorder

The Bottom Line: Panasonic's HDC-TM40, TM41 and SD40 are some of the cheapest camcorders you can buy with a zoom lens and manual controls. If you care about video quality, spend a little more money on another model; if you don't, buy the cheapest one of these you can find, adjusting for the cost of memory for the SD40.

Specs: MOS, 6 oz, 4.3 in, 2.3 in, zoom, 16.8 x x 2.9 mm - 48.7 mm - F/1.8-2.6, Panasonic HDC-SD40 - Camcorder - Consumer - Flash card, 2 in

The Bottom Line: Panasonic's HDC-TM40, TM41 and SD40 are some of the cheapest camcorders you can buy with a zoom lens and manual controls. If you care about video quality, spend a little more money on another model; if you don't, buy the cheapest one of these you can find, adjusting for the cost of memory for the SD40.

Specs: MOS, 6 oz, 4.3 in, 2.3 in, 16.8 x x Zoom lens - 2.9 mm - 48.7 mm - F/1.8-2.6, Panasonic HDC-TM41 - Camcorder - Consumer - Flash card, 2 in

The Bottom Line: Sony's Bloggie Duo minicamcorder makes it easier to be part of your own movie clips and photos. But that's about all it does.

Specs: Exmor CMOS, 4.9 oz, 0.7 in, 4.3 in, Lens - 4.1 mm - F/2.8, Sony Bloggie Duo MHS-FS2 - Camcorder - Pocket - Internal flash memory, 2.2 in

The Bottom Line: Sony's Bloggie Duo minicamcorder makes it easier to be part of your own movie clips and photos. But that's about all it does.

Specs: Exmor CMOS, 4.9 oz, 0.7 in, 4.3 in, Lens - 4.1 mm - F/2.8, Sony Bloggie Duo MHS-FS2 - Camcorder - Pocket - Internal flash memory, 2.2 in

The Bottom Line: You're paying a couple hundred extra for the projector in the otherwise frills-free Sony Handycam HDR-PJ10 over its identical twin, the CX160, but if you regularly show off your vacation videos in the homes of friends and family then it's worth it.

Specs: CMOS, 10.9 oz, 5 in, 2.6 in, zoom, 30 x x 2.1 mm - 63 mm - F/1.8-3.4, Sony Handycam HDR-PJ10 - Camcorder - Consumer - Flash card, 2.3 in

The Bottom Line: The ContourRoam finally matches the rugged construction and ultrawide field of view of the competition, while still excelling as a sports camera with its ease of use and low price.

Specs: CMOS, 0.3 lbs, 3.9 in, 2.2 in, - microSD card, 1.3 in

The Bottom Line: While it's a fine model, the Sony Handycam HDR-CX360V seems too expensive for the video quality and features it delivers.

Specs: Exmor R CMOS, Built-in flash, 11.3 oz, 5 in, 2.6 in, 12 x x Zoom lens - 2.9 mm - 34.8 mm - F/1.8-3.4, Sony Handycam HDR-CX360V - Camcorder - Consumer - Flash card, 2.2 in

The Bottom Line: The Toshiba Camileo BW10 is a basic, waterproof minicamcorder that's good enough to capture a casual cannonball into a pool, but not more treasured memories.

Specs: CMOS, 3.5 oz, 4.2 in, 2.2 in, Lens - F/2.8, Toshiba CAMILEO BW10 - Camcorder - Pocket - Flash card, 0.9 in

The Bottom Line: The Toshiba Camileo BW10 is a basic, waterproof minicamcorder that's good enough to capture a casual cannonball into a pool, but not more treasured memories.

Specs: CMOS, 3.5 oz, 4.2 in, 2.2 in, Lens - F/2.8, Toshiba CAMILEO BW10 - Camcorder - Pocket - Flash card, 0.9 in