A very reasonable alternative for those who want a digital camcorder without the hassle of carrying around spare media.

Despite the 3CCD image sensor and 5 megapixel still images, the GZ-MC500 is more suited to the casual moviemaker than the serious video enthusiast.

The Sanyo Xacti VPC-C1 is a combination digital camcorder and digital still camera that takes reasonable still images and surprisingly good quality video.

This camera’s best feature is its design, if you don’t like the way it looks, then it’s not for you. If you’re willing to sacrifice image quality for its small and funky form factor, then it may be the one you want.

For amateur sports photographers, the X110 is an excellent choice. Its compact size and ease of use makes it perfect for those wanting to capture footage of themselves enjoying the great outdoors!

The Xacti VPC-C5 is miles better than Sanyo's previous efforts and we won't be surprised when other manufacturers emulate the camera/camcorder hybrid formula. But remember, if you want a straightforward digicam, you'll find better elsewhere.

A fun, compact and easy to use camera but with an expensive price tag

Once again the Everio design impresses us, but the video quality isn't as good as we'd like with this unit.

The world's smallest high definition camcorder is great for still pictures and range of features but less so for the quality of its video.

The current editing limitations are significant, but once the software catches up, the Panasonic HDC-SD1 will be an excellent camcorder.

While the splash-proof case and tiny design of the Xacti VPC-CA6 will appeal to some, those after good quality video and stills with an easy to operate control setup should look elsewhere.

As with the Sony HDR-CX7K, this is a solid product let down by the price of its recordable media. We'd therefore recommend it to people who already own a large collection of SD cards (or an even larger wallet).