The best camcorders for video in 2023: which is the one for you?

The best camcorders for video
(Image credit: Sony)

Times have never been better for the best camcorders – with 4K cameras now being available at every price point. More and more people are realizing that having a device that is dedicated and designed for shooting movies – and have a big zoom built-in – often means, when choosing the best camera for video, a camcorder is a much better choice than a multi-purpose camera or smartphone.

Note: Canon have recently launched 5 additions to their camcorder line-up offering 1080 and 4K solutions to fit all budgets, Panasonic also join in on the action and launched two new 4K camcorders to offer greater enthusiast and prosumer-level offerings. These are currently on Pre-order, but as soon as they are ready to ship and we have reviewed them, you can be sure they will be added to this guide.

Did you know there is more than one type of camcorder? You might normally think of smaller, inexpensive all-in-one camcorders for casual use, but there's a growing professional broadcast market too, as demonstrated by the recent Canon XF605, for example.

There's plenty to consider if you're shopping for the best camcorder with the market ranging all the way from budget-friendly consumer camcorders to professional camcorders for TV broadcast journalism and documentary filmmaking. 

We've put together a list of what we reckon are the best camcorders available on the market right now. From small, self-contained shooters designed for holidays and day-to-day casual shooting, to the best and latest 4K camcorders that produce footage of superior quality, there should be something for all users – and all budgets!

best camcorders: our top picks

The best camcorders in 2023

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Best for Families

(Image credit: Sony)

1. Sony HDR-CX405

Best for Families

Specifications

Max recording resolution: 1,920 x 1,080px
Image sensor: Exmor R CMOS
Total pixels: 9.2MP
Dimensions: 54(w) x 59.5(h) x 128(d)mm
Weight: 190g

Reasons to buy

+
Irresistible price
+
Seriously compact

Reasons to avoid

-
Expect some noise from the small sensor
-
SDXC card required for 1080p

You don’t have to spend big to make great movies. Sony’s HDR-CX405 sells for under £200 but comes with a host of sophisticated tricks to help you make extremely polished movies. The camcorder records simultaneously in XAVC S or AVCHD format and file-sharing friendly MP4 format, and you can edit in-camera using the onboard Highlight Movie Maker. 

You can even apply various visual effects without having to faff around with separate editing programs. Optical SteadyShot, with effective Intelligent Active mode technology, goes some way to combating handshake. There’s a Carl Zeiss Vario Tessar 30x optical zoom, with an impressive 26.8mm wide-angle setting. The camcorder even has 5.1 audio capture. 

Usability is good. We particularly like the tethered USB cable, which makes it a doddle to recharge the camcorder and copy footage to a PC. Given the spec you might be hard-pressed to justify spending more, making this one of the best camcorders for filmmakers on a budget.

Not everyone wants or needs a 4K camcorder. If Full HD resolution is all you need, then here are some choices that will deliver great-looking video at a rock-bottom price.

Best 4K camcorders

4K video has become the new standard for serious filmmaking. It doesn't just give you a step up in resolution, it gives you some scope for cropping and panning later while you're editing your videos. Here are some great 4K camcorders that let you step up the quality without overstretching your budget.

Best affordable 4K camcorder

(Image credit: Sony)

2. Sony FDR-AX43

Best affordable 4K camcorder

Specifications

Max recording resolution: 3,840 x 2,160px
Image sensor: Exmor R CMOS sensor
Total pixels: 8.29MP
Dimensions: 173 x 80.5 x 73mm
Weight: 625g

Reasons to buy

+
4K recording
+
Light and compact
+
5.1 channel microphone
+
20x zoom

Reasons to avoid

-
No HDR
-
Low-light performance can be noisy

The FDR-AX43 may be compact but it doesn’t skimp on features. Fronted by a Carl Zeiss Vario Sonnar T lens, the FDR-AX43's niceties include a 20x optical zoom, 4K shooting (with super-down-sampling for 1080p displays), a low noise Exmor R CMOS sensor, and dual-video recording in XAVC S or AVCHD, plus easy to share MP4.

For those who want convincing surround sound when playing back their footage into a home cinema or soundbar, there’s also a multichannel 5.1 microphone. Expect limitations in low light, but if you’re looking for an easy-to-manage but capable 4K shooter, then this model is a fantastic choice, and that balance between functionality, portability, and the price is why it takes our #1 spot.

Best high-spec compact

(Image credit: Sony)

3. Sony FDR-AX700

Best high-spec compact

Specifications

Max recording resolution: 3,840 x 2,160px
Image sensor: 1.0-type Exmor RS CMOS sensor
Total pixels: 14.2MP
Dimensions: 169(w) x 89.5(h) x 196.5(d)mm
Weight: 600g

Reasons to buy

+
Easy to use
+
4K video quality
+
Built-in Wi-Fi

Reasons to avoid

-
Big for a palm-sized camcorder
-
Probably not for casual hobbyists

A superbly specified 4K camcorder, the FDR-AX700 has a one-inch Exmor RS CMOS sensor and shoots 4K video in both SDR and HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma) HDR. Features include a 12x zoom, big 3.5-inch viewfinder, dual SD card slots, and advanced phase detection AF. 

The FDR-AX700 uses XAVC S for both 4K and HD recording, with 100 Mbps for 4K, and 50 Mbps for 1080p. It will also shoot in 1080p at 120 fps. The brand’s BIONZ X image processor keeps images crisp. The FDR-AX700 is one of the best camcorders for keen videographers and even aspiring filmmakers. A standard SMPTE timecode can be included on recordings. Trick replay includes Super Slow Motion. 

Best professional camcorders

Mention 'camcorder' and most people think of affordable, consumer-friendly all-in-one video cameras, but there's also a growing market for professional camcorders that share the same broad design but are intended for professional news gathering and broadcasting, with underslung grips for a low-angle run and gun shooting or as shoulder-mounted camcorders fitted to chest harnesses or rigs.

Best for professionals

(Image credit: Panasonic)

4. Panasonic HC-X2000

Best for professionals

Specifications

Max recording resolution: 3840 x 2160px
Image sensor: 1/2.5-type MOS Sensor
Total pixels: 8.29MP
Dimensions: 129 x 159 x 257mm (5.08 x 6.26 x 10.1in)
Weight: 1.5kg / 3.31 lb (with battery and handle)

Reasons to buy

+
Prosumer form factor
+
Superb image quality
+
Incredibly versatile
+
Detachable handle with built-in light

Reasons to avoid

-
Can be unwieldy for the unwary

If you want to shoot like a pro, then Panasonic’s HC-X2000 is the best run-and-gun camcorder on our list. Able to record 2160p at 60fps, it’s designed for event videographers and enthusiasts. At 1.5kg it isn’t a casual option, but it is much lighter than its predecessor the HC-X1000 – and you can remove the handle with its built-in LED light and mic holder if you need to travel light. 

It features a large 3.5-inch color touchscreen, two XLR professional microphone inputs, and dual SD card slots. Not only can it shoot 3,840x2,160 up to 60fps, but can shoot at 120fps at 1080p if you need slo-mo. 

The HC-X2000E employs an 18.9-megapixel, 1/2.5 MOS sensor, and a Leica Dicomar lens. A 24x optical zoom and 5-axis hybrid optical image stabilization offers plenty of compositional opportunities. Image quality is excellent, in both HD and 4K. The detail is high and the color rendering excellent. It's a superb semi-pro shooter, but understandably complex to use.

best for documentaries

(Image credit: Sony )

5. Sony HXR-NX80

best for documentaries

Specifications

Max recording resolution: 4K
Image sensor: 1" CMOS
Total pixels: 21.MP
Dimensions: 260 x 245 x 151 mm
Weight: 2168g

Reasons to buy

+
4K shooting
+
Dual zoom lengths (18x/24x)
+
Telephoto zoom range

Reasons to avoid

-
Heavy
-
Expensive

This is a 4k professional camcorder that you can take wherever you go and can capture stunning and highly detailed 4K HDR video. This compact, palm-style camera offers phase-detection Autofocus (AF) along with HDR capabilities in a relatively small body. 

Suitable for corporate events, broadcast news, and television production, the HXR-NX80 camcorder features a stacked 1" Exmor RS CMOS sensor with 14.2MP, an 18x Zeiss optical zoom in 4k or 24x in 1080p, an OLED viewfinder, and a 3.5" touchscreen LCD monitor. 

This camcorder records 4K in XAVC S 4K codec, and it includes S-Log3/S-Gamut3 functions for additional image control. Additional features include built-in 2.4 GHz for multiple streaming options via RTMP/RTMPS protocols, making this the best professional camcorder for a vast number of applications. 

Best for all occasions

(Image credit: Canon)

6. Canon XA40

Best for all occasions

Specifications

Max recording resolution: 3,840 x 2,160px
Image sensor: 1/2.3" type CMOS Sensor
Total pixels: 8.29MP
Dimensions: 182.9 x 109.2 x 83.8 mm
Weight: 726g

Reasons to buy

+
Generous 20x lens
+
Professional-quality 4K video
+
1200x slow motion mode

Reasons to avoid

-
Price puts it in pro realm

Canon's impressive XA40 is a pro-grade camcorder that not only produces excellent 4K footage but also uses oversampling to ensure its Full HD footage is peerless in quality. 

Its palm-sized build means it's easy to pack up and take wherever you need it to go, while the 20x zoom lens gives you real shooting versatility. Optical 5-axis image stabilization is also a boon, making it easier to capture professional-looking shots while you're shooting handheld. A camera for all seasons and all situations.

What to look for in a camcorder

If you're considering returning to the world of camcorders for the first time after adventures many years ago with 8mm and VHS-C tape, you may be wondering why you need one at all, when there's a perfectly functional camera built into a device that you have with you at all times. 

The key advantage of a camcorder over a camera phone is that you tend to get a big optical zoom lens built-in, meaning you can get closer to your subjects without compromising the quality of your picture. This is particularly useful for shooting sports and wildlife and is also something that sets camcorders apart from the best action cameras.

Of course, camcorders are not the only choice for videographers. The best 4K cameras for filmmaking have the advantage of not only providing a gorgeous picture but also offering the capacity for the user to swap lenses. The best cinema cameras, meanwhile, are designed more for professionals and come with a price tag to match; content creators working on their lonesome will likely be more interested in the best cameras for vlogging.

See also: Best VHS to DVD converters

Read more:
Best cameras for vlogging
The best 4K camera for serious filmmaking
Best audio recorders for filmmakers
Best video editing software
Best video tripods

Chris George

Chris George has worked on Digital Camera World since its launch in 2017. He has been writing about photography, mobile phones, video making and technology for over 30 years – and has edited numerous magazines including PhotoPlus, N-Photo, Digital Camera, Video Camera, and Professional Photography. 


His first serious camera was the iconic Olympus OM10, with which he won the title of Young Photographer of the Year - long before the advent of autofocus and memory cards. Today he uses a Nikon D800, a Fujifilm X-T1, a Sony A7, and his iPhone 11 Pro.


He has written about technology for countless publications and websites including The Sunday Times Magazine, The Daily Telegraph, Dorling Kindersley, What Cellphone, T3 and Techradar.