Damian Vincent puts the latest high-definition camcorders to the test to see which are best for creating your vacation memories

As a filmmaker who regularly contributes video content to cntraveler.com, I know what it's like to want to shoot perfect footage. That's a real challenge when working in the documentary style, which doesn't allow for scouting and setting up shots, or hiring a grip or producer to smooth the way. Instead, documentarians—which would include you, fellow travelers—must rely on their wits and, ideally, a great camera that will bear up under all conditions. Luckily, there's a slew of new high-definition (HD) camcorders that promise to make easy work of your cinema verité. I evaluated five of the newest models, each of which records to hard drive or memory card. The big advantage of this new recording technology is that these camcorders are slimmer and lighter than those with built-in compartments for mini-tapes or DVDs. What's more, the svelte cards add hours of shooting time—a 32-gigabyte card stores about four hours of HD footage.

Video from these camcorders looks sharpest on a wide-screen HD television, and each connects directly to your set for instant viewing gratification when you return home from your shoot (or vacation, as some call it). They will also work with -standard-definition TVs. You can easily share your movies online, via Tumblr, Facebook, or plain old e-mail—as long as you shoot your footage in lower-quality, Web-ready mode (each camera has one). Otherwise, HD video will create files much too large to upload to the Web or stream online. As for storing your HD video clips, you'll need a computer with a lot of processing power, a good bit of memory, and the latest Windows or Mac operating system. The more rudimentary editing software out there will not support the HD format, but a new generation of programs is tailored for the files and can transform them into cinematographic masterpieces (see "Short Cuts").

The five camcorders I reviewed all share two extremely useful features: improved image stabilization technology, to negate shaky hands, and crystal-clear viewfinders—Sony's and JVC's are touch screens—so you can film and adjust your settings on the move. Sony and Panasonic also have face-detection imaging, which automatically finds the right focus, exposure, and color for skin tones.

Sound is another matter, however, and none of these camcorders are going to serve you well in a breeze, let alone a gust. If you want audio that rises to the same level as the image quality but don't want to spend your holiday in a sound booth, I recommend investing in a shotgun microphone as an accessory to any of these cameras.

Not all camcorders are created equal, though. I tested these for the most important features: image quality, frame speed, performance in low and bright light, and ease of use.

Winner
Sony HDR-CX12
****

For the price ($900), image quality, and fun, you can't beat this little camcorder. It shot beautifully under all conditions, especially low light. Tap the sun button to lift the exposure two stops—enough to give you clarity at dusk, when the light is right but faces are obscured by shadows. After the sun goes down, the night setting captures your adventures with infrared sensors. You can snap still photos, even while filming in HD, and the Smile Shutter setting does so automatically when it senses your subject, well, smiling. Want to get close? A 12X optical zoom will take you there (sonystyle.com).