Compare Prices : Canon XM2

Review summary: THE X-M2 is one of the best MiniDV cams on the market and has plenty of premium features.

Pros: Superb image quality, 20x optical zoom, affordable for a professional unit ;

Cons: No zooming ring, inbuilt microphone below average, standard-def only ;

Verdict: Serious users will find plenty to love about the X-M2, which combines plenty of premium features with a price tag that most people can afford. It might be getting a little long in the tooth, but this is still one of the best MiniDV cams on the market.

Pros: Superb image quality, 20x optical zoom, affordable for a professional unit

Cons: No zooming ring, inbuilt microphone below average, standard-def only

Verdict: Serious users will find plenty to love about the X-M2, which combines plenty of premium features with a price tag that most people can afford. It might be getting a little long in the tooth, but this is still one of the best MiniDV cams on the market.

Award: Editor's Choice!

Review summary: This outstanding performer raises the bar for prosumer MiniDV camcorders.

Pros: Excellent image quality and color fidelity ; 20X optical zoom ; two-channel audio control ; 1.7-megapixel still image capture ; lightweight ;

Cons: Too many controls per button ; onboard microphone is omnidirectional ; mediocre battery life with included cell ;

Verdict: This is a camcorder with a great deal of control to offer, but how to exercise that control isn't always apparent at first. You might forget, for instance, that to select one of the four programmed-exposure modes, you'll need to actuate a switch on ...

Verdict: An excellent choice for the more competent videographer