The 5 best camcorders: tested by our editors
Our top picks are compact, portable, vintage-inspired and high-tech.
Photodom DVC-Z112 Camcorder
$undefined
$149.99
To pick the best camcorders, we spoke with a video camera and retail expert, and tried different models from DJI, Canon and other brands. Combining expert advice with our hands-on experience, we chose our top picks based on the following criteria:
Want more from NBC Select? Sign up for our newsletter, The Selection, and shop smarter.
Our top picks are a mix of traditional camcorders and modern video cameras of all shapes and sizes from brands like DJI and Canon. We list important specifications you may want to know below each recommendation.
It may not exactly fit in a pants pocket, but the Osmo Pocket 3 is the best modern camcorder for shooting video. NBC Select associate social media editor Natalia Chancafe and I tested the Osmo Pocket 3 for a few weeks after the brand sent us a one to try out. We were very impressed with the image quality and features like active subject tracking, 4K slow-mo video, a rotating touchscreen, and livestreaming and webcam support.
Footage is incredibly stable, even when walking around. That’s because the lens is mounted to a small gimbal, which absorbs shakes and jitters to deliver smooth looking footage in nearly any situation.
The Pocket 3 also has even more advanced features like active tracking. When turned on, the camera will track people and subjects automatically — place it on a table, and the lens will move to keep you centered in the frame, even as you walk around.
Focal length: 20mm | Zoom: digital 2x | Resolution: up to 3840×2160 at up to 120fps | Battery life: up to 166 min. | Storage: microSD | Weight: 0.39 lbs. (179g) | Aperture: f/2 | Shutter speed: 1-1/8000 sec. | ISO: 50-6,400
NBC Select associate SEO reporter Ashley Morris grew up with home movies, and wanted to start making similar, nostalgic videos herself, so she bought this camcorder from a staff-favorite camera store in Brooklyn, New York. The footage has a vintage feel to it, with less detailed image quality compared to something like a DJI or Canon video camera. It’s also a conversation starter — friends want to try it out and are much more willing to be on camera compared to using a smartphone or traditional camera, says Morris. Despite the retro design, it uses modern SD cards to store and transfer footage, making it easier to use than older vintage camcorders.
Focal length: not listed | Zoom: digital 18x | Resolution: up to 1920x1080 at up to 120fps | Battery life: not listed | Storage: SD card | Weight: 0.6 lbs. 275g) | Aperture: f/3.2 | Shutter speed: not listed | ISO: 100-400
If you want a dedicated video camera that can fit in your front pocket, the Canon PowerShot V10 is your best bet. Chancafe has been using it for a little over four months, and loves how small and simple it is — she brings it any and everywhere to record fun memories or capture a nice view. It takes less detailed, shakier footage than something like the DJI Osmo Pocket 3, but if ease of use and simplicity are top of mind, the PowerShot V10 is hard to beat. Just keep your shots steady, says Chancafe.
Focal length: 19mm | Zoom: digital 3x | Resolution: up to 3840×2160 at up to 30fps | Battery life: up to 55 min. of 4k recording | Storage: SD card | Weight: 0.46 lbs. (211g) | Aperture: f/2.8 | Shutter speed: 1/8-1/4000 sec. | ISO: 125-3,200
Modern smartphones take impressive video, but can be uninspiring or even uncomfortable to use for more than a couple of minutes. An accessory grip like this one can help make using your phone more comfortable to hold. It attaches vertically or horizontally to any iPhone 12 or newer with MagSafe or a MagSafe compatible phone case, and adds a sizable grip to hold as you film. The grip has a physical record button and also has a built-in battery that recharges your phone while attached.
The Canon PowerShot V1 is a compact, video-first machine in the shape of a point-and-shoot camera. It has a built-in wide-angle zoom lens that’s well-suited to flipping the camera on yourself and vlogging. Add on a rotating touchscreen, built-in microphone (with fuzzy wind cover), image stabilization and advanced autofocus, and this camera has all the tech you could need to capture great videos.
If you are looking for the best image possible, and don’t mind using a larger camera to get it, consider other video-first cameras like the Canon EOS R50 V, Fujifilm X-M5, Sony ZV-E10 and Sony ZV-E10 II.
Focal length: 16-50mm | Zoom: optical 3.1x | Resolution: up to 3840×2160 at up to 60fps | Battery life: up to 400 shots, video unlisted | Storage: SD card | Weight: 0.83 lbs. (379g) | Aperture: f/2.8-4.5 | Shutter speed: 30-1/16,000 sec. | ISO: 100-12,800
Camcorders can look wildly different from each other. Our picks from DJI and Photodom are a perfect example: one is a modern mini-camera in the shape of a selfie stick, the other is a vintage-looking video camera with a flip-out screen and lever to zoom in and out. With that kind of variety, it can be hard to know which camcorder is right for you. Keep the following in mind to help narrow your options.
Are you going to be filming snippets of your child’s weekend sport games? Filming a three hour long podcast in a studio? Shooting a music video with a vintage feel? Every camera is different, and fit for different jobs, says Tigre. The best way to know which model is right for you is to define your needs, then find a camcorder to match.
All of our recommended camcorders use SD cards to store and transfer footage. That’s intentional — SD cards are widely available and make it easy to transfer footage from your camcorder to your computer.
If you are looking to buy a camcorder, double check how the footage is stored and transferred. For older camcorders that don’t use SD cards, you may need to use specific cables or a dedicated digitizing device to transfer footage, says Tigre.
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
I am a reporter at NBC Select who covers technology and fitness including recent stories on point-and-shoot cameras, running shoes and fitness trackers. For this piece, I spoke with a camcorder and retail expert to better understand the market and leveraged the experience of NBC Select staffers who use camcorders regularly.
Catch up on NBC Select’s in-depth coverage of tech and tools, wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok to stay up to date.
