Sanyo VPC-HD2000

In video, it's all about high definition (HD) these days. HD images offer greater clarity and sharpness, particularly when viewed on large flat-screen displays.

The sensor technology used to record HD video is getting cheaper, as is the storage required to hold it all (it needs much more than standard video), so it's now economical to pick up an HD camcorder.

Like the Creative Vado HD, also on this page, the Sanyo VPC-HD2000 can shoot in high definition, but it includes the better of the two HD modes, 1080p or Full HD as it's known, which uses 1,080 lines to draw the picture, as opposed to the 720 lines of the lesser HD mode. It records on to SD memory cards (not supplied), which are now quite cheap – an 8GB card, offering 45 minutes at best quality, costs just £10 online.

The camera is easy to use – flipping the screen out from the side switches it on, and it's easy to switch between the modes for shooting video or still pictures, and to zoom in or out. Still shots were OK but not as good as from a dedicated 8-megapixel still camera. It also suffered from a long shutter lag.

Video results were more impressive, though: while we thought they lagged slightly behind those from more expensive cameras, at Full HD settings the video was bright and colourful, and quite sharp. The only catch was that you needed a powerful PC (at least a Core 2 Duo processor and 2GB of memory) to edit them.

The lower HD mode was good too, but switching down to the quality settings below that resulted in jarring, blurry, unsatisfactory video. Sound from the built-in microphone was good at all levels, though – easily enough to pick up people speaking a few feet from it.

The 2.7in screen is large enough to make out what's going on, and the few controls were easy to operate. The battery lasted for about two hours of shooting video, and it can output to the PC or to a television (in HD or standard resolution) using the supplied docking station. At £549 it's a touch expensive and if you're not shooting in full HD cheaper cameras are available.