Sony DCR-SX65

Sony Handycam DCR SX65

The Handycam DCR-SX65 is Sony's midrange flash-memory-based standard-definition ultracompact camcorder featuring 4GB of internal memory, a 3-inch touch-screen LCD, and a 60x optical zoom lens for less than $250. It has a couple of other cool features that make it above average for its class, but none of them have to do with improving video quality. No, unfortunately, there's apparently no reason to make an excellent standard-def camcorder these days; the SX65's movies are mediocre at best--especially if you're watching them full-screen on a large TV or are used to the sharpness and clear details of high-definition content. For Web use at small sizes the results are OK, though, and if you're not terribly concerned with video quality in the first place and want a reasonably priced camcorder that's easy to use, has a megazoom lens, and can fit in a coat pocket, this Sony is worth checking out. If 4GB of storage isn't enough for you, you can spend about $30 more on the DCR-SX85, which is identical to the SX65, but has 16GB of flash memory. Or, you can go the stripped-down route with the sub-$230 SX45, which has no internal storage and you have to supply a Memory Stick or SD card for recording.