Camcorders: Testing camcorders
Camcorder reviews - Which? tests
All the camcorders in the Which? camcorder reviews are precision tested with state-of-the-art equipment to bring you the best. Our exclusive tests rate each of the camcorders for video quality, ease of use and more, and you can compare camcorders to find one that's right for you.
Due to improvements in our camcorder testing procedures to account for new features and developments, please note that camcorders tested in 2008 are not directly comparable with those tested in 2007, which are in turn not directly comparable with camcorders from 2006.
Camcorder video quality
We test camcorders' video quality
You will expect your camcorder to perform well wherever you are, and so do we.
We examine camcorders' video quality under different light conditions and different camcorder settings, using test charts and real-life recordings.
Image sharpness, colour fidelity and absence of noise are three of the things we look for in good video.
We test the camcorders' image stabilisation system using a specially set-up camcorder shaker that mimics the tiny movements that a hand makes - even when if you're trying to keep your hand still.
Ease of use camcorder tests
We use a special chart for testing camcorders' image stabilisation
The best camcorders should not only take great video, but be easy to use, too. All the camcorders in the Which? camcorder reviews are tested by our experts to see how user-friendly they are, from how good the instruction manual is, to the time it takes from the 'power on' button to be pressed before the camcorder is ready to shoot, to how clear the LCD screen is.
Camcorder sound quality
To test camcorders' sound quality, we measure how good the camcorder is at not recording wind noise. The wind can sometimes play havoc when recording on your camcorder.
We also perform listening tests, taking note of any disturbing noises, for example the sound of camcorder buttons being pressed or the zoom being operated.
We also examine sound quality using an external microphone to make our recordings.
Still photos on camcorders
To find out how good camcorders are at taking still images, we rate still image quality, shutter delay and other still photo function features using tests similar to those performed in our digital cameras tests.
Camcorder features
Some camcorder features are more useful than others. We take a look at each camcorder’s features and give points according to how useful they are.
Autofocussing
We measure how quickly and how reliably the camcorder autofocusses on different scenes and objects.
We measure at different camcorder zoom settings, and in various light conditions (dim lighting and a fully zoomed-in lens can cause many camcorders problems when autofocussing).
Camcorder battery life
The last thing you need is for your camcorder's battery to run out when you're in the middle of filming an important moment, so check the Which? camcorder review to find camcorders with good battery life.
First we condition the camcorder's battery to make for a fair test. We measure how long the camcorder records for on one single charge, while performing a routine set of operations typical of how one might use a camcorder.