Sony HDR-HC1 Handycam

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You won't look like a film-school refugee while toting the 1.4-pound HDR-HC1, which captures full 1080i HDTV-resolution video with a body that's about one third the size of its rivals. It uses readily available MiniDV tapes for HD capture, enabling both high-def and standard-def playback straight from the camcorder. 2.7-inch widescreen display;
10x optical zoom; $2,000