Spending thousands of dollars on a single camcorder doesn’t make that device the best camcorder in town. Therefore, you don’t have to empty your account to get a camcorder to use. There are several budget camcorders on the market for you to get, these camcorders offer similar features and capabilities offered by the expensive models.
Here, we’ll identify the best camcorders on the market. Typically, these camcorders are good and very affordable. In no particular order, here is a list of the top ten best budget camcorders to get this year.
1. AKASO EK7000
Indisputably, the AKASO EK7000 is the best budget camcorder to get on the market. It costs under $100 and comes with a built-in Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) which delivers steady and smooth videos. This 16MP camera can shoot 2.7K footage at a full 30fps and it allows you to capture picturesque mirror selfies, even in low-light scenarios.
Also, the camera chassis is waterproof up to 131 feet, hence, it is a good camcorder for underwater sports photography and film.
Features
- Waterproof camera up to 131 feet.
- Captures fast-moving objects.
- Built-in Electronic Image Stabilization.
- Delivers 4K/25fps, 2.7K/30fps and 1080P/60fps videos.
- Ultra 2 inch IPS touchscreen.
- Built-in Wi-Fi.
- Wireless Remote Control
- Multi-function Action Camera.
- 40M Underwater camera.
- Superb Image Stabilization.
- 16 MP photos.
Price: $69.99
Pros
- Waterproof camera.
- Impressive Video Quality.
- Affordable and cheap.
Cons
- Battery cover design is a bit poor.
2. Canon VIXIA HF R800
If you have a spacious memory card, you can use capture photos and take videos with this camera for dozens of hours without feeling the need to delete any file so as to free up some space. The Canon VIXIA HF R800 is compatible with the SDXC format and it comes with an AV mini-jack as well as combination stereo and a mini-HDMI connector.
Some of the features include;
- Weighs under 11 ounces.
- 9 preset stabilizer modes.
- Uses the MPEG-4 codec.
- MP4 1080/60p Recording.
- 57x Advanced Zoom.
- Optical Image Stabilization.
- Full HD CMOS Sensor.
- DIGIC DV 4 Image Processor.
- File Lock.
- Weighs under 11 ounces.
- 9 preset stabilizer modes.
- Uses the MPEG-4 codec.
- Slow and Fast Motion Recording.
- Digic DV 4 image processor.
- Compatible with Canon Connect Station CS100 via USB.
- Record Video Directly to a Removable SD Card.
- Touch Panel LCD.
Price: $219
Pros
- Portable and lightweight.
- Powerful battery.
- No 4k resolution.
Cons
- No built-in memory.
3. GoPro Hero3+ Silver
The GoPro Hero3+ Silver is a cheap camcorder that almost anyone can afford it – even a college student. It is designed with a 2x faster image processor for 1080p60 and 720p120 fps video. Unlike other camcorders in this list, the GoPro Hero3+ Silver is not ideal for handheld use.
Features
- Weight: 2.56 ounces.
- 15% smaller and lighter housing (waterproof to 131 feet /40 meter).
- Enhanced low light performance
- 30% longer battery life.
- Higher Capacity Lithium-Ion Battery.
- Quick Release Buckle.
- Curved Adhesive Mount.
- Wi-fi and BlueTooth support.
- Performs well in low light.
- Flat Adhesive Mount.
- 3-Way Pivot Arm.
- USB Charging Cable.
- 1-Year Limited Warranty.
Price: $111.11
Pros
- Good video quality.
- Easy to use.
- Simple to connect to your phone or computer.
Cons
- Battery drains quickly.
4. GoPro Hero6
The GoPro Hero 6 is one of the affordable camcorders you can get under $300. It comes with an integrated 5-gigahertz wireless radio and is waterproof to 33ft (10m). You can copy the photos and videos to your phones, flash drives and other storage facilities faster thanks to the 5GHz Wi-Fi.
Features
- Rugged design.
- Waterproof camera.
- Improved Low-Light Video + Photos.
- Great image quality.
- Easy to frame shots.
- Next-Level Stabilization.
- 2-inch display.
Price: $231.99
Pros
- Decent battery life.
- Good image sensor.
- Awesome image quality.
Cons
- The battery runs down very quickly.
5. Panasonic V180K
The Panasonic V180K comes with a 2-channel zoom microphone which delivers a good balance of audio and video quality. Also, it takes in more light than a traditional CMOS chip – this keeps the recordings from beings too grainy when it’s a bit dark out.
Features
- Super-sharp Full HD 1080p recording.
- Intelligent 90x zoom.
- 5 axis Hybrid Optical Image Stabilization.
- A responsive touch screen on a 2.7” LCD.
- 2-channel zoom microphone.
- 7in wide touch-screen LCD monitor (230,400 dots).
Price: $229.99
Pros
- Awesome battery life.
- The zoom is amazing.
- Cheap and affordable.
Cons
- Uses a mini-HDMI.
- No Carrying Case.
- Low-quality touchscreen.
6. Sony FDRX3000
The Sony FDR-X3000 is one of the camcorders money can buy. It comes with a wide variety of powerful features including 3 focal length settings, 4K image capture and a built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, HDMI, NFC, USB and mic jack. The integrated wireless connectivity allows you to organize and archive your files (images and videos) without hassles.
Features
- 12-megapixel sensor.
- Built-in GPS.
- Integrated GPS unit.
- External microphone jack.
- Restricted to a 17-mm focal length.
- Electable viewing angle and 3x zoom.
- Intuitive interface.
- Quality stereo sound with wind noise reduction.
Price: $298.00
Pros
- Built-in Wi-Fi works well.
- Awesome image quality.
- Sensitive microphone.
- GPS built is accurate for location.
Cons
- Not waterproof but water-resistant.
- Limited to 128GB card.
- Battery life will drain faster with activated Wi-Fi.
7. Sony HDR-AS300
The Sony HDR-AS300 comes with a completely waterproof design that is safe even down to about 200 feet underwater. It also has onboard wireless connectivity that can shoot in 240-FPS slow motion via the H.264 codec.
Features
- RGB colour filtration.
- High-quality images.
- Selectable viewing angle: Wide, Medium or Narrow.
- 3x zoom.
- High quality 12MP still images.
- Intuitive interface.
- 3x rec. lights.
- Adjustable beep volume
- Exposure Mode: Multi-segment.
- Splash-proof body.
Price: $368.00
Pros
- Tough body endures harsh conditions.
- Rugged design.
Cons
- Relatively costly.
8. Sony Handycam CX440
The Sony Handycam CX440 features a built-in Wi-Fi with NFC pairing which makes it relatively easy for you to transfer images and videos directly to your PC. It is lightweight and comes with an active image stabilization which helps you to capture high-quality footage.
Features
- 8mm ZEISS Lens w60x Clear Image Zoom/30x Optical.
- View on 2.7″ Clear Photo Plus LCD display.
- HDMI Terminal: Yes (HDMI micro).
- Broadcast LIVE from your camcorder via Ustream4 live-streaming.
- Built-in USB cable for charging and easy file transfer.
- Face Detection with voice enhancement & noise reduction.
- Full HD Video/ 9.2MP Stills.
- 8GB Internal Memory.
- Zeiss 30x Optical Zoom Lens.
- Optical Steady Shot Image Stabilization.
- 7-Inch Flip-Out LCD Viewscreen.
- Built-In Wi-Fi w/NFC.
- Multi-Camera Control.
Price: $135.99
Pros
- Really clean and crisp recording.
- Captures great images.
- Easy to use while recording.
- Nice pictures.
- Good zoom.
Cons
- No night vision.
- Not touchscreen.
- Short battery life.
9. YI 4K Action and Sports Camera
The YI 4K Sports and Action Video Camera comes with a 155-degree wide-angle lens, it records videos in 1080p/120fps, 4K/30fps (100mbps), and 720p/240fps and it shoots 12MP photos. Despite being a budget-camera, it is not lacking in features. It has a rechargeable 1400mAh high-voltage 4.4V lithium-ion battery which has the capacity to record up to 120 minutes of 4K/30fps video from a single charge.
Features
- Integrated LCD Gorilla Glass Retina Touchscreen
- built-in Bluetooth.
- High-speed 5GHz/2. 4GHz Wi-Fi support.
- Rechargeable 1400mAh battery.
- LCD touchscreen.
Price: $229.99
Pros
- Superb Image Quality.
- Fast sharing.
- Long battery life.
Cons
- Small size.
10. Zoom Video Recorder
The Zoom Q2N comes with built-in microphones which is able to stream performances live to YouTube, Twitch, Facebook etc. The microphone captures audio with 24-bit depth and 92-kilohertz sampling and you can output the audio to your iOS device for streaming and mobile podcasting.
Features
- Records directly to microSD
- Easy one-button recording.
- Support for 3 HD video modes namely: 720p, 1080p and 4K.
- Supports 4k at 30 frames per second.
Price: $199.99
Pros
- Great build quality.
- Easy to use.
- Great mic.
Cons
- Poor low-light performance.