David Kender

It’s funny how quickly tech language changes. Just a short while ago, the term “hybrid” meant a camcorder that can also capture still pictures. Now that we take this feature for granted, the term has been reappropriated. “Hybrid” now refers to camcorders that can record video to two different media, as in the case of the new Panasonic HDC-SX5 ($899.95 MSRP). This is not Panasonic’s first hybrid camcorder. They announced two back in January. The Panasonic HDC-SX5 may prove to be their most successful, though. First, it’s high definition (1920 x 1080 AVCHD), and second, it offers a smart combination of recording options: DVD to satisfy the family shooters, and SDHC cards to satisfy the speed-needy YouTube crowd. Let’s take a detailed look to see if this is a camcorder that could meet expectations.

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The Canon Vixia HF S10 poses a viable draw for entry-level professionals, or pros who want a back-up cam.

The latest of Panasonic's "adventure" cams. It's a sturdy camera with great handling that continues to impress us.

The Sony HX100V is a powerhouse of an ultrazoom that replaces the great but aged HX1.

So many features, we're not sure how they'll fit on the box art. But for all that, we were disappointed by its handling.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX78 is an ultracompact decidedly marketed towards the female user base.