Editor's Choice - Our Favorite Image Stabilization Camcorders
1. Sony - HDRCX405 HD Video Recording Handycam Camcorder (black)
User Ratings: 58 8
Sony HDRCX405/B First Impressions
"It works perfectly so far."The camcorder is nice and compact. I will definitely use it more often. The clarity of the video was amazing. What you get is quite a lot, really. Great Image Stabilization Camcorder and meets my needs.
- Sony - HDRCX405 HD Video Recording Handycam Camcorder (black)
- 50Mbps XAVC S1 1920x1080 at 60P, AVCHD and MP4 codecs. 30x Optical / 60x Clear Image Zoom to get closer to the action. 26.8mm wide angle ZEISS Lens
- Automatically creates highlight video in MP4 from multiple clips. Optical SteadyShot image stabilization w/ Active mode. Built-in USB cable for easy file transfer/charge
- Face Detection with voice enhancement and noise reduction. Get creative w/ 7 picture effects for video and still photos.For windows computers, details vary according to OS (Windows7/VISTA/XP)
- View on 2.7” Clear Photo Plus LCD display. Intelligent Auto (60 different scene combinations possible) , Focal Length (35mm) (Video) f=26.8 - 804.0 mm (16:9) Focal Length (35mm) (Still Image) f=26.8-804.0mm (16:9), f=32.8-984.0mm (4:3)
- This product does not have an external microphone input.
- Batteries: 1 Lithium ion batteries required. (included)
- Editor's Impressions Of The Sony HDRCX405/B
- Video Quality
- Picture Quality
- Video Quality
- Quality
- Value For Money
- Affordability
Sony HDRCX405/B Final Thoughts
"Instructions are decent."I'm using it to make my YouTube videos. There are not any fancy professional features. 3 settings, up close, mid range and infinity. And the rocker zoom is awesome. The lanyard has been amazing.
Overall Score
4.1
(660 Points)

Peoples Choice - Other Highly Rated Image Stabilization Camcorders
2. Panasonic HC-W580K Full HD Camcorder with Wi-Fi, Built with Multi Scene Twin Camera (Black)
User Ratings: 64 8
Panasonic HC-W580K First Impressions
"I noticed two problems."I'll get to the point of figuring it out. An additional battery is included as backup. Super easy to read instructions too! I love it and definitely recommend to others. I like The light weight small size.
- Panasonic HC-W580K Full HD Camcorder with Wi-Fi, Built with Multi Scene Twin Camera (Black)
- Super-sharp Full HD 1080p recording
- Intelligent 90x zoom and 5-axis Hybrid Optical Image Stabilization provide maximum handheld stability
- Wi-Fi and NFC enabled for quickly sharing content and controlling camcorder features remotely
- Built in Twin Camera plus Wi-Fi mobile device features add multi-camera scene picture-in-picture recording
- Exclusive High Dynamic Range (HDR) mode reduces the overly high-contrast look created by overexposed and underexposed shooting conditions
- Batteries: 1 Lithium ion batteries required. (included)
- Editor's Impressions Of The Panasonic HC-W580K
- Video Quality
- Picture Quality
- Video Quality
- Quality
- Value For Money
- Affordability
Panasonic HC-W580K Final Thoughts
"Great picture and sound."The material of the Panasonic HC-W580K seems really good. Good camera for what I’m using it for. Every detail is well designed. This is an amazing camera, it really is. Christmas, kids' plays, recitals, etc.
Overall Score
4.3
(379 Points)

3. Panasonic HC-V380K Full HD Camcorder with Wi-Fi Multi Scene Camera (Black)
User Ratings: 64 8
Panasonic HC-V380K First Impressions
"Exceeded expectations."I had no problems at all with setup at all. The lanyard has been amazing. Good quality without damage at night. This is absolutely the perfect tool for me. The image stabilizer works very well.
- Panasonic HC-V380K Full HD Camcorder with Wi-Fi Multi Scene Camera (Black)
- Super-sharp Full HD 1080p recording;3 inches touch-enabled LCD
- Intelligent 90x zoom, with 5-axis Hybrid Optical Image Stabilization provides maximum handheld stability
- Wi-Fi and NFC enabled for quickly sharing content and controlling camcorder features remotely
- Wi-Fi mobile device Camera feature adds multi-camera scene picture-in-picture recording
- In-camera Creative Control and Intelligent Auto Plus modes enhance creative possibilities
- Batteries: 1 Lithium ion batteries required. (included)
- Editor's Impressions Of The Panasonic HC-V380K
- Video Quality
- Picture Quality
- Video Quality
- Quality
- Value For Money
- Affordability
Panasonic HC-V380K Final Thoughts
"And guess what!"Good camera for what I’m using it for. The whole family enjoyed this purchase. Now I'm off to charge the battery! Much better then other same style Image Stabilization Camcorder. But to my surprise, it isn’t heavy at all.
Overall Score
4.3
(379 Points)

4. Sony DSCHX80/B High Zoom Point & Shoot Camera with Ultra 32GB Micro SDHC UHS-I Card and NP-BX1/M8 Li...
User Ratings: 62 10
Sony First Impressions
"I like it so much."Still, it's worth knowing about. I love the audio options. The image stabilizer works very well. Picks up good sound without the mic. I haven’t had to change the date.
- Sony DSCHX80/B High Zoom Point & Shoot Camera with Ultra 32GB Micro SDHC UHS-I Card and NP-BX1/M8 Lithium-Ion X Type Battery
- 30x Optical/60x Clear Image Zoom ZEISS Vario-Sonnar T* Lens, 18.2MP Exmor R CMOS Sensor for superb low light images, Built-in retractable OLED Tru-Finder viewfinder
- Versatile video w/ high-quality XAVC S, AVCHD & MP4 formats, Simple connectivity to smartphones via Wi-Fi w/NFC, 5-axis image stabilization greatly reduces camera shake blur
- Selfie-ready 3" Extra Fine LCD multi-angle display, P/A/S/M modes, customizable settings and Memory Recall mode, Enhance features w/ downloadable camera apps, Capture the decisive moments with up to 10fps or keep your subject in focus with Lock-on AF
- Ideal for Android-based smartphones and tablets
- Transfer speeds of up to 98MB/s**
- Rated A1 for faster app performance3 and UHS Speed Class U1 and Speed Class 10 for Full HD video recording and playback1
- Shoot up to 330 photos or 80 minutes of video
- Editor's Impressions Of The Sony
- Video Quality
- Picture Quality
- Video Quality
- Quality
- Value For Money
- Affordability
Sony Final Thoughts
"Great value for the price."Now I'm off to charge the battery! Really like the clarity of the picture. I will definitely use it more often. This little camera meets all those needs! There are not any fancy professional features.
Overall Score
4.1
(321 Points)

Honorable Mentions - More Top Selling Image Stabilization Camcorders
5. Sony HDR-CX440/B Full HD Video Handycam Camcorder w/Sony 16GB SD Card Bundle
User Ratings: 64 4
Sony HDR-CX440 First Impressions
"I like it so much."The videos and pictures are both very clear. Overall it is a decent Image Stabilization Camcorder for the price. The best part is the real-time imagery. Its really worth every dollar I paid. It did come with a memory card on top of it.
- Sony HDR-CX440/B Full HD Video Handycam Camcorder w/Sony 16GB SD Card Bundle
- BUNDLE INCLUDES: Sony CX405 Handycam 1080p Full HD Camcorder with Exmor R CMOS Sensor (Black), SanDisk 32GB Ultra UHS-I microSDHC Memory Card, Battery for Sony NP-BX1 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1, DSC-RX100, HDR-AS10, HDR-AS15, and Focus Camera Deluxe SLR Soft Photo and Video Medium Case with Shoulder Strap and 2 Dividers
- CODECS: he Sony HDR-CX440 HD Video Recording Handycam Camcorder delivers XAVC S format cinema-like HD video in 1920x1080 24p/60p at up to 50Mbps and high quality 9.2MP still images. For video compression this camcorder employs MPEG-4 AVC/H.264, while linear PCM is responsible for audio compressio
- DISPLAY: The Sony HDR-CX440 HD Handycam simplifies the recording process with a 2.7-inch (16:9) Clear Photo LCD (230K) display that delivers sharp, bright, vivid images even outdoors. It also allows you to easily adjust the settings to best represent the scene
- OPTICAL STEADYSHOT IMAGE STABILIZATION: The 26.8mm wide-angle lens ensures that you get everything you want into one shot and is perfect for capturing large landscapes. Unlike most digital zooms that use the electronic cropping technique to get closer to the subject, the Sony HDR-CX440 HD Video Recording Handycam Camcorder lets you get amazingly close with 30x optical zoom and 60x Clear Image digital zoom
- SONY AUTHORIZED DEALER: Includes USA Manufacturer Guarantee
- Editor's Impressions Of The Sony HDR-CX440
- Video Quality
- Picture Quality
- Video Quality
- Quality
- Value For Money
- Affordability
Sony HDR-CX440 Final Thoughts
"It suits me perfectly."Very crystal clear picture and sounds. Christmas, kids' plays, recitals, etc. The mic isn't great, but it'll work. Very easy to hold in one hand. It’s really time to buy this Sony HDR-CX440.
Overall Score
4.3
(202 Points)

6. Sony HD Video Recording HDRCX440 Handycam Camcorder w/ 32GB Deluxe Accessory Bundle
User Ratings: 64 4
Sony HDR-CX440/B First Impressions
"I like it so much."Very easy to hold in one hand. We travel out after I receive this Sony HDR-CX440/B. Over all, good quality for the price. I used to just take videos on my phone. Because my phone camera wasn’t good enough.
- Sony HD Video Recording HDRCX440 Handycam Camcorder w/ 32GB Deluxe Accessory Bundle
- BUNDLE INCLUDES: Sony HDRCX440 HD Video Recording Handycam Camcorder with 8GB Internal Memory, SanDisk 32GB Ultra UHS-I microSDHC Memory Card (Class 10), Focus Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery Pack for Sony NP-BX1 with Focus QC-105 Battery Charger, Focus DSLR Camera Holster Case Accessory Bundle, and 12-Inch Spider Tripod
- CODECS: The Sony HDR-CX440 HD Video Recording Handycam Camcorder delivers XAVC S format cinema-like HD video in 1920x1080 24p/60p at up to 50Mbps and high quality 9.2MP still images. For video compression this camcorder employs MPEG-4 AVC/H.264, while linear PCM is responsible for audio compression
- DISPLAY: The Sony HDR-CX440 HD Handycam simplifies the recording process with a 2.7-inch (16:9) Clear Photo LCD (230K) display that delivers sharp, bright, vivid images even outdoors. It also allows you to easily adjust the settings to best represent the scene
- STABILIZATION: Optical SteadyShot image stabilization with Active Mode compensate for heavy camera shake so you can capture the best possible videos. Whether you're wide angle or full telephoto shooting, you can always expect the Sony HDRCX440 HD Handycam camcorder to produce smooth video
- SONY AUTHORIZED DEALER: Includes USA Manufacturer Guarantee
- Editor's Impressions Of The Sony HDR-CX440/B
- Video Quality
- Picture Quality
- Video Quality
- Quality
- Value For Money
- Affordability
Sony HDR-CX440/B Final Thoughts
"Good product."I really appreciate with the extra battery. Perfect camera for my up coming vacation! This is a fantastic camera for the price. I really like the features of the camera. This is designed to be simple and easy to use.
Overall Score
4.3
(202 Points)

7. Sony 4K HD Video Recording FDRAX33 Handycam Camcorder
User Ratings: 69 7
Sony FDRAX33/B First Impressions
"This camera was a hit."The batteries come already charged. So many aspects about this camera. I received the Sony FDRAX33/B today. I got these for my husband for Xmas. The batteries come already charged.
- Sony 4K HD Video Recording FDRAX33 Handycam Camcorder
- Capture 4K/24P/30P video that far exceeds HD resolution
- Zeiss lens w/ balanced optical Steady Shot image stabilization
- Direct Pixel read out for smooth edges and color gradation.Iris Diaphragm:6 blades
- Manual control ring (Iris/shutter/exposure/white balance). manual Iris control: F1. 8-F9. 6, shutter speed: manual Iris control (photo mode) 1/30–1/10000
- Versatile shooting w/ XAVC S3, AVCHD and MP4 codecs
- 0. 27” EVF (201K) and touch screen 3" Extra Fine LCD (921K)
- 5. 1Ch surround sound mic w/ manual audio controls
- Batteries: 1 Lithium ion batteries required. (included)
- Editor's Impressions Of The Sony FDRAX33/B
- Video Quality
- Picture Quality
- Video Quality
- Quality
- Value For Money
- Affordability
Sony FDRAX33/B Final Thoughts
"Makes a great gift!"This unit is awesome and the price is great. It has an camera and it does video. So far I am happy with this purchase. Very compact that it fits in my purse! Great Image Stabilization Camcorder for me.
Overall Score
4.4
(173 Points)

8. Sony 4K HD Video Recording FDRAX33 Handycam Camcorder with ECMGZ1M Gun / Zoom Microphone (Black)
User Ratings: 69 7
Sony First Impressions
"No big deal though."It has an camera and it does video. However I am glad I did purchase! Really great camera and easy to use. Used this multiple times for church lectures. The Sony is very compact.
- Sony 4K HD Video Recording FDRAX33 Handycam Camcorder with ECMGZ1M Gun / Zoom Microphone (Black)
- Capture 4k/24p/30p video that far exceeds HD resolution
- Zeiss lens w/ balanced optical steady shot image stabilization
- Direct pixel read out for smooth edges and color gradation
- Records in Zoom Mic and Gun mic modes
- Zoom Mic Mode records audio level corresponding to zoom length
- Gun Mic Mode records super directional
- Editor's Impressions Of The Sony
- Video Quality
- Picture Quality
- Video Quality
- Quality
- Value For Money
- Affordability
Sony Final Thoughts
"It works perfectly so far."Not very heavy and can take it anywhere. This is absolutely the best bang for the buck. Great seller and very fast shipping! Used this multiple times for church lectures. So many aspects about this camera.
Overall Score
4.4
(173 Points)

9. Sony 4K HD Video Recording FDRAX33 Handycam Camcorder with Carrying Case and Travel Charger
User Ratings: 69 7
Sony First Impressions
"Great value for the price."Seems well made, as expected for the price. Perfect camera for my up coming vacation! Overall it is a decent Image Stabilization Camcorder for the price. This is a gift for my brother's birthday. We are very pleased with this product.
- Sony 4K HD Video Recording FDRAX33 Handycam Camcorder with Carrying Case and Travel Charger
- Capture 4k/24p/30p video that far exceeds HD resolution
- Zeiss lens w/ balanced optical steady shot image stabilization
- Designed for Handycam camcorders, Cyber-shot cameras, and Alpha NEX cameras.
- Stylish soft-sided case provides extra protection
- Compact battery charger
- Charging status indication lamp with 3-step LED
- Editor's Impressions Of The Sony
- Video Quality
- Picture Quality
- Video Quality
- Quality
- Value For Money
- Affordability
Sony Final Thoughts
"Record our good life."Super easy to read instructions too! It’s really time to buy this Sony . Not that many left on the inexpensive end. This is a gift for my brother's birthday. He was pretty happy about the microphone.
Overall Score
4.4
(173 Points)

10. Sony HDR-PJ230/B High Definition Handycam Camcorder with 2.7-Inch LCD (Black) (Discontinued by Manuf...
User Ratings: 60 7
Sony HDR-PJ230/B First Impressions
"Uses it a lot."Really like the clarity of the picture. Perfect camera for my up coming vacation! I haven’t had to change the date. Really like the clarity of the picture. I love the audio options.
- Sony HDR-PJ230/B High Definition Handycam Camcorder with 2.7-Inch LCD (Black) (Discontinued by Manufacturer)
- 1920x1080 Full HD 60p with 8.9MP Exmor R CMOS Sensor
- Project up to 100" videos with 13lm built-in projector
- Up to 3hr10min of recording with 8GB embedded Flash Memory
- SteadyShot image stabilization reduces blur
- 2.7" wide Clear Photo LCD display (230K)
- Batteries: 1 Lithium ion batteries required. (included)
- Editor's Impressions Of The Sony HDR-PJ230/B
- Video Quality
- Picture Quality
- Video Quality
- Quality
- Value For Money
- Affordability
Sony HDR-PJ230/B Final Thoughts
"Instructions are decent."This is absolutely the best bang for the buck. It has an camera and it does video. I really like the features of the camera. So many features, streamlined everything. This thing does everything it says it does.
Overall Score
4.2
(164 Points)
