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Rick Rizner
The last time we looked at camcorders, we found that the DVD models we tested recorded video that didn't match the quality of video from the tape-based units. This time around, that's not the case: In our tests, we rated the Sony DCR-DVD403 as having the best overall quality of all of the camcorders in our August roundup, capturing strong, bright colors and smooth movement in both indoor and outdoor lighting.
At 1 pound, 5 ounces, the DCR-DVD403 is a little heavier than most of the camcorders we tested, but it isn't much bulkier. The zoom, photo, and record buttons fall comfortably under the fingers of the right hand. And it packs a lot of features into its case, including a surround-sound microphone, a 10X optical zoom, and a wide-screen LCD display.
Although all the camcorders we tested offer a 16:9 wide-screen mode, only the two Sony camcorders (this one and the DCR-HC42) come with wide-screen LCD displays, a feature that makes the most of the wide-screen mode: When you record video in 16:9,...