A List of Digital Cameras that Record 16:9 HD Video

Digital cameras are no longer the novelty they once were. Stocked with a wide array of features allowing the user to create beautiful content, these cameras have all but replaced film cameras. Offering night vision, black and white, slow motion, high frame rates, manual shutter control, and a million other features, there really isn't much a digital camera can't do.

One of the newest features to be offered on consumer point and shoot digital cameras is high definition recording capabilities. A large number of consumer digital cameras can record in 16:9 HD video, something that was previously reserved for expensive high-end digital camcorders.

If you're looking to expand the purchase a new digital camera and would like to shoot video in 16:9 HD, the following digital cameras are for you.

Kodak EasyShare

There is a large number of digital cameras in the Kodak EasyShare product line, ranging from low-feature cheap versions to high quality, more expensive cameras. Several of the EasyShare cameras off full HD recording. The cameras are all equipped with a CCD sensor and image stabilization, which eliminates bending objects and minimizes jumpiness and shakiness.

The videos themselves look very nice, though not nearly as high of quality as you would get with an HD camcorder. The colors a noticeable, but not vibrant. There aren't any noticeable artifacts or 'crawling' motions, however, so the picture itself is very watchable.

The camera's are quite affordable, too - a 12 megapixel version that shoots in 720p HD is priced at a mere $250, far less than what you'll pay for a camcorder of similar specs.

Panasonic Lumix

The newest Panasonic Lumix digital cameras sport a large screen and the awesome ability to shoot 720p HD footage. The TZ5 is the wonderful model I'm talking about, and it comes with a 9-megapixel sensor, image stabilization, red-eye removable in-camera, and optical zoom up to 10x. The price is $350, and the camera is very, very good.

Once again, put these specs into a digital camcorder and you would have a price much higher.

There are other digital cameras out there that shoot in 'HD', though the quality suggests that maybe it's not quite as HD as you'd like. The above two cameras are both very good and have been proven as such time and again by many consumers. If you're on a budget, then the EasyShare is a good option. If you can spring for a little more, however, I would certainly go for the Lumix TZ5.

If you want to see the video quality these shoot, do a quick search of the camera's name and model on the website http://www.vimeo.com.