The brand-new Canon Vixia HF G30 is a pricey full-sized HD camcorder, at $1,700. The high price means it has a lot of high-end features—a 3.5-inch OLED touchscreen display, wireless capability, and a 20x wide-angle zoom lens. It also has one feature that many older timers (like me) will love: A color viewfinder with a very high 1.5-million dot count, which should mean what it shows is sharp and clear.
In recent years, the trend in camcorders has been to exclude viewfinders, so camcorders have smaller footprints. Only a few models in our current camcorder Ratings have them, including the Panasonic HC-X900M, Sony NEX-VG10, and Panasonic HDC-HS900.
But I hate being forced to compose video clips using only the camcorder's LCD, particularly in bright light. For instance, on the beach or the ski slopes on a bright, sunny day, it's very hard to see anything at all on an LCD. That's where a viewfinder is indispensable.
Find the best model for your needs and budget: Check our camcorder buying guide and Ratings.
If you don't have a camcorder with a viewfinder, and you're shooting in bright light, try one of the following tips to help you see your display:Since most full-sized camcorders have LCDs that swivel, angle your display to avoid glare.Some models let you adjust the brightness or contrast of your display. Try changing these to get a better view.Use your free hand (the one not holding the camcorder) to block sunlight or reflected light from your LCD. Invest in a camcorder accessory, like this one from Hoodman, that fits around your full-sized camcorder's swiveling display and blocks the light and glare.
