Which video camera is the best in low light?

Is there a compact digital video camera on the market that works will in low-light situations, or even at nite?

• I have tried several models in the $150-200 range (like the Sony Bloggie, and a Samsung), but NONE works well in low light situations. Can you recommend one that does?

• Answer:

  Good low-light behavior means LARGE lens system to allow as much llight as possible into the camcorder and LARGE imaging chips to process the (little) light available in low-light conditions. The camcorders you mention have very small lenses and imaging chips. The smallest I would consider for a lens filter diameter would be 58mm - these can be found in Sony, Canon and Panasonic camcorders in the $800-$1,500 area. The camcorder I use has a 72mm filter diameter lens and a 1/3" 3CCD imaging chip array (I use a Sony HDR-FX1). It handles low-light environments very nicely. Big, good, glass and big imaging chips are expensive to make. You would need to increase your budget about 10x to get OK low-light behavior from a camcorder with a 58mm filter diameter lens and about 20x to get a 72mm filter diameter lens. Check the Sony camcorders for "NightShot" in the "convenience feature" section of the specifications - this means the camcorder has a built-in infrared emitter that can allow monochrome video capture under zero visible light conditions... like GhostHunters... I *think* the HDR-CX700 is the least expensive one now with that NightShot capability.