(Above: Flip MinoHD, Sony Handycam HDR-CX 150, Creative Vado HD, Samsung SMX-C20, Canon Legria HF R-16)

By BILLY TEO

Shooting videos for online sharing or for that movie-making competition has never been easier or so affordable. The latest camcorders shoot in high-definition video resolution too.

Creative Vado HD
Price: $299
Booth: 6298

If you need a pocketable device for shooting spur-of-the-moment HD video clips, consider this third-generation Creative Vado HD.

The cellphone-sized Vado records video at 720p resolution (1,280 x 720 pixels) and you can use the supplied HDMI cable to hook it up to an HDTV for easy viewing of footage.

Absent-minded videographers who tend to forget to press the recording button when shooting will like the motion-detection mode: It nudges the camcorder to start recording as soon as motion is detected.

The gizmo comes bundled with Vado Central 3.0 software for easy video editing. Plug the Vado HD directly into a Windows PC or a Macintosh computer via the built-in USB connector.

Samsung SMX-C20
Price: $329
Booth: 8328

Look at things from fresh angles with the Samsung SMX-C20 camcorder: It has an angled lens that allows you to hold it comfortably in the palm of your hand while aiming straight ahead. This device also captures time-lapse videos.

The Samsung C20 records SD video on SD cards and comes with embedded Intelli-Studio software which fires up once you connectthe device to any PC. The software allows you to edit and share your video clips without having to install it. For on-the-spot editing, use the camcorder's Edit function to join or split video clips.

Freebies: Two micro SD cards (8GB and 4GB) with every SMX-C20 purchased.

Canon Legria HF R-16
Price: $1,099
Booths: Galleria Foyer (Level 1), 8101

The Canon Legria HF R-16 is priced just right for the beginner who wants to know what the fuss in shooting HD video is all about.

The HD Flash Memory Camcorder makes it easy for newbies to start shooting, out of the box.

With 8GB of flash memory built-in, there is no need to hunt for an SD memory card. No worries about processing the footage either: A handy conversion mode means the camcorder can transform the recorded HD footage into SD videos that you can burn directly onto a DVD.

Savvier videographers can turn to the Legria HF21 ($2,199) for HD video shooting. Looking for a full-featured camcorder with SD resolution? The Canon Legria FS306 ($599) should be worth a look.

Freebies: An 8GB SDHC card, an SDHC reader device, a spare battery and a digital kit bag, with the purchase of the Legria models mentioned.

Microsoft LifeCam Cinema
Price: $109 (usual price: $129)
Booths: 6118, 6859, 6111, 6101, Level 2 (Ballroom 2; Epicentre)

For the perfectionist who wants home video- conferencing via a HD webcam, the Microsoft LifeCam Cinema is your dream gizmo. Its 720p resolution (1,280 x 720 pixels) means you will look good even in widescreen. Its Clearframe brain ensures that you look good even when the lights are dimmed.

An embedded digital noise-cancelling microphone will help you to sound crystal clear over the Internet.

Freebies: Every purchase of the Microsoft LifeCam Cinema entitles you to a Lucky Spin to win shopping vouchers.

Flip MinoHD
Price: $319 for pre-orders (usual price $349)
Booth: 6126

The Flip range of pocket camcorders, including the Flip MinoHD, simplifies video recording down to one button: Just press the red Record button to start shooting high-definition (HD) footage at 1,280 x 720 pixels.

The Flip MinoHD has a flip-out USB connector that lets you plug the camcorder into any Windows PC or Macintosh computer to transfer the video clips. Its FlipShare software lets you upload your videos to sites like YouTube and Facebook and share the links via e-mail. You can pre-order the Flip Mino and MinoHD camcorders at the IT Show.

Sony Handycam HDR-CX150
Price: $1,399
Booth: 3rd floor, The Concourse

With 16GB of onboard memory, the Sony Handycam HDR-CX150 can be used to capture almost 80 minutes of video footage at full HD resolution - even if you do not have a Memory Stick Pro, SD or SDHC card ready. The CX150 offers a Carl Zeiss 25x optical zoom and Sony's Exmor R CMOS sensor.

Other Sony models include the HDR-CX550 ($2,899), an HD camcorder that comes with 64GB of internal memory, and the standard-definition (SD) model, the DCR-SX43 ($669), that can transfer video footage directly to DVD.