Launch year

Camcorders launched 1995 to 1999

The late 90s, when analog 8mm and VHS-C were at their peak and digital tape arrived. DV launched in 1995, Sony's DCR-VX1000 put three CCDs and FireWire in a camera people could buy that same year, Canon's XL1 followed in 1998 and Sony's Digital8 in 1999. These cameras are old enough that the tape transport and screen deserve a close look, and a DV model's FireWire port is the one thing you'll want working.

11 models we cover.