Looking for a compact, highly portable, good-quality High-Def-capable camcorder? I like the Kodak Zi8 HD 1080p. This little beauty is pocket size, stands about 8 inches tall and weighs less than a pound and a half, and has a built-in USB port and software that allows you to edit and upload video to YouTube and other video sharing sites with ease. The 2.5-inch viewfinder is great, and the included cables let you watch HDTV footage at will. The Zi8 records High-Def video at 30 frames per second with a 16:9 aspect ratio. The SD/SDHC card slot is expandable up to 32 gigabytes, and the rechargeable batteries and charger are included in the purchase package.

The Kodak Zi8 also has built-in image stabilization, to minimize blurring and provide a nice sharp picture; has a still photography feature to give you 5 MP widescreen high-def still pictures; can be synched with Apple TV, iPhone, or iPod; and a remote control that allows recording or playback from a distance.

While all those features are cool, my favorite thing about this camera is that it has a microphone input—fairly rare on a small camcorder.  Nothing turns your online video viewers off faster than lousy audio.  Your visuals can look fantastic and your special effects may be stunning, but if your audience can’t hear your sound, you’ve lost them. It really pays to choose equipment that offers flexibility and capability to add quality upgrades for sound recording. This little camera gives you that, plus the mic input allows you to record in stereo.

All camcorders pick up audio, but the in-camera sound recording quality differs widely from one camera to the next. Microphones are relatively inexpensive and will make a huge difference in your audio. You can filter out ambient noise with a windscreen and plug in the best kind of microphone for your purposes—whether that’s a shotgun, a hand mike, or a lavaliere.

Check out the Kodak Zi8 under the Recommended Gear menu at the top of the page—it’s available in several colors for about $130 from Amazon.