Sony GW55VE

Compact design Simple to use

No protection for lens

Excellent quality results. Incredibly sharp and detailed images. Minimalist layout and design - very pocketable. Outstanding image stabilisation. Clear monitor screen. Appears to work OK with 64Gb memory card. Fast start-up time. Waterproof and...

Very poor layout of controls. Probably not so good for those with large hands or short fingers. On-camera zoom controls almost impossible to use one-handed. Touchscreen controls for tele/wide control are not very accurate or responsive - can't adjust...

Image quality Macro function Portable 17x Zoom Quick start up Steady shot Water proof Shock proof Wide lens

Battery life Stiff buttons Average microphone

compact, easy to use, excellent video quality

sound not brilliant, short battery life

Size. Water/dustproof.Build quality. Image quality. Ability to take stills whilst recording video

Difficulty in accessing/operating zoom controls whilst operating with one hand. Tw0 handed operation really necessary in view of "fiddly" controls

light easy to use can be taken in water and good picture quality

could have used better materials doesn't have an expensive feel to it.

Very compact and captures good stills as well as video. Low light capture is particularly good. Spare batteries are available and cheap from alternative suppliers.

The viewing screen is virtually useless in sunlight making it very difficult to find the subject.

Waterproof, which purchased for but not yet tested.

Handling is a little awkward.

Very good image quality, very good image stabiliser, excellent underwater capability. Feels very comfortable in the hand, easy to use one handed, much better zoom than its predecessor the TG7.

Picks up wind noise, buttons could be better placed, no internal memory (unlike the GW77 - why?).

all round great camcorder

battery