At a sprightly 2.8 x 2.6 x 4.4 inches, the MG255 is small for a hard-drive cam. It tucks comfortably in a roomy pocket, so you can carry it around easily, which means you're more likely to actually use the thing. The trade-offs: Colors lack vibrancy, and it doesn't balance highlights and shadows well. Its f/1.2 lens captures low-light shots without much noise, yet indoor scenes can have a sickly orange tint.
WIRED: Included dock is great for transferring video and charging. Drive stores up to 37 hours. Bright LCD works well in sunlight.
TIRED: No connectors for external mic or headphones. Battery lasts just 75 minutes. 2-megapixel stills aren't cause for celebration. Image stabilization reduces sharpness, especially at 10X zoom.
$700, camcorder.jvc.com
