I've learned over time that there are some things a basic camcorder can't do. Shooting professional-quality HD video requires smart features, and the Canon VIXIA HF G40 — the flagship of Canon's user-friendly VIXIA line — has so many advanced features that it truly blurs the line between "consumer" and "professional."

Think 20X optical zoom, with manual focus control, so you can get closer to the action and make sure the image is crisp and clear. There's also a large CMOS image sensor that captures rich colors and fine details. You can choose manual control of white balance settings or use preset scene modes for Sports, Snow, Night and more. This camcorder gives you options, so you can get creative with confidence.

Added stability

Keeping an image stable while you're shooting can be challenging. The VIXIA HF G40 features Intelligent IS that chooses the best type of image stabilization for your environment, as well as manual control for those times when you want to get very specific and "hands-on" with your shots. When you're zooming in or out, you can keep the motion smooth by choosing from one of 16 constant zoom speeds.

A touchpanel screen and separate viewfinder

There are a couple of ways to make sure your shot looks good before, during, and after recording. When you peer into the viewfinder's eyepiece, you're looking at a 1.56-million-dot image of your scene. If you want to see it even larger, just flip open the 3-1/2" OLED touchscreen. You'll get a dazzling full-color HD look at what your camera sees, so you can make timely adjustments and get it just right.

Wi-Fi® features

Built-in Wi-Fi makes this already capable camera more convenient. Share files easily between devices. Control your HF G30 from a laptop, tablet, or smartphone, and easily upload your videos for sharing with family, friends, or social networks. The camcorder can internally downconvert your high-quality videos to make them small enough to post easily online, and you can use the dual memory card slots to record high-quality AVCHD video files on one card, and simultaneously capture MP4 video on the other card for easy playback on mobile devices or uploading to social media on the web. It's the best of both worlds, with minimal effort.