This is an excellent quality camcorder. I like the picture and video quality. It proved to be light, compact and easy to carry in one hand. The menu functions are easy to understand and use. This camera has solid optical stabilization and everything I'm looking for in a camera. The wide-angle lens does a great job and the external microphone picks up the faintest of sounds. The camcorder comes with an extra battery, a remote control and a well-made carrying case. Very good video camera for beginners.