Panasonic HDC-HS200: 80GB of goodness

When summer finally drops over Britain, like a blanket made of ice cream and sunburn, there are two types of people: those driven to the debilitating brink of eye-streaming, nose-gushing insanity by hay fever, and everyone else. Either way, you can distract yourself from the misery of the sunny months with a shiny new gadget -- and today's suggestion is the Panasonic HDC-HS200 high-definition camcorder.

Panasonic has proved itself hard to beat in both the camera and camcorder sphere, with the HDC-HS100 setting the bar high for the HS200. Like all Panny models, it's built to last, with excellent build quality and a brick-like feel.

The HS200 is a hybrid model, with two methods of recording MPEG4-AVC/H.264 video and stills. As well as SD and SDHC, it packs an 80GB hard drive.

Features include optical image stabilisation, pre-record and an intelligent auto mode to take over the running of things -- like the autopilot in Airplane but less frisky. Click through our gallery for more lovely, lovely pictures and details.