Canon's venerable GL2 camcorder has proven itself to be tough, durable, and capable over years of service, lauded for both its image quality and resistance to the abuse it can take in the field. A Standard Definition camera, it uses primarily MiniDV tapes rather than flash memory. This makes it a good option for those wandering in marginal parts of the world where more delicate electronics might not hold up. It can also record onto SD or MMC cards, giving you a number of media choices. While the minicassettes may not be as compact as memory cards, they are tiny enough to pack dozens along if need be, and each will hold from 80 to 220 minutes of video, depending on the speed you choose. It records both light and sound in digital format, so editing is as easy (or not) as you're used to.