We're well beyond the days when Super-8 footage of a child's birthday party was treasured for a year, and then left to die a slow death in a box in the attic. Also gone are the glory days of America's Funniest Home Videos. A time when every mom with a hulking, tough-to-operate camcorder and a dream hoped that her husband's "Football to the Groin" footage, recorded to a grainy VHS tape, could bring home the big prize. Today, such video is all over the place, especially the Web, because it can be shot and uploaded in a matter of minutes.

In the past year, a new class of "YouTube" camcorders has emerged to satisfy those who want something other than a cell phone or a point-and-shoot camera to capture Web-quality video, and don't need the overkill of an expensive, complicated video camera. Don't expect amazing quality: These simple and inexpensive pocket devices tend to focus on lower-resolution video (think 640 by 480), though one of the models here does shoot in 720p HD. But you need only connect the camera to your computer via an integrated USB arm to have your video online in minutes. What's more, because these camcorders use flash memory, there are no tapes to deal with.

It may seem odd to say that there are budget models in a category where all the products we've reviewed cost less than $200, but the Creative Vado and the RCA Small Wonder EZ205 hit rock bottom at $99. If all you're looking for is a cheap, no-frills way to get you videos online, either one will do, but the Vado features a slimmer, more attractive design along with a larger LCD. On the other hand, the Small Wonder has a flip-out display that's a good bet for those more interested in capturing themselves than what's going on around them.

If you're willing to spend a little more, Pure Digital Flip Mino and the Kodak Zi6, our Editors' Choice in this category, ring up at $179. The Mino's got a sleek, diminutive design, but the Zi6 has a bigger, 2.4-inch screen. It can also record high-definition (720p) video and take still shots that don't look too shabby.

Ready to become a YouTube star? Check out our full reviews to find the perfect pocket camcorder.

Featured in This Roundup:

Creative Vado
This sleek and slim device improves on its prototype, the Flip Ultra mini camcorder, in a number of ways, including design and price, but its choppy video quality may be too much to overlook.

Kodak Zi6
Kodak's first dedicated camcorder carves out its niche in the YouTube camcorder space by offering HD capabilities. Whether that's a plus or a minus comes down to how much you value video quality in an inexpensive video camera.

Pure Digital Flip Mino
The Flip Mino is smaller, lighter, sleeker, and more expensive than its wildly popular predecessor, but aside from a rechargeable battery, most of the improvements are skin deep.

RCA Small Wonder EZ205
The expandable memory and flip-out screen are cool, but even at this low price, the EZ205 doesn't have enough to set it apart from the rest of the YouTube camcorder pack.