While I prefer shoulder mounted camcorders, I generally don't mind using Handycam style camcorders, especially when size and weight are crucial. This past weekend I loaded my Sony V1U into a waterproof pannier on my bicycle and did some interviews and pickup shots on the Pinellas Bicycle Trail in West Central Florida. Work and fun combined! The thing I don't like about today's crop of Handycam style camcorders is that the viewfinders don't rotate downward. I'm 5'6" and with tripod up high I cannot see through the viewfinder without an apple box or step stool. Years ago I had a Panasonic AJ EZ1U Camcorder. It was the first generation of 1/3" three chip cameras in the Handycam form. While it's LCD viewfinder wasn't particularly sharp, it was big and rotated downward. It can be done.
Panasonic AG-EZ1U with down tilting viewfinder
