We've been keeping an eye on the January sales, and so far the best deals we've seen are:

• Flip Mino 2 HD camcorder, £99.99 from Jacobs Digital (other prices via Google shopping).
• Kodak Zi8, £75.89 from Amazon (other prices via Google Shopping).

Of the two, we prefer the Zi8 -- it has a wider-angle lens, a close-up mode, and a microphone jack. However, the Flip Mino is dinkier, which has to count for something. Oooh, but then the Zi8 comes in different colours... only, you have to spend another £15 on an SDHC card for it... decisions, decision.

Actually, the camera of this type that we really want to try out is the new Zoom Q3HD -- perhaps not quite as good a camera, but the microphones are likely to be stunningly fabulous. Prices from about £200.