When comparing cameras, pay more attention to the optical-zoom figure, because it's the one that really counts. Weight and size are also important considerations. In general, better cameras are larger and weigh more than cameras that have been miniaturized at the expense of image quality. For example, semiprofessional digital video cameras start at nearly 6.5 lb, whereas those that target amateur users are generally closer to 2 lb. Another issue is battery life.
Batteries are probably the greatest contributor to camera weight.
Standard batteries weigh less but last for only about an hour. Many vendors offer extended-life batteries that weigh more but also provide considerably more operating time. Marketed primarily as a still digital camera, the Mavica allows you to annotate images with voice or to take up to a minute of video with sound and save it to a floppy disk. Canon XL1 is a dream to operate, but at about a foot long, it isn't something you'll want to take to the beach on weekends. A big plus is its provision for excellent still-photo and sound capture.