Sanyo Xacti VPC-HD1 Digital Camcorder Review
Today we are having a bit of a look at the Sanyo Xacti VPC-HD1 Camcorder, lets look at the Pro's and Con's first.
Pros:Cool design, compact, great for the average user once he gets the hang of it, decent image quality.
Cons:Underperformance in low light conditions, visible image noise at times and cumbersome menu.
The Sanyo Xacti VPC-HD1 Digital Camcorder is hard to ignore. With the coveted tag of 'World's Smallest HD Camera' and a capacity of recording 720p High Definition video and taking 5.1 mega pixels still shots this baby means business. It can also be called a hybrid camera and features a 1/2.5 inch CCD, with approximately 5.36 gross mega pixels and records HD with 1280 x 720 pixels, at a frame rate of 30 frames per second (fps) at a maximum data rate of 9 Megabits per second (Mbps). The HD Video camera is also capable of recording n 640 x 480 standard definitions (SD) at 60 fps interlaced, with a maximum data rate of 6Mbps.
If all this is making your mind boggle wait till you hear about its 10x optical zoom lens with a range of 38 mm to 380 mm when measured with 35 mm conversion and an aperture range of f/3.5 to f/8.0. Focusing includes options like Super macro (for close-ups), 5-Point finder (an evaluative mode that looks at the whole picture), or Spot Focus, which creates a small target in the center of the LCD and the shutter speed ranges from 1/500, 1/250, 1/125, 1/100, 1/60, and 1/30 in video mode, and continues down to 1/15, 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1 second, 2 seconds, and 4 seconds in still mode.
So we know that the Video camera is extremely rich in features but
is it worth spending $800 on it? Well read on:
The Sanyo Xacti VPC-HD1 High-Definition Digital Video Camera is not for the amateur or the novice. It does feature a set of high end exposure controls which the average user may find a tad confusing. But once you get the hang of it, it's all good. At times the image quality is pretty saturated and suffers from image noise. However most of times you will be no doubt satisfied with the results. One more feature which may confuse the user out there is the lack of
distinction between video mode and still mode. The fact that there
is no feature for live view may not also go well with the users.
So what's with the world's smallest tag you may ask? Actually while some may think that Sanyo is just resorting to gimmicks to make up for an average product, one can't help but appreciate the compact size. Gone are the days when video cameras were bulky and cumbersome to operate. I like the fact that this baby is small and fit nicely in the palm of my hand and thus can't fault Sanyo for that. However one does expect great image quality even in low light conditions which I'm afraid the camcorder fails to deliver. This is mainly due to the lack of slow shutter speed mode which results in grainy images. So basically you should avoid using the camera in low light conditions!
One can't help giving full marks to Sanyo when it comes to design
and the Sanyo Xacti VPC-HD1 reeks of chicness and has all the right curves. Because the product doesn't use videotapes and instead uses SD cards Sanyo has managed to produce a truly compact camcorder
without compromising on the features.
So what's the verdict??? While there are camcorders like the Canon
Optura 600, Panasonic PV-GS300, and GS500 which offer better image
quality, the Sanyo Xacti VPC-HD1 scores because of its under 800 tag and the ability to record at 720p. This may go well with those users who don't want to spend all their money on a HD Cam and have a HD TV to enjoy family movies.
Ratings: 7 out of 10
Stumble It! | Posted by Paul on April 23, 2006 11:55 AM
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