Sanyo
announced a plethora of "dual camera" models (camcorders with still capture aspirations) just yesterday, and
Geek.com's Chris Gampat was lucky enough to get a little hands on time with the lot, choosing three favorites: the VPC-FH1, VPC-HD2000, and VPC-WH1. The first two are similar in terms of specs, both capturing 1080p video at 60fps and 8 megapixel stills at 12fps through a 10x optical zoom. They differ only in form factor, the VPC-FH1 offering a traditional style and the VPC-HD2000 coming with a pistol grip. Then there's the more daring VPCP-WH1, waterproof down to 10 feet and coming in a "look at me, sailor" yellow, but only shooting 720p video at 30fps and 2 megapixel stills. However, its 30x optical zoom is perfect for spotting Piping Plovers, and the 3.5 hour battery life means this thing can probably survive longer underwater than you. Videos of these three are below, and surely one them fits your lifestyle, so make a little room this spring, won't you?
Read - Hands-on: Sanyo VPC-FH1 and VPC-HD2000
Read - Hands-on: Sanyo VPC-WH1 waterproof camcorder
posted January 22nd 2009 8:41AM
Very nice camera.
why limit it to 10 feet? I mean, really. what if you drop it? If I buy one then it would be for that very reason anyway.
Its called pressure.
It's called cost.
It would be my assumption that if you drop it, it would float to the surface.
Also it would be hard to find a consumer waterproof camera that will go deeper than 15 feet. Beyond that you'll need a serious high pressure rated inclosure. I'm pretty sure i've seen a high pressure case for the pistal grip style HD1000/1010 which will work for the HD2000 assuming its simular dimensions.
30x zoom eh? That's a sure sign of lower quality optics.
Nevertheless, we can't all spend thousands and thousands on a camcorder, so I approve :)
I agree it does appear to have lower quality optics... but they can't be that far off from most point and shoot cameras out there. (which is very acceptable for most people these days). To take point and shoot quality/price, 720p video, up it to 30x zoom, throw in snorkling/rain/snow crud proof... you get the perfect consumer camcorder/camera!
I only hope these HD camcorders spark competition in the below $500 market from the big names like canon and sony etc...
Sony and Panasonic have 60x and 70x opticals coming out soon. 40x+ opticals are fairly common right now and suffer a bit in extremes (but at standard def, this could be more or less apparent with high-def, depending on quality level...who knows)
What I want to know is where are Sony's waterproof cameras. That Sanyo yellow one totally reminds me of their Sports range of products, but there seem to be no Sony waterproof cams. Panasonic offer some:
http://panasonic.net/avc/camcorder/
No waterproof from Sony that I could tell after a quick look:
http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&categoryId=16162&SR=nav:shop:cameras_camcorders:camcorders:ss&ref=http%3A//www.sony.com/index.php
Really not digging the new form factor. The prior are what made Xacti. Looks like once a leader now a follower. See: http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/05/sanyos-xacti-hd1010-1080i-camcorder-shoots-300fps-slow-mo/
Didn't see the VPC-HD2000 before posting. It looks great. Still not sure why they dropped the pistol grip direction from the others.
They don't exactly look like designed to be held by human hands, but if that's the worst feature (every device has at least 1 stupid flaw) then it's not bad.