Sanyo Xacti HD1A 5.1MP MPEG4 High-Definition Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom
Use the Sanyo VPC-HD1A Xacti Digital Movie Recorder to capture those precious moments and perfect events -- te ones you'll never want to forget. Record your own 720p MPEG-4 movies, with full 60fps fluid motion VGA-Size recording -- the best digital video you can get. With its Digital Image Stabilizer, you'll get shake-free video. You'll even record better audio with the Sanyo's built-in digital stereo recording. Choose from multiple Sequential Shooting modes, up to 10 photos at 5fps. Store all your digital video and photos to an SDHC memory card. The pop-up flash ensures a detailed, beautiful picture in low light or nighttime conditions. Digital Image Stabilizer (video only, not for stills) Exposure controls - Program AE, Shutter priority, Aperture priority, Manual Sequential Shooting 6 photos at 5 fps ([5M] mode), 10 photos at 5 fps ([1.2M] mode) Scene Select Modes - Auto, Sports, Portrait, Night View, Landscape, Fireworks, Lamp, Cosmetic, Monochrome, Sepia 2/10 sec. self-timer Full auto TTL white balance Audio microphone Records to SD memory card, up to 4GB Interface AV output - component video/composite video/S-Video, NTSC/PAL, stereo audio USB 2.0 in high-speed mode Built-in monaural speakers (L/R mixed output) Interfaces with docking station or connecting adaptor Multi-Language Display supports 11 languages - Japanese, English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Russian, Korean, Traditional and Simplified Chinese Power Source - Lithium-ion battery (DB-L40, included - 1200 mA), AC adaptor (VAR-G8, included) Battery life with stills - CIPA standard 170 images Battery life - video - 75 min. Battery life - playback - 220 min. Unit Dimensions(WxHxD) - 80 x 119 x 36 mm (excluding protrusions) Weight - Approx. 235 g (including battery and SD card)
Sanyo Xacti HD1A 5.1MP MPEG4 High-Definition Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom Accessories
 SanDisk 2 GB SD Memory Card ( SDSDB-2048-A11, Retail Package)
Sanyo DB-L40AU Lithium-Ion Battery for HD1, HD1A & HD2 Camcorders
Sanyo VAR-L40U Compact Battery Charger for Sanyo DB-L40AU Lithium-Ion Battery
Transcend TS4GSD150 4GB 150X Secure Digital Card
Sanyo VCP-L06WU 0.6x Wide Angle Adapter Lens for HD1, HD1A and HD2 Camcorders
ACP-EP Memory 4GB Extreme Performance 150X SD Card ( EPSD/4GB-150X )
Tiffen 49mm UV Protection Filter
SanDisk SDSDH-2048-901 2 GB Ultra II Secure Digital Memory Card ( US Retail Package )
Sanyo VCP-L14TU 1.4x Telephoto Adapter Lens for the HD1, HD1A & HD2 Digital Media Camera
SanDisk SDHC Memory Card Bonus MicroMate Reader 4.0 GB SDSDBR-4096-A10
Sanyo Xacti HD1A 5.1MP MPEG4 High-Definition Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom Reviews
The pictures you get with this camera are as good as the pictures you get with your cellphone. Any Canon camera, even the normal still camera makes better movies that this one. The snow in the high mountains and the strong sun completely incapacitate the camera, even at the lowest sensitivity and with strong ND filter. Once at high altitude I felt so frustrated that almost threw it down from 15,000 ft. Well, you may think that at least it has 10Mp resolution when used as a still camera. The camera is not recording anything sensible in the evenings either. The reliability of this "HD thing" is really the worst. Because of the strong sun the LCD display is completely invisible to the operator, so I just shot and hoped that the camera will record something.
First, before you can record any movie you have to spend several minutes to select the right settings. This is the worst I ever had. I bouth it from a shop in San Francisco and paid over $900. I called Sanyo and they told me, that the camera is NOT under warranty (the warranty is only 90 days.). The camera did not make me any movie in the mountains (in any mountains, not just this one). I liked it for the lightweight and the HD performance. Anyway, it took me over a month to get it back.
The result is that I do not have any movie or any picture from the climbs. Everything became white during the day. The camera is unfriendly and clumsy. From a 3.7V 1A battery. It is not possible to accomodate to the contrast. I bought this camera one year ago just prior to one of my mountain climbing expeditions. Another disapointment. Xacti is ways too slow to adjust to the changing light conditions as you move the camera.
Second, the HD feature is a pure BS. You have to send it somewhere to IL to a private repair shop. Hah. There is no auto mode. You pay for shipment, pay for evaluation, pay for the repair, pay for the shipment back. I haven't made any good still picture with this camera. The repair shop waited 3 weeks for Sanyo to send them only the spare part. If you think that this is bad enough, wait for the rest.
Totally I paid about $200. I thought that al least I have e good camera for the normal conditions in the city. Everything gets white or completely black. From WHAT. I think this was the worst product I have ever purchased. I would rate this product zero stars, but the systems requires me to asign at least one star.
Well, you may think that I am unexperienced photographer, but I have over 20 year experience on Photography. It is already 11 months since I have this camera and I am happy to dispose it. As I was making shots the camera shut down and could not be started anymore. The evaluation showed that the camera has a burnt PCB.
That should be your biggest problem with the purchase. The camera should be used on the highest quality setting for both still and video. I was not let down. The menu offers a large number of options for both video and still image. I had no problem hanging on to the Xacti even when knocked over by a wave.
I therefore suggest you buy the 4gb card. The choice was between the Sanyo, Olympus or the Pentax Optio.
I chose the Sanyo for its style, design and ease of operation. I took the camera to Miami Beach and had a blast with it.
Start with the 'Quick Start Guide' and gradually read about the other features. The quality of the video is suberb.The still images are razor sharp.
I did quite a bit of research on the Sanyo Xacti and other waterproof digital video cameras. The price of the camera varies from store to store.
Don't be intimidated by the size of the operators manual.
This is a high quality camera that is not real easy to use. I was able load some files out of the camera with other software but not with the programs that came in the box. Where is their quality control. The docking station takes some effert to get a good connection, you just have to feel around until it is docked. If the software had been of the same quality as the camera and the price had been $200.00 less, I would still have the camera. The real disappointment is the software the camera linked with a touch of the button but after a week of trying I never did get a MP4 file to load into the computer.
Amazon customer service has informed me that Wall Street claims they are out of stock. This is clearly not the case because the product is listed as in stock with a steep price increase. The one star is a knock against the seller, Wall Street Photo, not the Sanyo Xacti. I purchased through Wall Street Photo via Amazon at a good price and several days later the order was cancelled by Wall Street Photo.
The fact is, your expectations have to be realistic DV tapes are (as David Pogue says) best for quality. So in short, unless you're shooting your first project for Sundance, you won't find anything this convenient. With SD cards, I am burning DVDs in minutes for the grandparents, something that took me hours to do before. After having used DV tape for the past four years (Canon Elura), I wasn't expecting much with this Xacti HD1A but I was pleasantly surprised that many of the negative negative reviews posted here at Amazon weren't as bad as I thought.
Believe me, I researched for four months before deciding that this HD1A was a keeper. I've only had this Xacti for a week but I'm hoping that this won't be the case with this unit. Rewinding is a hassle and the amount of time it took to get DV footage into my PC for editing got to be a real drag (it's in real time). BTW, my Canon, which had many more moving parts, was in the shop at least once every six months. And believe me, grandparents aren't too concerned about the quality difference between this Sanyo and my old Canon.
But let me be honest quality is only one factor when choosing a camcorder for me.
|
