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Fisher FVDC1 3.2MP Digital Camercorder with 5.8x Optical Zoom (includes 512 MB SD Memory Card) | 
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| Brand: Sanyo
Category: Photography
This item is no longer available
Avg. Customer Rating:  18 reviews
Media: Electronics
Number Of Items: 1
Batteries Included: Yes
Floppy Disk Drive: None
Optical Zoom: 5.8
Display Size: 1.5
Maximum Focal Length: 33.8
Minimum Focal Length: 5.8
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.5
Dimensions (in): 2.7 x 1.3 x 4.3
Digital camcorder
MPN: FVDC1
Model: FVD-C1
UPC: 086483049286
EAN: 0086483049286
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| Features:
| • | 3.2-megapixel digital still camera and a full-featured digital camcorder about the size of a cell phone | | • | 5.8x optical zoom lens (10x digital zoom) | | • | 1.5-inch rotating LCD with Mirror Mode makes it easy to shoot from virtually any angle or perspective | | • | Up to 30 minutes of DVD-like quality recording on supplied 512MB SD card | | • | Lithium-ion battery and AC operation with Power Save function |
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| Accessories:
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Fisher Pocket CameraCorder MPEG-4 Camcorder / Digital Camera FVD-C1 combined a fully digital camcorder and digital-camera in one compact unit with up to 3.2 megapixel still and MPEG-4 quality video. Still and video images are all recorded on SD digital-media-memory storage cards. Showcasing the ultimate in compact design, the CameraCorder comes complete with a 512MB SD memory card to give you instant access to files. Aside from delivering DVD-quality video recordings, it gives you 3.2-megapixel resolution digital stills. Delightfully portable and compact, the Fisher CameraCorder is a great little camera for all occasions. Up to 491 pictures in high 3.2MP resolution (2048 x 1536) mode or up to 3931 pictures in normal 0.3MP resolution (640 x 480) mode (with supplied 512MB memory card) 6-mode auto exposure Integrated 3-mode flash 3-mode auto focus 9-image display playback 5.8x optical zoom lens equivalent to 38-220mm on a 35mm camera / Up to 10x digital-zoom Direct dubbing Multifunction docking station Infrared remote control High-speed USB 2.0 connectivity Lithium-ion battery/AC operation Supplied PC Kit Includes High Performance Movie Software 1.5 TFT LCD Color Monitor Built-in stereo microphone / Built-in monaural speaker Unit Dimensions - 2.7 W x 4.3 H x 1.3? D / Weight - 5.4 oz. approx. (main unit only); 6.1 oz. approx. (including battery and SD card)
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| Customer Reviews: Read 13 more reviews...
Great Second Camcorder January 1, 2005
149 out of 150 found this review helpful
First, lets clear up a few bits of misleading advertising by the many manufacturers of camcorders that record mpeg's directly to flash memory cards. Most of these devices record at very small resolutions (320x240 or less) and slow frame rates (15 frames per second). This is not unlike the movie mode found on most digital cameras that are available today (except that these devices can record in clips greater than 30 seconds). Anyone who has recorded video at these resolutions and/or speeds knows that the output quality is virtually useless for anything other than e-mailing clips of events that you have no intention of preserving for the long-term.
If you want an mpeg recorder that is even close to the quality of your MiniDV or analog camcorder, than you need to find one that is capable of recording in resolutions of 640x480 or higher and frame rates of at least 30 fps. The manufacturers cal this "DVD quality" which, in my opinion, is very deceiving because most people would expect to get video that is every bit as clear as what they would buy on a DVD. Not so. Just because you have a device that records at "DVD Quality" resolution and frame rate, it doesn't mean, by any stretch of the imagination, that the picture quality itself (lighting, clarity, fluidity of movement, etc.) will be anywhere near "DVD quality". So you have to know what you're buying and, unfortunately, in the quest to sell more camcorders, most manufacturers do a lousy job of informing their customers of these small details.
So you should know that no camcorder that records to memory cards is going to give you even close to the same quality as a camcorder that records to digital tape. Why? Because, in order to reduce the file size enough to stream it and fit it onto a memory card, you have to compress the video to the point where much of the detail is lost. So why buy a memory card camcorder? Well, with tape-based camcorders (whether it is analog or digital), you have to play back the entire recording in real-time in order to capture it into your computer. With card-based camcorders, you just put the card into a reader and transfer the file electronically.
So, now that we know the background, if you're still convinced that a card-based camcorder is for you, you should know that, as of the date that this review is being written, I know of only 3 devices that are capable of recording full-length video directly to memory cards at resolutions of 640x480 or higher: The Sanyo/Fisher FVD-C1, The Panasonic SV-AV100, and the JVC Everio line. Of the 3, the Sanyo/Fisher is by far the cheapest. But you get what you pay for, as the saying goes...
Of the three devices, the Sanyo/Fisher has, by far, the worst picture quality - particularly indoors or in low lighting. The picture is grainy and the motion is choppy. But that's only the start of the problems. The autofocus, especially when it is fully zoomed in, is really touchy. So much so, in fact, that the camera never knows what to focus on and the motor is constantly buzzing in and out. Realizing this problem, Sanyo/Fisher has included a quick way to lock the autofocus by pressing a single button (remember to check the manual for this because YOU WILL NEED IT OFTEN). But, still, it can be very annoying. The motor noise of the zoom and autofocus is also pretty loud and is audible in the recordings. But, to me, this is the trade-off for such a small and compact design.
On the good side, the "cameracorder" features a 3 megapixel digital camera which takes fairly decent pictures both indoors and out. Also, the unit is very small and features its own semi-soft case and docking station. The style and erginomics of this camera are also excellent, with everything laid out just where you need it and in a very attractive fashion. It features a portable external battery charger which is very small and very convenient for charging a second battery while still being able to use the camcorder. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, this device records its movies directly to an .mp4 format, which can be opened directly by Apple's very commonly available Quick Time application. Both the Panasonic and the JVC write to their own proprietary formats which must be first manipulated in their own software before you can use it across computers. In my mind, this is a big detraction from those products because the whole point of getting a card-based camcorder is to have the file readily available without further manipulation. So, in this regard, the Sanyo/Fisher got it right.
In short, I think that the people who have panned this device in reviews are expecting far too much from it. Compared to the Panasonic and the JVC, this one wins in the category of style, price, and convenience. The others win in the category of picture quality. But, remember, none are as good as a tape-based recorder. So if you are buying any of these units with the intention of replacing your existing camcorder, forget it. That being said, as a second ultra-portable very convenient camcorder for a very decent price, I'd go with this one. And I did.
Great Little Camera June 14, 2004
33 out of 34 found this review helpful
This is a great little camera. I wish this had come out 2 or three years ago, when I bought the first miniDV camera that came out.I am currently in Kuwait. I brought my miniDV Video Camera with me to record my time here, but the dust contamination is so bad here, it is destroying my camera. I started looking for a video camera with no moving parts. Thank God for this Fisher. No moving parts, USB connection, 3.2 Mpixels resolution. Best thing, no rewind. It took forever to get to the front of the tape to see what the video looked like. There are just a few bad points to this model. The cover to the memory card slot is fragile, so a lot of care needs to be taken to keep from breaking it off when opening the compartment. The view finder/screen is a bit small, so it is hard to see unless you hold the camera closer to your face. Granted, a miniDV can record more info, but you just can't beat this little guy for versatility.
 Great Camera - I don't leave home without it. April 15, 2004
31 out of 34 found this review helpful
I have owned 5 or 6 camcorders in my lifetime. Formats ranging from VHS then VHS C, then 8MM, then Hi 8MM then finally Mini DV. Film cameras were always 35MM. I spent a lot of money on cameras both Video and stills that spent more time in closets then they did being used. Vacations and birthday parties. Then back in the closet until next time. The last thing I needed was another camera to store in my closet.
My wife wanted to get a digital camera for her usage so she could store and e mail her photos. I did some research and was intregued to get a digital camera because its the obvious technology in photography. So I went to SEARS to pick up one up for her and came across this little Fisher that does it all. It does everything it claims to do very, very well. Digital pictures are clear and crisp and the camcorder area of the camera is outstanding in the HQ mode. It's easy to use with my PC. It comes with every accessory you can ever need. In fact I don't even wire it to my PC to download, I just take the 512MB SD card out that it comes with and plug it into my computers multi card reader. Bingo. Done.
Everytime I leave the house I have my cell phone and this camera on my person and I am using it more then any other camera I ever owned. I bought it for my wife from SEARS but I'm not giving it up. I buying another one for HER usage from Amazon because she gets jealous.Great Camcorder and camera! Very cool and very practical
 Neither a good camcorder nor a decent camera July 28, 2004
28 out of 33 found this review helpful
I bought this toy from Sears for $860 including tax but got my money back in 30 days. I had a chance to compare video to my very cheap Sharp mini-DV camcorder ($300). I also compared photo quality to my very old Canon PowerShot G1 camera. Well, Fisher was performing terribly bad:
Video. Sanyo claims that 640x480, 30-fps mode produces DVD quality video. FALSE.
1. I am not sure whether it was real 30 frame-per second or not but video was noticeably jerky. In contrast, Sharp makes a really smooth analog-like video.
2. Lots of compression artifacts. Again, Sharp was smooth as TV. But I would never say that Sharp has a video any near of DVD quality.
3. Very high noise especially in darker conditions.
4. Very slow automatic white balancing. During recording, when I point the camera from a light to a dark scene and vice-versa, it takes several seconds before the camera finishes justifying to new light conditions.
5. 512MB is very little for video. You have to invest more money to make it usable at least for duration of a weekend. In order to be able to record at least two hours of video you will have to spend $300-350 for 2 extra 1GB SD cards. With mini-DV tapes it is obviously not an issue.
Photo:
1. Extremely high noise. When I saw the shots on my PC after the first day of playing I was terribly disappointed. The images were way too grainy. I was not sure whether it was a CCD noise or dithering artifacts introduced by the image processor.
2. Very strong compression artifacts. The camera produces 3-megapixel JPEG files with approximately 100kb size which I think is way over-compressed. Little details such as small stones, grass, a human hair get blurred because of the compression. And surprise: you will not be able to change compression mode at all. There is no such a setting.
Conclusion: I really like the idea of combining both video and photo in one very small and light unit. It was a good first try. Deserves three stars but I will put only two because of the marketing B.S. Unfortunately, the result is neither a good camcorder nor a decent camera. If Sanyo addresses all these issues in the next generation (C2?), I will definitely keep it beyond the trial period.
The Best Camera is the One You Carry Around June 16, 2004
19 out of 21 found this review helpful
With a 2-year-old toddler and a new infant, and Grandma and Grandpa 1500 miles away, I needed a camera that could take reasonable movies and photos, could interface easily with my computer (for easy email to family) -- and most importantly, was FAST and EASY to use. My kids aren't super-cute for more than a few minutes at a time, and those moments are fleeting.Not the best still camera (although quite good in sunlight) -- but the camera fits in my pocket, and I'm taking movies as fast as I can get the lens cap off. With this camera, I have movies and still photos I would never have captured otherwise! I also purchased a Sony MiniDV and a "Panasonic SVAV100 D-Snap", but returned them. The Panasonic was Macintosh-hostile, the Sony was difficult to use with either Windows or Mac (but had the best picture quality). Fisher picture quality disappointed until I viewed the movies on the computer - WOW! Very nice.
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