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Sanyo Xacti HD1A 5.1MP MPEG4 High-Definition Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom | 
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| Brand: Sanyo
Category: Photography
List Price: $699.99
Buy New: $399.00
You Save: $300.99 (43%)
New (5) from $399.00
Avg. Customer Rating:  34 reviews
Media: Electronics
Optical Zoom: 10
Display Size: 2.2
Maximum Focal Length: 63
Minimum Focal Length: 6.3
Has Red Eye Reduction: Yes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 3.3
Dimensions (in): 8.4 x 7.1 x 5.4
MPN: VPC-HD1A
Model: VPC-HD1A
UPC: 086483063794
EAN: 0086483063794
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | Digital media camera combines the functionality of a digital camera with a digital camcorder | | • | Simultaneously records high-definition digital video and 5.1-megapixel digital still images | | • | Clear, 2.2-inch LCD monitor | | • | Highly-efficient 10x optical zoom lens and 10x digital zoom | | • | Built-in image stabilization; high-quality digital stereo recording |
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Product Description
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)
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| Customer Reviews: Read 29 more reviews...
 It is what it is November 1, 2006
86 out of 87 found this review helpful
Yes, technically this is a HiDef camcorder. No, its video output is not on par with traditional HDV camcorders such as those from Sony, Canon, etc. But, it is important to understand that this is a hybrid device with a unique feature set and good performance with a cost point that is about half of what a low-end HDV camcorder would cost. The video quality (in HD mode) is superior to regular DV camcorders and the stills are better than my 5-year old Sony 4MP camera. If I'm going to shoot critical production video or capture stills for color-separated print work, I going to use the proper tools. But, I'm not going to haul pro gear to a high school soccer game or a family BBQ. I can throw this thing into my pocket, shoot for hours and have fun doing it. For me, the unique packaging, versatile operation and efficient battery life means I will shoot more memories. Sometimes, that's more important than the compression scheme or low-light performance. Highly recommended.
The best camera in the world is useless if you don't have it with you... December 31, 2006
39 out of 43 found this review helpful
The HD1 is a wonderful, amazing camera. And it is small enough that you can always have it with you -- I've carried mine for months in my front pants pocket in its protective case, and been able to capture family and work stills and video that would otherwise have been lost. Even if the quality were not up to par, I would have something instead of nothing. But the quality is great! I'll expand on the quality below.
This camera is genuinely high definition, more than three times the resolution of NTSC. This is best shown by comparing a DV image captured with firewire (no NTSC modulation artifacts) on a computer monitor, to the HD1 image transferred from its SD card. Notice that this comparison should favor the DV -- but instead, it makes the increased resolution of the HD1 clear.
HD televisons and monitors are already commonplace, and video captured at less than HD quality will not be as highly valued (like 8mm, good for historical content). Capturing now in HD preserves the value of your video. And this camera fits in your pocket! My bet is anyone who thinks the video from this camera is not significantly better than DV is looking at its output downconverted to letterboxed NTSC, probably on an old TV.
The HD1 records in 720p30 format for an hour on a 4GB sd card (about $70). There is no transport noise picked up by the on-board microphones, as there is no tape transport! Even lens and finger noises are attenuated by the intelligent placement of the microphones on the back of the fold-out screen, where unlike other cameras, they are pointed at the subject! It also has an external microphone jack, missing in other cameras.
Once the camera is turned on, folding the viewfinder puts it in standby mode with no apparent impact on battery life. This way, the camera is ready to go in a couple of seconds after the viewfinder is opened. Mine stays in standby, sometimes for days between uses. Battery life is very good (but keep a charged spare with you, just like you keep a second SD memory card).
The still shots from this camera are as good as or better than most dedicated still cameras. I would rate it just below the Sony DSC-T7. However, the HD1 has a 10x optical zoom, which reduces the need for cropping, thereby preserving resolution. Look at the stills and video from the HD1 on steves-[...] (different Steve), which is a blowaway excellent web site for comparing cameras.
The output of the HD1 is not as clean as the output from the Sony HC3 or the Canon HV10 HDV comcorders, both of which capture at a higher resolution. Ironically both use CMOS sensors which have historically been much noisier than CCDs like the HD1's. I suspect that this is due to better post capture processing, so I'm eager to try something like Noise Ninja or NeatImage on the HD1 output. However, as is, it is easy to mix the video from all three using Vegas Video (and I'm sure other editors), especially when the HDV cameras have been used for tripod shots and the HD1 for handheld, more casual shots. Of course, the HV10 and HC3 each cost about twice the HD1, and as wonderfully compact as they are, neither fits in your pocket.
The program Jet Audio [...] is the best I've found for playing the MPEG-4 video directly from the HD1 SD card on a PC. Even the free version does a great job.
Two other general purpose digital imaging notes: Always make two copies of your image files on different media before erasing the original! And rent some Internet space from a web host somewhere across the country (or world) and copy your image files to a non-public area on your web server space. This costs as little as $6 / month for 150 GB or so somewhere in a secured, backed up facility. And you can still use the public part of the space to create a web site. If there is a tornado, hurricane, earthquake, fire, etc. your "irreplacable family photos" (including any old ones you've scanned or reshot on your digital camera and uploaded) will still be safe. I understand at this point there are folks offering this sort of a service directly, although typically at a higher cost.
Another review mentions the "drawback" of the video freezing briefly when a still is captured while shooting video. On the other hand, this camera in video mode is shooting 30 1MP stills each second! Take your pick and always get the right moment.
Did I mention that the HD1 is a genuine High Definition video camera / recorder that fits in your pocket so you can always have it with you? What an outrageous step forward! I hope you like yours and find it as useful as I do mine.
Aloha,
Steve
 Best camera for the price, but beware of some problems November 13, 2006
31 out of 32 found this review helpful
This is the best HD camera for the price. It's the lightest HD camera of any kind. The quality is equivalent to professional SD cameras from 10 years ago if you're careful. You can get more resolution, more features, and more weight, for more money. It depends on how much you want to spend and how much excercise you want.
Now the bad news. You have to be careful to get the best quality from it. It has to be tripod mounted. You must keep ISO at 50 or 100. Keep the shutter speed below 1/100 or it produces very grainy images. Lower shutter speed seems to enable noise reduction.
It experiences blooming when shooting bright objects or the Sun. Don't bother using the still picture support. Get a digital SLR for still pictures.
The lens is cockeyed. You have to angle your tripod down to shoot level and you can't use the docking station for shooting. It won't stand up on its own without a tripod because it's top heavy.
The tripod mount occupies the same space as the power connector. You have to remove it from the tripod to run it on AC and download movies off it.
The tripod mount is plastic. Sooner or later it's going to strip. Be prepared to fabricate an alternate tripod mount for it and glue it on or try the restripping compound at OSH.
The biggest problem is there's no exposure lock function and no lightmeter function. The settings it says it's using in auto exposure are not correct, and it only applies manual exposure settings during recording.
The only way to lock exposure is to try different settings in manual mode and record test clips.
For auto exposure, keep it in "measure multi". The spot modes don't work.
For focusing, keep it in 5 point auto focus. The spot focusing doesn't work and the screen is too small for manual focusing. Locking the focus tends to lock it just out of focus most of the time.
Great for the size. November 8, 2006
25 out of 28 found this review helpful
For the size and compactibility - you can't get any better. Takes great digital stills and good video. Looks great up on my plasma - better than my old dv camcorder. If I wanted something large to carry around, then I would go for the Sony HD camcorder with 5.1 sound; but I just want something you can place in your pocket and run out with. Great for travel and for taking to parties - places where you don't want to be carrying a lot of equipment.
 Sounds like a great camera - But it's NOT January 5, 2007
22 out of 31 found this review helpful
Great features, right?
I just returned it after very disappointing results.
Here are just a few issues:
1. If you use a tripod (and you WILL need to), you can't plug in the AC adapter to save on the short battery life, because mounting it on to a tripod covers the access to the AC connection.
2. Battery life is very short.
3. If you want to protect the lens, you will need to buy the lens adapter and then buy a protective lens.
4. You can't take still photos with the flash if you are using the lens adapter BECAUSE the adapter casts a shadow from the flash onto your pictures.
5. The automatic settings are horrible. The auto focus, auto white balance, auto anything will give you the worst results if shooting indoors.
6. You cannot adjust the manual focus or anything else once you begin recording.
7. Quality is very poor when recording indoors without an enormous amount light.
Save your money. Buy a camera with better features. I am waiting for the Panasonic HDC-SD1 due in March.
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