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  • Performance

  • Format

  • Tour

  • Auto/Manual Controls

  • Still Features

  • Handling and Use

  • Audio/Playback/Connectivity

  • Other Features

  • Comparisons/Conclusion

  • Specs/Ratings

  • Performance
  • Format
  • Tour
  • Auto/Manual Controls
  • Still Features
  • Handling and Use
  • Audio/Playback/Connectivity
  • Other Features
  • Comparisons/Conclusion
  • Specs/Ratings

Performance

The Sanyo Xacti VPC-HD1 is equipped with a very large 1/2.5 inch CCD, with approximately 5.36 gross megapixels, and a primary color filter. The next largest chip in a consumer cam is the 1/2.8 inch found on the Canon Optura 600. The Sony DCR-DVD505 and DVD405 offer 1/3 inch chips.

The HD1 records high definition (HD), which measures 1280 x 720 pixels, at 30 frames per second (fps) and a maximum data rate of 9 Megabits per second (Mbps). It also records in 640 x 480 standard definition (SD) at 60 fps interlaced, with a maximum data rate of 6Mbps. There is also a 30 fps frame rate in SD, with a bit rate of 3Mbps. For more information and a full list of shooting qualities, see the Compression section towards the end of this review.

In order to determine the VPC-HD1’s video performance, we shot a standard video color chart in three of the camcorder’s modes:  the highest quality HD, SD at 60fps (which is referred to as TV-HR), and SD at 30fps (called TV-SHQ). The manual promises that the 30fps in SD will be of better quality than the 60fps.

Note: The score is based on the HD footage.

High Definition

At 3000 lux, colors in the Xacti appeared overly saturated, as was the case in last year’s Sony DCR-DVD403. While Sony has since made moves to tone down the colors, Sanyo has forged ahead to an extreme that blows them out. Sony's HD camcorder, the HC1, certainly saturates as well, but it produces nothing like the excessive saturation on the VPC-HD1. This camcorder pushes it to an extreme where colors look not only vibrant but inaccurate.  Most consumers, for whom this camera was intended, prefer stronger *colors to *accurate colors, but we still think the Xacti goes too far. However, the Xacti shoots in an inherently more detailed HD format, and can spare a little sharpness, whereas the DVD403 noticably sacrificed sharpness for color intensity.

Perhaps to help offset the side effects of saturation, such as fuzziness, the Sanyo tends toward intense in-camera sharpening. While this helps to define the edges of objects, too much can lead to sharp outlines between contrasting areas, like the labels we print out for each test.

These pictures also show the damage that oversharpening does to curved lines such as resolution trumpets and the noticeable noise around the dashed line in the middle of the image. Noise levels in the image varied according to color tones. The true black in the center of the chart was almost completely noise free, something that we rarely see (though the Sony HC1 was able to do the same), but noise was surprisingly strong in other areas. This is not something we would ever expect to see in an HD camcorder. The noise was not fine grain but large and chunky.

Blow up of the Sanyo VPC-HD1

Blow up of the Sony HDR-HC1

We’re not saying that this is a bad image, per se. It’s just not very impressive for HD. Comparatively, the Canon Optura 600, an SD MiniDV camcorder with a 1/2.8" CCD, had a slightly less saturated image and much better noise control. The colors were also much more accurate. If I were to pick which image I preferred, I would have to throw my hat in with the Optura 600.

The Sanyo VPC-HD1 next to the Canon Optura 600, blown up 200% to show the difference in noise and saturation.

The Sony DCR-DVD405, which has a 1/3" CCD, could not match the Sanyo for sharpness and showed less intense colors, though color balance was generally good.

The Panasonic PV-GS500, an SD MiniDV camcorder with three 1/4.7" CCDs, showed strong in-camera sharpening and the same problem with curving lines, but it produced crisp images. Close-ups showed a good amount of fine-grain blackish noise, but this is preferably to the chunky noise of the Sanyo.

We also compared the VPC-HD1 to JVC’s highest-end camcorder, the Everio GZ-MC500, which also records to a flash media card. The MC500 had an overall unhealthy look to it, rather pale and greenish-bluish, despite being white balanced. It did not have nearly the sharpness of the Sanyo, though the noise was a little finer.

Finally, we were curious about the capabilities of the in-camera Neutral Density filter. Neutral Density filters, in theory, reduce the light of all colors and wavelengths equally. In practice, however, they may be stronger in some areas and weaker in others.

At 3000 lux, the HD image with the ND filter on, noise increased dramatically. The filter did darken the image, but it did not do much else.

Standard Definition

Because people will likely be shooting in HD when given the opportunity, we’ll only examine the Xacti’s SD performance briefly.

At 3000 lux, 60fps--the standard definition shooting mode of TV-HR--showed approximately the same levels of oversaturation that we saw in HD. Sharpness was, of course, affected, and serious moiré patterns occurred in the denser areas of the resolution trumpets. There was actually less in-camera sharpening, which seemed to help reduce the noise flare-ups along high contrast borders. This was not a better image compared to the HD picture, however, just less noisy.

The TV-SHQ, or 30fps, image also produced moiré patterns, but they weren't quite so severe. Image quality was definitely better overall, with decreased noise and noticeably better sharpness. The picture seemed both brighter and softer, not something we’d normally praise, but a good thing in this case, as most of the images from this camcorder were too sharp.

One final note:  the video testing chart cannot show some things. Usually, we are content to talk about this in the Video Performance and Manual Control sections, but this particular camcorder warrants additional images. The VPC-HD1 has very little dynamic range, particularly in darker areas and shadow. Below is a still from the Sanyo shooting into a fairly well-lit corner of our testing room, which is covered in non-reflective black fabric. Following that is the same shot from the Sony DCR-DVD405. Both camcorders are in full auto mode, including auto white balance. Note how the Sanyo quickly drops off into lost information.

Sanyo VPC-HD1 shooting into a corner

The same shot from the Sony DCR-DVD405

The bottom line is that Sanyo is trying, unsuccessfully, to cover up a weak chip. While the chip in the camcorder may have an impressive pixel count combined with some sharpening technologies, it ultimately produces oversaturation with little dynamic range. Its images, while technically crisp, have none of the brilliance that people expect from HD camcorders, even consumer models like the HDR-HC1.

**Video Resolution ***(21.3)*

Now for the test you've all been waiting for:  the resolution of the VPC-HD1.

In HD, the VPC-HD1 produced 453.3 lines of vertical resolution and 470 lines of horizontal resolution, yielding an approximate resolution of 213051.0. The average clipping ran at about 50%. Clipping occurs when Imatest cannot read a portion of the information from the image, either because the whites were blowing out (red, green, and blue channels all measuring 255) or the blacks were bottoming out (all channels at 0). 50% is an extremely high clipping number which can slightly compromise the result and indicates that nearly the entire black portion of the black/white line edge is bottoming out.

And now the big question: how does the HD1 compare to the Sony HDR-HC1? Is it really HD? By comparison, the Sony HDR-HC1 scored a 31.5 in the video resolution test, about 50% better than the HD1. The best MiniDV camcorders this year are scoring in the mid-teens. This test confirms what we expected. While HD1's picture is sharp, and it might technically be HD, it certainly doesn't perform in the 'spirit' of HD. The resolution performance is nowhere close to any existing HD camcorder, including the Sony HDR-HC1or the performance we'd expect from its successor, the HDR-HC3. You're going to get a sharp picture out of the VPC-HD1, but it's not going to have the brilliance that people expect when they hear high definition.

In addition, we tested the two modes of SD video for resolution by shooting a standard ISO 12233 resolution chart and running stills from those clips through Imatest imaging software. In SD mode, TV-HR quality (60fps), the camcorder produced 395 lines of vertical resolution and 441.3 lines of horizontal resolution, yielding an approximate resolution of 174313.5.

In TV-SHQ (30fps), which showed a better picture in Video Performance, the camcorder produced 362.5 lines of vertical resolution and 409.1 lines of horizontal resolution, yielding an approximate resolution of 148298.75.

Low Light Performance*(3.75)*

The Sanyo VPC-HD1 was tested for its low light performance at two light levels, 60 and 15 lux. Because larger imagers have more surface area available to capture light, the HD1's 1/2.5' CCD should produce excellent low-light shots. However, this was not the case, adding more evidence to our theory: large still chips don't perform in low light like large video chips.

At 60 lux, the Xacti’s HD video shows the same high saturation levels that we saw in bright light. At this low level, the noise that was once tolerable becomes intense. The violet and blue sections contained intense bouts of blue noise, while blackish noise appeared in the yellow portions.  The type of noise is also worse than we’ve seen on most camcorders: large chunks, some with vertical or horizontal patterns.

We also looked at the two highest ISO settings, ISO 800 and ISO 1600. Compared to the image with auto ISO, the ISO 800 is brighter overall. While the image had the same amount of noise, the difference between the noise tone and the color around it was less noticeable. The noise took on a slightly finer grain and became black, except in the blue-violet tones. At ISO 1600, the image was too bright, and appeared blown out. The noise was just as bad, but the tell-tale saturation was gone.

By comparison, the Sony HDR-HC1 was exceptionally sharp, with a fantastic amount of noise suppression. The color tones were far from impressive, though. The greens came in the best, while the red-violet all tended to blur together. There was almost no saturation, which you’ll probably miss. The Canon Optura 600 has more color saturation than the Sony HC1, but not nearly as much as the Sanyo. The Canon showed far less noise than the Optura. The Panasonic PV-GS500 was very similar to the Optura, though sharper. The Sony DCR-DVD405 had some sharpness problems compared to the Sanyo, but had far less noise.  Finally, the JVC GZ-MC500 was compared with its auto gain control (AGC) on. (JVC’s AGC is a particularly potent control compared to most auto gains). At 60 lux, the MC500 looked blown out and lost a good deal of sharpness.

We also looked at the SD footage in low light, both at TV-HR (60fps) and TV-SHQ (30fps). At TV-HR, the picture was overall darker than the HD picture at 60 lux. Noise was, if you can believe it, even worse. Also, the TV-HR shot lacked one of the HD picture's saving graces: its sharpness. We looked at the same shooting mode with ISO 800 and 1600. ISO 800 was exactly the same, indicating that that was where the automatic gain had already been set. ISO 1600 was much brighter, but the noise was simply terrible.

In TV-SHQ mode, the slower frame rate of 30fps made for a much brighter picture. Noise was also slightly decreased. Saturation levels were very high.

At 15 lux, the Sanyo VPC-HD1’s HD footage was almost devoid of color information. Despite the large chip size, this is an unusable image. Ironically, the best reports of color that can push through the darkness are actually coming from the noise.

The HDR-HC1 lost a good deal of color, but retained a surprising amount of sharpness. Noise, though present, was still very low for such a low light. The Canon Optura 600 was similarly sharp, but lacked color information. In fact, the picture was almost greyscale. The Panasonic PV-GS5000 had more color than the other Sony or the Canon. The Sony DVD405 was less sharp than the HC1, Optura, and GS500, but sharper than the Sanyo. Color was also better. The JVC GZ-MC500 was the least sharp of all the competitors, but still sharper than the Sanyo.

The VPC-HD1’s HD image with an ISO 800 was the same as in auto. At ISO 1600 the image was much brighter, but oversaturated and terribly noisy.

In the camcorder’s SD format, TV-HR (60fps), the image was pretty much black. At ISO 800, the image was exactly the same. At ISO 1600, it was about the same at the footage in HD auto mode, but less sharp.

At TV-SHQ (30fps), the image was much brighter than in TV-HR mode, and just slightly darker than the image in HD mode at 15 lux auto.

Overall, this is a terribly disappointing low light performance. The large imager seemed to add nothing to the picture, and noise was extremely high. This is not at all the kind of performance we should accept from a high definition camcorder.

Wide Angle* (10.4)*

We tested the Xacti HD1 for wide angle field of view in both HD-SHQ and TV-SHQ formats. These two settings shoot at the highest quality for their respective aspect ratio and a 30 frame per second frame rate. TV-SHQ records video at a resolution of 640 x 480 and HD-SHQ records at 1280 x 720 resolution. When tested, the TV-SHQ (640 x 480) produced a 52 degree field of view that competently matches the true widescreen displays of Canon camcorders. The HD-SHQ has a far higher resolution while not compromising wide angle field of view, so users will be able to shoot HD footage with a wide angle measurement of 52 degrees.

Format

Compression* (3.0)*

The VPC-HD1 records MPEG-4 formated video in both HD and SD. A number of frame and bit rate options affect video files' sizes and quality. In HD, the highest quality is HD-SHQ, which records at a resolution of 1280 x 720 at 30fps and a bit rate of 9 Mbps. Sanyo’s marketing division may or may not have rounded this number up from 8.5Mbp, which is the current maximum data rate for all DVD, flash media, and hard disk drive camcorders. There is also a lower-quality setting in HD, HD-HQ, which has a frame rate of 30fps and a bit rate of 6 Mbps. The bottom line is that Sanyo is trying to overly comrpess the video and it shows: you just can't get a good HD resolution picture in 9 Mbs.

In standard definition, there are four quality modes. TV-HR shoots at 640 x 480, 60fps at 6Mbps. TV-SHQ (which looks best) shoots 640 x 480, 30fps at a bit rate of 3Mbps. TV-HQ shoots 640 x 480, 30fps at 2Mbps. Finally, Web-HQ shoots at an email-friendly 320 x 240, with a frame rate of only 15Mbps at a bit rate of 684 Kbps.

The frame rate corresponds to the rate at which the picture is refreshed on the screen. 60fps indicates an interlaced frame, in which every odd numbered row of the 480 horizontal lines is refreshed, and then all of the even numbered lines, and so on. The alternative method is progressive scan, or 30fps, which refreshes the entire image at once. In SD, that means all 480 lines; in HD, all 720 lines.

Progressive scan generally handles motion better than interlaced, but there is a significant distinction between the VPC-HD1 and Sony’s HD camcorders. Sony shoots in 1920 x 1080i (the I is for interlaced). The Sanyo shoots 1280 x 720p (progressive scan). This means that the Sony’s image has more lines, more pixels, and therefore more information in the picture.

Media* (5.5)*

The Sanyo VPC-HD1 records video and stills to an secure digital (SD) card. This is the most ubiquitous of all card media, and one which has rapidly grown in capacity in recent years. Today, 4GB cards are available, with 8GB and 16GB forthcoming. Yet, despite falling prices and the huge capacities required to capture HD-quality video, the HD1 does not ship with a card. This is part of the reason that Sanyo was able to offer it at such a low price. Last year's Fisher FVD-C1 (which is the same company as Sanyo) did ship with a card. Shooting time varies with the capacity of your SD card, and we would not recommend anything under 1GB. Tack an extra $70-$100 on for that, and your total bill for this camcorder is approaching $900.

 The manual includes a full table of estimated shooting times for 512MB, 1GB, and 2GB cards. We’ll summarize by saying that a 1GB card will hold approximately 14 minutes in HD-SHQ and 21 minutes in HD-HQ.

Editing* (3.0)*

The Sanyo Xacti ships with Sanyo Software Pack 7.3 spread over two CD-ROMs full of programs, including Motion Director SE 1.1, Ulead PhotoExplorer for Mac 2.0, Ulead DVD MovieFactory 4.0 SE, and Ulead PhotoExplorer 8.5 SE Basic.

Motion Director is a program with two basic functions: photo stitching and post-production image stabilization. When working with Sanyo's DVD MovieFactory, it's possible to record media to either DVD or VCD formats, though superior storage levels and functionality really come with the DVD format. The user will be able to choose between creating a video DVD, creating a slideshow DVD, copying or fitting a disc, moving files straight to DVD, or exiting the DVD menu. The video CD options are similar.  The software structure is simple and limited, and all features have a scroll over option that displays information about their function in the lower left hand corner of the display window. 

The Sanyo DVD MovieFactory software will burn DVD-R or DVD+VR format discs. Creating and burning VCD sessions is done through the same editing structure as the DVD editing software. In the DVD timeline, it is possible to select between adding video footage, capturing video footage, creating slideshows, or importing DVD-R or DVD+VR files from disc or hard drive. Once footage is imported into the timeline, editing options include  multi-trim video, join/separate video, and enhance video/edit slideshow. In addition, there are also options for recovering deleted video, cutting video, removing footage, viewing information on media files, and exporting video files. Users can choose to either scan the timeline or engage a time code jump feature that is especially helpful if footage information has been noted already. In general, the software is simple to use, yet still comprehensive enough to satisfy even more competent video users.

Tour

**The Front ***(8.0)*

At the front of the Sanyo Xacti HD1, the 10x optical zoom lens sits at the top of the camcorder body, its snout tilting up at an angle.  This lens has a length of 38 to 380 mm, when measured with 35 mm conversion, and an aperture range of f/3.5 to f/8.0. Beneath the lens, on the right side of the camcorder, is an IR remote control sensor. A charge LED indicator is to the right of the sensor, and a vertical polished silver ridge starts directly beneath it. On the edge between the front and bottom of the HD1, extending the vertical polished silver bar, is the wrist strap eyelet. It's an elegant looking front.

**The Right Side ***(3.0)*

The internal Lithium Ion battery pack is located on the right side of the camcorder, under a cover that opens via a tab in the upper front corner. This cover is made of the same material as the camcorder body, opens easily when needed, and it seems to be well constructed for durability and extended use. Above the tab is the internal playback speaker for monitoring audio when viewing footage in-camcorder. Positioned on the right side of the in-camera pop-up flash housing is the clearly-labeled flash button. A mic in-port is located towards the back edge of the flash housing. Its rubber cover cannot be pivoted, and it will block the port when the user tries to insert, switch, or remove mic jacks. The lack of a hand strap and solid grip also lowered this side's score.

**The Back ***(4.5)*

The SD memory card port is located in the back of the HD1, positioned vertically near the bottom of the camera. Its cover is constructed of the same material as the camcorder body and can be opened via a tab located on the left side.. Above the SD card port is the Rec/Play switch, which moves the camcorder between these two operation modes. Above that switch and slightly to the right is the small silver Menu button which will open the menu structure on the LCD.

To the left of the Menu button is the joystick for the Sanyo Xacti HD1. This small joystick can be used to navigate and set menu options. It also serves an additional functionality once the camcorder is out of the menu. When navigating menus, the user can use intuitive joystick directions to move through the structures, then push the stick inward to activate the Set button and select or alter settings.  Outside the menu structure, the joystick's up arrow controls AF lock, the right arrow controls exposure compensation levels, the down arrow rotates through focal options, and the left arrow allows the user to enter the manual controls when the camcorder is set to manual, shutter, or aperture priority modes. However, the joystick control is poor, as will be discussed in the Manual Control section, which is the main reason for this area's low rating.

Above the joystick and menu buttons, in a circular face set out slightly from the camcorder, are three essential controls for the Sanyo Xacti HD1. The leftmost control engages the shutter button for still images, while the button on the far right will start or stop video recording. Between these two capture controls is a zoom slider that moves vertically to engage telephoto and wide-angle levels. When shooting in playback mode, these controls double as playback zoom/multi-up display. Above the zoom slider is a multi-indicator LED.

**The Left Side ***(7.0)*

The 2.2 inch organic EL display on the left side of the Sanyo Xacti HD1 has a total resolution of 210,000 pixels, and can be opened from the front, bottom, or back edge. As the HD1 has no viewfinder, this is the only viewing device available to the user. The camcorder's stereo microphones are located on the exterior of the OLED monitor,  perfectly placed for users to mask, muffle, and cover during use.  In the space masked by the OLED when closed are three controls, two of which are positioned near the edge hinging the LCD to the body of the camcorder. The front-most button is the on/off button, the button behind it switches the camcorder between HD and normal video modes, and the final button, located beneath these controls and slightly towards the back edge, is the burst/single shot switch. Positioning these controls slightly lower would have allowed access regardless of the LCD screen's position; as it is, the OLED has an aggravating tendency to block these options.

The Top* (5.5)*

The in-camera flash is the only feature located on the top of the Sanyo Xacti HD1. Its housing extends slightly from the rest of the camcorder. On the right side of this housing is a button that opens the HD1's pop-up flash.

Auto/Manual Controls

Picture & Manual Control
Automatic Control (6.5)

The Xacti VPC-HD1 offers no "auto" or "easy" mode that a novice would be able to find without consulting the manual. 'P' mode, in the manual exposure settings portion of the menu, allows the camcorder to automatically adjust the exposure levels, controlling aperture, shutter speed, and gain(called ISO). Accessing P mode, however, requires a detailed explanation of the menu structure, discussed later in this review.

Some of the control settings, like focus, have more than one mode. These are not manual controls, but they allow you to have the camcorder make smarter automatic adjustments. The focus can be set for 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 makes its location the point of focus. Unlike the 'spot focus' on most camcorders, however, this target cannot be moved; it's really more of a center-weight focus, deceptively named.

*Cavity underneath the OLED. *

Automatic exposure can also be adjusted to Multi-section light measuring (an evaluative mode), Center-weighted, and Spot metering. The difference between these last two settings is a bit confusing. The Center-weighted mode, according to the manual, "is modulated for the entire image after measuring form mostly the center area." Spot metering, on the other hand, allows you to "compose the picture and capture the image after first modulating the light only at the center spot of the monitor." (Sadly, the whole manual reads as impenetrably.) We found little difference between the two, except that the Spot metering is a more extreme version of the Center-weight mode.

Scene modes, known as auto exposure modes on some camcorders, also appear on the Xacti. These are exposure settings tailored to specific lighting environments, with modes including Sports, Portrait, Landscape, NightView, Fireworks, and Lamp. The names are intuitive, indicating pretty clearly when each mode should be used.

The white balance can be set automatically, adjusted manually, or preset. Preset white balances are indicated only by icons, but the meanings are clear enough: sunny, overcast, fluorescent lighting, and incandescent lighting.

The last automatic control options in the main menu are the filter options, which include a Cosmetic filter (in which "skin tones are enhanced in close-up shots," though the manual doesn't state which skin tones are applicable), a Monochrome filter (for black-and-white), and Sepia.

Finally, the option menu offers Image Quality. This includes four settings: Normal, Vivid (which increases color saturation, though we could not imagine ever needing to do this with the HD1) Soft (which decreases sharpness), and Soft Vivid (which both increases saturation and decreases sharpness).

Overall Manual Control (4.5)

Maneuvering through the manual controls on the Sanyo VPC-HD1 is not a simple matter. The first mode of doing so involves the menu, which is divided into two areas: the Shooting Setting Screen and the Option screen.

Pushing the Menu button, located on the back of the body, will bring up the Shooting Screen menu. This menu is split into two pages, 'Basic Settings' and 'Advanced Settings,' but the nomenclature seems more or less random.

'Basic Settings' provides options for changing the video and still quality, the Scene modes (described in the section above), the filters, and the timer for still photography. Also on this page are the Manual Exposure settings, which include auto, aperture priority, shutter speed priority, and full manual modes.

'Advanced Settings' covers image stabilization, focus controls, auto focus methods, auto exposure methods, white balance settings, and ISO settings. The ISO setting is perhaps one of the most confusing controls, and gets its own explanation in the Gain section below.

Users toggle through the menu with a joystick located on the rear of the body. While we normally lionize the joystick as the best possible navigation control on consumer camcorders, we have to make an exception in this case. The joystick on the Sanyo VPC-HD1 has terrible sensitivity problems. Almost half the time I attempted to push the joystick inwards (which functions as an "enter" button),it interpreted the movement as left, right, up, or down.

In addition to navigating the menus, the joystick has other functions in recording mode. Pushing the joystick up will lock the exposure, while pushing it to the right brings up an exposure compensation scale at the bottom of the screen, which gives you a range of +/- 1.8. Pushing the joystick down shifts the focus control between automatic, manual (a scale at the bottom of the screen), and Super macro.

Pushing it to the left allows you to access the exposure controls, which appear in the lower left of the screen.

Depending on which mode you are in (aperture priority, shutter priority, auto, and full manual), the exposure factors you can alter will be limited: the Natural Density filter can only be switched on and off in full manual mode.

The exposure controls – shutter speed and aperture – are severely confusing, primarily because the HD1 doesn't distinguish logically between movie mode and still mode. For instance, the shutter speed mode for stills can be as slow as 4 seconds, obviously impossible for video, where the manual indicates that the minimum shutter speed is 1/30. However, when you toggle through the controls on screen, the range does go down to 4 seconds,  so you really have no idea what the shutter speed will be.

Finally, and most unbelievably, there is no live view of your changes. That's right: a camcorder released in 2006 fails to display exposure adjustments until after you start recording. You don't like the picture at 1/60 with an aperture of f/3.5? Well, what would it look like if you changed it to f/4.7? On any other camcorder, simply making this change while in standy mode would give you an idea of what the image would look like. On this camcorder, it is not so. You hit record, look at the image, make an adjustment, hit record again, and re-evaluate. This is an absurd system, particularly considering that even DSLR cameras began incorporating this technology in 2006. A manufacturer should be ashamed to produce a camcorder which lacks this kind of basic functionality.

Zoom (5.0)

The zoom control, a rather tight sliding switch, is located on the camcorder's upper back portion. While this is a natural position for the thumb, pushing and pulling the switch has a tendency to pitch the whole body forward and backward, thus upsetting the frame. While it's hard to think of an alternative location, this is no excuse for the poor control.

Zoom extends to 10x optically and 100x digitally. The optical zooming is a bit jerky and has a tendency to leap forward when all you want is a gentle nudge. The digital zoom speeds forward very quickly. We are grateful, however, for a numerical indicator that tells you exactly where in the zoom you are, down to a tenth decimal place during optical zoom.

Zoom Power/Ratio (10.0)

The Sanyo Xacti HD1 has an optical zoom level of 10x with a maximum digital zoom level of 100x. Digital zoom can be engaged by entering the options menu and opening the digital zoom sub-menu. It should be noted that the higher the digital zoom level, the lower the image quality and the more the camcorder will display hand shake, noise, and indecipherable image content. The camcorder has two separate image stabilization settings, one intended for still photos and one for video clips, which should be useful when engaging higher zoom levels. The image stabilization settings are located within the second page of the shooting menu.

Focus (5.75)

Manual focus is engaged by pushing down on the joystick. A scale, with a flower at one end and a mountain at the other, appears at the bottom of the screen. We are pleased to see that Sanyo was gracious enough to offer a numerical indication of the user's place in the focal range: 1 cm to 40m to infinity. Being able to hold the joystick in one direction to move the cursor, rather than nudging it each time to make adjustments, is also a welcome feature. However, the shift from one focal length to another is distinctly jerky, as if each adjustment is clicking into place. Don’t expect to make smooth, Hollywood-style rack focus adjustments with this camcorder. All in all, though, the HD1 boasts a pretty good focus control.

Exposure (Aperture) (5.0)

The aperture can be adjusted when the exposure is set to "M" (for full manual mode) or "A" (for aperture priority). This is found in the Screen Settings menu, page 1. The aperture range is relatively small – f/3.6, f/4.1, f/4.8, f/5.7, and f/6.9--compared to Panasonic camcorders, which offer f/1.8 to f/14. We really want to give them credit for giving true F stop readings: Panasonic and some JVCs are the only other manufacturers who do this. However, the small range makes us less excited.

In full manual mode, the aperture and shutter speed can be adjusted independently. In aperture priority mode, you can set the aperture alone, and the camcorder will automatically compensate with shutter controls. Exposure correction, sometimes called compensation, also adjusts both the aperture and shutter speed in small, +/- 1.8, increments when you desire a little extra control.  

Overall, the exposure control suffers most from the bad joystick control.

*Shutter Speed (6.5) *

The shutter speed on the Sanyo Xacti 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. This is found in the Screen Settings menu, page 1. If this was a normal camcorder, with a clear distinction between video and still mode, differentiating between the two sets of ranges would be easy.  Video and still mode are mashed together, though, producing some confusing controls. For example, the onscreen shutter control display will allow you to go all the way down to 4 seconds and then hit "record video," never knowing that the video could not possibly capture at that shutter speed and that it bottomed out several steps away at 1/30. Aside from this confusion, this is a good range of shutter speed controls.

White Balance (7.0)

The white balance is set by entering the white balance options section in the Shooting Screen Menu, page 2, and selecting the eyedropper icon, then pointing it at a white surface and pushing the joystick in. The screen will go black, sometimes for up to 2 seconds, before the balance is adjusted. After the wait, though, the color accuracy looks good.

There are also preset white balances for sunny and overcast outdoor settings, fluorescent lighting, and incandescent lighting. None of them are terribly effective. We believe that the first manual control new users should master is generally the white balance. It makes a world of difference in image quality.

Gain (5.0)

Gain is a digital boost to the signal, which increases sensitivity (good for low light situations) but likewise increases the noise within that signal. The Sanyo VPC-HD1 does offer gain control, though in a measurement with which tmany video users may be unfamiliar. Rather than the standard dB levels, the Xacti uses ISO ratings for gain. We think this hints at the fact that the VPC-HD1 may be a still camera faking it as a camcorder, instead of the other way around. Since we're CamcorderInfo.com, and not DigitalCameraInfo.com (although we do love them), we prefer the latter. 

Both ISO and dB measure the same thing when dealing with digital products; the confusion with the HD1 doesn't really stem from the different terms. The real confusion lies in the bizarre system that the camcorder uses for conversion between video and still mode. The ISO choices displayed are auto, ISO 50, ISO 100, ISO 200, and ISO 400, regardless of whether you’re in still or video mode. In video mode, however, the manual indicates that ISO 50 actually corresponds to ISO 200, and so forth for all video ISOs. When the display says ISO 100, the ISO is actually ISO 400. ISO 200 is ISO 800 in video, and ISO 400 is actually ISO 1600. The relationship is the same; each setting is twice the sensitivity of the previous step. But a simple distinction between video mode and still mode would have cleared all this up.

Other Manual Control (0.0)

There is no other manual control on this camcorder.

Still Features

**

Still Features*** (8.5)*

The Sanyo VPC-HD1 has a large number of still features. Photos are saved to an SD card in five resolution options: 3680 x 2760 (10MP), 2592 x 1944 (5MP, called 5M-H, which is low compression), 2592 x 1944 (5MP, called 5M-S, which is standard compression), 1600 x 1200 (2MP), 1280 x 960 (1.2MP), and 640 x 480 (0.3MP). Only the 2592 x 1944 image has quality options. The rest of the sizes are all standard compression JPEGs.

All the manual and automatic controls available in video mode are also available in still mode: aperture, shutter speed, focus and focal options, exposure and metering options, filters, scene modes, and image quality. The shutter speed gets some additional range: while it can only go down to 1/30 of a second in video mode, it can go as long as 4 seconds in still shots. Very rarely will a camcorder offer this wide a range for stills. In order to compensate for noise in shutter speeds under 1/4, the Xacti offers a Noise-Reduction function.

The camcorder offers ISO settings of 50, 100, 200, and 400. ISO is a sensitivity rating, similar to the way gain works in video. The higher the ISO, the more the signal has been boosted. Each setting is twice as sensitive as the one before it.

A pop-up flash is located on top of the HD1's body, with a release button on the upper right. The flash has four modes: automatic, forced flash, off, and red-eye reduction mode. Switching between modes is actually done by pushing the flash release button.

The Sanyo offers a burst mode, called Sequential shots, which can be turned on and off via a button in the OLED cavity. The maximum number of shots in this mode is only three, and you cannot take 10MP shots in Sequential mode. Likewise, you can take stills while shooting video, but the maximum size is 5M-H. Auto bracketing mode also exists, and takes three stills: one at normal exposure, one at +0.9EV, and one at -0.9EV.

Finally, a timer control can set a delay of 2 seconds or 10 seconds.

The big problem in working with stills is that there is no clear still mode separate from movie mode. Maybe a seamless integration was Sanyo's goal, but the resulting confusion with manual controls (see Manual Control section above) does not seem to make it worth the trouble. Judging by the quality of the stills versus the quality of the video, we think that maybe they should have left off the video altogether.  

Still Resolution* (20.1)*

The Sanyo VPC-HD1’s stills were tested for resolution by shooting a standard ISO 12233 resolution chart and running the stills through Imatest imaging software. We looked at two image sizes: the 5MP image at low compression and the 10MP interpolated image.

At 5MP, or 2592 x 1944, the camcorder yielded an approximate resolution of 2009826.8. The clipping, which was overwhelming in the video resolution tests (around 50%), was comparatively subdued, but still far higher than average. It reached an average of 4.4%.

At 10MP, the camcorder yielded an approximate resolution of 1965870.8, a statistically identical number to the resolution of the 5MP image. This should make it abundantly clear that the interpolated image is merely larger than the 5MP image, not a "better picture" or one with more information. However, it is a testament to some solid in-camera computing that the interpolated image did not lose any detail.

Still Performance* (9.5)*

The sharpest distinction between the HD1's video and still modes is that the stills are, on first glance, rather dark. This is likely because the image is not oversaturated: color balance is very good, and the stills show none of the noise or sharpness issues found in the video.  This should not surprise anyone, of course; the maximum still size, 3680 x 2760, is much larger than the video’s 1280 x 720.

The type of noise has also changed: while the video had large chunks of noise, the stills had a very fine grained, blackish noise, which was far more tolerable.

The difference between the 2592 x 1944 low compression and 2592 x 1944 normal compression is clear. The low compression image (5M-H), is brighter, with less noise and sharper lines.

The 10MP image is actually interpolated, meaning that the camcorder is taking the picture at a resolution that exceeds the actual number of pixels in the CCD. It does this by splitting existing pixels, then guessing what information should go inside the new pixels. While interpolated images can sometimes go wrong, the process the Sanyo uses is obviously working well.

We have to mention one problem. In all stills, the left side of the image was fuzzy, even out of focus, compared to the right side. We ran retests several times and ruled out smudges on the lens, chart vs. camcorder placement, and lighting discrepancies. Our only conclusion is that this is a flawed model. We will order a second model and retest to see if the problem continues. In the meantime, all comparisons and scoring are based on the right half of the image.

*Crops of the upper left and upper right of the 5M-H image. Note the blurred left image,

which occured consistently in all the stills. *

Comparatively, the Sony HDR-HC1 had a much less balanced color palette than the HD1. Noise appeared as a horizontal grain rather than black flecks. The Canon Optura 600 had about the same color balance as the Sanyo, with a bit more saturation in the yellows and greens. It also sharpened more, producing less graceful curves. The Sony DVD505 had less balanced color, though the whites were brighter and the noise less intense. While the Sony stills were quite good, the max resolution sizes  (3680 x 2760 vs. 2016 x 1512) make the Sanyo the clear winner.

Finally, we looked at the JVC GZ-MC500, which had some of the best stills of any camcorder last year. The MC500 was certainly privy to more saturation and less even colors: the reds were bright and distinct, but the greens, yellows, and blues all tended to run together. The whites were much brighter, however, and the image was sharper overall. Faint halos appeared around certain high-contrast areas, but the sharpening tended to work towards the image’s benefit more so than with the Sanyo.

Still images are captured in the JPEG format in four image sizes. The largest is 3680 x 2760, or 10MP. Because the CCD only has around 5MP of pixels to work with, the 10MP image is created by interpolation. In the Sanyo’s case, the largest non-interpolated image is 2592 x 1944, around 5MP. There are two quality settings for this image size, 5M-H (for high quality, or low compression) and 5M-S (for standard quality, or standard compression). The other still image sizes are 1600 x 1200 (2MP), 1280 x 960 (1.2MP), and 640 x 480 (0.3MP), all using standard compression.

 In all, this is the most promising hybrid camcorder we’ve seen this year, and we hope to confirm that the left side focus flaw is a fluke with our particular model. The camera's performance in stills is really outstanding, and adds credit to our conspiracy theory: the VPC-HD1 isn't a camcorder with still functionality, but a still camera posing as a video camera. Why do we think this? First, there are no good video chips at this resolution that we know of: if there were, we'd see a lot more HD camcorders from the big manufacturers. The ISO gain control instead of dB is another hint, as is the video, which displays typical artifacts of the poor quality video we're seeing in still camera, along with poor dynamic range, oversaturation, and oversharpening. But, before we send the VPC-HD1 out of the CamcorderInfo.com office with a big scarlet S and make it walk into the DigitalCameraInfo.com office next door, we should recognize the fact that the video was much better than we've personally seen out of any still camera. This includes Canon's S80, which shoots similar high resolution video.

Handling and Use

Ease of Use* (3.0)*

The Sanyo VPC-HD1 is a far cry from what we consider "easy to use." Firstly, the 'Easy' mode you would find on most Sonys and Canons does not exist on the HD1. Nor is there a clear 'Auto' mode, as there is on most Panasonics and JVCs. This will be a major obstacle for newcomers latching onto an affordable high definition camcorder, the clear target market for the HD1. 

Even experienced users will find this a vexing device. The menu layout is unclear, with little logic explaining why certain features appear in the Screen Settings Menu and others in the Options menu. Handling is terrible, with a poorly designed joystick. In time, you’ll learn how to pick your way through the controls, but the joystick will never get more enjoyable.

Handling* (2.0)
*The Sanyo Xacti HD1 suffers when it comes to handling ease, with problems relating to LCD, controls, body design, and other features. While Sony and Panasonic offer similarly-designed models, both were able to produce them with superior handling and control. The Sony DCR-PC1000 was able to perform with better handling due, in large part, to a strap that securely connected the right hand to the body of the camcorder; the HD1 lacks this strap and has neither texture nor grip, leading to the constant sensation of a precarious grip. Panasonic also managed to produce superior handling results on the SDR-S100 by including intuitively positioned controls on the back panel of the camcorder.

Controls on the back of the Sanyo were poorly positioned for concise use. For example, the sliding zoom lever produced nothing but fast snapping zoom transition without the nuance or smoothness that marked this year's Canon models. In addition, the joystick, while essential to camcorder handling during shooting and playback, was anything but functional. In its current incarnation, this joystick was impossible to use accurately, and pressing it inward to 'set' a manual control often led to inadvertent selections and shifts through the menu due to poor design and an undersized interface. Panasonic released camcorders for the consumer market this year with great joystick control that was easy to use with the thumb of the right hand.

In general, this petite camcorder demanded both hands to properly manipulate settings, effectively negating any one-handed benefits that could possibly arise from its size. Controls like video and still image capture are well labeled and sized for competent use, but other features continue the plague of poor handling, with HD and power on/off buttons that are blocked by the frame of the open LCD.

Although, if not attached to a docking station, the HD1 will tip over and potentially cause damage, additional design problems will arise if it's attached to a tripod mount. First, the LCD will not be able to open or close once affixed to a tripod head.  Also, because this camcorder angles its lens barrel at an upward slant when compared to the base of the unit, the tripod legs will need to be adjusted downward to compensate for this odd and mostly unusable perspective. The angle is best used to capture the nostril cavities of one's most hated enemies: definitely not a flattering shot.

Finally, the worst (almost unbelievable) aspect of handling is that the Sanyo VPC-HD1 does not offer live view on the LCD (OLED, in this case) for manual adjustments. In simple terms, this means that you will not have a preview of what the image will look like at f/3.5 and then again at f/3.7 without hitting record, watching the footage as it records, stopping, making the adjustment, then hitting record again and repeating the process. When you're in standby, the image that appears onscreen is the equivalent of 'full auto mode.' No camcorder that has ever passed through our doors has had the audacity not to offer this basic function.

Portability* (9.0)*

The Sanyo Xacti HD1 definitely excels in terms of portability: users can comfortably slip this camcorder into a large pocket. For more permanent transport, the Xacti HD1 comes with a larger and somewhat bulky carrying case that, while fine for car travel, does not appear built to withstand rough handling or much weight. When not in the accessory traveling case, this camcorder measures 3.15 inches in width, 4.69 inches in height, and 1.42 in depth and weighs 7.4 ounces.

Since the on/off button is located beneath the LCD screen, users won't need to worry about accidentally turning on this camcorder when carrying it.  The only concern is the flash button located on the right side of the camcorder, which could be hit during travel or adjustments and cause the flash to pop open.  While the flash appears sturdy, it isn’t going to hold up for too long if open and thrown loose into a backpack or other travel pack. The Sanyo Xacti HD1 has positioned many of its essential ports on a docking station and, while this definitely helps slim the camcorder down to a more portable size, it does also mean that transferring footage to laptop or television will require this accessory. An alternate and far smaller option is a plastic adapter with a DC IN and USB port: the adapter's small size makes it useful for quick on-the-go transferal, but also renders it easy to lose.

LCD/Viewfinder* (4.5)*

The LCD on the Sanyo Xacti HD1 is actually not an LCD at all but rather an OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode). The OLED employs an electroluminescent emissive organic layer, which has a polymeric structure that is printed in rows and columns to produce OLED displays. OLEDs cost less to install and consumes less battery life than an LCD, as the display doesn't require backlighting. However, its material is more susceptible to water damage.

The 210,000 pixel, 2.2 inch OLED is positioned on the left side of the camcorder body and flips upwards from a hinge located along its top edge. Once flipped upward, the OLED can be rotated 270 degrees for optimal viewing. This display is the only viewing monitor available: the petite size of the camcorder body makes a viewfinder impossible.

Battery Life* (6.7)*

The Sanyo Xacti ships with the DB-L40 battery. This battery is rated (according to the manual) for 60 minutes of HD-SHQ quality video. We tested this battery by shooting continuously with the LCD open and the manual controls in auto. When the SD card was filled,  we plugged in the DC power, erased the footage, and started again. In total, the battery lasted 67 minutes and 30 seconds.

The battery design is closed, which is a serious detriment to shooting time, convenience, portability, and the all-important (though not scored) frustration factor. A non-expandable battery means that you will not be able to purchase a long life battery. You can always buy a second model of the DB-L40, but that's one more thing to carry and one more thing to lose.

Audio/Playback/Connectivity

Audio*****(6.0)*

The Sanyo Xacti HD1 has two audio recording options:  the in-camera microphone or an external microphone that can be attached via the Mic-In port on the right side of the flash housing. The in-camera stereo microphone has an interesting placement on the exterior face of the OLED. While this solves the problem of placing a mic on a camcorder with a front face grip, it prodces a few problems of its own.

The first problem is that the field of audio recording will vary depending on the angle of the OLED. If the user is viewing the OLED from the front of the camcorder, the recording will be composed of audio produced from the rear. In a less extreme, though no less detrimental, example, the microphone can be positioned to face downward whenever the OLED is facing upward.

In addition, problems are bound to arise whenever the OLED is touched. The monitor is a device that, when shooting quickly, will need constant adjustment to adapt to a number of shooting demands. While this is certainly not an issue with camcorders that position the microphones on the front or top of the camcorder, the Sanyo Xacti HD1's mic placement means that the microphone almost certainly will be touched, bumped, or rubbed in the process.

The inclusion of an external microphone port on the right side of the camcorder is great for users who want to overcome the in-camcorder mic problems discussed above. The mic-in jack is located under a rubber cover on the right side of the flash housing and, although the placement won’t block or obscure controls, ports, or other features, it would be nice if this camcorder had some sort of attachment so that users could really capitalize on the small design. The external microphone recording levels can be adjusted through a sub-menu located within the shooting menu.

The Sanyo HD1 records audio files in the MPEG-4 format. While this uses much of the same structure  as the MPEG-2 format, it provides better audio quality when compared to MP3 formats and has larger file sizes while being recorded at the same bit rate.

VCR Mode* (5.0)*

VCR mode for the Sanyo Xacti HD1 has an in-camcorder playback mode that allows users to edit video files, rotate still images, resize still images, and view images in both multi-up and single image displays. The files can be viewed in both 1x playback as well as being scanned in both rewind and fast forward at rates of 2x, 5x, and 10x.

The joystick controls allow a number of controls to be engaged when the user views single files. Users will be able engage playback by pressing inward, erase video files via the up arrow, skip to the next clip by presing right, and view the previous clip by moving the joystick left.  Once the video file begins to play, the control structure for the joystick changes slightly: the up arrow controls no playback feature, while the left arrow rewinds, the right arrow fast forwards, the down arrow stops, and the set button pauses the file. With both playback control structures, the accidental engagement of the wrong feature is a constant problem; in the first menu, it's easy to unintentionally erase files. 

It is possible to edit video files in the camcorder. While these cuts are very basic and rudimentary, they provide users with some options without making them enter a PC's external editing system. When viewing footage, the user can pause the video at appropriate editing points and press the menu button, enter the second tier of the playback menu, and accessing the edit video sub-menu.  This menu will allow users to select, join, or delete the first or second parts of files. The length of downtime during processing is hardly acceptable, even though it can definitely be shortened by not saving the original file in addition to the new edited clip. Playback zoom for still images has a maximum level of 113% to 4050% which translates quite nicely, for the most part, into indecipherable pixels. The user will be able to press the shutter button at all digital playback levels to record additional still image files.

The playback menu for the Sanyo Xacti has the following control options available in the first menu structure: playback method, multi up, playback volume, protect, and erase. In the second menu structure, these additional options are provided: rotate (for still), resize (for still), extract still (for video), edit video, print setting, and smooth playback.

The microphone port (left), docking station ports and SD card slot (right).

Cable adapter, which has DC power and USB/AV ports

Ports* (6.0)*

The ports located on the actual body of the Sanyo Xacti HD1 are limited to a mic-in port on the right side of the camcorder and an SD card slot on the back. The mic-in port is well positioned on the flash housing and won’t compromise the functionality of the buttons on the HD1. The SD card slot on the back of the camcorder has a cover that is composed of the same plastic composite as the camcorder casing and opens via tab located on its left edge. A third connecting point is the docking station terminal located on the HD1's base.

The docking station is an included disc of plastic that allows the camcorder to stand up and provides users with a number of ports that would otherwise not fit on the small frame of the Sanyo Xacti HD1: the AC adapter, USB to S video/AV interface cable, dedicated USB connection, and dedicated component cable. A smaller and more portable plastic cable adapter can also plug into the docking station terminal, allowing connection to DC IN or USB/AV ports. While these external features are partially responsible for the minimal body size and port ease of use for the Xacti HD1, they also can easily be lost or misplaced due to their small size, especially in the case of  the petite cable adapter.

Other Features

Widescreen/16:9 Mode* (6.0)*

The Sanyo Xacti HD1 employs a 1/2.5 inch, 5.36 gross MP CCD that is capable of switching between widescreen HD and 4:3 formats via the HD button on the left side of the camcorder. Both the HD-SHQ and the TVS HQ modes shot footage with a 52 degree field of view. The resolution for the HD-SHQ mode is 1280 x 720 pixels at 30 fps and a 9 Mbps bit rate, while the TV-SHQ mode has a resolution of 640 x 480 at 30 fps and a 3 Mbps bit rate.

Scan Rates/24p* (0.0)*

There are two scan rates on the VPC-HD1. All HD footage is shot at a rate of 30fps (full frames per second, also called progressive scan). SD footage can be switched between 60fps, which is the same as 30i, or 30 interlaced fields per second, and 30fps.

Other Features* (6.0)*
Image Stabilization (A-B) - The Motion Compensation setting is really an image stabilization feature that can be used when slight unintentional hand motion will result in jittery video footage. Two image stabilization settings allow the Xacti HD1's user to prevent this: the 'A' setting can be used to overcome camera shake in video mode, while the 'B' setting is intended for still images. Neither option alters the field of view. Users can expect a cropped field of view for images that are recorded in the incorrect  mode, due to this camcorder's use of an electrical rather than optical image stabilizer.

Flicker Reduction Mode - The flicker reduction mode, listed in the options menu, is a feature which can be used in a situation with pulsating light sources, such as fluorescent lighting, can lead to compromised flickering footage. The flicker-reduction setting has a set frequency of 50 Hz. When Flicker reduction technology is in use during shooting,  the camcorder will not be able to use the manual exposure setting.

Wind Noise Reduction - The wind noise reduction feature, also located in the options menu, is a low cut filter which will remove the low tone frequencies that are created when wind strikes the diaphragm of the microphone.  In conditions without wind, the filter will create audio recordings that are acoustically unnatural.

Noise Reduction - The noise reduction feature will minimize the amount of video noise encountered when shooting in situations with lower light levels. It's only possible to engage this feature when the camcorder is shooting at rates of 1/4 of a second or slower, and doing so will result in longer processing times when compared to normal video recording. Accessing the noise reduction feature is accomplished by entering the options menu.

Smooth Playback - The smooth playback feature can be engaged when the Sanyo Xacti HD1 is in VCR mode, and lends greater clarity to fast camera movements. The smooth playback setting is located within the general playback menu, and will not be functional when viewing HD footage or when the camcorder is attached to a television via the component cabling.

Non-Expandable Battery - No, not all the 'other features' are positive. We'd like to reiterate here that the camcorder has an enclosed battery design, which prohibits the possibility of an extra long life battery.

Comparisons/Conclusion

Comparison
*Sony HDR-HC1
*The Sanyo Xacti HD1 definitely has a lower price than the HDR-HC1 by Sony. The Sanyo high definition camcorder is also vastly smaller than the Sony model, and is definitely intended for the casual user looking for HD at a low price. That said, the Sony HDR-HC1 has the best video quality for the price and vastly more accurate color reproduction: its 1/3 inch CMOS chip makes this camcorder a more serious model for the higher end prosumer market . A better layout and stronger internal design, complemented by a crisp viewfinder, 2.7 inch LCD, and impressive audio features make the HC1 a far superior option for those with the money.

Announced at the beginning of 2006, the HDR-HC3 originally had an MSRP of $1700, recently lowered to a more reasonable $1500 MSRP. This camcorder will feature a smaller body size than the HC1, as well as a 2.7 inch LCD screen, HD capabilities, and a slightly downgraded electronic color viewfinder. This camcorder won’t have the manual focus ring, but will have the same Sony external structure that assures even less experienced users the ability to shoot on this higher end consumer camcorder. While limited in terms of features when compared to the HC1, the HC3 still has a number of options, ease of use, and control that will make this camcorder to the Sanyo Xacti HD1.

The VPC-HD1 does not come close to the HDR-HC1 or HC3 in quality, features, or handling. The HC3 will set the mark for what an entry level HD camcorder should offer.

Canon Optura 600
The Canon Optura 600 is not an HD camcorder, although this shouldn’t be considered a negative given the poor level of video quality with the Sanyo HD1 when compared to this one chip Canon, which was more accurate, had less trouble with low-light shooting, and produced far lower noise levels.  While the electronic color viewfinder is a disappointment, the inclusion of a secondary viewing monitor may preferable to the Sanyo's OLED. This camcorder can record both video and still, and unlike the Sanyo, saves the video to less expensive 6.35 mm MiniDV tape at a lower compression rate. Ports on the Optura are extensive, with options for Firewire, SD/MMC memory card, USB, and AV in/out for analog-to-digital pass-through. The Optura 600 had an original MSRP of $1100, but has been on the market for a while and can easily be found for less.

We heartily recommend the Optura 600 over the Sanyo. Keep in mind that this is an SD camcorder performing head and shoulders above an HD camcorder.

Sony DCR-DVD405
The Sony DCR-DVD405 is a DVD camcorder which shoots non-HD video and retails at $900; with a 1/3' CCD, it has  better overall color accuracy and a more natural saturation level. Although this SD DVD camcorder does struggle with sharpness, it avoids the in-camcorder sharpening noted with the Sanyo. This camcorder has a 1/3 inch, 3.31 gross MP CCD, an in-camcorder flash for stills, a 10x optical zoom, a well designed electronic color viewfinder, and a 2.7 inch LCD screen that produces immediately recognizable setting alterations. A 5.1 Dolby creator will provide users with an interesting proprietary alternate that, while limiting, may appeal to some users who don’t mind relying solely on Sony brand audio gear. While not nearly as odd in terms of overall hybrid menu structure as the Sanyo, this camcorder has an unfortunate touch screen interface that was a hassle to move through. Like all Sony consumer camcorders of recent years, the DVD405 comes with a simple, auto-centric Easy mode that is designed with simplicity in mind.

JVC Everio GZ-MC500
The JVC Everio GZ-MC500 has an interesting dual swiveling body design that includes a pop-up flash, hybrid capability, and 3 CCDs that measure 1/4.5 inches. It has similarly poor low light performance as the Sanyo HD1 and, though it produces sharp and saturated video, does not reach the Sanyo's level.  This camcorder doesn’t shoot HD video footage, but it does shoot in both 4:3 and 16:9 formats as well as still images. A wealth of manual control options include an external focal ring, shutter speed, exposure, white balance, and aperture. The menu and control structure of this camcorder is designed with simple interfaces when compared to the Sanyo; actually accessing and using these features shouldn’t be nearly as problematic.

In addition to possessing better menu structure, the GZ-MC500 shows preview image parameters, something all the camcorders in this comparison section possess and a huge detriment for the HD1. There is unfortunately no mic-in port on this camcorder, which is definitely a disappointment when compared to the Sanyo HD1, and the undersized 1.8 inch LCD screen does not have an alternate secondary viewing device. This camcorder records video and still images to MicroDrive, compact flash, and SD/MMC memory cards, and the camcorder comes with an internal 4 GB MicroDrive that is a definite improvement over the utter lack of any included memory with the Xacti HD1. This camera had an original MSRP of $1219 but can be currently found for around $1150 online.

Who It’s For
Point-and-Shooters *(4.0)*

The point and shoot user may be initially attracted to the portability, price, HD format, and small design of the Sanyo Xacti HD1. The problem is that this camcorder is hardly intuitive: its external control design, lack of live view, and convoluted menu structure is sure to overwhelm the beginner. Without an easy mode or other simple shooting structure, this camcorder is going to remain outside the reach of most point and shooters.

Budget Consumers* (3.0)*

For the budget consumer seeking a compact and highly portable HD camcorder, the Sanyo Xacti HD1 could certainly be a compelling option. The camcorder is retailing with an initial price of $799 and, while this is certainly less expensive than camcorders like the HC3 HD camcorder by Sony, it does unfortunately show compromised video quality, a poor interface structure, and other problems that aren’t present on more expensive and higher quality HD units in its consumer price range. If HD isn’t essential to your shooting practice, consider purchasing a quality 3 CCD MiniDV camcorder for less money.

Still Photo / Video Camera Hybrid* (9.0)*

The Sanyo Xacti HD1 definitely has the ability to engage in hybrid functionality and shoot both formats without having to manually switch modes. Other hybrid features include an in-camcorder pop-up flash unit and a burst mode.

Gadget Freaks* (6.0)*

For the gadget freak, this camcorder is a tempting purchase, due to its interesting design, petite build and ability to shoot HD footage for well under $1000. Sometimes a lower price means compromised functionality, however, and for the true gadget freak who is as concerned with quality as with the latest innovations, the HD1’s shortcomings in video quality and control layout/structure could be deal breakers.

Manual Control Freaks* (4.5)*

The Sanyo HD1 does provide a wealth of controls that include a well designed manual focus, ISO settings, and exposure compensation. The problem with these controls is twofold: accessing them is problematic due to the poor menu structure and design of essential external controls like the joystick, and adjustments made to manual settings and image parameters will not be viewable prior to recording. Users will have to either guesstimate or test-shoot prior to recording. Either option leaves much to be desired for the manual controller used to live-view and simple logical interfaces.

Pros/ Serious Hobbyists* (3.0)*

With its small design, poor control layout, struggling video, and other pitfalls, the Sanyo HD1 is not a viable alternative for pros or serious hobbyists.

Conclusion

We can definitively say that Sanyo’s Xacti VPC-HD1 is a high definition camcorder in name only. Does it meet the technical requirements? Of course: It captures at 720p. But does it meet expectations? Does it surpass what you’ve seen in standard definition camcorders, even by a little bit? No, it does not. In fact, many standard definition camcorders, like the Canon Optura 600, Panasonic PV-GS300, and GS500, produce far better images, both in sharpness and color performance. The HD1 did not come close to matching the performance of Sony’s consumer-oriented HD cam, the HDR-HC1, nor do we expect it to match the forthcoming HDR-HC3. While we wish that you could get a good HD camcorder for $700, the reality is that the technology isn't there. The VPC-HD1 is a gimmick camcorder.

Then how is Sanyo doing this? Did they make some amazing technological development, beating the R&D departments of Sony, Canon and Panasonic, which have collectively been responsible for every development in camcorders over the past, oh, three decades? No. We believe they are using a still camera chip instead of a video camera chip. Though both are CCDs, there are complex technical differences between the way a still image is recorded and a video image is recorded. That's why we generally see such bad still images out of camcorders and bad video performance out of still cameras. By using a still chip, Sanyo can inexpensively get 'HD' resolution video, though it lacks the color definition or dynamic range of even the worst entry level camcorders. The fact is that most consumer still cameras use 1/2.5 in. chips and there are tons of manufacturers making them cheaply. All signs point to the VPC-HD1 having a still camera chip, the same tactic used by 'toy' MPEG4 camcorder manufacturers, whose products retail for $200 and are essentially throwaway gimmicks.  

Though Sanyo says they chose the MPEG4 format over the MPEG2 (found in DVD camcorders and most flash media and hard disk drive cams) in the hopes of improving image quality, the 9Mbps bit rate is clearly too limiting, as is the codec. Right now, there are no satisfactory chips that create good MPEG4 video on the fly. Compare the 9 Mbs data rate to tape-based HD camcorders like the HDR-HC1, which records at 25Mbps. That’s over twice the information per second making it onto the recording medium. Little wonder the Sanyo was no match.

The lack of a live view on the LCD is almost too absurd to address. The ability to see changes instantly in exposure and color tone is a basic feature on all camcorders down to the cheapest of the cheap. Its absence would make handling the HD1 more of a joke than anything else, if the joke didn't cost you $800.

Arguing the economical slant for the VPC-HD1’s purchase is also shaky ground. Sony recently lowered the price of the HDR-HC3 to under $1500. While that’s still nearly twice the price of the Sanyo, the image quality, handling, and durability is more than twice as good. In its defense, the Sanyo takes excellent still pictures--but no better than those from a decent point and shoot that runs under $400. 

Our sorry and cynical conclusion is that Sanyo is cashing in on the ignorance of uninformed consumers. Comparing this to other HD camcorders on the market is like slapping a Jaguar ornament on the hood of a Pacer and pushing it onto the showroom floor. No HD camcorder should offer this low level of video quality. This camcorder does not deserve to be called HD. Don’t get fooled.

Specs/Ratings

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Meet the tester

David Kender

David Kender

Editor in Chief

@davekender

David Kender oversees content at Reviewed as the Editor in Chief. He served as managing editor and editor in chief of Reviewed's ancestor, CamcorderInfo.com, helping to grow the company from a tiny staff to one of the most influential online review resources. In his time at Reviewed, David has helped to launch over 100 product categories and written too many articles to count.

See all of David Kender's reviews

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