Performance

Video performance is always difficult to assess in the context of a trade show display booth given the oddly mixed lighting coming from all directions.  Factor in the Sanyo VPC-HD2’s relatively tiny 2.2" LCD screen – and the fact that the models on display were not production models – and we can only make educated guesses about how the camcorder will perform based on the HD2's specs and our review of last year's HD1. 

The VPC-HD1 from 2006 was a disappointment in video mode, but we expect the VPC-HD2 to perform better overall, based on the upgrades Sanyo has made since 2006.  Whether the performance increase will make the HD2 a respectable HD camcorder remains an open question pending our full review of the finished product. To put it simply: You get what you pay for. High defintion camcorders of good quality, even passing quality, are starting at around $1000 this year. The VPC-HD1 was a suspiciously good deal because the quality was not the same or even close. Producing video that meets the HD specs to the letter does not necessarily mean that it meets the spirit of HD. Blown up on a big HDTV, you'll soon see where that money saved went.

Hopefully, some of that has changed. What we do know is that the CCD size remains 1/2.5" but that the gross pixel count has increased considerably from 5.36 MP to 7.21 MP.  In terms of raw pixel count, this sensor has the most of any consumer camcorder we are aware of, but last year's tests of the HD1 showed that gross pixel count does not necessarily produce a great video image.

The HD2 records high-definition (HD) video at the 30 fps 720p standard, producing frames measuring 1280 x 720 pixels at a maximum data rate of 9 Megabits per second (Mbps). The camcorder also records standard-definition video at 640 x 480 at a maximum bit rate of 3Mbps, and in a lower resolution 320 x 240 web mode.  Full details on all video quality settings can be read in the compression section below.

At 3000 lux, we found the images produced by the VPC-HD1 to be oversaturated and intense.  While many consumers like intensely colored video images, and manufacturers like Sony tend to give their colors a modest boost, the Sanyo’s video was too saturated.  While the images produced were indeed sharper than those seen in standard-definition camcorders, they also appeared to suffer from significant in-camera sharpening.  In-camera sharpening is an electronic process that heightens contrast along object borders in the frame, making the image appear sharper than it actually is. 

As with saturation boost, in-camera sharpening is used by many manufacturers to cater to the demands of the market.  We think Sanyo sharpened the picture on last year's camcorder too much, to the detriment of fine detail.  The most finely detailed parts of the resolution chart tended to break up in the VPC-HD1’s images and suffered from chunky noise.  We suspect this noise was both a byproduct of image sharpening and of a relatively low bit rate.  Maxing out at 9Mbps, the VPC-HD2 squeezes its 720p video down to the same size as the standard-definition 480i MPEG-2 video seen in the majority of consumer DVD camcorders.  That means the Sanyo employs more aggressive compression thus resulting in a noisier image.

As one would expect from a HD camcorder, the VPC-HD1 did score higher in terms of resolution than standard-definition models like the Sony DCR-DVD405 – but not significantly higher.  The resolution gap between the Sanyo and the 1080i Sony HDR-HC3 was twice as great as the one between the Sanyo and standard-definition models.  This is not surprising given that it adheres to the lower-end 720p HD specification, but it was still an underperformance considering that 720p video has rivaled or even surpassed 1080i video in resolution tests.

 

We believe this year’s model will indeed improve upon the performance of its predecessor, based on its larger CCD and Sanyo's reports.  The increase in size may allow Sanyo to throttle back on the in-camera sharpening that muddied the HD1’s video image, and we hope color saturation is treated more subtly as well.  Without these improvements, the larger chip will deliver a slightly sharper version of an image we found sub-par.

Low Light Performance

Large sensors sometimes translate into larger pixels, and larger pixels have a greater light gathering ability than small pixels.  In the case of the VPC-HD1 tested in 2006, the extremely high pixel count (meaning small, tightly packed pixels) seemed to impact low light performance significantly, and the camcorder struggled at both 60 lux and 15 lux.  At 60 lux, the image displayed more noise with the same oversaturated colors we observed at 3000 lux.  At 15 lux, the oversaturation gave way to big blotches of noise that most shooters will not find acceptable.  It is worth noting that the new VPC-HD2 includes an ISO setting feature that works like the gain settings seen on other camcorders.  In last year’s tests, increasing the ISO to 800 or 1600 did produce a brighter image, but noise became much worse.  When we do test the HD2, we’ll be eyeing the camcorder’s performance in low light very closely and will write up a full report on if and how the new sensor makes a difference.

Format

Compression

Sanyo uses MPEG-4 compression method for both high-definition and standard-definition video recording.  The MPEG-4 compression algorithm is not the same as AVCHD, a high-definition flavor of MPEG-4 compression that is currently available on consumer camcorders from Sony (i.e. the HDR-SR1) and Panasonic (HDC-DX1). While we found AVCHD footage to display the noise associated with high levels of compression, it does seem to produce notably better video than we observed in the VPC-HD1.  The Sony HDR-SR1 and HDR-UX1, two AVCHD camcorders we tested in late 2006 both produced video that was better in terms of color reproduction and video resolution, with less acute (though still disappointing) noise issues.  Compression is another factor that will have a big impact on the video performance of this camcorder, and we hope Sanyo’s engineers have made some improvements.

Like other camcorders, the VPC-HD2 offers a number of video quality settings that affect bit rate and video recording time. In HD, the highest quality option is HD-SHQ that records 1280 x 720 video at 30fps and a bit rate of 9 Mbps. HD-HQ records at the same resolution and frame rate at a lower bit rate, thus lower quality 6 Mbps.  In standard-definition, there are four quality modes, though a fifth has been mentioned provisionally. TV-SHQ records at 640 x 480, 30fps at 3Mbps and TV-HQ records at 640 x 480, 30fps at 2Mbps. The VPC-HD2 also includes two web-friendly modes: Web-SHQ at 320 x 240, 30Mbps, and Web-HQ at 320 x 240, 15fps.

Media

The Sanyo VPC-HD2 records both video and still images to SD or SDHC memory cards.  SD and SDHC cards are widely available at capacities from 512KP to a theoretical max of 32GB.  8GB SDHC cards are new widely available for less than $100 each.  According to Sanyo, a 1GB card will store 14 minutes of HD-SHQ video and 21 minutes of HD-HQ.

Editing

Last year’s VPC-HD1 shipped with a relatively complete suite of video editing and DVD authoring software in the form of Sanyo’s Software Pack 7.3.  The included applications were Motion Director SE 1.1, Ulead PhotoExplorer for Mac 2.0, Ulead DVD MovieFactory 4.0 SE, and Ulead PhotoExplorer 8.5 SE Basic.  Sanyo has not yet announced the components in this year’s bundle, but they will most likely cover the same ground and may be updates of last year’s applications.

Tour

The Front

The VPC-HD2 is an upright camcorder, taller than it is wide, and when viewed from the front, the 10x optical zoom sits atop a body that tapers towards its base.  The focal length of the lens is unchanged from the HD1, at f=6.3-63mm (35mm equivalent of 38 to 380 mm), and an aperture range of F3.5 throughout its zoom range, thanks to an aspherical lens design. Below the lens is an IR (infra red) remote control sensor and a LED power indicator lamp is to the right of the IR sensor.  A metal wrist strap eyelet connects at the lower front edge of the camcorder.

The Right Side

The enclosed Lithium Ion battery clicks into a slot on the right side of the VPC-HD2 protected by a hard plastic cover. The cover is opened by a switch at its upper right corner and seems to be sturdy enough to stand up to extended use. The battery itself is worth mentioning – it's smaller than any other enclosed camcorder battery we’ve come across, and it looks like the tiny batteries found in digital still cameras.  Above the battery cover switch is a small speaker for monitoring audio during playback.  On the top edge of the camcorder directly above the speaker is the flash release button.  At the back edge of the top is a small port cover that conceals a microphone jack – one of the features that add to the HD2’s appeal.

The Back

The cover of the SD/SDHC card slot is vertically aligned, near the base of the camcorder.  Its cover is made of the same hard plastic material as the rest of the body, and it can be opened with a fingernail by pulling on a small tab on its left side. The Rec/Play switch is above the card slot, and moved the VPC-HD2 between off, video and still modes. Above that switch is a cluster of controls that serves as the main interface of the camcorder.

The tiny silver Menu button provides access to the camcorder’s extensive list of settings and is above and to the left of the Rec/Play switch. A joystick serves as the menu navigation control and sits to the left of the menu button. Many camcorder manufacturers have adopted joysticks, including JVC, Canon, and Panasonic – the company that has implemented the control most successfully.  This Sanyo joystick is small, to be sure. Last year, we found the joystick prone to incorrectly interpret movements, creating a lot of frustration when it made selections you didn't want. This year's joystick, at least the one on the floor model, seemed better. In menu modes, the joystick enables a user to move through options and make selections.  In camcorder mode, it controls AF lock, exposure compensation levels, focus options, and engages manual control access.

Three key controls sit above the joystick and menu buttons in a circular interface. On the left is a still photo button, and to the right is the video start/stop button. The zoom slider sits between these two capture control buttons. In playback mode, the zoom slider controls playback zoom. A small mode indicator LED is positioned at the top edge of the camcorder’s back.

The Left Side

Last year’s VPC-HD1 featured a 2.2 inch OLED (organic light emitting diode) display, and it was replaced this year by an identically-sized LCD screen. (Sanyo and Kodak ended a manufacturing partnership for the OLEDs.) Last year’s display had a resolution of 150,000 pixels, and this year's has the same.  The LCD folds flat against the body of the VPC-HD2 with the screen facing in for storage or out for viewing, and the top-mounted hinge allows rotation through 285 degrees. The camcorder's stereo microphone is mounted on the outside surface of the LCD screen – an unconventional location that is sure to pickup handling noise if the screen is manipulated during a shoot.

Three buttons are hidden in the LCD cavity, accessible only when the screen is pulled open.  At top left is the master on/off button, and the high-definition/standard-definition recording mode button is to the right.  The still photo burst mode/single shot select button is below the video mode button, on the right side of the cavity. **

The Top**

The pop-up flash is the only major feature on top of the Xacti VPC-HD2. Its housing extends slightly upward from the camcorder’s body, and the flash release button is on its front-right edge.

Auto / Manual Controls

Picture & Manual Control 

*Automatic Control
*The VPC-HD2 does not feature a clearly labeled "auto" mode, but 'P' mode engages automatic control of aperture, shutter speed, and ISO, or gain.  This lack of a simple auto mode may present difficulties for novice shooters because there are a plethora of automatic presets – a good thing, but only if you have the wherewithal to decipher them.

Focus can be set for Super macro for close-ups, 5-Point finder or evaluative mode, or Spot Focus, that uses a small target at the center of the screen to adjust focus. Automatic exposure also provides a number of different settings, including multi-section light measuring, Center-weighted, and Spot metering. Scene modes, often called AE  (auto exposure) modes run the gamut from Sports and Portrait to Landscape, NightView, Fireworks, and Lamp (referring to the video lamp). White balance can be set to automatic, selected from a list of preset options (sun, overcast, fluorescent, and incandescent), or adjusted manually.

The HD2 also includes a selection of filters, including Cosmetic (intended to smooth out "skin tones"), Monochrome filter (i.e. black-and-white), and Sepia.  A set of four Image Quality options includes Normal, Vivid (heightens color saturation) Soft (decreases sharpness), and Soft Vivid (heightens color saturation and decreases sharpness).

Overall Manual Control (0.0)

The main camera control menu is divided into two sub-menus: Settings and Options.  Pressing the Menu button displays the Settings screen, which is further subdivided into Basic Settings and Advanced Settings. Options for altering video and still picture quality are found under Basic Settings, as are the Scene modes, filters, still photo timer. Manual Exposure settings, including auto, aperture priority, shutter priority, and manual mode are also found in the Basic Settings section.  Advanced Settings encompasses image stabilization, focus and auto focus, auto exposure, white balance, and ISO, that functions like the gain function found on many other camcorders.  The small joystick on the camcorder’s rear is used to navigate through menu options and make selections.

In recording mode, the joystick serves several other functions. Pushing up locks exposure, and pushing right provides access to an exposure compensation scale with options ranging from -1.8 to +1.8. Down toggles through automatic, manual, and Super Macro focus options. Pressing left engages manual exposure adjustment options.

In short, manual controls are difficult to decipher and navigate. Sanyo employs unconventional icons and settings, that - while great in poems and music - are just plain confusing in the world of camcorders.

Zoom

The zoom slider is located at the center of the circular panel on the back of the HD2.  The slider is, like the other external controls, miniaturized, and thus difficult to operate with finesse.  While it is certainly a functional control, you’ll be hard pressed to achieve smooth zooms.  The optical zoom power is 10 x, and due to the aspherical lens design, the camcorder retains a f-stop of 3.5 throughout the zoom range.  A numerical scale appears on-screen during manual focus, and it is a handy aide for performing precision moves.

Focus

Manual is controlled with the joystick and engaged in recording modes by pressing down. When manual focus is engaged, a horizontal scale, with a flower (close-up) at left and a mountain (wide) at the right appears onscreen. A numerical display of focal distance ranging from 1 cm to 40m-infinity also appears during manual focus.

Exposure (Aperture)

Setting the camcorder to M places the VPC-HD2 in full manual mode, while A enters aperture priority mode.  In both M and A modes, exposure can be adjusted manually. The aperture range options are f/3.6, f/4.1, f/4.8, f/5.7, and f/6.9, a relatively small range that likely stems from the camcorder’s diminutive lens mechanism.

 

In M mode, aperture and shutter speed can be adjusted independently, while aperture priority mode restricts you to manual aperture control when the camcorder automatically adjusts shutter speed. Exposure correction allows you make small incremental adjustments in a range from -1.8 to +1.8.

Shutter Speed

The shutter speed on the Sanyo Xacti ranges from 1/30 to 1/10,000 in video mode, 1/2 to 1/2000 in still mode, and expands to as much as 4 seconds in Lamp mode.

 
White Balance

Selecting White Balance from the Shooting Screen Menu sets white balance.  Rather than a standard white balance icon, Sanyo signifies white balance with an eyedropper, that will strike experienced shooters as an odd choice.  The joystick is depressed to set white balance after the eyedropper has been selected.  In addition to manual white balance, the HD2 offer presets for sun, overcast, fluorescent, and incandescent lighting.

Gain

Rather than signifying gain steps as dB levels, Sanyo uses ISO ratings to signify gain.  The use of ISO versus dB is an unusual choice given that dB is the measure seen in most consumer camcorders, but it may speak to the fact that Sanyo markets the VPC-HD2 as a hybrid video/still camcorder. The ISO options available include 50, 100, 200, 400, 800, and 1600, with higher readings indicating greater signal boost, and a corresponding increase in noise.**

***Other Manual Control
The Xacti VPC-HD2 offers no additional manual controls.
*
**

Still Features

Still Features

If there is one area that the VPC-HD2 shines, it's still photo mode.  In fact, the impressive showing this "camcorder’s" predecessor put forth last year led us to suspect that it may in fact be essentially a still camera optimized for video.  The VPC-HD2 captures stills in the following resolutions to SD/SDHC memory cards:  3680 x 2760; 3072 x 2304 at low and standard compression; 1600 x 1200; 1280 x 720; and 640 x 480 in both still and "sequential" modes.  The 3072 x 2304 resolution is the only still resolution that includes two quality modes, with low compression yielding a better and less compressed image than standard compression.

Manual and automatic controls are available in video and still mode, including aperture, shutter speed, focus and focal options, exposure and metering, filters, scene modes, and image quality. Shutter speed benefits from some additional latitude in still mode, increasing from 1/30th for video to 4 seconds for stills in lamp mode.  The VPC-HD2 also offers ISO settings of 50, 100, 200, 400, 800, and (pending verification by Sanyo) 1600. ISO is analogous to gain in video.  Higher ISO ratings equate to greater light sensitivity, but also result in additional noise or "grain" in the image.  With all the above options available, the HD2 is an unusually versatile video/still hybrid, rivaling some inexpensive still-only cameras for options and picture quality.

In addition to the options above, the VPC-HD2 includes a pop-up flash on top of the body. The flash can be set to automatic, forced flash, off, or red-eye reduction mode. Pressing the flash release after the flash is open toggles between flash modes.  The VPC-HD2 also offers Sequential or burst mode, auto bracketing mode, simultaneous video and photo capture, and 2 second and 10 second timers.

Handling and Use

Ease of Use

The Sanyo VPC-HD2 is not as easy to use as a typical palm-sized camcorder.  It is simply too small – and includes too many options – to keep the interface idiot-proof.  Than again, that would be a tall order for a camcorder that is the smallest HD camcorder on the market. The menu layout takes some getting used to, though it’s no less opaque than Panasonic’s tricky-but-efficient icon-driven menus. Handling this diminutive device is difficult because the screen is relatively small, and all the controls have been miniaturized to fit an ultra-svelte profile.  Yet in considering ease of use, size can’t be underestimated:  this is truly the only pocket-sized consumer camcorder on the market, the Panasonic SDR-S150 and Canon HV 10 notwithstanding.  Nothing else on the "serious" camcorder market is smaller, and if that doesn’t make operating the VPC-HD2 easy, it certainly makes it easier to slip into a pocket or bag with nary a thought about bulk.

Handling

The VPC-HD2 is tiny, and that impacts handling more than anything else.  Upright camcorder bodies are not uncommon, but this Sanyo will feel much more natural in a relatively small hand.  Like other ultra-compacts, the HD2 is harder to keep steady than a model with greater heft, though even prosumer camcorders weighing 20 times as much can be difficult to keep steady.  The screen is smaller than most, at a mere 2.2 inches and that means much less surface area with which to assess the quality of your recording.  Other controls like the zoom toggle are very small and do not have as refined a feel as those on larger camcorder.  The menu is also somewhat confusing (as are many we encounter), though the number of options Sanyo offers on this camcorder will be appreciated by those who take the time to dig below the surface.

In the end, this camcorder is full of trade-offs.  It does not handle well compared to many (but not all) palm-sized camcorders.  A better question would be, how does this camcorder handle in comparison to other HD ultra-compacts?  That question is impossible to answer, as there are no other HD ultra-compacts.  Canon’s HV 10 is the only HD camcorder to come close in size, though it costs twice as much as the HD2 and is so fundamentally different (media, compression, 1080i…) that it will not appeal to the same market.  However, it too was plagued by handling problems, offset in part by a phenomenal video resolution score and solid bright light performance.

Menu

Maneuvering through the manual controls on the Sanyo VPC-HD2 is not a simple matter. The first mode of doing so involves the menu, that 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, that 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-HD2 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.

LCD and Viewfinder

The LCD screen on the VPC-HD2 features a resolution of 150,000 pixel and measures 2.2".  It’s a smaller than average screen size, but it seems appropriate for a camcorder so petite.  The HD2 has no viewfinder, in keeping with a trend towards omitting this feature on smaller consumer camcorders.

Audio / Playback / Connectivity

Audio

The Xacti VPC-HD2 has both an onboard mic and a microphone jack that broadens sound recording options considerably.  The onboard mic is located in an unusual spot – the back of the LCD panel, and it does seem to be the only place a mic would fit, with the top occupied by the flash and the front by the lens and grip area.  It’s a sensible solution because of the lack of external real estate on this cam, but it will be susceptible to picking up the sound of any LCD screen manipulation.  Any onboard mic picks up handling noise, but most people actively adjust their screens while shooting so this seems a particularly noisy – if inevitable – placement for the HD2’s mic.

Luckily, the mic jack gives you a vast array of third-party mic options.  You won’t be able to monitor your sound because there is no headphone jack (where would Sanyo find room?) Given this limitation, you should test your own mic with this camcorder to gain an understanding of its recording tolerances.

Playback

The Xacti HD2 includes a standard playback mode, controlled by the joystick, and also allows users to edit clips, rotate and resize stills, and display images in both thumbnail (multi-up) and single image displays. Clips can be viewed at normal speed, or scanned at 2x, 5x, and 10x. Playback zoom is engaged by using the zoom slider and allows the image onscreen to be enlarged from113% to 4050%.

Editing clips in-camcorder is a cumbersome process, but one that some users will appreciate.  The ability to cut out unwanted chunks in the field does help to address the relatively limited recording time afforded by SD and SDHC card media.

The playback menu includes additional options, including playback method, multi-up, playback volume, protect, erase, rotate and resize (stills only), extract still (for video), edit video, print setting, and smooth playback.

Connectivity

Due to the size of the camcorder, the VPC-HD2 has only three onboard ports.  On the top right side is the microphone jack; the SD/SDHC card slot is on the camcorder’s lower backside, protected by a plastic cover; and the docking station terminal is on the camcorder’s base.  We’re generally not fans of docking stations when they seem unnecessary because they require users to carry an additional piece of hardware in their camcorder kit.

In the case of a camcorder this tiny, a docking station makes sense because it offers additional real estate for terminals that don’t fit on the body and because the camcorder can't even stand up on it's own if the LCD is open.  Sanyo’s HD2 docking station includes the AC adapter port, USB 2.0 to S video/AV, USB and component ports, and a HDMI terminal.  The Xacti is inserted into the docking station in an upright position and therefore doubles as a convenient storage unit.

Other Features

**Other Features
***Image Stabilization (A-B) –* Sanyo calls its EIS (electronic image stabilization) feature Motion Compensation.  The A and B settings refer to video and still modes respectively and serve to minimize the jittering effects of handshake.  EIS systems are inherently inferior to OIS (optical image stabilization) systems because they reduce the resolution of the recorded image.  OIS systems do not affect image resolution because they rely on mechanical, rather than electronic processing.

*Flicker Reduction Mode *- The flicker reduction helps to offset the strobing effects of fluorescent light sources and may also assist in reducing the flicker often seen when CRT screens are present in a shot.

Wind Noise Reduction – Wind noise reduction is a common consumer camcorder feature and cuts out some of the low frequency sounds associated with wind drumming on the microphone screen.  This is an electronic feature that will impair sound quality if used when wind is not present, so it should always be turned off for normal recording environments.

Noise Reduction - Noise reduction refers to video noise and can only be engaged at frame rates of 1/4 of a second or less.

Smooth Playback - The smooth playback option can be used to "smooth" the look of fast-moving subjects during playback.

Non-Expandable Battery – The Sanyo VPC-HD2 features an enclosed non-expandable battery.  Open battery slots generally allow for the use of larger longer life batteries while enclosed slots have a fixed size.  This is a common design choice on an ultra-compact camcorder, but it does limit your recording time to the capabilities of the included battery.

Comparisons / Conclusion

Conclusion

The Sanyo Xacti VPC-HD2 is an unusual camcorder that doesn’t compare easily to anything else on the consumer market.  At an MSRP of $699, it is the cheapest HD-capable camcorder available.  It records a unique flavor of MPEG-4 video, at bit rates equivalent to the standard-definition MPEG-2 video seen on many DVD, HDD and flash camcorders.  It produces large and very good looking stills – and above all, it’s a truly pocket-sized camcorder that will fit in many women’s jeans pockets – an achievement that no other cam we’ve reviewed matches.  Unfortunately, if last year’s tests of the HD1 are an indicator of the HD2’s video performance, this will be a similarly compromised product.  Last year, we found the video performance and resolution to be disappointing.  Colors were too saturated, and in-camera sharpening resulted in muddy edges.  Resolution at the 720p SHQ setting was slightly better than the best standard-definition camcorders of 2006 but a far cry from every 1080i cam we reviewed.

With any highly specialized camcorder, compromise is inevitable.  The small body has forced Sanyo to miniaturize controls and the screen measures only 2.2" diagonally.  On the plus side, the HD2 does feature a mic input and a wide array of manual image control settings that function in both video and still modes.  Though expensive, SD/SDHC flash memory cards are convenient, expandable, and allow for in-camera editing and non-linear playback options. The VPC-HD2 is a tech toy more than a high-performing camcorder. Tech toys, of course, have a warm place in many consumer's hearts, but you wouldn't want all of your precious memories tied to them. The right tools for the right job - that's what you should keep in mind when shopping for a camcorder. Skaters uploading their tumbles and spills right to the web may find this appropriate, if not ideal. This is definitely a YouTube-friendly cam. More general users, beware.

Specs/Ratings

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