SANYO Introduces Improved VPC-HD2!

[Specialist]

http://tinyurl.com/ybhjqa

January 8, 2007 – Tailing the end of a huge string of camcorder announcements here at CES, Sanyo announced this morning that they will replace the Xacti VPC-HD1a with an improved version, the VPC-HD2 ($699 MSRP). The company promised that some of the past complaints have been addressed, including low light performance. The Xacti, which Sanyo still hails as the smallest and lightest HD camcorder, features a higher resolution image capable of 7.1MP stills, a faster start-up time, and a 10x optical zoom.

At a press event last night, John Lamb, Senior Marketing Manager for Sanyo Fisher Company’s Audio Video Division, stated the VPC-HD1 and its mid-year successor, the VPC-HD1a, had both found markets with people looking for high portability that met HD specifications.

The VPC-HD1 did not fare well in CamcorderInfo.com’s performance testing, though some of those problems may have found some remedy in the VPC-HD1. The imager has been increased to a gross pixel count of 7.38MP, which Sanyo claims to have improved low light performance up to 75%. This likely factors in a new “High Sensitivity” button on the exterior of the body which functions as an auto gain boost, so while quality may not be excellent in low light, the information is still readable.

Users of this camcorder report that APPLE's Final Cut Pro edits the MPEG-4 files natively!

Jerry Jones
http://www.jonesgroup.net

[Specialist]

These SANYOs must be selling fairly well.

Companies are making accessories for them.

Custom underwater housing:

http://tinyurl.com/y5r98m

Custom video light:

http://tinyurl.com/y4mzvo

Jerry Jones
http://www.jonesgroup.net

[BJ_M]

i like how they say " some of the past complaints have been addressed" - but yes , looks like it may be selling really well ...

[Specialist]

Wow, that was quick!

SANYO's Web site now features the HD2:

http://tinyurl.com/y7f6e9

> True 720p High-Definition Video
> 10x Optical Zoom Lens
> 7 Megapixel Digital Still Images
> 2.2 Inch LCD
> Superfast 9 Mbps transfer rate
> Sleek Ergonomic Design
> In camera editing
> Built-In Image Stabilizer Function for
videos

Jerry Jones
http://www.jonesgroup.net

[FulciLives]

Am I reading this correctly?

A 720p digital camcorder for all of MSRP of $700 US Dollars?

If so that is rather impressive!

However I would be more happy with a 1080p digital camcorder ... for a "cheap" price.

Still though that is an impressive price point for 720p HDTV.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[Specialist]

Yes, the price point has allowed a lot of people to buy a camcorder that -- technically -- meets high definition specifications.

However, many reviews of the original model -- the old HD1 model released last year -- reported disappointing low-light results.

This new HD2, however, features an improved imager.

Sanyo is claiming low-light improvement by up to 75%.

If so, I might pick one of these up for fun.

The HD1 even featured an external microphone input jack.

The HD2 -- I think -- still has that jack.

If so, this would be an affordable way to record some family history interviews in 720p.

Jerry Jones
http://www.jonesgroup.net

[Specialist]

FIRST IMPRESSIONS review by CamcorderInfo.Com:

http://tinyurl.com/2n9lwp

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. 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 a whopping 7.21 MP.

Jerry Jones
http://www.jonesgroup.net

[MJA]

what kind of media does it use ? flash,hardrive ?

[RLT69]

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.

http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/Sanyo-Xacti-VPC-HD2-First-Impressions-Camcorder-Review.htm

[InXess]

Strange, the camera body should be actually slanted the other way for a natural grip... so how do you hold it?

[Specialist]

Looks like it can be pre-ordered already... on Amazon:

http://tinyurl.com/3c4rbn

Jerry Jones
http://www.jonesgroup.net