Best Sanyo Camcorder

The Sanyo Xacti VPC-PD2BK is a budget-friendly, pocket-sized handheld HD camcorder designed for taking high-quality stills and recording high-quality films. It features a 37-mm wide-angle lens with a 3X optical zoom.

The Sanyo Xacti VPC-PD2 is the first pocket camcorder we've seen with an optical zoom lens, offering 1080p video capture, 10-megapixel still shooting, and stereo audio.

The Xacti VPC-PD2BK is a fine pocket camcorder. At $170, it's one of the more affordable camcorders on the market, and it records video and audio better than some pocket camcorders that are drastically more expensive.

- Cons: Skips a little on full HD mode @60 fields/sec.
- One note, though: I found that the HS (high sensitivity mode) doesn't work very well.
- The video is crisp, clear, and lifelike, even in super low light conditions and the photos are an added bonus, even if they are only 4MP.
- Anyway, I got some pretty good shots of a mockingbird in my back yard.

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Although it may look like an ordinary camcorder, the Sanyo Xacti VPC-SH1 is a powerful device that records video and takes photographs. Along with being able to record full HD video, the camcorder can also take 10 megapixel photos.

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- In dim or low light, we found it produced a little more noise that what we had expected, but it isn't a deal breaker for the average shooting situation.
- The new cameras support the new SDXC memory cards for many hours of potential recording, and Mini HDMI output to instantly show off the 1920x1080 HD video in its full clarity.
- The light weight of the camcorder is nice when toting it around all day.

The 'dual camera' Sanyo Xacti VPC-CG100 has its fair share of flaws, but it's not a bad compromise for people who don't want to carry two separate devices around. Don't expect to get broadcast-quality video though.

- The VPC-FH1's MPEG-4 files play nicely with QuickTime Player and can be easily imported into iMovie '09 and Final Cut Express.
- Video shot under typical interior lighting conditions earned a score of Good, falling short of the dynamic range and color accuracy found in footage from the best HD camcorders.

- Image stabilizer is just average..

- The specification list of the Sanyo Xacti VPC-FH1 is sound, with 1080p video on offer and the ability to view your footage immediately by hooking up the camcorder to a HD-TV via its HDMI port (you'll need to supply the cable though).

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The thin, compact design of the Sanyo VPC-CS1 definitely gives the camcorder a unique look, and its impressive specs make it all the more intriguing. Once you take a good look beyond its hot pink paint job, however, you'll find the CS1 to be a very disappointing camcorder.

With a design and shape that's fairly unique to the type of product, the Sanyo Xacti VPC-CS1 is a camcorder that has a few more features than other competitive models. Along with being able to record full HD video 1080p, the camcorder can also take 8 megapixel photos.

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- Decent specs, poor usability
The camcorder's performance is disappointing because the specs look reasonable.
- It's unfortunate that the pocket-sized Sanyo Xacti VPC-CS1 makes producing even mediocre images so difficult.
- The VPC-CS1 produces mediocre images and is difficult to use.
- The 2.7-inch flip-out LCD screen looks decent.