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High definition is a catchall term that refers to practically any video
standard with higher resolution than traditional formats like NTSC. And
when we talk about HDTV, there are really two different formats that
are both referred to as HD, but aren’t the same. One is 720p and the
other is 1080i—720p has a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels with
progressive scan encoding; 1080i is an interlaced format, with a higher
resolution of 1920 x 1080. When shopping for an HDTV-ready television,
you’ll be confronted with these designations, and it’s helpful to know
that the latter, 1080i, is the better way to go for the ultimate HDTV
experience.
The Sanyo Xacti VPC-HD1 is a 720p device. As a point of reference,
standard video resolution is 720 x 480, so this is a considerable step
up in resolution. The Xacti VPC-HD1 captures 30 frames per second in
the expansive 16 x 9 HD aspect ratio and encodes on the fly using
MPEG-4, which helps keep file sizes small and quality relatively high.
The camera uses SD media for storage, and you can record approximately
40 minutes of video on a 2 GB card.
As a video camera, even apart from the HD resolution, the Xacti VPC-HD1
gets high marks. It features a 10x optical zoom, and up to 100x digital
zoom beyond that, though quality is compromised whenever you use
digital zoom. Built-in image stabilization ensures that your
inadvertent movements don’t translate to shaky footage, keeping the
action nice and smooth. Digital stereo sound rounds out the camcorder
package.
You can capture 5-megapixel stills anytime, even simultaneously when
recording video. While limited compared to today’s quite sophisticated
enthusiast digital cameras, as a still camera you have a lot of
flexibility with manual focus capability, selectable apertures and
shutter speeds, and exposure compensation.
When it’s time to download your video, you’ll find that using a
tapeless, memory card-based approach like the Xacti VPC-HD1’s MPEG-4
encoding is really convenient. Drop the VPC-HD1 into the included dock,
which also serves as a charging station, and you’re ready to go.
Because video is already encoded as a digital file, you can simply drag
and drop video clips from the camera to your computer. Note that not
all video-editing software can handle MPEG encoding, however, so be
sure the software you choose can work with these files.
I’m not typically a big fan of converged, do-it-all devices. I like my
phone to be a phone, my camera to shoot photos and my camcorder to do
video. I have to admit, though, that this handy camera has softened my
position. It’s hard to argue against a pocket-sized device that can
record 5-megapixel still images and video in high definition, all for
under $1,000.
Contact: Sanyo, (800) 421-5013, www.sanyodigital.com.
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