Sanyo Updates Flash Camcorder with 4 Megapixel Sensor VPC-C4

Today at the Consumer Electronics Show 2005 in Las Vegas, Sanyo announced a new flash media camcorder, updating last year's FVD-C1. The new VPC-C4 features a 4-megapixel CCD - by far the largest pixel count to be included in a camcorder ever. The new camcorder looks almost identical to the model which it is replacing. The camcorder records full-motion, full-frame MPEG-4 video to Secure Digital media.

Last year's FVD-C1 was introduced under the Fisher brand name in the United States, however, Sanyo is claiming the camcorder this time. Fisher and Sanyo have the same parent company, however they are separate brand names in the U.S. The VPC-C4 is Sanyo's first camcorder to be introduced in the U.S.

The VPC-C4 adds to a growing number of digital media cameras which skip tapes or DVDs to record directly to hard drives, flash media, and digital media. In September, JVC introduced what could be considered the first serious entry into this category with the debut of their Everio series of camcorders. The digital media cameras converge still functionality, video functionality, and often audio recording into one small package.

The VPC-C4 features a 1.8-inch LCD screen and a 1/2.7-inch 4.23-megapixel CCD. The VPC-C4 includes a 5.8x optical zoom and has digital image stabilization technology. The camcorder allows for simultaneous recording of digital stills while you are shooting video. The camcorder includes a USB 2.0 jack for transferring the video and stills from the camcorder to a computer. The camcorder is also quite small; it measures just 2.7 inches wide, 1.3 iches deep and 4.3 inches tall. The VPC-C4 weighs only 5.6 oz.

Sanyo markets the camcorder as an 8-megapixel model because it uses interpolation technology to convert images from the 4-megapixel sensor into 8-megapixel pictures. It's unknown what negative effects the interpolation has on picture quality. In our review last year, we found very unsatisfactory video both in normal lighting conditions as well as in low light conditions from the FVD-C1.

The Sanyo did not release pricing or availability information for the new camcorder; its predecessor, the FVD-C1, retailed for just under $1,000.