Sanyo Xacti VPC-HD2 Camcorder Reviewby John NeelyPublished on May 10, 2007 12:00 PM
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Audio (6.5)
The HD2 (Review, Specs, Recent News, $585.36) records MPEG-4 (AAC compression) audio at a 48kHz sampling rate in 16-bit stereo format. The sound quality is, well…not great. It’s the equivalent to most digital cameras that record video—tinny, fuzzy, and devoid of proper low and mid tones. The good news is that the HD2, being a flash camcorder, does not have any moving parts (in contrast to a tape or DVD-based model) to pollute the audio. The zoom is silent as well. The HD2 has a wind reduction feature that proves itself highly useless. We recorded two video clips (one with the wind reduction on and one with it off) in which air was blown directly onto the built-in stereo microphone. When played back as stock MPEG4 clips in Quicktime, both clips produced identical muffling and chaotic sound bursts brought on by the air—there was no discernible difference between having the wind reduction setting on or off.
One of our other audio qualms resided within the design department. The HD2’s built-in stereo microphone is positioned on the outside of the LCD screen. This is bogus for a couple reasons. Those who are fond of two-handed shooting will wonder why the best man’s speech is distorted and muffled: because the shooter’s fingers kept shifting on the LCD screen. Another problem is that the LCD screen must be angled toward the desired audio source at all times, making overhead or low-angle shooting a problem.
On the bright side, the HD2 includes a mic input terminal (2.5mm stereo mini jack), and can be converted to 3.5mm stereo mini jack by the supplied mic connection cable. The HD2 is compatible with a plug-in power type mic with a sensitivity of less than -42 dB. There is also a level controls option for the external mix, though it’s buried in the Options menu.
The HD2 can also record strictly audio “memos” continuously up to 13 hours by selecting the audio memo icon, and activated by the video record start/stop button.
During playback, the zoom toggle controls the volume, which in our experience, makes life a bit easier.
Playback (5.75)
Playback on the HD2 is a bit of a free for all. Video and photos are mashed together, and the HD2 provides a gamut of options for reliving your cherished memories. While browsing through hundreds of recorded backyard barbeque photos and Mardi Gras video clips, you can press the menu button, which brings up the classic rotating vertical menu interface, only this time it dons the color scheme of the Cleveland Browns. Selecting the Multi option cues a window displaying up to nine thumbnails at a time. The thumbnails are accessed by scrolling via the joystick and pressing the center to select a clip or still image, and can continue for as many pages as there are recorded media.
During playback you can rotate images, resize, extract a still from a video clip, specify DPOF printing instructions, opt for smooth playback (smoothes out live motion), delete, lock, and edit video clips. The edit function allows you to cut video clips and join them with others, which is not bad for on-the-fly production on a highly miniscule level. You can also set the playback mode to one clip/image at a time or all at once (one after the other) by selecting slideshow. Playback volume can be adjusted through the menu using the joystick, or it can be adjusted by the zoom toggle while viewing a video. We recommend using the zoom toggle. The least amount of joystick exposure, the better.
Connectivity (6.0)
Sanyo really baffled us here. The only way to describe their peculiar connectivity issues is by giving you a tour.
VPC-HD2
On the VPC-HD2 itself, you’ll find a mic jack located on the top of the right side (housed by a sturdy round plastic cover), the SD card slot in back (enclosed by a rugged hinged plastic door), and the bare docking station terminal on the bottom. That’s it. No A/V, USB, power, or component terminals anywhere. It’s okay, don’t freak out yet—Sanyo has the answer…well, an answer…
Cable Adapter
Okay, so this isn’t as much of an answer as it is more of a tease—a clunky, inconvenient tease. We’re talking about the supplied cable adapter that connects to the docking station terminal on the bottom of the HD2. The adapter measures about 1”x1”, and includes a power jack and USB/A/V terminal. Now we’re getting closer. The downside to the cable adapter is that it will be the first thing you’ll lose—we almost lost it 10 minutes after opening the HD2’s box. Oh, and you can’t use the cable adapter in conjunction with a tripod, which makes life so much easier, doesn’t it?
Docking Station
Here’s where it’s at—HDMI, component, USB/AV terminals, and the DC input. Then again, you have to use the docking station to reach even the most basic ports. We understand Sanyo was saving space on the HD2, but come on, at least give us a built in DC input.
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