Sanyo Xacti VPC-HD2 First Impressions Camcorder Review

The Sanyo VPC-HD2, follow-up to last year’s VPC-HD1 (Review, Specs, $499.99), is one of the more interesting camcorders released at CES 2007.  The Sanyo is unique on the consumer market for a number of reasons, most notably that it’s the smallest and cheapest HD-capable camcorder on the consumer market, recording 720p 30fps video, and retailing for an MSRP of $699.  This makes the VPC-HD2 much smaller than even Canon’s HV10 (Review, Specs, Recent News, $814) HDV camcorder, at a cost several hundred dollars less than other entry-level HD cams from the likes of Sony, Canon, and Panasonic.  We found the debut edition of this camcorder to excel in still mode, with exceptionally sharp and good-looking photos.  In video mode, the VPC-HD1 took at absolute nosedive, with resolution only slightly sharper than the best standard-definition camcorders, significant noise and oversharpening issues, and a limited dynamic range.  Sanyo reports that this year’s update features a number of improvements, including a larger sensor, and better low-light sensitivity at $100 less than last year’s camcorder.  No doubt the VPC-HD2 is a unique and intriguing product, but video performance will need to see some big improvements for us to give it an enthusiastic thumbs up.