Sanyo Xacti VPC-HD2 First Impressions Camcorder Review

by John Neely
Published on Jan 17, 2007 2:00 PM

 
Intro Performance
Format Tour
Auto / Manual Controls
 Still Features
Handling and Use Audio / Playback / Connectivity
Other Features Comparisons / Conclusion
Specs/Ratings
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Picture & Manual Control 

Automatic Control
The VPC-HD2 does not feature a clearly labeled “auto” mode, but "P" mode engages automatic control of aperture, shutter speed, and ISO, or gain.  This lack of a simple auto mode may present difficulties for novice shooters because there are a plethora of automatic presets – a good thing, but only if you have the wherewithal to decipher them.

Focus can be set for Super macro for close-ups, 5-Point finder or evaluative mode, or Spot Focus, that uses a small target at the center of the screen to adjust focus. Automatic exposure also provides a number of different settings, including multi-section light measuring, Center-weighted, and Spot metering. Scene modes, often called AE  (auto exposure) modes run the gamut from Sports and Portrait to Landscape, NightView, Fireworks, and Lamp (referring to the video lamp). White balance can be set to automatic, selected from a list of preset options (sun, overcast, fluorescent, and incandescent), or adjusted manually.

The HD2 also includes a selection of filters, including Cosmetic (intended to smooth out “skin tones”), Monochrome filter (i.e. black-and-white), and Sepia.  A set of four Image Quality options includes Normal, Vivid (heightens color saturation) Soft (decreases sharpness), and Soft Vivid (heightens color saturation and decreases sharpness).

Overall Manual Control (0.0)
The main camera control menu is divided into two sub-menus: Settings and Options.  Pressing the Menu button displays the Settings screen, which is further subdivided into Basic Settings and Advanced Settings. Options for altering video and still picture quality are found under Basic Settings, as are the Scene modes, filters, still photo timer. Manual Exposure settings, including auto, aperture priority, shutter priority, and manual mode are also found in the Basic Settings section.  Advanced Settings encompasses image stabilization, focus and auto focus, auto exposure, white balance, and ISO, that functions like the gain function found on many other camcorders.  The small joystick on the camcorder’s rear is used to navigate through menu options and make selections.

In recording mode, the joystick serves several other functions. Pushing up locks exposure, and pushing right provides access to an exposure compensation scale with options ranging from -1.8 to +1.8. Down toggles through automatic, manual, and Super Macro focus options. Pressing left engages manual exposure adjustment options.

In short, manual controls are difficult to decipher and navigate. Sanyo employs unconventional icons and settings, that - while great in poems and music - are just plain confusing in the world of camcorders.

Zoom
The zoom slider is located at the center of the circular panel on the back of the HD2.  The slider is, like the other external controls, miniaturized, and thus difficult to operate with finesse.  While it is certainly a functional control, you’ll be hard pressed to achieve smooth zooms.  The optical zoom power is 10 x, and due to the aspherical lens design, the camcorder retains a f-stop of 3.5 throughout the zoom range.  A numerical scale appears on-screen during manual focus, and it is a handy aide for performing precision moves.

Focus
Manual is controlled with the joystick and engaged in recording modes by pressing down. When manual focus is engaged, a horizontal scale, with a flower (close-up) at left and a mountain (wide) at the right appears onscreen. A numerical display of focal distance ranging from 1 cm to 40m-infinity also appears during manual focus.

Exposure (Aperture)
Setting the camcorder to M places the VPC-HD2 in full manual mode, while A enters aperture priority mode.  In both M and A modes, exposure can be adjusted manually. The aperture range options are f/3.6, f/4.1, f/4.8, f/5.7, and f/6.9, a relatively small range that likely stems from the camcorder’s diminutive lens mechanism.
 
In M mode, aperture and shutter speed can be adjusted independently, while aperture priority mode restricts you to manual aperture control when the camcorder automatically adjusts shutter speed. Exposure correction allows you make small incremental adjustments in a range from -1.8 to +1.8.

Shutter Speed
The shutter speed on the Sanyo Xacti ranges from 1/30 to 1/10,000 in video mode, 1/2 to 1/2000 in still mode, and expands to as much as 4 seconds in Lamp mode.
 
White Balance
Selecting White Balance from the Shooting Screen Menu sets white balance.  Rather than a standard white balance icon, Sanyo signifies white balance with an eyedropper, that will strike experienced shooters as an odd choice.  The joystick is depressed to set white balance after the eyedropper has been selected.  In addition to manual white balance, the HD2 offer presets for sun, overcast, fluorescent, and incandescent lighting.

Gain
Rather than signifying gain steps as dB levels, Sanyo uses ISO ratings to signify gain.  The use of ISO versus dB is an unusual choice given that dB is the measure seen in most consumer camcorders, but it may speak to the fact that Sanyo markets the VPC-HD2 as a hybrid video/still camcorder. The ISO options available include 50, 100, 200, 400, 800, and 1600, with higher readings indicating greater signal boost, and a corresponding increase in noise.

Other Manual Control
The Xacti VPC-HD2 offers no additional manual controls.







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