Sanyo Xacti VPC-HD2 - Expert Reviews

Review summary: Hybrid camera and HD camcorder that aims to multi-task, but does it deliver?

Pros: Good design, Comprehensive manual, Size, Price

Cons: Image quality for both photo and video

Verdict: The VPC-HD2 improves on Sanyo's preceding models and at an improved price, but its poor image quality still affirms its status as a Jack-of-all-trades and master of none.

Review summary: The HD2 is obviously designed for the YouTube moviemaker

Pros: Light, portable, Easy to use, Cheapest HD cam on the market, 7.1 megapixel digital stills

Cons: Difficult to differentiate between SD and HD pictures, Poor positioning of microphone

Verdict: Connection to an HD Ready plasma or LCD screen comes in the form of component video or HDMI. Cleverly, the HD2 doesn't have the sockets on its chassis, instead it plugs into a base station, which houses the socketry in order to minimise the cam's size

Review summary: When compared to the other HDV camcorders we've looked at in the past few months, the HD2 is something of an anomaly. For starters, it's produced by Sanyo, a manufacturer that isn't commonly considered one of the camcorder stalwarts

Pros: Light, portable, Easy to use, Cheapest HD cam on the market, 7.1 megapixel digital stills

Cons: Difficult to differentiate between SD and HD pictures, Poor positioning of microphone

Verdict: Affordable and full of features, but its images fall well short of the quality we'd expect from an HD cam

Review summary: HD goes mini for this pocket-sized camcorder

Review summary: HD goes mini for this pocket-sized camcorder

Pros: Small and light, Small and light, Clever design, Comes with a remote control

Cons: HD quality does not come through in low light, HD quality does not come through in low light, HDTV needed to see full quality video, Grainy pictures in low light and at zoom

Verdict: An extremely light and compact camera with reasonably good features. However, those who want quality over quantity may need to look a little bit further.