At first sight, this little machine looks almost perfect: an up to 10 feet waterproof, compact, dual camera/camcorder.
Unfortunately, there is grain of salt in almost every aspect.
First, I need to mention that I am a happy owner of an older Sanyo EX2 camcorder and, despite minor drawbacks, I really like it.
I can understand the good intention of Sanyo engineers when they ventured to create a new camcorder that would outdo the previous model in every way possible. The original EX2 was only waterproof up to 3 feet, not HD, and had mediocre battery.
In VPC-WH1, Sanyo engineers fixed and improved everything, but in the process they made several dangerous compromises.
Let's start with new ten feet waterproof rating. I would really adore this new feature if not for one small problem - all the o-rings are not user-replaceable and the manual specifically tells you that they are only good for one year. Well, if you are buying this camera to go underwater (snorkeling, of course), you know what an o-ring is and what happens when it leaks.
Another problem - the camera body has three(!) covers: one for the battery, another for the SD-card, and the third for the power port. I cannot say I am a designer of underwater equipment, but so far all underwater housings I ever used had only ONE cover... with user-replaceable o-ring.
So the camera seems to be waterproof for one year, but what about next year's vacation?
Despite these drawbacks, I was ready to forgive Sanyo because of the promised HD. Unfortunately, whatever it was they decided to call HD was not really "High Definition". The image is terribly over-compressed and has lot of artifacts. Yes, technically, if you look at the file properties, it is 720p, but only technically. I would not rate it above 300 lines of real resolution. It is hard to believe, but my old EX2 makes much better videos. I have compared the two side by side on a 52 inch TV and the difference is obvious. Even in standard resolution the old EX2 beats the new camcorder, which is slightly embarrassing...
Finally, this is supposed to be a dual camera. Well, almost a camera, because in WPC-VH1 pictures are limited to two megapixels. My old EX2 has an 8 megapixel sensor and it makes pictures as good as a standard 3 megapixel camera. The overall level of degradation from the old camcorder has not changed for this feature, so you can imagine how a two megapixel images from the new camera looks. Let's just say my cell phone does a much better job.
The only good thing is battery performance; it is actually decent now. I just do not know what to do with all this battery performance. My new stylish yellow WPC-VH1 is collecting dust now, while the old EX2 faithfully sits in a side pocket of my photo bag.
***
Frankly, I hate writing negative reviews. For a month I played around with the camcorder parameters and lighting conditions, shot underwater (and, I should mention, underwater footage is generally okay, just not HD), tried different video codecs, but nothing helped. Did I get a defective unit?
It should not be difficult for Sanyo to fix almost all the drawbacks. I would guess the video over compression problem may be fixed with a software upgrade. And a mail-in o-ring replacement service can solve the one year problem (the current manual tells you to go to your "dealer"; with all due respect, I am not sure Amazon would provide such a service). The remaining two megapixels still image camera seems hopeless, but this would not be a big loss after all...
Read More Reviews on Sanyo VPC-WH1 HD Waterproof Flash Memory Camcorder w/ 30x Optical Zoom (Yellow)...
I bought this to use it in shooting some documentaries and some small production projects and CANON didn't let me down on this one, the body is small and perfectly sized for extreme mobility, the HD output of this thing is amazing, the picture quality is solid and crisp and the colors are vivid.
It does get a little shaky when being used with walking or in motion, the image stabilizer system tries to correct with little success but that is perfectly expected if you're using a small camera since it moves with what holds it of which in this case your hand. On a tripod, or a fixed ground, it definitely delivers though.
I hated the fact that CANON did not supply a MAC OS X software, it only came with a Windows version of the supplied software and another program CD that deals with picture transfer that you can install on windows or OS X.
The camera saves footage as .MTS files and its worth noting that these are highly compressed files that if you're planning on using them for editing, you better be equipped with a solid performing machine, otherwise you have to re-encode them into another editing friendly format of which you might end up using ALOT of storage space for that matter. it is highly recommended to have ready an external Hard Disk to backup your footage regularly or even burn them on DVDs/Blu-Rays.
Read More Reviews on Canon VIXIA HFS10 HD Dual Flash Memory with 32 GB Internal Memory and 10x Optical Zoom...
I bought this pocket camcorder to take on outings because it is easy to carry. The video quality is quite good for such a small camcorder, the screen is large and the fact that it takes sd and sdhc cards makes it superior to some of its competitors. The battery life is fine and the audio is surprisingly good.Even thugh it's refurbished I'm quite happy with it so far.
I would definitely recommend it as a convenient low cost camcorder.
Read More Reviews on Kodak Zi6 Pocket Video Camera, Refurbished (Black)...
Bought the Flip to take on vacation to South Africa. Have been using it to "practice" my skills, but no real skill needed. It is very easy to learn and use. I've taken videos from a moving car, boat, walking and just filming action with my Flip. The quality of video when played back on 27 inch TV are fantastic! This is one of the best purchase I've made in years.
Picture quality is reduced when using the zoom, so just don't use it!
Read More Reviews on Flip Ultra Camcorder 2nd Generation, 120 Minutes (White)...
A quick one here:
I have several of the small video cameras- the Flip MinoHD, Vado, Flip Ultra..
There is a lot to like with the Zi6- nice LARGE screen, good build,sensational outdoor results , the battery set than can be recharged, SD card slot (**see urgent and important note below, particularly if this is a gift**).
As with ANY of the smaller cam's, image quality can suffer inside unless the room is well lit. If you are inside,and want vibrant color, you will need to add light to get the best result, unless the room is flooded with sunlight.
Without extra light, indoor shots can vary - at times acceptable, at times not. Night shots or dim rooms will not produce an acceptable result.
This product comes with all the cables you might need to connect to your TV-- very WELCOME!
Software is good, if basic. Even a novice can edit a video with reasonable ease. Though many never bother with editing, I assure you the end result is well worth the effort! Try it!
Outside, the Zi6 shines, with vivid true to life colors, just as the Flip models enjoy. I did note that sometimes the blue's ( like the sky) were ultra vivid, though not un natural.
As far as ease of use, it is quite simple (if you read the directions) but is not quite as simple as a Flip. I found the soft keys on this one to be hard to work with at first.
This product is optimized for YouTube- you cant miss that feature as there are notes on the box, and stickers on the camera. Unedited footage could be downloaded within 5 minutes or less.
All in all an excellent value.
Now to compare to the Flip products - both the Flip Mino HD and the brand new Flip Ultra and Flip Ultra HD are more expensive,and are market leaders in this sector.
Out of the box, the Flip's are easier to use - no question. I like their software better too - particularly for email.
On my HD TV's (Samsung 23 inch and 32 inch) the 720P HD looked great from either brand- with the Kodak offering a particularly vivid blue.
Right now, the Zi6 cost's quite a bit less then some of Flip's offerings,and depending upon intended use, this might make sense.
One important note: It is VITAL to get a SDHC class 6 card!
You or whoever you might gift this to will not be able to use the unit without it. Kodak should have included a card, even a 2GB ( I would go for a 4GB or 8GB easily available at Amazon or a local retailer).
I give the edge to the Flip units, but I very much like this unit as well- just please, please get the SDHC card, and enjoy using it!
Read More Reviews on Kodak Zi6 HD Pocket Video Camera...
We got the HV30 as a gift when our son was born, and then were able to get this HV40 camera as test consumers, so we have used both. The bottom line is that for people that need and want a camera to shoot home movies, the HV30 and the HV40 are pretty expensive and complicated way to do that. I am not advanced enough to even be able to tell differences between them, but if you read other reviews, you can see that there are slight differences.
Honestly, I wish we would have gotten something simpler and less expensive. I gave it four stars because it is a great camera - the picture is AMAZINGLY clear - but really just about everything I could write in this review about the camera makes no sense to people like me who just want to shoot videos of their kids or family gatherings. The sound is good, the picture is fine, everything worked well as far as I can tell. It is a solid camera.
Based on what I have read, both the HV30 and HV40 are slight and expensive improvements over the perfectly fine HV20. Here is what I wish someone would have written in the reviews before I got this camera:
1) This is for people who are REALLY into shooting videos and want to do all sorts of fancy things and edit the videos and want to watch movies in high definition on your big screen flat television screen or make movies for public consumption.
2) It will take you many hours to figure out all the special features that this camera has.
3) You cannot hook this camera up to your mac computer without a firewire cable. If you computer does not have firewire capabilities, you cannot hook it up to your mac computer AT ALL (this applies only to the macs that came out in October 2008). If you have a mac, go ahead and buy a firewire cable with this camera if you don't have one because it is the only way to import the video into your computer if you plan on doing that.
I know this review will not be helpful to people who are advanced users or electronically gifted or really into new gadgets. But I hope it is helpful to people like me who just wanted a good decent camera to record home movies on.
Read More Reviews on Canon VIXIA HV40 HD HDV Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom...
i received my new cg10 from sanyo today. i have read alot about it before bying it, so setting it up was a blaze. i have already tried it indoor and outdoor,.. waht a beauty.
to think this small machine packs all these features ina small handy pistol shape handle is unbeleivable.
here is what i like about it
1. easy set up, very intuitve , have not read the full manual included yet.
2. beuatiful, vivid colors, 3 inches screen.
3. full hd in 720 filming, the pictures are amazing.
4. the zoom is smooth and is optical and very clear.
5. few have complained about image stabilization, i however find it very stable as long you do not have essential tremors or parkinson's disease,... the picture is fairly steady and i reviewed my films on my compter w/o any problems or needing some meclizine for dizziness after worth.
5. the stil photos you can take while filming and are quite good quality. it is capable of 12 mp resolution, i loved the pics quiality
6. multiple bells and whistles in the programing appeases the most demanding of users.
7. battery, very light and charged fully in 2 h or less.
8. placement of the sd card and the battery , are very easily accesible, and the cover is attached to the body of the camera so won't be lost.
9. color and shape, really nice and appealing.
10. fits in my pocket,.. i am now a real light traveler, w/o the bags of cameras or camcorders weighing me down.
11. inside picture quality is very acceptable, with automatic flash also.
12. bought 2 replacement, rechargeable batteries from ebay, at 9.99 free shipping,... !!!! from hong kong,...love global economy,..!
13. has an attachable lens cap, easy to instal. people who complained about how to do it are really challenged manually,..just use your logic, & it comes together, eureka,...!!!
14. usb cable to computer so you will not have to remove the sd card to see your recording.
15. included av cords to watch on home tv screen.
16. price: 189 from [...],..free shipping.
17. screen is rotating and adjustable, can see also in full sunlight,... not bad at all.
18. microphoine is very clear and not a lot of noise,...
19. finally, all in all exellent features, easy to figure out and maintain, user friendly, and best bang for the buck.
I hope to add some movies later on to demonstrate the abilities and picture quality of this little gem.
Paul
Read More Reviews on Sanyo VPC-CG10 HD Flash Memory Camcorder w/5x Optical Zoom (Black)...
It's almost too small to hold without getting a finger over the lens. It easy / simple to operate although we have not investigated all the features.
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Bought the Flip to take on vacation to South Africa. Have been using it to "practice" my skills, but no real skill needed. It is very easy to learn and use. I've taken videos from a moving car, boat, walking and just filming action with my Flip. The quality of video when played back on 27 inch TV are fantastic! This is one of the best purchase I've made in years.
Picture quality is reduced when using the zoom, so just don't use it!
Read More Reviews on Flip Ultra Camcorder 2nd Generation, 120 Minutes (Pink)...
Just after a great day with your camera, you realize what kind of an hassle is waiting for you in front of your PC, while transfering, editing or viewing your files. That is the end of a perfect day and the start of something else.
What I mean from the previous centence is, in order to get the full satisfaction from a product, everything should have the same quality. The weakest link sets the total strength of the chain and in this case, the weakest link is the human interface.
Simple example, when you connect the camera to the PC, you get this writing on the display "Do not disconnect the USB cable or the power source while the camcorder is connected to a computer. Cannot turn off the camcorder or change the operating mode" Everything is on the screen but how you are going to disconnect the camcorder from the PC. The power cord has 90 degrees bend at the connector side. This makes it awkward to put the camcorder on a flat surface. The AC adapter has no light indicator on it, therefore you can not be sure if it is plugged in or not, yet, the charge indicator led on the camera is located in a cosmetic groove which makes it impossible to check from a distance if the camcorder is charging or not. I have large hands and the camcorder is not designed for me. It is not ergonomic enough to operate the zoom without shaking the view and I am out of hope to gain that experience over time. Taking pictures during shooting video is another drama, the push button is so hard that keeping the picture stedy is another challange.
As for the rest, it is giving you what is promissed on the advertisement. I find it now a little diplomatic, not sincere though. Think of this, you used to go to a certain coffee shop because they were used to deliver a nice cookie with it. You do the same next time, but there is no cookie anymore, just what you have asked is what you get!
Read More Reviews on Canon VIXIA HF20 HD Dual Flash Memory with 32 GB Internal Memory and 15x Optical Zoom...
Love the camera, but VERY unhappy with the carrying bag leaving black smudges all over it. Smudges that won't come off. This is the bag that it came with too. Get the camera, but use a different carrying bag.
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Flip MinoHD Camcorder, 60 Minutes (Black)
I can watch the movies on the little screen on the Flip but so far haven't been able to load it to the computer. The sound is there, but no picture,just a question mark where the movie should be. I also can't see it on TV, maybe because I have Direct TV and there's no input buttons on it . I'll get someone in that knows more about computers than I do and see if they can load it to the computer. If they can, then I'd give it 5 marks for the clarity of the pictures and the ease of handling it,.
Read More Reviews on Flip Mino Camcorder, 60 Minutes (Black)...
We LOVE our new camera, it's compact and the memory is amazing. Simple to use.
Read More Reviews on Canon FS200 Flash Memory Camcorder with 37x Optical Zoom (Misty Silver)...
We needed this camcorder for a family reunion. We are very satisfied with our pick. Very easy to learn and took very good video. We have a very good recording of the happenings at our reunion. It had enough internal memory that we were able to get an evening and the following day recorded.
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1080p mov files must have a minimum Windows PC speed of 2.8GHz - it was explained in product packaging. When I video record in 1080 mode, the mov file plays back fine on Apitek camcorder. However, when I download it to play in Quicktime on my 4 year old DELL notebook PC with 1.6Ghz, the mov file played back "choppy" - i.e. the frames freezes for a split second, then plays for a split second, then freezes, then plays. Also, HD mov video clips are best played on 24" monitors.
[...]
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i had many skepticism's about buying this, however it has performed exceptionally well. It's doesn't product the highest quality the many others do but i have found that is has not let me down in any way at all, I first noticed the weigh of it which really stated that they hadn't cut corners to produce it, I highly recommend the product completely.
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Love the camera, but VERY unhappy with the carrying bag leaving black smudges all over it. Smudges that won't come off. This is the bag that it came with too. Get the camera, but use a different carrying bag.
Read More Reviews on Flip Video Ultra Series Camcorder, 60 Minutes (Orange)...
The picture quality is amazing but the sound is vulnerable to slight wind. I kept reading that editing is difficult. Avchd also known as m2ts files can be difficult to work if you don't have the right software. If you have the latest Adobe Premiere your in luck because they take avchd files without problem. It then encodes it a much easier to use file when your done. Overall I would recommend this if you have an editing software that can edit it. I also heard that iMovie 09 supports avchd so you can try it out there.
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Love the camera, but VERY unhappy with the carrying bag leaving black smudges all over it. Smudges that won't come off. This is the bag that it came with too. Get the camera, but use a different carrying bag.
Read More Reviews on Flip Ultra Series Camcorder, 60-Minutes (Black)...
Love the camera, but VERY unhappy with the carrying bag leaving black smudges all over it. Smudges that won't come off. This is the bag that it came with too. Get the camera, but use a different carrying bag.
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What a great and compact camcorder this is, I highly reccomend it. The videos it takes are of high quality and the camcorder itself is s prodect of our technolgy that is available today. Cute stylish and sssssssooooo easy to use.
Read More Reviews on Flip MinoHD Camcorder, 60 Minutes (Chrome)...
Wonderful product. I just got my new cam-corder about 6-months ago and I love it. Makes great movies and is so easy to use. I highly recommend if you want good quality for your money.
Sandra e. Graham
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Short and sweet. The Vixia FH s100 is, hands down, the best investment I have made in a long time. I purchased this camera to make the move to HD without spending a fortune in these lousy economic times. I had considered much more expensive cameras but an idie film project came my way that needed to be shot in HD and quickly. This camera does not disappoint.
There are certain things that separate a camera like this from a pro camera but this one tends to blur the lines. First the cons. Lack of manual controls. If Canon would make the focus assist dial have a greater range it would solve this problem quickly (firmware update - Canon, are you listening?) Second would be the lens size - although this is the largest in it's class from what I understand. The glass, though, is perfect. Third would be the over abundance of special bells and whistles. Obviously, they've taken the best of both consumer and pro needs and desires and put them into one small package (it fits in a large pocket - very easy to tote around but not very impressive to an actor on the set!) The low light performance is something that some have complained about. For a film maker it's not a deal breaker because we can control light for the most part but if you plan on shooting in low light - expect some graininess especially under low lit tungsten. Although, the Vixia has special settings for most situations that seem to work very well. I filmed 4th of July Fireworks the other night and it looked stunning on a 60 inch HD TV. Sold my DVX's and all the accessories and now it's just me and the Vixia. Very happy indeed.
Read More Reviews on Canon VIXIA HFS100 HD Flash Memory Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom...
The size and design of this thing are good for maybe 2007. So many other devices are emerging with more powerful features, that it is no wonder why it is being cleared out for over 75% off. The 640x480 image quality is actually not too bad, but for a unit that prides itself on being capable of handling rigorous use, there was an awful lot of shake interference in the image. The set up and use is unique in using the lasers, and the microSD media is really portable, but importing the footage into mac os 10.5 is restrictive and clunky. As of now, it is difficult, if not impossible, to get the footage into a real editing program. AVI SUCKS. I heard that the new HD unit is using h.264, so hopefully it is a better format for the future of these cameras.
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What a great and compact camcorder this is, I highly reccomend it. The videos it takes are of high quality and the camcorder itself is s prodect of our technolgy that is available today. Cute stylish and sssssssooooo easy to use.
Read More Reviews on Flip MinoHD Camcorder, 60 Minutes (Black)...
The product is all that it is advertised to be. I have not had full opportunity to learn to use all of the options but the features that I really wanted are there. I can ACTUALLY see the screen in bright sunlight. The feature that the camcorder I had purchased and returned previously did not have!
Read More Reviews on Canon VIXIA HF200 HD Flash Memory Camcorder with 15x Optical Zoom...
Bought the Flip to take on vacation to South Africa. Have been using it to "practice" my skills, but no real skill needed. It is very easy to learn and use. I've taken videos from a moving car, boat, walking and just filming action with my Flip. The quality of video when played back on 27 inch TV are fantastic! This is one of the best purchase I've made in years.
Picture quality is reduced when using the zoom, so just don't use it!
Read More Reviews on Flip Ultra Camcorder 2nd Generation, 120 Minutes (Black)...
I am no neo-luddite (knowing the term probably proves that), but I am no technogeek either. I like my technology to meet my needs and not provide me with an overwhelming amount of options that I do not need. That is why I LOVE the Flip! I pulled it out of the package, charged it up, and used it without the need for any manuals, tech support, or snarky comments from the technogeek I married. While many reviewers would demonstrate the simplicity by saying that a child could use it, that is hardly a comment that should be used in relation to technology where so many children surpass their elders with ease. My comment instead will be that my father-in-law's 65-year-old wife (who has difficultly understanding text messaging) picked this up and, without any coaching from me, used it with ease. The controls could not be more simple and there is no need for any extras - memory cards, memory card readers, extra wires, chargers, etc. Plus at this price, I would not be worried about dragging it along on various outings. Not to mention that it fits easily in my purse, or in the cargo pocket on my husband's khakis, so there is no argument over who has to lug the camera. Since the editing software will allow you to make "still" shots, you don't even have to worry about taking the "regular" camera - sometimes you get even cooler pictures this way. I recommend it not only as a buy for families on the go, but at this price, it is also good for the preteen and teen set.
Read More Reviews on Flip UltraHD Camcorder, 120 Minutes (White)...
Love the camera, but VERY unhappy with the carrying bag leaving black smudges all over it. Smudges that won't come off. This is the bag that it came with too. Get the camera, but use a different carrying bag.
Read More Reviews on Flip Video Ultra Series Camcorder, 30-Minutes (White)...
I am a thorough evaluator of my tech purchases. Reasons I went with the Vado over the flip include:
-avi files over mp4, my own personal preference
-ability to change recording quality (SD, HD, HD+) allowing the capacity of the device to be extended, the Flip requires you to buy the HD or SD model
-VERY light, its like a feather
I would prefer a product that used an SD card instead of a hard drive and strongly considered the Kodak products. Eventually I realized they use .mov format which wasnt compatible with my media bridge and my video editing software of choice.
Read More Reviews on Creative Labs Vado HD 720p Pocket Video Camcorder with 8 GB Video Storage and 2x Digital Zoom (Black)...
I am no neo-luddite (knowing the term probably proves that), but I am no technogeek either. I like my technology to meet my needs and not provide me with an overwhelming amount of options that I do not need. That is why I LOVE the Flip! I pulled it out of the package, charged it up, and used it without the need for any manuals, tech support, or snarky comments from the technogeek I married. While many reviewers would demonstrate the simplicity by saying that a child could use it, that is hardly a comment that should be used in relation to technology where so many children surpass their elders with ease. My comment instead will be that my father-in-law's 65-year-old wife (who has difficultly understanding text messaging) picked this up and, without any coaching from me, used it with ease. The controls could not be more simple and there is no need for any extras - memory cards, memory card readers, extra wires, chargers, etc. Plus at this price, I would not be worried about dragging it along on various outings. Not to mention that it fits easily in my purse, or in the cargo pocket on my husband's khakis, so there is no argument over who has to lug the camera. Since the editing software will allow you to make "still" shots, you don't even have to worry about taking the "regular" camera - sometimes you get even cooler pictures this way. I recommend it not only as a buy for families on the go, but at this price, it is also good for the preteen and teen set.
Read More Reviews on Flip UltraHD Camcorder, 120 Minutes (Black)...
