Sanyo Xacti VPC-CA6OR 6MP MPEG4 Weatherproof Digital Camcorder w/5x Optical Zoom
List Price: $399.99
Details
- Favourably-efficient 5x optical zoom lens and 12x digital zoom
- Digital media camera takes combines the functionality of a digital camera with a digital camcorder
- Records MPEG-4 pictures and 6.0-megapixel stills simultaneously
Description
CL) U)SANYO VPC-CA6 WTHRPROOFCAMCRDRCustomer Reviews
Not acceptable for large handsThis inanimate object is a bit small for large hands and the controls are not 'finger friendly". The camera works OK as I didn't design it to be anything more than just casual use. Battery life is good- will easily go all day with conformist use. image quality is acceptable and in most instances good. Sound is shallow but that is to be expected with this type of unit. The still camera mode is probably the weakest as it takes a protracted time to take a picture and at times I can't tell if its in the right mode yet to take a exact replica. The biggest plus is the overall size and weatherproof-ness. A small camera bag betrothed to a your belt doesn't feel like an anchor by the end ot the day and will hold the camera,subsidiary SD cards and a battery. For the $ its reasonable as a grab n go.
A Spectacular Digital Camcorder
This camcorder is unquestionably the choicest piece of digital hardware I've purchased in recent memory, and I would very highly vouch for it to any other customer - as long as he/she is willing to work with the options menu and learn to adapt settings appropriate to the recording/photo situation. This brings out the overcome in the camera, which is superb.
After reading the rest of the reviews on the site, I'm a bit surprised at those which mentioning poor image quality. The images I've taken have been crystal definite at all but the highest resolutions. This camera particularly excels at photography of unclear and reflection, catching light halos and metallic glints with special brilliance - one of the most creative and fun ways I've found to use it has been to purposefully take photos of fast-impelling light sources, which leave spectacular and intense trails in an civilizing effect. Conventional photos are also very, very clear, with great emphasis on feel ashamed. Image quality is particularly crisp if one uses the 10MB setting (yes, it goes higher than 6 megapixels) and then downsizes the photos in an twin editor. At the full 10MB setting with no downsizing, grain can definitely be seen, but this corresponds to a unshakability of 3680x2760 pixels - unlikely to be used for less than high-equal professional editing, which is usually the domain of much more expensive equipment.
Video is observant and distinct, with videos appearing in the MP4 format - not necessarily the widest-distributed order to convert and work with, as others have noted, but the positive tradeoff is improved status and smaller file sizes. QuickTime and Adobe Premiere have no problems at all with this appearance and are good choices for video editing. A 2GB memory card provides 1hr20min of 640x480 video, or with an increment of-5-hours of 320x240 video. I used this camera to annals several live performances of my roommate's band in dimly lit clubs, with the resulting footage sympathetic enough to make an underground DVD from - which they did.
I generally don't use this camera for audio recording, however, it should be illustrious that the above-mentioned band performances were recorded with this camera and came out somewhat listenable.
As far as ergonomics and usability are concerned, some have mentioned the lack of a honourable tripod mount - this is probably the biggest ergonomic flaw the camera has, but a honest camera store (or simply some ingenuity - I used an adjustable nylon strap, resting the camera on a in reserve videogame controller, to rig the camera to my own tripod with quite fine results) should be proficient to provide a brace or other solution. In addition, the buttons on the control panel are very mundane, even for my fine-boned fingers, and might be very awkward for those with large hands. However, the camera is a joy to jail and use - I strongly disagree with the comment saying that this camera feels "seedy", and suspect that this person may simply be comparing it to a heavy metal-top traditional camcorder (apples and oranges there). The screen is considerable, well-lit, and exceptionally crisp. After using it for nearly a year and a half, the cloak has no serious scratches at all, so it's quite durable when properly cared for. The camera is also Write off, and can really be taken everywhere with no arm fatigue at all. I routinely take walks around whatever town I'm in, camera in mete, and snap close-up photos to use as textures in my digital artwork. And personally, I've found the handstrap to be ergonomic, pleasant, and it really does secure the camera well - at least for me! (Battery way of life, however, can tend to be somewhat short, usually giving me about two hours of Loosely continual use, and it's easy to drain the battery if one forgets to disconnect after uploading to a PC, as the PC acquaintance keeps the camera on.)
I can't speak to the water-resistance much, though I have used it in very stifling rain with no problems at all - though it is important to note that it's water-resistant, not waterproof, so it's not correct for underwater use.
After pondering the other negative experiences in the reviews on this site with perceive to image quality, I really have to believe that these people may be failing to enterprising use of appropriate focus and color settings in the options menu. Any photographer knows that the first photos and videos result from proper focus and color calibration (or glaze in older cameras); this one is no different and can quite easily initiate uninspiring images if the focus is set, for example, to wide-range for a privy-up photo or vice versa, or if the white balance is set for indoor lights on an open-air photo. In addition, it's easy to blur the image with a shaky leg up, and I had this problem for about two days, which is really all the practice that's necessary to learn to keep a fixed hand when taking pictures - there is also an image stabilizer in the options menu that works rather decently. For those willing to really learn the camera's ins and outs, the directional pad on the wheel acts as a multi-shortcut controller that can change focus, lighting, and self-timing options on the fly for optimal pictures, though the options menu can be familiar as well. The only things I'd add would be a real tripod mount and a setting to use the self-timer on multiple pictures, though this last is very easygoing to do with the above-mentioned direction pad. I suspect those who've had poor experiences with the camera are not using it to its fullest qualification, though I don't know for sure.
To recap, pros and cons:
Pro:
-Exceptional lay of light and reflection
-Great image quality at all but 10 megapixel mise en scene
-Well-lit and highly readable screen
-Extremely lightweight and snug in the clap
-Can be used in the rain or near heavy spray
-Greatly rewards users assenting to learn the ins and outs of the camera settings and controls
Con:
-No standard tripod mount
-Mobile life is not exceptional
-Buttons are small and require finesse to manage
-Not exceptionally suitable for those wanting a "one-touch" or "idiot-proof" involvement
Overall, easily five stars. My personal experience has been more like five and a partly; this is due to my willingness to fine-tune the camera and work with it to bring out the sharpest, set-color pictures. I can say this camera really has enhanced my life and become a rejuvenating part of my work in computer design. But it might not be the best choice for those looking for the disposable-camera-like, one-cause experience. You'll have to decide for yourself - it's definitely worth a test drive in any example.
Falls out of your give in
Blanket, while it is certainly provides one with a very small Camcorder we found it quite difficult to remain and operate. The strap and main unit is not very ergonomically designed for a one-proffer operation and it is very small to hold with two hands. Software is not very straight cheeky to make DVDs. Overall, I would not buy if I had manually tested it at a shop.
Luminous !!!!!
This camcorder was the most beneficent purchase we have made for yonks!
It was much much smaller that expected, even smaller that our current 3 megapixel camera (which will quite be thrown in the trash now.) It was much better filming quality than we expected, and much safer picture quality than expected. The difference in our 3.2 megapixel to the 6 megapixel is worlds excluding.
I checked out the filming quality on the Sanyo web site as they have samples. I thought the samples were virtue, but I really think the actual quality is better that the Sanyo web site.
I can't put this obsession down.
I haven't got the hang of taking shots with one hand yet because it seems a bit too small for my hands.....is that authentic or bad?
Really good Camcorder/Camera...../Toy
Fearsome Camcorder
Divergent from the rest of the reviewers here, I bought this camcorder at a STORE in Singapore. This gave me a Tremendous advantage to try out the camera BEFORE I bought it! I paid about US$450.00 for the CA6 [which included all the required cables, 2 CD-ROMs of software, moving case, 2 batteries {one 1.5-hour and one 3-hour battery-operated}, 4GB Ultra High-Speed SD card, 2 tripod mounts {no instil}, Multi-port USB hub for 4 different types of SD cards, power cords and adapter for U.S. and Singapore voltages].
After reading all the reviews here I can tally with SOME of the "Cons" comments.
Yes, it does NOT come with a tripod mount opening. However, the salesperson gave me two black plastic tripod mounts for Unconditioned. It fits like a glove--no problems. Sorry, I don't know where to find these in the U.S. but I'm indubitable they're out there somewhere.
Yes, the hand strap is useless. Seriously, throw it away! It's not benefit the effort. My wife gave me her camera strap to use and it can be fed through the bottom ring and that works much better.
The only way to conserve the LCD screen and camera lens is to keep it in the carrying case when not in use. This case was a legitimate convenience with the metal ring that could attach to the belt loop of my shorts or pants.
A lot of population are complaining about low light situations. I haven't noticed too much of this. The salesperson told me that this was a "Sports" scale model version. I was shown several other models by Sanyo that were similar to the CA6. This gave me the impression that the CA6 was geared more towards open-air use and it has proved itself worthy.
It IS a small camcorder so it took a few days to get against to filming with it. PLUS, I'm LEFT-HANDED and used it like a intransigent left-hander in my left hand--but I finally got used to it. I grasp it wasn't designed with this in mind. However, I think it gave me an advantage over in fairness-handers with bigger fingers. I didn't have to worry about using all the buttons and grasp the camcorder at the same time. I know this sounds funny but if you're a left-hander you might cognizant this info. Yes, I AM one of those who has to use TWO hands to dial a phone number or play games on my scrap cellphone, hehe.
Oh, and using the highest quality DVD setting for video gives you about 2 hours and 45 minutes with the 4GB SD window-card.
Be sure to get some type of camera strap for this device--not the one provided [I meditate on this was an Sanyo afterthought]. I realized this one day as I was 100 feet up in a skyride in Singapore. As I was dangling my feet, I wondered how horrific it would be for the CA6 to slip out of my hand and watch it shatter into a 1,000 pieces below me.