SANYO XACTI HD1000 – TINIEST TRUE HIGH DEF CAMCORDER FITS POCKET OR PURSE – BEATS BIGGER COMPETITORS An in-depth Review with Questions and Answers By George Margolin, editor@netsurfernews.com Former Technical Editor of Popular Photography And inventor of the Front Projection Background System  used in dozens of Hollywood and foreign films The Sanyo Xacti HD1000, is a simple and excellent point and shoot automatic Hi Def camcorder for ease of use by the least sophisticated user.  But it also has a full arsenal of automatic and Manual controls of virtually all functions for those situations where they’re needed to improve image capture in the hands of “pro-sumers” and Professionals who MUST capture important images.  THE PATH TO DISCOVERING THE SANYO Xacti HD1000 -- One of the joys of being a journalist at CES is that you get invitations to some very interesting parties and product presentations.  One of them that many journalists consider the best of the best, is called Digital Experience by Pepcom and is hosted by a fine fellow named Chris O’Malley. It always has the most and the best vendors and the latest technology AND – some of the finest finger food on the planet. Yet great food is the least of its virtues, because this is where I found the Sanyo booth – manned by a few sharply dressed Sanyo Executives. Among them, Tom Van Voy and Michael Harris, demonstrating what looked like some very clever TOYS – that SEEMED to be taking High Definition Videos.  These turned out to be Sanyo’s line of pistol-gripped, ergonometrically designed, amazingly compact and insanely versatile video camcorders.  It was a group that consisted of low cost “normal” digital video shooters, true waterproof (to 5 feet) extreme camcorders -- all the way up to the most drool-worthy, Sanyo Xacti HD1000 camcorder that I’m reporting on here. At the SANYO BOOTH (click to get Larger Pictures, then hit the Back button to get back here)   For starters, it is THE smallest and probably lightest of the new range of Flash Memory High Definition 10X Zoom Camcorders just hitting the market. It is also the “handiest” one to hold, with its pistol-like angled grip and steady and secure shooting position. It’s also, by far, the easiest to carry or stash in your pocket, purse, camera bag or fanny pouch (my choice) – which can make it your constant companion – ready to “film” full high definition video and 8 Megapixel stills, anywhere at any time. Since CES, I’ve put it through its paces at concerts, Bluegrass and Irish music festivals, along with a live shoot from the audience of the magnificent Peking Acrobats.  Because of its beautiful 1080 X 1920 High Definition Blu-Ray quality, I was able to produce videos and surprisingly good music capture, considering that it was done through the built in stereo microphone.  And its 8 Megapixel still photos – at 3264 x 2448 pixels – are a joy to behold, and to make into good 8.5 x 11 and 13 x 19) inch prints.  And it’s a marvel for quick and simple interviews.  More on this later in the article. Because this Sanyo Camcorder has the horsepower to do real- time recording as MPEG-4 files, you can use virtually any current Video Editing software. In addition -- you’ll have the ability to capture 8 Megapixel stills whenever you’re not shooting video.   Even better, you can get decent 2 Megapixel stills WHILE SHOOTING VIDEO. (Chinese Acrobats using Frame Grabber- we made it into a slide show)    Click Here for MORE GREAT PICTURES from the SANYO HD1000 Video Camera! Form Object   But, perhaps even more important – the 60 field per second frames can be “grabbed” and captured by virtually any current video viewing or editing program – and with their 1080 X 1920 Pixel resolution – each frame can make an excellent still, as you’ll see from some of our illustrations.. Portraits (click to get Larger Pictures, then hit the Back button to get back here) Do I LIKE this little wonder?  NO — I LOVE it!  So I can enthusiastically report that this Pocket Full of Miracles, Sanyo Xacti HD1000 camcorder – is a combination High Definition Video AND high quality 8 Megapixel still camera, that would be welcome in the pockets, purses and/or camera bags of virtually any and all professional and amateur photographers, videographers, TV crews, world travelers, vacationers, National Geographic staffers and stringers, real estate agents, journalists, photo-journalists, reporters and correspondents, new parents, soccer moms and dads and doting grandparents.  If I’ve left anyone out – it was unintentional. NATURAL INTERVIEWS ARE A “NATURAL” FOR THIS LITTLE WONDER            Using a small and pocket-able tripod – available in virtually any camera store for about $15 – you can set your Sanyo up on a desk or table anywhere – aim it and turn it on or off, and adjust the zoom without touching or jarring the camera.   You can do all this with the smaller-than-credit-card-sized infrared controller that comes with the camera.  (Note: Some of the pictures below show an optional Wide Angle lens which can be helpful when doing close Interviews) INTERVIEWS with the Sanyo HD1000 (click to get Larger Pictures, then hit the Back button to get back here) Q.         Is the Sanyo Xacti HD1000 the most portable, practical and versatile combo HD Video/8 MB Still Camera in the world today? A.         I know of nothing that can match it for its beautifully INTEGRATED COMBINATION of features.  While there are many excellent new Flash Drive cameras from Canon, Sony, Panasonic, Samsung and others, with some equal or perhaps even better features or abilities – This Sanyo Xacti HD1000 has, by FAR, the best integration, size, form factor and operability, of any camera I’ve ever used. Being an inventor and product developer as well as a photographer - I truly congratulate the designers and producers of this little marvel – because they really got it RIGHT.   Q.         What are the features that make it so versatile and useable? A.         Fits in a pocket, purse or small bag or fanny pouch – pistol grip design for comfortable, contortion-less secure handling and shooting -- weighs only about 11 Oz – including battery   -- 10X Excellent Optical zoom plus lots of (YUCH!) “please don’t use it” Digital zoom. -- accepts inexpensive and useful, screw-on wide angle and tele lenses – makes Macros in an INSTANT, without need for setup, muss, fuss or bother- See the Close-up/Macros below- Click for larger image to see the Sharpness – Full HD 1080i (1080X1920) video resolution for Blu-ray burners and HD Flat Screens  – Excellent 8 Megapixel stills – Electronic image stabilization for both videos and stills – Huge range of sensor sensitivity (from ISO 50 to 3200) for when you’ve got to get a shot despite the increased “noise” of the image, since “a Shot Got is infinitely better than an Shot Not Got“ -- Pop up Flash for stills at night and for filling in backlit sunshine shots – Replace flash SD memory cards and batteries in mere seconds – External microphone and earphone plug-ins for remote or lavaliere mics -- Built-in Accessory Shoe (not hot) for remote or high quality stereo mics or remote lavaliere mic receiver or lights – No bulky/heavy hard drive – Uses standard SD and SDHC (High Capacity) flash memory cards to 8 GB,  which provide shooting times of 1Hr 25 Min at full HD and up to 5 hours at a variety of lower resolutions OR over 3000 eight Megapixel stills – or can record sound-only for OVER 130 HOURS!!!!!!!! --  Bright and sharp 2.7 Inch screen –-  Excellent thumb accessible and very convenient, “ergonometric” toggle switch for controls and feature selection from screen display – Silent because it has no moving parts except for zoom and auto-focus – FULL MANUAL CONTROLS to satisfy the “techiest” among us – All files saved to compact MPEG 4 /H.264 -- the hot new format, which is very compact and can be directly read, played and instantly edited without need for conversion on virtually all current Video Processing Software including Pinnacle Studio 12, Power Director, Adobe Premier Elements Ver. 4, and all the higher level professional editing software – No slow-to-transfer tape – Fast transfer from pop out 8 Gig SD card takes only about 5 minutes, rather than hour-per-hour for video tapes or the chunkiness of uploading and FINDING specific clips from hours of hard drive video capture -- You can pop out the partially filled SD card at any time, save and/or edit any portion in your computer and instantly pop it back into the Sanyo HD1000 for further shooting – Small and versatile multi-functioning docking station permits direct connections to computers, HD Monitors and TV sets and battery charging Whew!!!  That’s a lot of hot for such a cool little camcorder, but that’s what it is and that’s what it does. To use it is to love it.  And for me, it’s my favorite travel companion, along with my wife, of course. Front                   Using Camera                    Back Controls                             Side More Questions and answers -- Q         Why are the new Sanyo video cameras shaped like pistols? A         For the same reason that pistols are shaped like pistols – easy and secure handling, ergonometric ease of aiming, pointing, shooting – greatest possible stability for a hand-held device with one or two hands – avoids the contortions “standard shaped” video cameras require for steady shooting. Q         Who would benefit by having this camera? The Photographer’s Motto – “If you don’t have a camera with you – you can’t capture spontaneous, important and newsworthy events.”  Add to that, video stations and networks are now virtually ALL HI DEF, so anyone who takes videos – ESPECIALLY PROFESSIONALS -- will find it the perfect, discrete backup camera.  it’s like a Cop who might carry a big gun in his holster, but might also have a small backup pistol hidden on his ankle.  You can never tell if and when you’ll need it.  But when you do, you’ll need to have it with you. For the professional Videographer -- This is the PERFECT SAFETY NET to carry with you, even if you are loaded with large, broadcast quality, professional equipment.  If all else fails – this little Sanyo Xacti HD1000 will get you surprisingly high quality video that could cover you in the event that the “professional” equipment can’t, because of it size, weight, complexity or failure.  And it can be used in tight places where larger cameras can’t. So for the pro -- think of the Sanyo Xacti HD1000 as a parachute, only safer – since you don’t have to be going down in flames to take advantage of it.  It can truly be a life saver of a camera. To borrow from an old American Express commercial – “DON’T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT IT!”   I never do.   SIDEBAR FOR Sanyo Xacti HD1000 ARTICLE How to “Win friends And Influence people” with your Sanyo camcorder Face and Place Miniature Memory Machine-- For a reporter, correspondent or writer -- use it at a convention, such as CES or others -- Still picture of the face -- still picture of the place -- Video of comments and information about the face, place and situation.  This is the best way to Remember, who, what, when and where.  It also flatters the people you’re talking with.  -Travelers -- When Travelling locally or abroad -- Take a strangers picture -- with a friendly attitude -- make a friend  Show them that pleasing picture on the camera’s screen moments after you take it and you’ll impress that new friend  Shoot a few moments (20 seconds to a minute) of Video, where the person tells you who he/she is and something about themselves or their product or work -- And their email and/or mailing address, and you’ll make an indelible memory for yourself and a BIG impression on them. -- This will give you the information you need to know Where to send a copy of your still picture for follow up and to solidify the new relationship for business or friendship.   Street pricing as we are writing this is approximately $550 TO OVER $600 .But there are many internet stores to check it out at Amazon and other places. BUT THIS IS A GREAT CAMERA AT ANY PRICE!!!   EPILOGUE In 2000 (just 8 years ago) I wrote an article for a Videography magazine – about a camera I found at the now defunct COMDEX show that the CES show has replaced. This was called the Sharp “Internet View Camera” and was a trifle smaller and about 2 ounces lighter than the Sanyo Xacti HD1000 and while very useful, as you’ll see from the story excerpts, it was only the first baby steps of what the Sanyo became.  At that time it was a unique, one-of-a-kind camera that sadly didn’t evolve.  But I’m quoting some paragraphs of that article, so that you can see how the story at that time was able to predict just what this marvelous Sanyo would be. So think of this as a journalist’s trip back 8 years in time.  These are the actual quotes from the story.  It’s almost eerie to see what I thought then and what has actually come to be, because virtually everything that I listed and wanted – is just what the Sanyo Xacti HD1000 Camcorder has become: Here are excerpts from the article I wrote for use in a June 2000 Video Magazine. -------------------SHARP STORY from June 2000 - For Epilogue -------------------------------------------------------------- “Below we’ll tell you what this camera (Sharp Internet View Cam) IS and what it ISN’T.  But whatever its current limitations -- every time I show it to anyone and take their picture -- and show them the results -- on the spot -- people ask me where they can buy one.  This little camera is a turn-on despite some very serious current technical limitations.  But -- its tiny size means you can always carry the camera with you and have it ready for instant shooting. What it is – A pocket sized, sight, sound and streaming video record keeper. A journalist’s digital scratch pad A reporters “instant recall” A pocket tape recorder with imaging capabilities A fully random access recording device, since it doesn’t use tape A full hour of mono sound and very low res pictures on a 32 MB Smart Card A barely adequate, but always available snapshot shooter for two hundred eighty eight, 640X480 photos on a 32 MB Smart Card A unique and very useful product. A really fun product to use The FIRST generation of the future of photography and video capture!!!  What it isn’t -- A “real” camcorder capable of playing on a large TV screen A digital camera capable of generating 8X10 photorealistic prints An MP3 quality stereo sound recorder capable of blasting your eardrums out A heavy, clunky, hard to park, hard to hold, hard to use Digital Camcorder A camera that will produce “National Geographic” quality nature pictures and Landscapes  What it will be -- The beginning of the end of “large” Camcorders for consumers Imaging chips are getting smaller Imaging chips are getting denser with ever higher resolution Imaging chips are becoming increasingly more sensitive (faster) for lower light use Memory chips are growing in capacity while staying the same size or getting smaller Memory devices like the IBM Microdisk, which is already 340 MB -- will quickly increase in capacity to multi gigs in a Flash Memory format -- with the disk itself, the size of a quarter -- and smaller. Camera electronics will greatly increase in speed and capability permitting greater and faster compression for storage and decompression for viewing True Camcorder/Digital Still cameras with hours of SVHS (or greater) quality in a device the size of this Sharp device.  It’s all converging.  It WILL converge. This is just the BEGINNING!  The future is coming much faster than you might believe.  And for those of us who love Videography -- as I do -- it is going to be a Fantastic Future of Hugely capable Miniature Camcorder-like devices.  “ Size of Sharp Viewcamera 3,22 x 3,53 x 1.69 (Shirt pocket portable) Picture size of stills  640 x 480 pixels – low quality Video – 320 x 240 –  15 FPSecond – very, very low quality Weight:           9 oz with battery ~~End of Epilogue- Sharp Story~~                                                                SANYO Xacti HD1000              SIZE OF THE SANYO Xacti HD1000 --   3.54 x 4.43x 2.15 (Jacket pocket portable) Weight: 11 oz with battery   Picture size  (1080i)  Full HD quality --  1080X1920 60 fields per second  Price runs from $450-$600 depending on the location Specifications (click for larger Image) Sanyo website details on the HD1000 Sanyo HD 1000 specifiation on the Sanyo website