Sanyo VPC-TH1 HD Camcorder Review
Sanyo’s VPC TH1 is an extremely compact camcorder that has a horizontal design. It is so compact that it can comfortably fit in your hand and can actually be compared to an iPhone! It is a nice change from the other Sanyo Xactis that are all pistol-grip vertical designs. The TH1 has a more conventional look that makes it stand out from its other siblings and makes it more like its competitors. It is similar to Panasonic’s HDC-SD9 in shape and size, but slightly lighter and smaller. It is available in three attractive colors: red, silver, and blue.
It sports a 30X optical zoom that is comparable to a film equivalent of 43mm. It extends up to 1,290mm. It also includes a pair of adapter lenses that gives the camcorder a wide-angle view. It uses flash memory SD cards to store videos and still photos. Since it captures videos in high-definition, the videos are compressed in Mpeg4 format (i.e. AVC/H.264). It is capable of storing about 2 hours of high quality video on an 8GB memory card. It has a maximum resolution of 1280×720, which is a smaller HD version. High definition primarily comes in two types: 720p and 1080p. TH1 is compatible with 720p at 30 frames per second. It has a decent battery life; however, it has to be charged in-camera, using a heavy power adapter and a number of cables.
As an added advantage, Sanyo also provides Windows users with video editing software, called “TotalMedia Extreme”. Mac users may use iMovieHD or iMovie’09; both accept H.264 files directly from the camcorder. Be aware that high definition editing can only be done on modern computers that have a large hard drive size. Sanyo claims that all its new camcorders are “dual cameras”, capable of capturing equally proficient still photos and videos; however, TH1 can take pictures at the resolution of 2 megapixels. Sanyo’s TH1 can capture photos at 8 megapixels. In addition, most camcorders on the market are capable of shooting both still photos and videos, so there is no point in mentioning it all over the box.
It sports a bigger 1/2-inch or 1cm image sensor as compared to the usual 1/6-inch or 0.4 cm. This renders a decent outcome. Casio’s EX-F1 sports a 1/1.8-inch image sensor that delivers better results. Sanyo does not perform very well in all situations. In bright sun light, it shows quite a bit of noise and indoors you will observe a lot of noise in images. It includes the new face chaser technology that can detect up to 12 faces for both videos and still photographs. Videos and stills are recorded to SD/SDHC memory cards. One of the biggest advantages of using flash memory as against traditional tape is that the files from the camcorder are copied to the PC quickly. The other plus point is that you do not have to wait for the tape to rewind while you review the shots. Some camcorders store videos on hard drives, but flash memory is tougher and more dynamic than hard drive.
It has a photo flash 3-inch widescreen LCD that is sharp and easy to see in bright light. Its adjustable screen brightness comes in handy. You will also find an Electronic View Finder that can be tilted using a diopter lever that adjusts the focus for better shooting flexibility.
The directional stick is placed aptly on the back of the device as compared to the traditional position on the side of the LCD cavity. This placement makes it easier to navigate through the menu while still holding the camcorder in the same hand. You may also use the joystick to choose video clips in the playback mode. There are many options available for modes and features on the LCD screen. These include manual focus, sequential shooting up to 13 fps, eight scene modes, three filter effects, adjustable exposure, ISO settings and an HDMI port. Unfortunately, its automatic functions are not very fast to respond. Present on the body are seven buttons that include the on/off switch, making it a simple machine.
When compared with Sony’s DCR-SR47, there is a vast difference in the picture quality of the two camcorders. VPC TH1 delivers a sharper and clearer image, while DCR-SR47 delivers images that are blurred and unclear. The only place where Sony gives better results than the TH1 is in the dark. VPC-TH1 does not render very good results in the dark. Both the camcorders weigh nearly the same and are of the same size.
The VPC TH1 is made for everyday use, since it comfortably fits into the pocket or purse. It may not be a full 1080p high-definition camcorder, but still carries some of the better features. It is a straightforward point-and-shoot camcorder. Simplicity may be one of its biggest selling points. Ultra portable and a traditional design, it stands out from the rest in its class.
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Technical Specifications:
Brand Name: Sanyo
Model: VPC-TH1BL
Media Type: Flash card
Lens Type: Zoom lens
Optical zoom: 30 x
Maximum Aperture Range: F/1.8-4.3
Shooting Modes: Digital photo mode
Video Input: Camcorder
Display Size: 3 inches
Optical Sensor Resolution: 1.1 MP
Optical Sensor Technology: CMOS
Optical Sensor Size: 1/6″
Audio Input: Microphone
Microphone Operation Mode: Stereo
Height: 2.2 inches
Weight: 8 Ounces
Depth: 4.1 inches
Width: 2.1 inches
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Purchased it yesterday, tested it for about 2 hours. Everything worked fine. The video quality wasn’t quite as good as I was expecting, but given the price it was still better quality than my current SD camera. I didn’t like that the composite and HDMI output shuts off while you’re recording. I typically like to use a 10″ portable DVD player as a monitor so I can follow the action better. Not a show stopper for most, but for me it was annoying.
Took it to tape my son’s playoff game and it died in the middle of the second quarter and scrambled everything on the memory card. This wasn’t an issue with power, or with the memory card being full or anything like that. The camera screen was still on, but not displaying a picture. The indicator was still blinking slowly like it was when it was recording normally, and I was stopping and restarting the recording between quarters. So individual files for a quarter were only around 1GB. This was some kind of major malfunction.
Very ticked off. Returning it today.
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