Sanyo VPC-CG65 6MP MPEG-4 Flash Memory Digital Camcorder (Silver)

Product Description

The Sanyo Xacti VPC-CG65 is an advanced video and still camera for today's generation of video-sharing enthusiasts. Make the most of its high-speed video-processing and 6-megapixel still camera. The Xacti CG65 makes posting movies on the internet or e-mailing them to friends and family easier by reducing the file size. An anti-shake system is integrated into the camera for better photos. Its ergonomic, vertical design of the compact camera allows natural body posture when shooting VGA-quality (640 x480 pixels) movies and 6.0-megapixel high-resolution stills. The result is high-quality video recording -- up to 10 hours with an 8 GB SDHC memory card. Most importantly, it's the first digital video camera to feature next-generation Advanced Video Codec H.264 (MPEG-4 AVC/H.264) video compression technology -- designed to produce excellent video quality while reducing MPEG-4 file size approximately 25%. Scene Select for shooting under various conditions Portrait mode for taking vertical photos without rotating the camera Wind Noise Reduction for minimal audio interference Quick Standby starts recording/playback when LCD monitor is opened Up to 12 hours audio recording USB 2.0 support (charge battery with USB cable) PictBridge compatible Motion Director SE 1.1 corrects camera shake Software Included - Ulead DVD MovieWriter 4.0SE, Ulead Photo Explorer 8.5 SE Basic Windows Vista compatible What's in the Box - CCD-ROM (SANYO Software Pack 7.8) / USB Cable / AV Cable / Battery Charger / Li-ion Battery Pack / Lens Cap / Soft Case / Neck Strap

Customer Reviews:

happy with my purchase!.......2007-12-27

I just got it today and started shooting and having fun with my children, video quality is better than I expected, audio is good too and the best of all, my family in south america were enjoying the videos just a couple of minutes after I shot them... the size is unreal and it's really easy to use. I got a 4 GB memory card for 35 bucks, you can't beat that, no tapes or cd's to buy and they only hold 30 or 60 minutes of video, plus you can edit your videos, add text, music, etc... Happy!!!

I did lot's of research and this one won me over - with good reason :).......2007-10-17

I looked at just about every camera on the market and this one matched all my needs. For me the hardest part was desiding between the sanyo models, as they have so many that are closely related. It ultimately came down to this one and the HD1A, which are about the same price. th VPC-CG65 won out for two reasons: the h.264 encoding, and the low light image quality. I've only had it for about 2 weeks, so I can't say much about its durability beyond that it is well designed. The only things I was disapointed in was that you can't directly manipulate the aperature and shutter speed, though you can still control them through the presets so it's not that big of a deal. and I would have prefered a wrist strap to a neck strap.

Surprizingly handy, but, hard to hold.......2007-09-13

I must admit that I was skeptical of this camera. It comes in such a small package I was worried that the quality of the photos/video would be low. I have been pleasantly surprized by the quality of both the video and photos. It is really a neat camera and always draws comments. It easily fits in your pocket and is up and running in seconds. My only problem is that with the blessing of its small size is also the problem of having large hands and fingers. Its difficult to figure out a good way to hold the camera. The slick plastic exterior doesn't help (rubberized padding or grips would help). I find it difficult to use with one hand, which seems silly that you would have to use two hands on such a small, simple camera. All said, I really like the camera, it works as claimed. Quality good. Importing into my Mac, super easy and quick. I just wish it was easier to hold. People with large hands and big fingers may want to keep looking.

Blown away by features...but not by implementation.......2007-08-18

I should preface what follows with the statement that I bought this to replace an "ancient" miniDV camcorder - the original Canon ZR, which has less than stellar autofocus and low-light performance. Even so, I enjoyed using it thoroughly, but was getting tired of the weight and, more importantly, the hassle of downloading from tapes to my computer. Even with Firewire, a thankless and time consuming task.
So - tapes were out, and I don't trust hard drives, so HDD was out too. That left the Sanyo and assorted DVR camcorders. No doubt there are many wonderful DVR camcorders, and it is quite likely that the better ones take better movies, but I wasn't going to get something that needed me to buy expensive additinal media with a 20 minute recording time.
I absolutely am stunned with the quality of this hybrid camera. It takes movies that look better than my old miniDV camcorder, blows away digital still camera movie modes, and the picture quality compares favorably to other mid-entry level digital compacts.
The absolute truth behind any great video or photo is this: you better have your camera with you. And this camera makes you want to bring it everywhere. Since I bought it, it hasn't left my side, and I've captured more video of my child in the last week than I have in the last several years, just because the camera is always there.
Sure it could be improved, but Sanyo did a pretty good job. The flash positioning is a bit odd off to the side, but I haven't noticed any vignetting, and the flash isn't as weak as the size would indicate. I suspect that was done to avoid errant fingers covering it during operation, as it IS pretty easy to get so engrossed that you don't notice until a couple seconds in that your finger has strayed to the top of the lens.
The menu system is clear and intuitive, and unlike some reviewers in other forums, I found it easy and logical to use. The screen is good and the overall feeling of the unit is solid, considering the price point. The battery life is not stellar, but not bad either - pretty much what one would expect from the size and capacity. I was able to squeeze about an hour from it, much of it reviewing and taking flash pictures as well as making movies.
The shake reduction feature - I can't say much about it. I have rock steady hands, and haven't noticed more than normal amounts of camera movement.
The niggles: in low light, focusing becomes frustrating, if it works at all. Yes, there's a work around by simply setting up manual focusing using a distance based scale ( it works! ), but an AF- assist light would have been tremendously welcomed.
The case, while undeniably "sexy" and svelte, could have done with some rubberization. Put the strap on RIGHT AWAY when this arrives, and don't handle the camera without it, lest it slip.
To sum up: if this keeps working as it is now, I'll be blissfully happy for a long time. I highly recommend this for the family snapshooter to whom portability, value, and simple the fun factor are important.

UPDATE: I can't figure out how to lower the starred rating, or I would. I've now owned two of these and ended up returning them both. I took the first one on vacation with me, and while it performed brilliantly function-wise and was a kick to use, almost every video I took had a rectangular ghost image floating in the lower left quadrant of the screen. It was particularly noticeable when zooming in.
I searched user forums and found very little information, so I hoped I had simply gotten a bad unit.
Enter the replacement unit - same model - same problem, but in an even worse location - top of center. To be fair, it only shows up when shooting with bright light outdoors ( not even into sun, it shows up when you are facing away from the sun or it is overcast ) , but isn't that exactly what you'd buy a camcorder for??? So, back #2 went, too. I noticed that both cameras also have a really bad flare problem which is exacerbated by the absence of a lens hood and the relative proximity of the lens to the front of the camera body.
I really wished I could have lived with it, but I really don't want to have my videos ruined by ghostlike gray rectangles in nearly every clip. Sanyo, get with the program already and fix that.

Worth the few extra bucks IMHO.......2007-06-11

I've been extremely happy with the new Sanyo VPC-CG65 since I bought it. I first saw the VPC-CG6 (younger brother) at Walmart and instantly loved the small form factor. After doing a bit of research I found the CG65 with is identical except for the H.264 mpeg codec being built-in. I'm an Apple fan and so I knew I wanted that feature! :)

The camera is great, small, fast, handles the large sd cards perfectly. I plan on putting it to great use in a few weeks during summer vacation. So far, the videos I've shot with this camera are terrific. Close-up's and details are crisp and clear. The auto-focus is dead-on for the most part. I have no complaints as far as that goes. I carry the thing around daily in my pocket..something I couldn't do with a camcorder.

I know most photo camera's can record video..but this is more of a video camcorder that can take pictures. I like the feature that allows you to snap a picture while in the middle of recording a video, but I wasn't crazy about how it paused momentarily. Could have been related to my card speed (it's not a fast sd card) but the feature still worked.

I'd recommend getting additional batteries if using this for extended periods of time. But I'd recommend that for any camera. You can never have too much power.

As far as cons go, the one time I used the camera for about an hour to record my brother-in-laws wedding, I noticed the camera got kinda warm. I hadn't noticed that to be the norm, but I was doing a lot of recording that day. And it could have been related to the battery too since I ran it down to empty. That was of course before buying the extra batteries. See above.

I haven't played with many of the built-in features yet other than white balance and video quality. I prefer recording everything on the SHQ (Super High Quality) setting but it does record at a pretty high bitrate. I also own an Apple TV and when I try playing the videos in their SHQ format on Atv it has trouble with that. No fault of the camera..I just think the Atv is a bit underpowered for the high bitrate. Regular HQ recording play well on Atv though. I still record at the higher setting so that I have more details when I go to do editing on the iBook. I can always lower the bandwidth during export so it's not an issue to be concerned with. I don't think anyone can shoot a video professionally in one take and so the chances of needing to put un-edited SHQ footage on the Atv is unlikely.

As I stated in the headline, I'd recommend spending the extra few bucks to get the H.264 codec built in. It's a matter of personal preference but it does save space and it's quickly becoming an industry standard.

After vacation I'll repost with any changes to my opinion, but as it stands now, I'm happy with my purchase.

Average customer rating:

Arrived Broken

Disapointed

Don't Buy These Binoculars...

Excellent for the price.

Bushnell Excursion 8x42 Waterproof / Fogproof PC3 Binocular

Manufacturer: Bushnell
ProductGroup: Photography
Binding: Electronics

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Product Features:

Waterproof and fogproof rubber armor for maximum protection

PC-3 phase coating for optimum resolution

426-foot field of view at 1,000 yards

42-millimeter objectives for bright, clear images

8x magnification

ASIN: B0007PEOK0
Release Date: 2005-04-01

Product Description

In low light, it's usually your eyes that have to adjust. Now it's your expectations. In rain or fog, at dawn or dusk, your eyes don't plan on seeing much detail. So when you put one of the new Excursion series in front of them, what they see may come as a shock. This composite chassis, roof prism design is lightweight and packed to the eyecups with quality features, from PC-3 phase-coated lenses to BaK-4 prisms. The result? Outstanding clarity, detail and brightness in low-light conditions. Your eyes will be amazed. So will the rest of you.

Customer Reviews:

Arrived Broken .......2007-12-07

The binoculars arrived broken -they were cracked near the point where they pivot. Not sure if this was a product defect, due to very rough shipping/handling, or someone else had purchased the product and returned it broken which the store did not catch before they sold to us. In any case, the fact the binoculars were broken speaks clearly as to the poor manufacturing/quality control.

In the future, I will cross Bushnell off my list of acceptable brands.

Disapointed.......2007-03-05

I bought these binoculars because I wanted a medium size pair to use primarily for birding. First time out, I had difficulty getting a clear focus. To make maters worse, every bird that I looked at had a halo of red chromatic aberration around it's head. I have a pair of Nikon 10X25s which out performed the Bushnell's hands down in terms of both clarity and sharpness. I am returning the Bushnell's and considering the Audubon Equinox HP binoculars instead.

Don't Buy These Binoculars..........2007-02-16

...unless you want to have trouble focusing, have difficulty using them indoors at a sporting event, or have the neck strap bracket break off, etc. I wear glasses and these never did focus well for me. I was not happy when the bracket broke off the day I received them, just as I was to leave for an Africa safari vacation. The biocs kept slipping off my neck the whole trip, and it was frustrating.

Even more frustrating was trying to get them repaired. Suposedly there is a warranty on these. Hah! When I sent them to Bushnell for repair, they wanted [...].

Excellent for the price........2007-01-19

I got a pair of these for Christmas. Initially, I was skeptical about the quality of an inexpensive roof-prism optic, and this isn't my favorite brand name either. But contrary to my expectations, I've been extremely impressed with them so far.

Good brightness, contrast, sharpness, field of view, and close focus all exceeded my expectations for a binocular at this price point. Feel, fit and finish are all very good.

I wear eyeglasses, and these binoculars still deliver a nice wide view through the eyepiece. The twist-down eyecups are quick to extend / retract if you are sharing these with someone who doesn't wear glasses.

They come with a decent carry case, and relative to porro-prism types, the weight and compactness are both a little bit better.

If you are looking for a good binocular for birding or general use, I highly recommend you take a look through these in addition to the other popular models. I think these really hit the sweet spot for price / size / weight / performance, and I'm very happy with them.

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