Customer Reviews

Sanyo VPC-FH1A Full HD Video and 8 MP Digital Photos (Black)

5 star:		(41)
4 star:		(28)
3 star:		(13)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(12)

 

 

Pros
Superb low light response.
Excellent Mac compatibility
Reasonable price
Generally good set of options in the menu.
37mm threaded front lens so it it is compatible with a large assortment of attachments
Reasonable HD performance
Also functions as a pretty good and easy still camera


Cons
Zoom speed cannot be slowed or controlled in any way. (I stand corrected on this point - read below)
No mic or audio line input.


General Discussion
All things considered, this is a fine product. If you are a Mac person this will save you many hours of work. The MPEG4 file format is very mac friendly. But there are a few things to keep in mind.

This camera has an unusually large sensor; as such this has some interesting consequences. On the positive side, this produces stunning low light capabilities. Furthermore, one can isolate the subject from the background very easily by carefully controlling ones exposure and focus; few other consumer camcorders have this ability. However this places great strain on the auto focus. If one is simply wishing to place it in an auto mode and leave it there, it tends to have a lot of focus problems.

The zoom speed is too fast. Aside from the fact that I feel, that it is aesthetically unpleasing, in every case except bright sunlight, the zoom is faster than the auto focus. Therefore almost any attempt to zoom in while shooting will yield out-of-focus pictures. Consequently you must consider the zoom on this camera to be essentially useless.

For some inexplicable reason, they chose not to include an external mic/ audio in jack. This severely limits its usability.

David Courtney
Houston, TX

* Questions from the comments (I can't reply the post for some reason so I have to update the review here): No. An adaptor cable comes with the camcorder (one end goes to the camcorder, the other end connect the USB cable of your external drive). The drive has to be in FAT32 format (not NTFS, which is the current format standard for vista and win7 system). FAT32 is format for older windows. The limitation is file on it can not be larger than 4GB (this is why the sanyo camcorder can not record file larger than 4GB, though I don't know why you would have one file that large, not reliable at the first place). Also a note by a comment that the harddrive may have to be self-powered, according to the manual.

I have not actually used the Xacti library feature myself so please refer to the manual (a pdf file you can google) before you make up your mind.

===========================
I believe the FH1A is just the FH1 with the additional Apple iFrame video format (an odd format, smaller then 720p, so I doubt anyone would use it). So my review applies to the FH1 model as well. Btw, most of the camcorderinfo review on the VPC-HD2000 model applies to this one as well.

When this camcorder is on sale for $400 or below, it is certainly the best HD camcorder for the money.

Pros: -Many video resolution options, covering 1080p, 1080i, 720p, vga, and ultra-slow motion video. The 1080p (60fps progressive) is really detailed and smooth. I have read that someone may have problem playing back the 1080p video smoothly on an even quad-core windows (can be solved by choosing the right software). But video play back is quite good on my quad-core Mac (well it's an HP hackintosh).

-H.264 mp4 video format makes it very easy to work with, especially on Mac platform. Just copy the video onto the computer and you can start editing it in iMovie natively without converting, transcoding, etc. Saves tons of time. I have worked with 720p Motion Jpeg (MJPG) videos. Their quality is good but they waste too much disk space. The mp4 video from the sanyo has good compression without visible quality loss. Therefore, this camcorder should be at the top of one's shopping list if you are a Mac user.

-Excellent low light performance. Many camcorders/cameras suffer big time when shooting video at low light (such as in door at night with usual lighting). I have compared to 720p video my other camera, the video from the Sanyo is much cleaner.

-Comes with a lot of accessories (but as the video can be easily copied onto computer, one don't really need the video cables). Good build quality. Small but with large screen. Can be operated with just the thumb. Great battery life.

-Comes with remote controller, which is hard to find on even much more expensive camcorders.

-Great stereo sound quality.

-Can store video onto portable hard disk without using computers (Xacti library). This is a great feature as you can just bring a portable hard drive and the camcorder when traveling, off-load the videos when the card is full, and continue shooting. Portable HDD is cheap and can hold hours of videos. Without this feature, you either have to prepare multiple SD cards for the trip, or you have to pull out laptop from time to time.

-Ultra slow motion video, though at low resolution. It may be a gimmick for many but can be very useful and fun if you want to capture a special action.
-8M still photo. The quality is on par with most consumer level digital cameras (but a little over sharpened, nothing close to prosumer or DSLR quality).

Cons:-The only real complain I have is the lack of Optical Image Stabilization. It only has Electronic IS, which works a little when you are not moving the camera (the natural shaking of the hand can be countered). But as soon as you start walking, panning, anything involve intentional camera movement, the EIS has no use. For Optical IS, even some of those movement can be countered to certain degree so the end results are not as shaky. Anyway, good shooting techniques are always useful, and iMovie has a image stabilization function that can be applied on shaky video, and the results are pretty good (but time-consuming). I wish Sanyo could bring OIS to their next generation camcorders.

-The menu is just OK. Not really up to current standard. I've seen much better executed animated menus on other cameras. Well they all do the similar thing but make you feel better. I don't think processing power of this camcorder is the problem, it's a lack of development in this regard. Due to a lock of buttons, one has to remember lots of settings if you want to make quick change. Good thing is that some frequently used function can be set as shortcut to the joystick.

-Only provided software for windows, not for Mac; However I doubt there are good alternative to iMovie on Mac (at this price point) so it's OK forgivable.

-Lack of parameter adjustments for video and photo quality. Just three options (normal, vivid, soft) and don't really make a difference. On my computer when playing back, just a tiny bit of increase in saturation brings the video to a better level. I wish I can shoot the video like that at the first place.

-I find it too dark to my taste when left as automatic exposure, especially indoor night shot. Therefore I customized the exposure compensation on the 4-way toggle, and raise the exposure by 0.3 or 0.6 before shooting.

Pros:
1. Records in iFrame format. iFrame is just a specification made up by Apple for recorded movies to be more iMovie friendly. It uses the standard H.264 video codec and AAC audio codec. However, it's not HD as the resolution is only 960x540 (although it's still higher than 480p), but the bitrate is set at 24Mbps. That's a lot, considering even the 1080p mode on this camcorder only has a bitrate of 16Mbps. Another plus of the iFrame format is that it's progressive. I'm getting sick and tired of camcorders recording interlaced video. I can't see the point. Interlaced video looked horrible, and requires extra processing time/quality loss due to transoding during editing to de-interlace it. Most consumer HD camcorders, even the expensive ones from Sony and Canon, records in 1080i. Try importing/editing that 1080i clip on your computer, it's more difficult than it should. iFrame clips recorded by this camcorder can be scrubbed smoothly on my 2008 iMac with iMovie09. Out of the box, iFrame is the default recording setting.
2. Records in 720p. As nice and iMovie friendly the iFrame format is, the higher resolution of 720p video is just amazing. You can see details that you won't normally see on 480p/480i videos recorded by standard def camcorders. Now, you must be asking why I put 720p as a pro, considering this camera can do 1080p. Well, that's because other HD camcorders, even more expensive ones from Sony/Canon, cannot record in 720p. Most HD camcorders by other manufactures only record in 1080i. I already pointed out that I hate interlaced video. I'd rather have 720p than 1080i. On my iMac, iMovie 09 choked a little bit with the 720p video. Scrubbing is not as smooth as the iFrame format, buy boy the extra resolution is just nice.
3. Price. I got this camcorder when Amazon had it for $329, which is an awesome deal. Even at $399, this camcorder is still cheaper than the competitors. Most other camcorders at this price range have smaller sensors than this Sanyo.
4. High speed recording/slow motion. Basically the camera records the video at a much faster frame rate than the standard 30/60 fps, and when played back at 30fps, you get a smooth slow-motion effect. Alas, the resolution is greatly reduced. You only get 448x336 on the 240fps mode, and a measly 192x108 resolution for 600fps, too small to be practically useful. Still, a nice feature to have for some fun/creative things, and unlike the Sony CX110 that only supports 3 seconds of slow-motion, the FH1A doesn't have that limitation.
5. Comes with a remote.

Cons:
1. No optical image stabilization. The FH1A only has digital image stabilization, which doesn't really say much. Videos can be quite jerky during movement and panning. However, considering the price, you would have to spend $600+ for camcorders with optical IS. Even the low end Sony/Canon HD camcorders don't have optical IS, and they're more expensive than the FH1A.
2. No built-in lens cap. Can be annoying to remove it and put it on the side of the handstrap if you need to record video quickly. Even Samsung cheap camcorders have the lens-cap built-in albeit with a manual slider.
3. Doesn't come with a pouch. It's nitpicking, but I bought a cheapo Samsung camcorder a while back, and it comes with a soft pouch. I kinda expect a bit more goodies.
4. Annoying instruction voice. Really, I don't need the camcorder telling me to insert an SD card. Good thing it can be turned off.
5. The power adapter. Instead of a compact battery charger, or a compact power adapter that has the prongs built-in, Sanyo's power adapter requires two cables. One goes to the camera, the other is the power cable.

I want an HD camcorder that is iMovie friendly where I can import the videos without transcoding/de-interlacing. The Sanyo FH1A delivers. However, the lack of optical IS kinda hampers the overall video recording experience. Still, you can't beat the features for the price. Here are some video comparisons I took, comparing the FH1A with various other devices with video recording capabilities:

Edit: Arrgh, Amazon caught the urls for my video comparisons. Go to youtube dot com slash pata2009.

Let me preface this by saying I am not a Professional. I do however take pride in my work as a hobbyist. I have had several cameras, and my specialty is dSLR's and still photography.
I was looking for a decent camera to shoot sports and this is it: 1080p at 60fps is perfect.
Yes the image quality is very good as good as if not better than anything I have seen under 1000.
Low-light is very good, although it has some trouble focusing while zooming in low-light.
Image Stabilizing is pretty good for a camera at this price, obviously its digital.
The camera is fast to turn on and start video/pics.
The camera is very small and portable, I can put it in cargo pants pockets
I love the fact that it is SD card with no hard drive
You can put the pics directly onto a flash drive w/o a computer (cam must be plugged in) This is great option to have
HDMI out is awesome as well.
Macro is very good for a camera this price.
I actually have no remorse in buying this camera and would have done it for 200 dollars more as well.
The 240fps is just a cool feature to have.
I use a monopod often, which, coupled with the digital image stabilization, works great.

Highly recommend this camera to anyone looking for anything under 1000.

Forget all the negative reviews of this camera. For the money this camera can't be beat. It is easy to use and the HD and HR movies have incredible detail. Also, you only have to carry one camera since it takes pictures. Don't let the image fool you, this camera is very small! Also, the battery life is excellent. My dad has two newer HD Cannons and he said mine is better. Lastly, it works very well indoors. I would recommend a 16 GB chip as well, but an 8 GB chip will be sufficient for most people and will save money if your budget is tight.

This camera is full of trade-offs: great features which are often crippled by poor implementation. I very nearly returned it, but ultimately it is getting the job done: taking pictures and videos of my 2 year-old and newborn for online viewing by friends and family. Consider very carefully how you plan to use this camera before buying.

The big plus is its low-light performance. It may be one of the only inexpensive HD camera's on the market which takes decent pictures under indoor lighting. If you plan to take videos indoors or at night, you'll find that you have very little choice even at twice the price.

Other pluses: acceptable performance as a still camera, a good flash, a remote control, a 37mm threaded lens for adapters and filters, and manual controls for just about everything.

The big minus is a complete lack of image stabilization. Electronic image stabilization is listed as a feature, and there is a setting to turn it on and off. But if it does anything at all, turning stabilization on just makes the picture more jittery. If you don't have a steady hand or plan to do a lot of zooming, this is NOT the camera for you. If you are thinking about using stabilization software, be warned: the CMOS sensor uses a "rolling-shutter" (google it) which is incompatible with software stabilization and makes fast pans look distorted.

Other minuses: the record/pause and still-photo buttons are at the top of the camera-back requiring a long thumb to reach. If you have small hands, you will not be able to operate the camera one-handed. Given the lack of image stabilization, this is will be a deal-breaker for some. I will have to buy a second still camera for my wife. The still-photo quality is poor in all modes except the 8 megapixel 4:3 size, where it is surprisingly good. But in that mode the display is vertically cropped until you press the photo button, making it difficult to line up shots. The face-tracking feature does not work: it often chooses chairs over people. The multi-point auto-focus is easily confused. The automatic white-balance is easily confused and seems to switch abruptly between presets instead of performing true, continuous adjustments. The short-cut controls are limited to only few oddly-chosen features. Many of the short-cut controls require secondary input (like adjusting the exposure up and down) which then conflict with other short-cuts making it impossible to adjust the settings more than once.

If your main goal is to produce online video for friends and family, then the video quality is very good: better than what you can get on cameras that cost twice as much. For computer displays you do NOT want any interlacing and 60 fps is a waste, so the availability of a 30p settings is critical. Many cameras do not have that. The video quality at this camera's 1080/60p setting is not noticeably better than at its 720/30p setting. If you are planning to shoot sports or other fast motion, this is probably not the camera for you: the rolling-shutter CMOS chip causes severe distortion with fast-motion or pans.

The viewing angle is a bit narrow if you need to get close to your subjects, such as in a small room. But it is not nearly as bad as many consumer-grade camcorders. (The 37mm lens front is threaded, so you can attach a wide-angle adapter. Those can be purchased online for as little as $40, though the cheap ones produce a lot of lens-flares.)

On the whole, the camera has a huge list of features, many of which you won't find on other camera's at this price point. But many of those features are crippled by poor design, requiring work-arounds and compromises. I suspect that a great many of the camera's problems could be fixed with a firmware update, especially the lack of image stabilization. But as far as I know there hasn't been one yet and there may never be one.

I spent many hours trying to find a camera that could take decent indoor video suitable for online viewing and was really shocked at how few choices there were for under $500. This is pretty much it at the moment, so if that's what you need, and you don't have small hands, then this camera may work for you. But if you are looking at that huge list of features and thinking "how can they do all that for so cheap?", the answer is: they didn't. You can make it work, but you have to work at it.

Pros:
- Size and weight
- Handy controls
- Nice zoom
- Battery life
- iFrame makes it Mac compatible and friendly (it was my main reason to buy it)
Cons:
- Autofocus problems means lots of ruined footage (this happened during a ski trip)
- Microphone sensitivity is less than adequate
- Photos are so-so
You simply can't compare the results with what I used to get from my old Canon mini DV
Conclusion: I'm not really happy with it.

As others have pointed out, the Sanyo VPC-FH1 (and VPC-HD2000) will lose about 10 seconds of video every 22 minutes (or so) when the file size hits the 4Gb limit for the FAT filesystem. At this point, the camera opens a new file and loses about 10 seconds of video in the process.

Other camcorders (Canon, Sony, etc.) don't seem to exhibit this issue. One way manufacturers work around the issue is to buffer the video input during the switch over so that no frames are lost. I'm assuming that, given the price, Sanyo had to cut corners here.

I like to set up my camcorder on a tripod and just let it run for the length of an event. If I'm filming a recital, for example, I don't want random 10 second chunks missing. For me, this is a deal breaker.

I ordered this FH1A. After a few days I noticed that according to the manual, it was the FH1 instead. But what's the big deal? The only difference is the the FH1A has iFrame, which is 960 x 540 and so not even HD. And the FH1 lists for more than the FH1A, on Amazon anyway. The Sanyo website says the specs for the two are the same. So I think I'll keep it. It's like everyone here and elsewhere say--good for the price. You can do better, if you are prepared to pay twice as much money. It came with AV and composite cables, but not HDMI. Strangely, it does come with antinoise cores to install on an HDMI cable, should you choose to get one. I did get a couple HDMI cables, cheap, from Amazon. They seem to work fine without installing the cores. Looks really great on my 42in LCD TV.

After I wrote the above, I re-checked the camera itself. The camera label says FH1. But, it does offer the 960x 540 iFrame resolution as an option in the menu, and this is not mentioned in the manual. So I guess it's a hybrid, FH1(A). Maybe I will try the 960 x 540 sometime. In the meantime, it's a keeper!

Edited March 11, 2010

In theory this camcorder seems like a dream come true. Unfortunately in practice, it has one major fatal flaw - it overheats often and automatically shuts off. If you're intending to use this camcorder to record your child's hour-long recital or some other lengthy and continuous event, chances are it won't work. I tried running it continuously for an hour-long event and every ten to fifteen minutes it would overheat and shut off, then reboot and start recording again, totally ruining the footage I shot. It may be fine for shooting short clips in high definition, but I would not recommend this camcorder and actually regret the purchase.