Sanyo VPC-HD2000A Xacti 8MP High Definition 1080P (Black)

by Sanyo

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 3.5 x 4.4 x 2.1 inches ; 9.6 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B002Q4VBT2
• Item model number: VPC-HD2000aBK
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,124 in Camera & Photo (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: February 16, 2006

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Take stunning Full 1080p High Definition video at 60fps and amazing 8 megapixel digital photos!   The Sanyo HD2000A Dual Camera is also the world’s first camcorder that is compatible with iFrame.  The new iFrame video format can dramatically speed the process of importing, editing, and sharing your videos.  The HD2000A delivers high performance results with multiple features normally found on much higher priced video and photo cameras.  The HD2000A packs tons of features which are sure to please the most discerning user; including 600fps slow motion mode, face chasing technology which automatically reads and corrects focus and lighting for up to 12 different subjects, and 16x optical zoom for video.  Its compact design makes the HD2000A extremely portable and easy to use.  Videos, still photos and the various settings and menus can be easily accessed with the user’s thumb.  The HD2000A’s convenient design makes sharing videos and photos via social networking web sites, portable video devices like IPod’s, TV’s and computers, a breeze.

World’s First Camcorder to Provide Compatibility with iFrame
Shooting, editing and sharing high quality video has never been easier.  SANYO’s new HD2000A is the world’s first camera to adopt the new iFrame video format.  This computer-friendly video format is designed to dramatically simplify the process of working with video with your camera.  With iFrame, the video in your camera is the same format you’ll edit, so importing video is fast and file sizes are small.  You’ll be able to start editing and sharing your movies right away across multiple platforms and devices.  Because it’s based on standard technologies such as H.264, AAC, MP4 and QuickTime, iFrame can be used with Mac and PC applications.

Sanyo Xacti HD2000A Highlights 

High Performance and Stylish Design Made Simple The Dual Camera Xacti HD2000A packs high performance, cutting edge technology into a small, stylish, easy to use camera.  Designed to fit perfectly in the palm of your hand, the Dual Camera HD2000A features an easy to navigate menu which make it a great choice for the beginner and the more advanced user.  It is the perfect blend of style, performance, and ease of use.

Large, 2.7-inch Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) The display flips out from the camera and rotates up to 285 degrees on an axis that allows you to take great video or still images from otherwise-difficult-to-view positions, proving to be especially useful when shooting in confined spaces.

8 Megapixel Still Image Quality In addition to Full 1080P HD Video the HD2000A takes amazing 8 megapixel still photos.  With an 8 megapixel (effective) CMOS image sensor the still images can be interpolated to reach 12 megapixel quality.

16x Optical Zoom (video) & 10x Optical Zoom (photos) The HD2000A features an amazing 16x Advanced Optical Zoom for video.  With Sanyo’s 16x Advanced Optical Zoom Technology the field of view is increased to approximately 44 millimeters (vs. 77mm for more conventional zoom).  The overall zooming range is F=41.7-666.9mm (35mm equivalent). The photo zoom capability is 10x Optical Zoom with an F=35.7-357mm range (35mm equivalent).

12 Subject Face Chaser Technology The HD2000A recognizes up to 12 faces for videos, still pictures and optimizes focus / aperture settings to ensure all subjects are in focus.

Up to 600 fps Slow Motion Sanyo’s HD2000A features increased slow motion capability. Shooting in SHR mode (448x336) the HD2000A can reach an amazing 240 frames per second. In UHR mode (192x108) it can reach an astounding 600fps slow motion capability.

Three-Dimensional Noise Reduction (3D-DNR) SANYO’s 3D-DNR technology offers a significant improvement in video clarity by reducing random signal noise. This improvement in bit rate allocation will result in a highly accurate video image.

Sophisticated image stabilizer Using a proprietary Sanyo algorithm, the HD2000A automatically compensates for distracting up-and-down or side-to-side camera movement, keeping your subject steady and easy to follow. It accurately distinguishes between unintentional camera shake and deliberate camera movement. This handy feature operates in both wide-angle and telephoto modes.

Sequential photo mode shoots up to 12 frames per second Take pictures like the pros with sequential shooting up to 12 frames per second. The perfect solution for action photography!

Highly advanced MPEG4 AVC/H.264 video compression This feature optimizes the file size and makes sharing movies on social networking sites, or emailing them to friends and family, even easier. In fact, the file size can be up to 25 percent smaller than that of typical MPEG-4 cameras. To accomplish the complexity of encoding AVC/H.264 in real-time on the HD2000A, a dedicated H.264 video compression IC was incorporated into the camera that was designed specifically for portable consumer devices. This achieves high video quality while simultaneously reducing the system power consumption.

Easily transfer video and still images to your video capable iPod Import video and still image files directly into iTunes software and then port them to your video-capable iPod. Share your latest masterpiece with friends and family.

Record over 5 hours of full motion video Using a 16GB SDHC memory card users can capture over 11 hours and 6 minutes worth of video in standard definition or approximately 1 hour and 28 minutes in full HD video mode.

Capture still images while you’re shooting video The HD2000A enables simultaneous shooting of video clips and still images with a simple press of the shutter button during the shooting of a movie clip. You will never need to miss another precious photo opportunity. (Depending on the mode used to take still images, simultaneous video clip shooting may be interrupted. While shooting video clips, using the digital image stabilizer may change the angle of view for still images.)

Super-fast start-up Reduce your chance of missing the perfect shot. The Dual Camera Xacti HD2000A is designed for super fast start-up and shooting. With its tapeless design, the HD2000A eliminates the need to queue up a video tape, allowing it to begin shooting in as little as 1.7 seconds! When the HD2000A is powered on, closing the LCD display puts it in standby mode. Simply open the display and the HD2000A automatically powers up and can begin immediately recording in as little as 1.7 seconds.

Includes a high-capacity Sanyo brand lithium-ion battery The DB-L50 is a high capacity battery designed to work with the Sanyo Xacti HD2000A camera and delivers approximately 135 minutes of video record time.  High-energy density design minimizes the battery size and weight, making it perfect for use in the Sanyo Dual Camera Xacti HD2000A. The DB-L50 is designed to resist memory accumulation so it provides a full charge every time.

HDMI High-Definition Output It's easy to share your high-definition movies on your HD television with the HD1010. Using the HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) terminal built into the base station, just one cable connects your camcorder to your TV for a totally digital output. HDMI carries both the video and audio signals in digital form for the highest quality playback.

Easy playback of recorded video directly on a TV The HD2000A camera features a HDMI output which makes connecting it to a Digital TV or DVD Recorder a breeze.  The HD2000A can also easily be connected to a computer to back-up copies of recorded content. Still images and video clips are played back continuously and in chronological order.  When connected to a PC, simple drag-and-drop operation makes it easy to save recorded video clips and still images onto a computer's hard disk for emailing, editing or archiving. Galvanometer method structure, Auto focus: 9 groups, 12 elements (4 aspheric elements, 8 aspheric surfaces), Built-in neutral density filter, Photos: f=35.7-357mm(=35mm), Optical 10x zoom, Videos: f=41.7-666.9mm(=35mm) 16x Advanced  zoom, Low-light sensitivity - 6 lux (AUTO mode, 1/30 seconds) 2 lux (Lamp mode 1/15) Sensitivity - Auto (ISO 50-200), Manual (ISO 50/100/200/400/800/1600/3200) AV output (HDMI / S-video / Composite video, NTSC/PAL, Audio - Stereo sound) USB 2.0 (high-speed mode) Dimensions - Width 2.1” x Depth 4.13” x Height 2.25” Weight, approximately 12.1 ounces including battery and SD card.

Product Description

Take stunning Full 1080p High Definition video at 60fps and amazing 8 megapixel digital photos! The Sanyo HD2000A Dual Camera is also the world's first camcorder that is compatible with iFrame. The new iFrame video format can dramatically speed the process of importing, editing, and sharing your videos. The HD2000A delivers high performance results with multiple features normally found on much higher priced video and photo cameras. The HD2000A packs tons of features which are sure to please the most discerning user; including 600fps slow motion mode, face chasing technology which automatically reads and corrects focus and lighting for up to 12 different subjects, and 16x optical zoom for video.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

54 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Hot off the Boat, The New Xacti With iFrame Format Recording, November 17, 2009

By 

Budget Producer - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sanyo VPC-HD2000A Xacti 8MP High Definition 1080P (Black) (Electronics)

I received the unit and have been testing it out in various shooting settings and resolutions. Right away I really appreciated the .mp4 format of the recordings and the simplicity of working with the files (on a Mac w/iMovie9). Honestly, on a fast mac, working with any of the size/formats the camera records seems to be quick and easy.

I'm a little disappointed that the iFrame format doesn't turn out to be a big of a deal as I thought it would be. iFrame is a nice compromise between 720p and 480p with low file size and a wide screen format. Shooting 720p @ 30fps seems to work just as well, with Quicktime deftly handling bouncing the clips down to a variety of formats including ipod, appletv, 480p, 720p, etc.

There are two slow down modes, the slowest the files do not play natively on my mac.

The transfer speed seems a tad slow thru the USB connection to a known USB 2.0 connections. Remedied with the purchase of a third party card reader, which is also mush easier than using the base stand for transfers.

The unit lacks a usb or video connection on camera so you have to use the stand or a card reader for transfers.

On tripod this cam works well. Hand held noticed some camera shake issues that seem to be inherent with the xacti line as opposed to the Canons (based on reading other reviews). Turning the motion stabilization of or off didn't seem to make much of a difference in informal shooting sessions. iMove seems geared to take a very long time to analyze clips for shake. best to get a tripod or monopod for better shots.

The still image quality is just ok. The 8 megapixel claim falling far short as the camera bumps it down to 2 megapixel while shooting video. Even in photo shooting mode the images leave a bit to be desired. Adequate for trips and events, but not worthy of replacing a good point and shoot.

I noticed some bluish glowing spots in some videos early on. The lens is wide angle enough to have some reflection problems. Zooming in, just a little, get's rid of the glowing spots.

The various shooting modes worked fine for around the house and yard. The 1080p highest quality mode seems to be struggling to remain sharp, even in good light. For the price you almost can't compare this cam to those costing thousands more. Despite this subtle flaw the hat tips to the Xacti when taking into considering the time and HD space saved using the native .mp4 files, along with easy archivability, and native playback with no transcoding.

Under studio lighting it was easy enough to use the many menu controls to set the white point and exposure, as well as adjusting the settings. One trick I've found that can dramatically improve low budget set shots is to use the exposure and focus lock commands to keep the Cam from hunting or altering the exposure while shooting in a attempt to get the best shot. The little thing, means well but sometime you have to think for it.

Overall a nice and small, modern, consumer cam. With some tweaks high quality shots are possible. For mAc users the easy accessibility makes the Xacti a strong contender - though the iFrame format, at least for now, may be more hype than feature. Last years model might do for those not willing to for out extra to early adopt.

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Convenient camera with some small drawbacks, December 19, 2009

By 

M. Skoda (Jersey) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sanyo VPC-HD2000A Xacti 8MP High Definition 1080P (Black) (Electronics)

Overall, I am very happy with this camera. If you own a Mac, this is the camera to get because of the iFrame option. All you have to do is import the video into iMovie or Final Cut, and start editing! No waiting for the video to be transcoded, because the camera shoots in the same video format that the programs use. Transcoding is the reason that most people, (including me), never get around to editing their video on computers. It used to take hours just to get the video off the camera into an editing program. Of course you don't have to use iFrame. It also records in 1080p, 1080i, 720p, and so on. You can even do slow motion video at 600fps and 240fps. (Not HD) The slow motion is a fun feature. 16x zoom is more than most HD camcorders. You can also take a 2MP photo at the same time you record video.

The camera has a cold shoe to mount a light or a microphone. It has a mic jack and an earphone jack. It comes with a dock and remote control that can be connected to your computer, external hard drive, or TV with HDMI, composite, component, and usb. All cables are included except for the HDMI. You can even plug the dock directly into an external hard drive and offload the video files onto it.

It does have image stabilization for both the camera, and the video. The camera takes pictures equivalent to a point and shoot, and has a pop up flash. (you have to manually turn it on - not automatic) The video is equivalent to other HD cameras, and I am happy with the low light performance. There are many manual settings you can use to improve the low light quality. ISO settings to 3200, exposure compensation, white balance, and so on. You can make shortcuts to the settings using the toggle switch.

A few negatives:
The lens cap is too small and pops off. I solved this by buying a 40.5 UV lens filter to protect the lens, and the cap snaps firmly into the filter.
You cannot plug a USB cable directly into the camera. You have to use the dock. It would have been much more convenient if you could charge the camera with the USB. You can plug the power cable directly into the camera. That doesn't help if you don't have an outlet handy.
All the video cables are used on the dock only. This doesn't bother me too much. I just leave the dock near my TV. I don't plan on playing video from the camera anywhere else except for at home.
If you record constantly for about 20 minutes, (video file hits about 4GB size), it starts a new file, and there may be a gap of missing video. This is not because of the camera, it is a limitation of the SD card formatting, but other cameras deal with it much better. This doesn't bother me either, because these types of cameras are not meant to be used for constant use. Home videos don't need to be that long, and you shouldn't be boring your relatives to death like that.
The zoom is difficult to use for still photos if you have the video set to HD (16:9) and the photo set to 4:3. You can zoom in to the subject, but the subject you had framed correctly in 16:9, now appears further away in 4:3. Using the same aspect ration for both video and photo resolves this problem. There is a photo preview button.

I am very happy with this camera, and I will actually get to enjoy editing my home videos right away without waiting hours to transcode my videos before I can start. I'm sure there are other cameras that have better quality, (at a higher price), but what good is it if you just let the videos sit in a closet, on a tape or SD card, and never do anything with them?!

29 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sanyo Xacti HD2000, October 1, 2009

By 

JP - See all my reviews

I'm not a video boffin, so don't really understand the techno stuff, but I really like my new video camera. It is easy to use, compact, and really quite an attractive piece of equipment. It also seems to have really great video quality, as long as you have a steady hand as I understand there is no image stabilisation wizardry. It also has a great battery life and stores a good amount of video or pictures on a 16GB card.

The only negatives I've found so far are that it doesn't have a brilliant still picture quality, it seems to be the equivalent of any point and shoot still camera, but then I think this is true of all dual cameras.
It is also much better in good light, but manages fairly well in artificial or moderate light.

So for those amateurs out there, I would reccommend this camera, but shop around as you can get them for as little as £350/$550 (new).

Hope this helps, I spent ages researching different cameras before buying this one, and I haven't yet regretted it.