Sanyo VPC-WH1 High Definition Waterproof Flash Memory Camcorder w/ 30x Optical Zoom (Yellow)

by Sanyo

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 8 x 7 x 4.5 inches ; 12.5 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B001Q3M8IM
• Item model number: VPC-WH1YL
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (96 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,089 in Camera & Photo (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo)
  • #44 in Electronics > Camera & Photo > Underwater Photography > Camcorders
• Date first available at Amazon.com: January 21, 2009

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Take underwater High Definition video and still photos to a whole new level! The compact Sanyo Dual Camera Xacti WH1 has earned the highest possible IEC 60529 waterproof rating--IPX8--allowing footage to be captured without worrying about the effects of water or snow. The WH1 is capable of underwater depths down to an astounding 10ft for an entire hour and delivers High Definition video, up to 2-megapixel digital photos, with a 30x optical zoom. The combination of waterproof HD video and 30x optical zoom allow the WH1 to go where no camera dare go before. Its compact design makes the WH1 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 WH1’s convenient design makes sharing videos and photos via social networking web sites, portable video devices like iPods, TVs and computers, a breeze.

Sanyo Xacti WH1 Highlights

Style Design Made Simple
The Dual Camera Xacti WH1 packs cutting edge technology into a small, stylish, easy to use camera. Designed to fit perfectly in the palm of your hand, the Dual Camera WH1 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, 2.5-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.

Up to 2-megapixel Still Image Quality
A 1.1-megapixel (effective) CMOS image sensor is the heart of the still image capabilities. This sensor allows images to be interpolated to reach 2-megapixel quality.

30x optical zoom
The WH1 delivers HD video and 30x optical zoom. The lens provides a fantastic zooming range from F=43-1290 mm (35mm equivalent).

12 Subject Face Chaser Technology
Recognizes up to 12 faces for videos and still pictures and optimizes focus and aperture settings to ensure all subjects are in focus.

Sophisticated image stabilizer
Using a proprietary Sanyo algorithm, the WH1 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 13 frames per second
Take pictures like the pros with sequential shooting up to 13 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 e-mailing 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 WH1, 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 16 GB SDHC memory card users can capture over 5 hours and 43 minutes worth of video in standard definition or approximately 3 hours and 51 minutes in HD video mode.

Capture still images while you’re shooting video
The WH1 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 WH1 is designed for super fast start-up and shooting. With its tapeless design, the WH1 eliminates the need to queue up a video tape, allowing it to begin shooting in as little as 1.7 seconds! When the WH1 is powered on, closing the LCD display puts it in standby mode. Simply open the display and the WH1 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 WH1 camera and delivers approximately 200 minutes of video record time. That’s over three and twenty minutes! High-energy density design minimizes the battery size and weight, making it perfect for use in the Sanyo Dual Camera Xacti WH1. The DB-L50 is designed to resist memory accumulation so it provides a full charge every time.

Easy playback of recorded video directly on a TV
The WH1 camera features a HDMI output which makes connecting it to a digital TV or DVD recorder a breeze. The WH1 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.

Product Description

Take underwater High Definition video and still photos to a whole new level! The compact Sanyo Dual Camera Xacti WH1 has earned the highest possible IEC 60529 waterproof rating-IPX8-allowing footage to be captured without worrying about the effects of water or snow. The WH1 is capable of underwater depths down to an astounding 10ft for an entire hour and delivers High Definition video, 2-megapixel digital photos, with a 30x optical zoom. The combination of waterproof HD video and 30x optical zoom allow the WH1 to go where no camera dare go before. Its compact design makes the WH1 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 WH1's convenient design makes sharing videos and photos via social networking web sites, portable video devices like iPods, TVs and computers, a breeze.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

296 of 302 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars If something is too good to be true..., July 7, 2009

By 

Vlad G (Boston, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Sanyo VPC-WH1 High Definition Waterproof Flash Memory Camcorder w/ 30x Optical Zoom (Yellow) (Electronics)

(What's this?)

At first sight, this little machine looks almost perfect: an up to 10 feet waterproof, compact, dual camera/camcorder.
Unfortunately, there is grain of salt in almost every aspect.

First, I need to mention that I am a happy owner of an older Sanyo EX2 camcorder and, despite minor drawbacks, I really like it.

I can understand the good intention of Sanyo engineers when they ventured to create a new camcorder that would outdo the previous model in every way possible. The original EX2 was only waterproof up to 3 feet, not HD, and had mediocre battery.
In VPC-WH1, Sanyo engineers fixed and improved everything, but in the process they made several dangerous compromises.

Let's start with new ten feet waterproof rating. I would really adore this new feature if not for one small problem - all the o-rings are not user-replaceable and the manual specifically tells you that they are only good for one year. Well, if you are buying this camera to go underwater (snorkeling, of course), you know what an o-ring is and what happens when it leaks.

Another problem - the camera body has three(!) covers: one for the battery, another for the SD-card, and the third for the power port. I cannot say I am a designer of underwater equipment, but so far all underwater housings I ever used had only ONE cover... with user-replaceable o-ring.

So the camera seems to be waterproof for one year, but what about next year's vacation?

Despite these drawbacks, I was ready to forgive Sanyo because of the promised HD. Unfortunately, whatever it was they decided to call HD was not really "High Definition". The image is terribly over-compressed and has lot of artifacts. Yes, technically, if you look at the file properties, it is 720p, but only technically. I would not rate it above 300 lines of real resolution. It is hard to believe, but my old EX2 makes much better videos. I have compared the two side by side on a 52 inch TV and the difference is obvious. Even in standard resolution the old EX2 beats the new camcorder, which is slightly embarrassing...

Finally, this is supposed to be a dual camera. Well, almost a camera, because in WPC-VH1 pictures are limited to two megapixels. My old EX2 has an 8 megapixel sensor and it makes pictures as good as a standard 3 megapixel camera. The overall level of degradation from the old camcorder has not changed for this feature, so you can imagine how a two megapixel images from the new camera looks. Let's just say my cell phone does a much better job.

The only good thing is battery performance; it is actually decent now. I just do not know what to do with all this battery performance. My new stylish yellow WPC-VH1 is collecting dust now, while the old EX2 faithfully sits in a side pocket of my photo bag.

***
Frankly, I hate writing negative reviews. For a month I played around with the camcorder parameters and lighting conditions, shot underwater (and, I should mention, underwater footage is generally okay, just not HD), tried different video codecs, but nothing helped. Did I get a defective unit?

It should not be difficult for Sanyo to fix almost all the drawbacks. I would guess the video over compression problem may be fixed with a software upgrade. And a mail-in o-ring replacement service can solve the one year problem (the current manual tells you to go to your "dealer"; with all due respect, I am not sure Amazon would provide such a service). The remaining two megapixels still image camera seems hopeless, but this would not be a big loss after all...

103 of 107 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pretty good, April 9, 2009

By 

R. Thompson (Ottawa, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sanyo VPC-WH1 High Definition Waterproof Flash Memory Camcorder w/ 30x Optical Zoom (Yellow) (Electronics)

I got this camera yesterday and after shooting for a bit I'd have to say it's better than I expected, but you really have to know what you want it for.

Unlike another reviewer I would not go by the camera's LCD to adjust the image, since it's probably the weakest part of the camera, not very high resolution. The auto functions of exposure and white balance do a pretty good job. The colors are a little saturated and in some situations it does crush the blacks creating a high contrast look, but overall it works well.

The controls are simple and I was up and running in no time. I am used to shooting with manual controls, especially for exposure and focus. I was leery of what I could get with this camera but it handles well using the auto functions which can easily be locked off when need be. You can also assign four functions to the back arrow keys as shortcuts which makes it a snap to adjust the various focus modes, and lock the exposure, etc.

The macro is excellent and the zoom is great in a pinch but the image can become distorted on 30x. I did a long shot along a sidewalk and the image really broke up with the haze. When I was completely zoomed in on branches there was a great deal of purple fringing as well.

It worked perfectly underwater where I was in macro mode and the detail was excellent.

Getting the clips onto the computer is easy. I connected to the USB port and dragged them onto the desktop and from there directly into FCP. The only problem for me is my Mac is a G5 (relatively old) and there was a noticeable jerkiness in the video when played back on the computer. So the power of your computer has a definite impact on playback. Also, when editing this footage in with other HDV footage in FCP it took a looong time to render, i.e. two hours for about 12 minutes. But if you're editing it by itself, aside from making my system a bit sluggish, there were no other problems.

I was disappointed with the stills. You have to have them quite small to be decent, so I won't be using the camera much for that. Not sure why the CA9 is 8mb stills and the WH1 only 2mb!

The size of the camera is nice, it can definitely fit in a jacket pocket (not a shirt pocket) and the battery lasts a couple of hours which is great. Wasn't impressed with the stabilization and I'll definitely be using it on a tripod or braced against something solid.

My main camera is a Sony HDR-HC9 and there is a noticeable difference in quality. The WH1 image is more pixelated. But the underwater aspect is great and for that reason I'm glad I have it. So it really comes down to what you want the camera for. If you want it as your main camera and are seeking a good HD quality image, I probably wouldn't recommend this due to the pixelation and the shakiness. But if you want something for You Tube, want the underwater feature, or a very portable camera, this one is great.

I put up some sample footage and a still here: http://www.robertjohnthompson.com/page1/page1.html

78 of 80 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Waterproof. As long as you don't get it wet., June 30, 2010

By 

J. Green "Just JG" (Nuevo Mexico) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sanyo VPC-WH1 High Definition Waterproof Flash Memory Camcorder w/ 30x Optical Zoom (Yellow) (Electronics)

This camera was purchased for a very specific purpose. To use in the water. I can forgive the image quality and user controls (or virtual lack thereof) because this was a purpose built camera. Well, the first time we got it wet, it died. we were able to pull off about 2 minutes of footage shot in a swimming pool before it died. Luckily, the pool was a test before using on our vacation. So, anyway... that's $[...] bucks down the drain. Ha, ha... get it?? "drain".

Update: According to Sanyo, any water damage is "Customer Neglect".

Update # 2: Sanyo will repair my camera for $[...]

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