Sanyo Xacti HD1000

The new Sanyo Xacti HD1000 weighs only 9.5 ounces and has a total volume of only 16.6 cubic inches, making it the world’s smallest and lightest Full HD recording digital camcorder. It records video in the full high definition resolution of 1920 pixels by 1080 pixels. It incorporates advanced MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 video compression, enabling up to approximately 85 minutes of Full HD (1920 x 1080) video recording or up to five hours, 14 minutes of TV-quality (640 x 480) video recording onto an 8GB SDHC Memory Card.

Sanyo developed a new high-speed image processing engine to handle the high capacity demands of Full HD data. This engine utilizes Sanyo’s proprietary codec, enabling Full HD compatibility with the AVC/H.264 format, and makes it possible to do with one simple yet powerful chip the complex processing which previously required two separate chips.

It is new ergonomic designed for easy, one-handed operation with all key conveniently functions thumb-operable, the HD1000 is comfortable to hold, even for extended periods. As part of its stylish and thoughtful new design, the HD1000 also adds a distinctly useful feature frequently requested by users of previous Xacti camcorders — the ability to have the lens level with the ground when the device is used with a tripod.

Incorporating the latest high-definition CMOS sensor, the Sanyo Xacti HD1000 camcorder captures full 1080i high-definition video (1920×1080) at 60 frames-per-second. Designed to record the rich and vibrant colors of real life, the HD1000 also captures the subtle tones to provide a natural-looking result. The HD1000’s CMOS sensor provides the quick responsiveness needed to capture fast moving subjects and Sanyo’s noise reduction technology helps obtain the cleanest signal from each pixel.

The HD1000’s new “Xacti Library” feature makes it exceptionally easy to save video and image files by simply connecting the included USB cable from the docking station to an external hard disk drive. After connecting the docking station to an external hard drive and to a television (via an HDMI cable), the user places the camera into the docking station and — using the menu that appears on the television screen — can search through the thumbnails and choose either to play the file or save it to the external hard disk.

At the front of the HD1000 is a commanding 10x all-glass HD lens. The HD1000’s fast f/1.8-2.5 lens is capable of allowing almost four times more light through to assist in lower light venues. Consisting of eight groups and eleven total lenses with a built-in neutral density filter, the HD1000’s lens provides a spectacular field-of-view with a 38-380 mm range (35 mm equivalent). Combined with the 10x digital zoom, the HD1000 provides up to 100x total zooming capability.

The HD1000 features a large 2.7 inch widescreen Liquid Crystal Display (LCD). The display flips out from the camera and rotates up to 285 degrees on axis, allowing you to take great video or still images even from difficult-to-view positions, which is especially useful when shooting in large crowds or in small rooms.

High-definition can’t hide shaky or erratic camera movement. That’s why Sanyo’s HD1000 comes with a sophisticated image stabilizer for both stills and video. This handy feature operates in both wide-angle and telephoto modes, giving every shot a solid, professional-looking feel. For video-compatible anti-shake correction, Sanyo further developed the digital stabilizer based on previous proprietary image stabilizer technology, and advanced the technology to be more accurate in its correction, increasing the image area detection function. Also, Sanyo newly developed its proprietary “Superposition function” for higher still image quality. This function allows for clear pictures of the subject even when moving or rotation occurs.

The HD1000 includes a new “Face Chaser” function that automatically detects and isolates faces to assist the camera’s exposure and auto-focus. The HD1000 is capable of detecting up to 12 independent faces at a time.