Design
Sanyo's dual-camera range comprises three models, starting with the AU$799 VPC-FH1EXBK Full HD capable model, and the two 720p-capable units, the AU$499 VPC-TH1EX Compact HD and the AU$499 VPC-CG10EXBK HD, which is what we've reviewed.
While the former two models have a distinctly camcorder-style design — whip off the Sanyo badges and we reckon you'd have a hard time picking the vendor — the VPC-CG10EXBK has a unique style, thanks to the pistol grip style design. It's a stand-out trick Sanyo's employed in previous camcorder models, and it's tough not to pick up the VPC-CG10EXBK and think you're holding a shaver or barcode scanner instead.
The other reason the VPC-CG10EXBK's design stands out is in its choice of colours. There's a model that comes in camcorder-standard black, but our review model came in a much more vibrant pink casing. If you ever wanted a camcorder that people would stare at in joint fascination and bewilderment simply due to its hue, this might be the camcorder for you.
The pistol grip does make it easy to hold, and it's also quite small (72x112.8x38mm) and light (171g), making it a decent choice for throwing into a bag at a moment's notice. We even managed to pop it into a jeans pocket without discomfort, which is not something you can say of many camcorders.
The VPC-CG10EXBK has a 3-inch LCD panel that flips out on the left-hand side, but no touchscreen, instead relegating all of the unit's controls to the rear of the camcorder body in a very tightly packed configuration.
Features
The VPC-CG10EXBK is a 720p capable camcorder, albeit at only 30fps; if you want smooth 60fps shooting you'll either have to plump for the VPC-FH1EXBK Full HD model, or drop the VPC-CG10EXBK down into standard definition modes. One design limitation that plays into the VPC-CG10EXBK's feature set is the relatively low zoom rate, which tops out at 5x optical zoom. If you want a model capable of longer zoom, the more camcorder style VPC-TH1EX Compact HD offers 30x optical zoom. Where the VPC-CG10EXBK loses out in zoom, it makes up for it in still image capture potential, with a 10-megapixel sensor, compared to the VPC-TH1EX's meagre 1.1-megapixel capture facility. Storage is provided via SD/SDHC Flash card, along with a pretty paltry on-board 40MB of storage space.
Sanyo refers to these camcorders as "Dual Cameras" thanks to the ability to capture still shots as well as shooting video. This isn't exactly a unique feature, but the fact that Sanyo's given equal prominence to still shooting as well as video by having the buttons for both at the same size and side by side gives you an idea of which market Sanyo's shooting for.
Performance
The VPC-CG10EXBK's lightweight makes it easy to carry around, but the pistol design, which places the lens barrel at the top of the unit also makes it a bit of a liability if you're using a small compact camera tripod, as it's very easy to tip over, unlike a centrally weighted camcorder.
The controls are, as mentioned, cramped around the top of the camcorder. The record and still buttons are large and easy to hit correctly, but we can't say the same about the zoom which sits in between them in an awkward position, and the same is true of the tiny joystick control beneath. Buttons and controls felt a bit spongy and imprecise when used, although it is something you could get used to.
As you might expect from an AU$499 camcorder, video quality wasn't spectacular, but at this price point it was equally what we'd deem acceptable. We shot a lot of outside footage in bright light with plenty of motion, and the VPC-CG10EXBK kept pace well enough for the classic family movie style footage. Battery life was quite good, with the camcorder keeping power over some lengthy shooting sessions.
On the stills front we were a little more torn. You can capture stills while shooting, but there's not much of a notification that you're doing so, and as with the video shooting, there's a lengthy pause before actual capture. Still quality was quite good — we opted mostly not to use the VPC-CG10EXBK's interpolation, which allows you to boost up to an artificial 12-megapixel level — but again the small size and weight of the camcorder makes hand jitter a genuine problem, and it's tricky to correctly weigh on a small tripod.
The VPC-CG10EXBK delivers a product that's not exceptional value per se, but it's equally not horribly flawed for what Sanyo's asking for it. For those who just want tiny snapshot video in a unit that's very easy to carry around it could be a good buy.
Add Your Review