Xacti VPC-WH1 Sample Footage
Waterproof HD camcorderApprox. $350
Rob’s Rating: 7/10
And here’s another short video I shot on this camera in the rain:
Finally, a raw file from the camera (.MP4) that you can download to check out how it plays on your computer, it’s 27 MB. The camera was set on auto exposure and focus, and the stabilization is off:
SANYO-WH1 camera file
Sanyo Xacti VPC-WH1 Underwater Camera
I’ve been waiting awhile to get an underwater camera that I could also carry around with me on a daily basis for those random shots you sometimes see. The VPC-WH1 seemed to fit the bill and after using it for a few weeks here are my thoughts.
THE GOOD
The image quality is good but not great. Under certain conditions it is great, but much of the time the footage has a pixelated feel to it that I never get with my other (Sony HDR-HC9) HD camera.
The controls are simple and I was up and running in no time. I like shooting with manual controls, especially for exposure and focus so I was leery of what I could get with this camera but it handles well using the auto functions most of which can easily be locked off when need be. You can assign four functions to the back arrow keys as shortcuts which makes it a snap to adjust things like the various focus modes and locking the exposure when you’re setting up a shot. Too bad you can’t use these shortcuts when recording!
The macro is excellent and the zoom is great though when I was completely zoomed in on some branches there was a great deal of purple fringing.
It works perfectly underwater especially when I was in macro mode. In fact under the right conditions the image is far better than above the water.
The battery is excellent, almost three hours use. Transferring the footage to the computer (I use a Mac) was also simple, though my G5 which is getting old does take a while to do the transfer. Whereas using an intel macbook it was very fast.
The camera is also very light, which can actually be a problem shooting underwater, you really have to hold the thing steady.
THE BAD
The HD footage, under certain conditions is downright pixelated. I noticed it most on a sunny blue sky where it becomes very blocky. And depending how “busy” the picture is it can also gets quite pixelated. When comparing the camera with my other HD camera, the WH1 falls noticeably short.
The footage also plays back in a jerky manner, though this is due to my Mac computer being relatively old G5. Once rendered from my edit program it’s fine. But just a warning if you also have an older computer with a non-intel processor.
The LCD screen is not the best resolution which always makes it harder to know what you’re actually going to get. Also, when you shut the LCD the camera goes into standby mode which means it always has to be open to record, that makes it harder to get into those smaller nooks and crannies for a shot.
The auto white balance seems sensitive and can shift when doing a shot so I find it’s better to select a specific mode rather than use auto.
The zoom can be kind of clunky sometimes.
THE UGLY
The stills on this camera are bad, unusable as far as I’m concerned. I really don’t know why they call it a “dual” camera. The images are no better than you’d get on a cell phone camera. For some reason the VPC-CA9 (Sanyo’s similar camera in their pistol grip style) has a 9 MB resolution while the WH1 has only 2 MB. I have no idea why they skimped on this camera but it’s a real shame.
Here are two stills from the camera - blech
The stabilization also sucks and I find very little difference with it turned on or off, in fact it seems to make the image a bit jerkier. This combined with the 30 FPS makes for very jerky handheld footage indeed. For many people this doesn’t matter, but I find you need a steady hand to get something useable and I am always looking for something to brace it on. For this reason I prefer the square design of the WH1 since it’s easier to hold down on things.
AM I GLAD I BOUGHT IT?
Yes, it’s small enough to carry around on a daily basis which I like, and the underwater ability gives me a whole new dimension for my videos. Would I use it as my main camera, no. The image quality simply isn’t there as far as I’m concerned, unless you’re specifically shooting for something like YouTube, and then it’s fine. I don’t have an HDTV so can’t comment on how it plays back on a television.
NOTES:
• This camera does not like sand. When shooting on a beach sand and grit get into the controls and hinge of the LCD. I had the record button jam up on me because some grit got in. So it’s a good idea to keep rinsing it in water while shooting under these conditions.
• I find I always carry a small towel with me now when shooting underwater or in the rain. I always find myself drying off the camera before sticking it back into my pocket or pack.
• When shooting under wet conditions keep a lens cloth handy. The lens gets drops of water on it that need to be cleaned off regularly.
Rob Thompson 06/08/09
You can check out my other videos at www.TorontoWalkabout.com
some of which
use this camera.
If you have any questions feel free to email me:
rob@torontowalkabout.com
