Digital Cameras Ratings: Sanyo VPC-TH1 HD Compact Flash Memory Camcorder w/ 30x Optical Zoom (Silver) Review

Average Reviews:
3.1 out of 5 stars

(More customer reviews)I also bought this camera without doing much research.I was looking for a camcorder that was HD "quality", uses SDHC memory card and for a price around $300.The Sanyo met all the criteria so I purchased it from Amazon.

I also picked up a 16 gb Transcend memory card.

Let's go over the PROS first --
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++ It is really easy to use.Just point and shoot.Just like using a digital camera, except it's a digital video camera.
++ Having the memory card is so much better than using mini-DV tapes.There is no longer a need to plug the camcorder into your computer fireport or USB port.After I am done shooting, I just pop out the memory card, put it in my memory card reader and copy it onto the hard driver.Doesn't get much better than that!
++ Transferring files are a lot faster than mini-DV tapes.Before, you had to play/record in real time.Due to fact that everything is digital, the transfer is quite fast!
++ Battery life is very good.You can get around 200 minutes of video time.I also like the fact that the battery indicator tells you the approximate MINUTES left.I hate it when they just show a battery symbol and start deducting "spaces/icons" from the battery.I need to know the numerical time value, which this camera provides
++ YouTube uploads are amazingly easy.Just click on the file you want to use, and upload.Make sure you watch in HQ quality on YouTUbe
++ Size is perfect.It's a lot smaller than my mini-DV camcorder, but not too small where it feels like a toy.
++ Build/Construction.I bought the blue version and the blue looks very good.It feels solid in your hands and appear that it could take some abuse.It's not too light and not too heavy.It just feels good in your hands.
++ Quality - overall, quality of the video is good for a $300 video camera.You cannot expect true HD quality from this.However, I do have a problem with the focus (see the CONS below)
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OK - here's the CONS
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- Focus ---- the although the camera has face recogition, there is no way to "lock" onto one person.In other words, if there are 3 or 4 people in the same shot, the camera tends to jump around with the focus between the different faces and it gets annoying during playback.It seems like the camera keeps searching for the right focus.If there is a way to "lock" onto a face, please let me know so I can use that feature.
- Indoor quality not good.There seems to be more noise than usual while shooting indoors.Of course, I should have turned on more lights indoors but I am still working on improving my indoor shots.
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Would I buy this camera knowing what I know?Absolutely!!The price is right.If they could fix the focus issue, this camera would have met all my expectations

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Product Description:
Capture life's special moments as they happen - the new Sanyo Dual Camera Xacti TH1 records HD video and up to 2-megapixel digital photos with 30X optical zoom.30x optical zoom and HD video quality make this camera truly special.It has a more traditional horizontal design but this product is far from ordinary.Its compact, lightweight design makes the TH1 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 TH1's MPEG4 / H.264 recording format makes sharing videos and photos via social networking web sites, portable video devices like iPods, TVs and computers, a breeze.

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