Sanyo Xacti VPC-HD1000

As the relatively new saying goes, ‘cameras don’t do video as well as camcorders, and vice versa’. There have been numerous attempts to meld the two together since SD became a viable format for decent quality video, but most have fallen into one or the other camp, neglecting the other side. Sanyo’s Xacti range has been in the mix longer than most and the latest model, the HD1000, boast both four-megapixel stills and high-def video.

With the average compact boasting upwards of seven megapixels and costing far less than £400, the Xacti HD1000 can’t really be treated as just a digital camera. The extra functionality of the video must be accepted into the price, as even a cheap high-def camcorder is more expensive. The shape also emphasises the Movie mode, having an upright grip and side-opening LCD. Although this may be a radical departure from most digital cameras, it does make the majority of the controls very simple to reach when using the Xacti one-handed. The handling feels extremely natural, and the weight of the lens doesn’t ruin the balance or make it difficult to hold for an extended period. Even on first pick-up, the buttons fall naturally under the thumb, and access to both video and still recording is even on the same button. Taking a photo is yet another break from the norm, moving the Xacti another step further away from average camera operation.

Pressing the left part of the large central button moves the HD1000 into a Focus mode, in which the camera will search for a point of focus across the frame. It requires an initial press and hold, followed by a second press to take an image. This can become frustrating, as the standard preview switches from a 16:9 widescreen view that fills the screen to a 4:3 view, with borders. Releasing the camera button then reverts the LCD to the widescreen view, forcing the user to once again press down to be capable of taking a shot. Although the half-press process isn’t new, having the preview change so dramatically makes the whole process misleading when framing up. It also presents problems when using the zoom, making the image seem far closer than what is actually being taken. The zoom itself isn’t difficult to control though, with a slider to the left of the camera button allowing the magnification to be tempered easily. With 10x optical at the user’s disposal, an accurate control is needed, and the HD1000’s provided version is up to the task. The On/Off button, on the other hand, can be stiff and unresponsive, requiring a couple of presses to power the device up. Where the accessibility of the controls may be superb, the choice and amount is limited. For every minor feature, from switching to Shutter Priority mode through to turning the flash to automatic, the menu needs to be used. Most of the features aren’t too difficult to find, but in comparison to a standard digital camera, the majority would be freely available on the body. This further compounds the HD1000’s dedication to being closer to a camcorder than digital camera, as the amount of functions available via hardware buttons is far less on a video device.

In spite of the accessibility problems, the Xacti has plenty of functionality, such as the Priority and Manual modes as well as Face Detection and tracking. To bulk up the less-than-impressive megapixels, Sanyo has added the option to interpolate up to 8MP. Where this may not legitimately boost the pixel count it does double the size post-shot, allowing cropping to be less destructive and enlargements to be slightly bigger. The menu doesn’t clearly label this, though, making the selection misleading to a beginner.

Regardless of any ergonomic or operational issues, a camera able to produce photos good enough to fill a large high-def screen should, in theory at least, be able to take a decent snap. The Xacti falls short of that assumption though, missing out on many of the fundamentals of even a quick snap. The majority of the photos have more of an average level of sharpness, not being particularly soft but lacking a discernable focal point. The reason for this can probably once again be levelled at the video functionality, as camcorders tend to avoid limiting the depth of field in case any movement drastically changes the framing, requiring the focus to remain deep and able to adapt quickly. Colour is one of the most eye-catching elements of the HD1000, with some excellent reds and greens present. The exposure is decent enough on most occasions, coping surprisingly well under duller skies. There was the odd occasion of straying into overexposure, but this was fortunately limited to sunnier settings where even a DSLR would’ve struggled.

The Xacti HD1000 clearly wasn’t designed to be balanced in both photo and video, but the attention paid to stills almost seems like a passing interest. For a camcorder enthusiast looking for a cheap model, this may be of interest, but to anyone looking for the best of both worlds, this is far from it.