paddling with a camera

see Sanyo Xacti VPC-E1 at Amazon

Below, I have gathered links to 7 on-line reviews of this camcorder. Opinions are quite different from "Wow! It is waterproof" to more critical ones. It is not really surprising for users of compact waterproof cameras from Pentax Optio "W" or Olympus Stylus "SW" series. These cameras are full of compromises, but seem to be quite useful for paddling and other water sport.

Perhaps, the terms camera is not the best one. Maybe, we should rather talk about digicams, since these hybrid devices combine more or less successfully functions of a still photo camera and a camcorder.

1. Ryanne at Freevlog

This was probably the first review of the new camcorder posted in July, 2007 in the form of video clip. It is followed by numerous comments.

First, Ryanne is presenting the camera and its operations. The camera has a waterproof case and some features may seem to be awkward to the users of regular camcorders, but they would look quite normal to the owners of Pentax Optio W-series or similar cameras. The build quality is quite solid. She thinks it will be a good camera for her travels.

Then, Ryanne is demonstrating the camera capabilities in different conditions. You can see footage shot under water in a swimming pool, on a beach and inside a house in really low light. Video looks pretty impressive.

The newest Sanyo Xacti E1 just came out and boy is it shiny! The E1 is waterproof and rugged, has a nice big screen and to top it off, the audio and video quality is the best that I’ve seen from the Xacti series so far. Check out the video for example clips- I bumped my compression up a bit so you could see close to original quality in this video.

The E1 still uses the MPEG-4 format, but the codec has changed to h.264. I think that has made a huge difference in the quality of the image. Thanks to Tajee from Voice Bank for letting us play with this camera! If you’re looking to upgrade, I would highly recommend this camera, even over the Xacti HD series, whose audio is crummy compared to the E1 (though the E1 does not shoot in HD or in 16:9 widescreen like the HD series).

2. CNET

This is a more critical review and includes some sample still pictures.

On top of performance issues, the E1 gets mixed marks for video and still quality as well. On one hand, it can take some very nice photos. But more often, the photos suffer from the camera shake caused by frantic presses, followed by jabs, at the unresponsive shutter button. The photos tend to have a little more image noise than I like at sensitivity values above ISO 50, but that's typical for its class. And as usual, I don't recommend setting it above ISO 200 and can't imagine shooting at ISO 1,600, much less ISO 7,200. Video shot in outdoor light looks pretty typical--OK for YouTube or mobile device playback, but not recommended for editing and reencoding. Video shot in low light looks especially muddy and noisy. And the E1 could use a wind filter.

3. Amateur Traveler

A video cast by Chris Christensen, a happy owner.

4. Laptop Magazine

A more typical "consumer" review.

For $499, the Sanyo Xacti E1 is more than just the perfect companion for the pool or water park; it's a quality camcorder and camera that's easy to use and carry, even if it never sees a drop of water.

PROS:

• Sleek and durable design
• Sharp video and still images
• Waterproof to 5 feet
• Submersible microphone

CONS:

• LCD washes out in a bit bright sunlight
• Doesn’t float

5. One Mans Blog

There were at three things that I didn’t like about the Xacti VPC-E1:

1. There is absolutely no lens cover. This really worries me. You do NOT want a scratch on that lens, or you’ve just ruined the unit. So it will have to be stored in the holster all the time. This is just sad. It should have a built in retractable lens cover.
2. The image stabilization is only digital, not optical. This means that hand shake is not actually stabilized, but digitally altered, and this is sub-optimal.
3. There is no tripod mounting hole anywhere on the camcorder. I realize that the shape is unusual, but it would have been possible to put a mounting nut on the bottom of the unit so it could still be screwed onto a tripod.

6. Globe and Mail

David Pogue in his "Get wet with these waterproof cameras" article compares Sanyo Xacti to its cheaper competitors from Pentax and Olympus.

But if image quality is more important than price and size, you might consider the Sanyo E1. The surprise is that even though it's supposed to be a camcorder, it shoots better-looking stills (6 megapixels) than either of the still cameras.

And because it's so small and waterproof, the Sanyo goes where no camcorder has gone before. The Sanyo makes it possible, for the first time, to capture moments of your life that are missing from everybody else's movies: the times when you were wet.

7. YouTube

Finally, you can find hundreds of movies from commercials to happy owners productions on YouTube. I haven't seen anything shot with Sanyo Xacti E1 from a kayak or canoe, but there is one clip from a rafting trip.

If you are using Sanyo Xacti E1 please share your experiences with this camera. And, if you are ready to buy a new camera please shop at Amazon.com with free shipping to support Paddle with a Camera blog.

Related posts:

• Waterproof Digital Cameras for Paddling and Water Sports - A Shopping Guide
• Sanyo Xacti VPC-E1 Waterproof Camcorder Review and Sample Footage at FreeVlog
• Sanyo Xacti VPC-E1 Waterproof MPEG4 Camcorder - A New Camera for Paddlers?
• 10 Tips How to Avoid Blurry Pictures when Shooting on Water
• Sticky Pod Review - A Suction Cup Camera Mount for Kayak Photography
• 7 Digital Camera Predators - Do They Threat Your Waterproof Pentax or Olympus?