Sanyo Xacti VPC-CA100

To film underwater using your regular camcorder you'd probably have to invest in some rather pricey underwater housing. However, this summer has seen the release of several compact waterproof models that are ideal for use on holiday or in the great outdoors. However, many such models are only really waterproof to a few metres, making camcorders like the Sanyo VPC-CA100 great for the beach but not so great for diving.

Handling

This handheld mini-camcorder has the same 'pistol-cam' design as Sanyo's other Xacti camcorders, which is practical for filming with just one hand. The CA100 is a bit heavier (242 g) and slightly bulkier than the Kodak Playsport, and it'll fit more easily in a coat pocket than a shirt or trouser pocket. We tested the bright yellow version of this mini-camcorder (VPC-CA100EXYL). The eye-catching hue certainly seems to suggest that the CA100 is designed for fun, and it's true that in spite of its robust casing, this camcorder is only waterproof to three metres, making it more suitable for beach bums than divers.

The controls have been designed and finished to keep water out, and the On/Off, Menu and Playback buttons are all set into the camera itself and covered with a flat rubber shell (see below). They're certainly very sturdy but they do lack sensitivity. In fact, you'll have to press them quite hard, which can be a bit annoying when trying to navigate through the menu. The lens doesn't have a cap or an automatic shutter-style cover, but is fitted with a protective outer lens. The SD card and battery compartment—the part most vulnerable to water—is located on the end of the handle. The compartment is held shut with a sturdy latch so there's very little risk of water getting in accidentally.

We tested out the CA100 while diving in a lake and, on the whole, it worked well. You can see the video we filmed here. Note that this camcorder doesn't have a specific 'H_²O' mode like the Kodak Playsport, which uses an orange filter to balance out the blue overtone generally present in underwater shots (although in our video it's more green).

The camcorder switches on when you press the On/Off button then flip out the LCD screen. The screen is used to play back videos and to record them too as there's no optical viewfinder (pretty much useless on this type of camcorder anyway). It's easy to use too: just press the Photo button to take a still shot or press the Video button to record a film. The zoom control takes the form of a rocker switch located between these two buttons, and a Dual Shot function allows you to take photos while you film.

You can film for up to 60 minutes with the battery supplied and the camcorder can be easily recharged using its USB cable.

Image quality

The CA100 can film in two HD resolutions: 1080p (1920 x 1080 pixels) or 720p (1280 x 720 pixels). The 1080p mode is best used if you'll be watching back your films on a Full HD TV, whereas 720p is better for uploading films to video sharing sites such as YouTube and Dailymotion, which are now compatible with 720p HD. Overall image quality is very good and is certainly better than the Kodak Playsport, largely due to Sanyo's better-quality lens.

The lens has a 12x zoom starting at a focal length of 40 mm (in 24 x 36 mm equivalent). Unlike the Kodak Playsport and the Sony Bloggie, the CA100 doesn't change focal length when it switches to 720p. You'll therefore have the same field of view (40 mm in 24 x 36 mm equivalent) in 1080p and in 720p. In photo mode, the focal length is 38 mm and the zoom is less powerful at just 5x.
This camcorder has advanced functions such as facial recognition, a burst mode (7 fps) for creating stereoscopic sequences and a super macro mode that can be used as close as 1 cm to the subject.

The CA100 doesn't have an internal memory (I'm not counting the measly 128 MB that only allows you to capture 15 seconds of footage) and is supplied without a memory card. It records to SD, SDHC and SDXC cards, and you can store up to 4 hours of 1080p video (MPEG-4 AVC/H.264) on a 32 GB card.

The CA100 even has a digital mini-HDMI connection so you can watch your films back on an HD TV (cable not included).

The Sanyo CA100 pocket camcorder is available in yellow (VPC-CA100EXYL), pink (VPC-CA100EXP) or black (VPCCA100EXBK).