Bitrate/quality might be an issue (although I long for one too)... Here's an article that I wrote in January for a photo newsletter for www.pixpo.com (shameless plug) that talks gently about some of its shortcomings (further shameless plug - we'll have a very cool pc/mac video broadcasting product later in the year)...
</end plug>, here's the aritcle: Looking for a high performance hybrid camera? Sanyo recently announced their combination VPC-HD1 5mp still camera/high definition camcorder that records to SD cards for a startlingly low $800. This camera is sleek and compact and is the hottest ticket on many a high-tech wish-list right now. So, what's the catch? Well, it doesn't come with an SD card, but the ones that come in the box with new cameras are typically so small that they're useless anyhow. The only other catch is that it writes to MPEG4 at a 9 Megabit per second data rate - most current HD (1280 x 720) cameras write to MPEG2 at 20 Megabit per seconds or higher. So, given this bitrate issue, is the camera still the incredible value it appears to be? Well, unfortunately we can't answer that just yet as the VPC-HD1 won't be available until March. Our advice at this point is to sit on that wallet and wait to read a few user reviews before making your move. In the meantime, here's what a couple of alternatives look like: A Step Up? Sony Handycam HDR-HC1 This Sony is not quite as sleek as the Sanyo, writes to MiniDV tapes instead of SD cards and has significantly lower stills resolution with 2.8 megapixel photo capture. Nonetheless, this "entry level" HD cam looks great from a video perspective. This Sony almost triples the data rate of the Sanyo, writing at 25 megabits per second to MPEG2. With this in mind, the Sony is worth looking at if top quality video is your top, although the $1800 price tag pushes it a bit past the budget of many hobbyists. Low Cost Substitute? Pentax Optio MX4 If you want a hybrid camera with video features such as zoom being enabled while recording, a camera like the MX4 might be worth considering. At a street price of around $300 this camera has quite a bit of bang for the buck. That said, if you are serious about stills OR video, this may not deliver what you're looking for. While it is indeed a fun camera, the responsiveness and focusing of this camera are nowhere near what you'll find in the Sony or Sanyo. So good luck with your shopping. If you have your own opinion on the best choice for a hybrid, please e-mail me at [EMAIL PROTECTED] - you might just find your input included in our next newsletter. --- In [email protected], "missbhavens1969" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > I'm amassing a pile of things to sell on ebay to finance the purchase of one of these. I > want to carry it in my purse...except that I'm selling my purse on ebay... > > Bekah > > --- In [email protected], daniel liss <daniel@> wrote: > > > > weblog-safe link: > > > > http://tinyurl.com/7d2er > > > > > > -daniel > > > > > > -- > > > > Daniel Liss > > AIM: pouringdownpix > > E: daniel@ > > _________________________________ > > http://pouringdown.blogspot.com/ > > _________________________________ > > > > > > > > --- > > [This E-mail scanned for viruses by Declude EVA] > > > Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/videoblogging/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
