Product Review: Sanyo Xacti VPC-CG65 6.2 Megapixel Pocket Camcorder

Priced at almost $500 in 2007, and now found online and at select retailers for around $250, this pocket camcorder from Sanyo is one of the more expensive pistol-grip camcorders on the market. The Xacti VPC-CG65 is a camcorder small enough to fit in your pocket, and offers users the ability to both record video and take snapshots.

If you're looking for a standard definition camcorder for your next trip, and you don't want to be bogged down by a cumbersome piece of hardware that will cause shoulder strain, read on to see if the VPC-CG65.

Features

Unfortunately, this camcorder only records in a 4:3 aspect ratio with a resolution of 640x480, which is standard definition. All videos are recorded in the common MP4 file format. The LCD is a large 2.5 inches, which was high when the camera was made and is still considered high by 2010 camera specifications.

The camcorder can be connected to Windows and Mac officially, and also works on Linux with perhaps a little finagling. The Xacti VPC-CG65 comes with Ulead's Photo Explorer, which is a basic program that will let you do basic manipulation.

Image Quality

Image quality is acceptable for use when there are no other cameras available, but for this very high price range, you can get an excellent quality camera that also takes high definition videos. The images have an unacceptable amount of noise in my opinion, but may be suitable for people who are only taking shots in bright light and who don't perform any post-processing.

Video Quality

The video quality is high in daylight, decent indoors with good light, and poor in low light conditions. Color balance is good, and dark shots aren't as yellow as I was expecting them to be, though they don't retain a natural color system. Ideally, these videos would only be ideal for someone who is planning to upload them online.

Conclusion

The VPC-CG65 doesn't have as many megapixels as the other camcorders in the Xacti line, but that hardly matters for most individuals. The problem with this camera is the standard resolution, which has become all but obsolete, as well as the high price when compared with other camcorders on the market.