Sanyo's Dual Camera Xacti Camcorder Shoots 1080 Underwater

Need to shoot 1080p video? Need to shoot stills? Need it to all fit within the palm of your hand? You've got loads of options! Wait, you need to do all of that underwater? That's a problem. Well, it was a problem. Sanyo has just introduced a new portable camera/camcorder that can do all of the above, even under the deep blue sea.

The Dual Camera Xacti, model VPC-CA102YL, is a brightly colored new handheld camcorder that's capable of capturing over 480 minutes of 1080 Full HD video on a single 64GB SDXC memory card. It's also capable of capturing 14MP still images at up to 10 feet underwater. The camcorder records in MPEG-4 AVC/H.264, and it also has up to 12x zoom (5x optical, the rest is digital) available. Furthermore, the High-Speed Sequential Shooting mode enables capturing up to 22 photos at 7 frames per second. It supports wireless transfers when using an Eye-Fi card, and the mini-HDMI output allows users to showcase their captures instantly on a nearby HDTV. It will ship later this month for $349.99, which seems rather reasonable for 1080 capturing underwater.

SANYO Takes Underwater Full HD Video to a Whole New Level

1080 Full HD Videos and 14MP Photos from Ten Feet Underwater to the Top of the Slopes

CHATSWORTH, Calif., Aug. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- SANYO North America Corporation (SANYO), introduces a new waterproof Full HD (1920 x 1080) Dual Camera Xacti, model VPC-CA102YL, for active lifestyles. The new Dual Camera can be used to record over 480 minutes of 1080 Full HD video on a single 64GB SDXC memory card and 14MP photos from a depth of ten feet underwater. The camera will be available for purchase in August with an MSRP of $349.99.

Designed for any indoor or outdoor adventure, the VPC-CA102YL fits perfectly in the palm of the user's hand and is small enough to be carried in a pocket, backpack, or purse -- ready to be used at any time and in any weather condition. SANYO Dual Cameras use a convenient video format, MPEG-4 AVC/H.264, which makes sharing videos online, on blogs or on other multimedia sites simple. The media created can also be easily edited and exported to portable media devices. Photos and videos can be displayed in Full HD resolution on high definition TVs.

"Dual Cameras are packed with features and offer incredible flexibility," says Tom Van Voy, Vice President and General Manager of the Digital Solutions Division for SANYO North America. "This is the 'take everywhere' camera; water, snow, or land.  Getting great HD video and still images is incredibly easy with the new CA102YL," said Van Voy.

The camera uses a proprietary "double-range zoom" feature for zoom operation while filming video with 12x zoom available from wide angle to telephoto for capturing distant objects (equivalent to 40mm to 480 mm zoom in a 35mm film camera). In addition, the High-Speed Sequential Shooting mode enables capturing up to 22 photos at 7 frames per second.

The VPC-CA102YL is stylish and compact with a yellow, vertical-shaped body with gray accents. The new SANYO high-speed image processing engine contributes to the small size.

Files can be saved to SD, SDHC or ultra-high capacity SDXC (up to 2Tb) memory cards. Also, there are multiple video and photo modes for flexibility in memory use. The battery will allow approximately 60 minutes of continuous filming time in Full HD mode.

Main Features: VPC-CA102YL

    * Full-HD videos, 1080 60i (1920 x 1080 pixels)
    * 14MP photos
    * Waterproof (can be used in water up to 10 ft depth)
    * Compact, vertical form factor
    * CMOS sensor (14.4MP)
    * 38 mm wide-angle lens
    * 5x optical zoom, 12x double-range zoom
    * Compatible with SD, SDHC, or SDXC memory cards
    * Wireless data transfer via Eye-Fi SD cards*
    * 2.7-inch TFT LCD display (can be turned 285 degrees)
    * "Face Chaser" and "Target a Color" functions
    * Mini-HDMI port
    * Rechargeable lithium-ion battery
    * Rechargeable via USB port
    * Stylish yellow body with gray accents
    * Size: 3.37 x 1.47 x 4.34 inches (WxDxH)
    * Weight: approx. 5.5 ounces