Sanyo Xacti VPC-CA8 review

This eight-megapixel hybrid camera-camcorder has a 2.5-inch LCD and 5x zoom lens. You can also record 640×480-pixel H.264 files at 60fps, with stereo sound, and it’s waterproof to 1.5m. Impressed by this pistol-camcorder yet? Read on…

Pros
Funny things happen when you go on holiday. Burgers become an acceptable meal EVERY DAY, drinking your body weight in booze at lunch-time seems like a good idea and it’s all too easy to attempt sporting activities that end in a complicated international insurance claim. In which case, the CA8 is your perfect partner in crime. It’s water- and sand-proof, comes with one-touch movie/stills buttons for instant recording and packs both face detection and auto-everything meaning even the most simple of simpletons can get to grips with it. What’s more, still photos are excellent and the VGA movies aren’t too shabby either.

Cons
The Sanyo Xacti VPC-CA8’s ray-gun styling could cause some problems going through customs. And if that gets you nervous, you’ll need to buy a tripod, as the Xacti’s electronic stabilisation isn’t much cop at steadying shaking hands.

In summary then…
It’s not as Tonka toy-sturdy as say the Olympus’s Tough range of cameras, but then the Sanyo isn’t supposed to be a dedicated compact camera. It is smoother and simpler to use, though, and it pumps out solid standard-def movies and decent stills, whatever the weather. Just don’t expect this XXXtreme sportster to produce the Hi-Def visuals of some of its more pricey brethren.

Style

Visuals

Value

Overall

Like the looks of this? Get chatting about the Sanyo Xacti VPC-CA8 on the PriceRunner forums.

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