Sanyo Xacti VPC-HD1000 review

The HD1000 is the largest model in the Xacti range, and the most expensive, with a bigger lens and body than its smaller cousin, the HD700.

It's still smaller than most camcorders, though, and its relative bulk comes with some benefits. The larger lens provides better optics, and the quality of footage the camera shoots is remarkable.

The full HD resolution of 1920x1080 pixels certainly helps, but the Xacti's performance in low light was excellent too, thanks to the fairly large 1/2.5 inch image sensor. In daylight the camcorder continued to impress, with accurate colour reproduction and accurate autofocus. Another useful electronic helping hand is image stabilisation. Camera wobble can easily make video look amateurish, but most of the small shakes and jitters you get from holding a camera in your hand are automatically eliminated by the HD1000.

As befits the James Bond styling, there are other useful gadgets too. An accessory shoe allows the fitting of an external light, though there's already one cleverly hidden in a pop-up flap. And the lens is threaded so you can add artistic filters and pretend you're the cameraman off Top Gear.

The Xacti's shape fits the hand far better than traditional cameras, allowing you to aim the camera and reach all the buttons with one hand, while producing a steadier image because you can get a tighter and more naturally comfortable grip. Although there are lots of buttons and switches, we found the camera easy to operate. Video and still image functions have their own separate record/shutter buttons, so you don't need to fumble with menu settings or switches to choose the appropriate format - just press the one you want with your thumb. Stills are captured at a decent 4 megapixels, so it's possible to use this as a regular camera as well as a camcorder.

No video outputs are included on the camera, but a supplied dock provides a wealth of options including HDMI, USB, S-video, and composite and component ports. For the money, and the size, the HD1000 is a great gadget to drop in a pocket.