Xacti VPC-C5

PC Advisor (UK)

  • Review
  • Specs
  • Images
  • User Reviews
  • Buy Online

When we reviewed Sanyo's Xacti VPC-C1, we were quite enamoured with the hybrid digital camera and mini-camcorder approach. We were less impressed by the lack of features.

Pros

  • Stylish design, Robust build, Easy to Use

Cons

  • Jack of all trades but master of none

Bottom Line

The Xacti VPC-C5 is miles better than Sanyo's previous efforts and we won't be surprised when other manufacturers emulate the camera/camcorder hybrid formula. But remember, if you want a straightforward digicam, you'll find better elsewhere.

Would you buy this?

  • Price

    $ 899.00 (AUD)

The VPC-C5 suffers from some of the same problems - but a great overhaul of styling, specifications and features without touching the price makes this a worthwhile purchase. The VPC-C5 houses a 5.26 megapixel CCD (charge-coupled device) with a 5x optical zoom and comes bundled with a generous 1GB SD storage card. This will save 302 high-res images and 42 minutes of MPEG-4 video at 640x480 and 30fps (frames per second).

There's a tiny rechargeable lithium battery and the bundle includes a remote control, a nice little case and a docking station with good software support in the shape of Motion Director SE 1.1, Ulead DVD Movie factory 3.5 SE and Photo Explorer 8.0 SE Basic.

At not even an inch thick, the VPC-C5 has been on a diet, and it's far more stylish than its predecessor. It's ergonomically satisfying and can be used comfortably by lefties and righties. The simple button layout won't scare off the uninitiated and, despite its svelte dimensions, the Xacti is surprisingly robust.

Shots are composed via the magnificent tilt and swivel 2in LCD, which copes well with all lighting conditions. This is the first time we've seen a camera offering audio recording to match camcorders - we made a recording, and you can't hear the mechanics whirr or the wind whistle. Impressive. It's also extremely quick to operate, and you can snap while you're filming so you don't miss a shot. Image quality is sharp, but not exceptional from a 5.26 megapixel CCD.

Keep up with the latest tech news, reviews and previews by subscribing to the PC World newsletter.

Be the first to comment.

Post new comment

Users posting comments agree to the Good Gear Guide comments policy.

Login or register to link comments to your user profile, or you may also post a comment without being logged in.

Most Popular

Tethering tutorial: How to use your iPhone as a modem
How to pick the right size TV for your living room
Capacitive vs resistive touchscreens
LCD vs plasma vs LED TVs buying guide
The Large Hadron Collider shows its insides as upgrade work commences ( +11 photos)

Best Deals on PCWorld

Digital VideoView all »
Digital CamerasView all »
NotebooksView all »
Desktop PCsView all »
TabletsView all »

Compare & Save

« 1 of 14 »
Deals powered by WhistleOut
Use WhistleOut's technology to compare:
Mobile phone plans & deals
Mobile phone models
Mobile phone carriers
Broadband plans & deals
Broadband providers
Deals powered by WhistleOut
Guides and Articles
National Broadband Network NBN 100Mbps Plans
Visualising Mobile Phone Plans
SIM Only Mobile Phone Plans
National Broadband Network NBN 25Mbps Plans
iPhone 5, 4S & iPhone 4 Plans - Compare Deals &...
Deals powered by WhistleOut
WhistleOut