Sanyo VPC-HD1000: cool tapeless Hi-Def camcorder.(CAMCORDER REVIEW)(Cover story)

In anticipation of the early 2009 deadline for the USA broadcast television system to meet the deadline to transition to Hi-Definition broadcasting, widescreen Hi-Definition TVs are proliferating at an unbelievable pace. And with many 42-inch Hi-Def monitors near $1,000, that certainly is keeping this Hi-Definition monitor transition market going at a red hot pace.

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Happily, the consumer video arena has kept pace with a steady stream of new models of Hi-Definition camcorders that can display all the incredible color fidelity and sharpness of Hi-Definition recording using the new generation of monitors. And the really cool thing is the newest Hi-Def camcorder models are small, handheld, and best of all--tapeless.

Sanyo was one of the first companies to introduce its Xacti series of flash memory-based camcorders a couple of years back--the HD 1. Now, several generations later, it has released the latest model--the VPC-HD1000. This is by far their best Hi-Definition camcorder to date. I've been using it for some months now and here's my report.

To begin, the Xacti VPC-HD1000 (hereafter called the HD1000) is a beauty to behold in its dark black metallic-like finish. The Xacti design is unique among more traditional camcorders which tend to be either elongated boxes that are horizontal or vertical. The HD1000 reflects a more ergonomic design that is angular and easier to grip with the hand. In fact, it was designed to be used by one hand--a feat that many other camcorders cannot do. It weighs a mere 11 ounces fully loaded, so it's easy to hand hold it all day without getting tired. When you wrap your hand around its angular handgrip, your thumb rests over all the important controls. It truly is a one-handed camcorder.

Probably the most imposing feature of the H D 1000 is its widescreen LCD monitor. The 2.7-inch 16 x 9 aspect ratio view gives you a correct display of Hi-Def recordings possible with the model. In …