Sanyo has been churning out its unusual pistol grip camcorders since 2003, but the HD700 brings a new level of performance for its price. While the first models were expensive and left a lot to be desired, things have improved immeasurably. For just £217 you get HD resolution, with the Xacti capturing 1280x720 pixels at its highest quality setting, producing a big, clear image that's perfect for viewing even on the largest TV. Because it records in the video format used in Blu-ray drives, the files aren't as large as you might expect, either. A 16GB SD card is enough to capture well over four hours, though you'll have to factor in its cost (around £50), because no storage is included in the box.
As well as offering good video quality, the camcorder can also take still images at 7.1 megapixels. These look decent, although the HD700 is first and foremost a video camera, and a good compact digital camera would give superior stills. For most purposes the quality is perfectly acceptable, with the bonus that you don't have to buy or carry two separate cameras.
As well as being adaptable, the HD700 is also extremely comfortable to use. The innovative design is impressively comfortable to hold in the hand, even during the longest of nativity plays or zoo trips. All the buttons and controls are placed within reach of your thumb, so zooming, starting and stopping recording, and capturing still shots can all be achieved with one hand.
Because the camera is so small, there are no video outputs on its body. Instead, the included dock provides a USB connection to your PC as well as an HDMI port for connection to an HDTV.
Considering the price, which is comparable to high-end compact stills cameras, the HD700 offers a lot. For under £250, there's little that can match its video quality, and the versatility is a bonus.
System Specifications
5x optical zoom 2.7in colour LCD Electronic image stabiliser SD memory card slot
Video: 1280x720 (30fps)
Stills: 7.1 megapixel
Battery life: 190 minutes
Size: 67x32x118mm
Weight: 214g
Features: 4/5
Performance: 4/5
Value: 4/5
Verdict
Shooting made simple. Refreshing design and good picture quality for both video and stills.
Author: Matthew Sparkes
Computer Buyer Online