Digital Home Thoughts - News & Reviews for the Digital Home

"SANYO... introduces a new Full HD (1920 x 1080 30p) Pocket-Size Dual Camera, model VPC-PD2BK, with embedded software for easy use and sharing on social networks. The camera is the only one of its kind that offers Full HD video recording, 10 MP photo shooting, and 3x optical zoom in a stylish form factor that is about the size of a deck of cards."

Although it veers somewhat toward the larger and heavier side of the pocket camcorder market, Sanyo hopes to capture your interest - and part of your spending money - with their new VPC-PD2BK "Dual Camera," by promising an enticing mix of photographic features in addition to the long list of video features that most competitors offer. This model has not been released yet (it is due in September 2010, with a list price of $169.99 US), so it may be a while before full reviews show up, but the specifications look promising, as Sanyo has included a 10.7MP CMOS sensor that is larger (at 1/2.33 inch) than that found in many competing models, to go along with its 3x optical zoom lens and a built-in flash (for still photography only). Alas, it does follow the pocket camcorder norm of having only digital image stabilization - but there is only so much technology that can be packed into what is still a small form factor, at least at this price point.

"Compact digital cameras may all be starting to sprout HD movie capability but they're by no means the only devices able to capture your life in high definition. Driven by the popularity of video sharing on YouTube and FaceBook, a new class of devices has sprung up, offering an even more simple way to record and share the important, interesting or simply funny things going on around you - the pocket camcorder."

Although not an actual review, dpreview's "Quick guide to pocket camcorders" should be on the reading list of anyone thinking about purchasing a device that falls into this increasingly popular product category. The article provides a basic feature and specification chart for 10 pocket camcorders, touches upon available resolution offerings, and covers several key specifications to look for when making a purchase decision. The author also takes the time to cover some additional considerations - such as battery, connectivity, and storage type - and even includes several sample videos that provide some indication of the output quality a casual user might expect to achieve. It will be interesting to see how this market shakes out as mobile phones add greater photographic and video capabilities.