Testing, Testing: Sanyo Xacti Waterproof E1 Review
Ryanne July 10th, 2007
QuickTimeThe newest Sanyo Xacti E1 just came out and boy is it shiny! The E1 is waterproof and rugged, has a nice big screen and to top it off, the audio and video quality is the best that I’ve seen from the Xacti series so far. Check out the video for example clips- I bumped my compression up a bit so you could see close to original quality in this video. Also, here is a link to an original file if you want to play with it in your editing software (right click or ctrl click and save link as): SANY0011.MP4. The E1 still uses the MPEG-4 format, but the codec has changed to h.264. I think that has made a huge difference in the quality of the image. Thanks to Tajee from Voice Bank for letting us play with this camera! If you’re looking to upgrade, I would highly recommend this camera, even over the Xacti HD series, whose audio is crummy compared to the E1 (though the E1 does not shoot in HD or in 16:9 widescreen like the HD series). Check out the E1 in the Freevlog Store if you’re ready to take the plunge!
Technorati Tags: sanyo, xacti, e1, video camera, mpeg4, waterproof, h.264, videoblogging, freevlog
The Testing, Testing: Sanyo Xacti Waterproof E1 Review by Freevlog, unless otherwise expressly stated, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 United States License.
This is exciting! I do love my little C6 but I hate the audio and I HATE lugging that cable with the brick all over the place. I’m not sure how much underwater usage it would get (although it’s comforting to know that I can shoot in a downpour without much worry) but the ruggedness, audio and plain USB cable are big selling points!
Thanks for the review!
yes exactly
i doubt i’ll ever use it underwater
but it’s exciting to know that if i spill my coffee on it
it will survive!!!
also love the battery charger and little usb cable
compared to the old set up.
it’ll probably get cheaper in the next couple months too
so i’m looking forward to that.
Thank you so much for this review! I was trying to decide whether I should get an iPhone or an Xacti. You just made my decision for me!
Thanks!
well the xacti won’t surf the web or call your hubby…..
though i wish it did!
Great review! I hear that the new CG65 is basically an E1 thats not waterproof with slightly different dimensions … I wonder how they compare as far as glossy screens / cable & chargers / and audio quality. I think I read that the CG65 has a 19×9 mode too?
I think I’m gonna get an xacti sometime in the not so distant future.
- Dave
[…] Watch Video… […]
Killer review, Im gonna get one and take some footi of my bros surfing. Check out our youtube site at www.youtube.com/ea25id for older vids we took from shore and then come back and see what my new xacti will do!
Video looks cool! Have you had a chance to evaluate a quality of still images from this camcorder?
I am interested in digital cameras/camcorders suitable for paddling. For kayaking I am using Pentax Optio W10 mostly for still pictures, but occasionally for short video clips.
The best review of a video camera I’ve ever seen! Really impressive and great display of the camera!! Kudos to you guys!
hey marek
i have not yet taken pictures with this camera.
i’m really bad at taking pictures
i never think about it, i’m all about the video.
but i hear it’s a 6 megapixel….so that’s pretty cool!
cheers!
-ryanne
Hello,
I wanted to talk to you about hiring you to help me make and/or edit Camtasia how-to videos. If you are interested, please contact me at the email address that I included in the field above.
Thanks,
Moshe
P.S. Sorry to do this through comments, but I couldn’t find a contact us link on your blog.
Excellent Review! Great quality video! I’m sold!
Can you tell me what the file size is of this review video and was it saved for 512kbps for broadband as your tutorial suggests?
Thanks,
Nelson
Duh!
Forget my last question. I had just watched the video but didn’t read the text.
Sorry about that.
Nelson
Hey! Great review. I was looking for some user advice. I purchased the E1 and when I play it back on the camera (or even the TV) the quality is pretty good. but the quality on the computer when I upload it is horrible - everything is blurry and it seems as though the focus can’t keep up with the camera moving slowly. Any suggestions? Your quality seemed so clear… I wonder why mine is so much worse?
Wow, I was just reading the reviews on cnet and and I also read a really positive review in Wired Magazine. Then I came across your video after doing a Google search. The larger format pop up you guys use is amazing, is that a bliptv option? I’ve never seen that on the web before (outside of Lynda.com tutorials). Great review, thanks a million - really sealed the deal. Now I know what I want for my 36th Birthday!
If you want to see a sample of video from a I filmed my dog on the 4rth of July using a Casio digital camera in Movie mode, check this out:
http://seidon.com/sassy-hates-fireworks/
(sanyo xacti really does much better than the casio I have)
David Martinez
http://seidon.com
I put up about 6 videos on metacafe that uses my new sanyo underwater camcorder:
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/737886/double_flip_underwater/
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/737688/underwater_yoga_splits/
http://www.metacafe.com/channels/sciencegirl/
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/737171/bikini_dive/
I would say that its pretty easy to use, and I like that I don’t need mini DV tapes anymore. The battery lasts about as long as the cheapest card so don’t waste money on a card that holds more than 90 minutes. I have an expenive HD camcorder as well and this little sanyo is funner to use and I haven’t touched the HD since I got it! lol
Can anyone answer if there is a tri-pod mount on this?? I haven’t been able to see a picture of the bottom of the camera yet.
One of the readers of my “Paddling with a Camera” blog confirmed that this camcorder is equipped with a standard tripod mount
http://www.fit2paddle.com/photokayaker/C560391461/E20070701074543/index.html
I read …I saw …I bought. Thanks.
..and thanks to WIRED Magazine (http://www.wired.com/gadgets/gadgetreviews/magazine/15-08/pl_test) for kickstarting this new venture.
Cheers all.
J i m
I cannot seem to find how long a battery will last while continous shooting in MOV HQ… Anybody do it yet? …mine just came. Looks like fun.
j i m
I have the answer: about 1hr + about 15min. I simply set it on a table tripod and hit RECORD. Standard, full battery and a one Meg, SanDisk card that Walamrt had for $15. (I’m sure glad I didn’t lay out $75 at Circuit City for a 4meg.!!)
The USB plug is cold ..and with the battery dead ..I pulled the card out - used a card reader. It fired right up on my Mac. Looks pretty good!
I kitesurf and have made a harness (I make aircraft covers - so I have the stuff) this afternoon to attach it to a kite that sits roughly 100′ above me as I go along. I heard this camera does not float, so the harness is v-e-r-y secure. Once I try it, I’ll post a link so you can see what I’ve done. Might be a bit of wind tomorrow. Wish me luck…
j i m
Can I be frank?
I found this review annoying — and I know everybody else in the universe thought it was the best review of the product ever made, but, I’m sorry. I didn’t.
First problem, I kept asking myself why on earth is Ryanne promoting a camera that can be used underwater? Who needs that feature when the same camera at a lower price can now be had:
SANYO Xacti CG65
Second thing, Ryanne does a lot of gushing but misses a bunch of basic questions. Can it be used with a tripod? Does it come with software? Is the software adequate? Can you here whir from the audio?, etc.
ric
PS:
For a real in-depth discussion of these products go here:
http://forums.steves-digicams.com/forums/view_forum.php?id=27
But, keep up the good work, Ryanne. I’m a long-time fan.
ric
Also, you can download the manual for the cg65 here:
http://sanyoservice.com/pdf/images/VPCCG65.pdf
Also, you can download the manual for the cg65 here:
http://sanyoservice.com/pdf/images/VPCCG65.pdf
Also, it should be noted that the E1 may have audio issues.
Read this forum entry:
http://forums.steves-digicams.com/forums/view_topic.php?id=574773&forum_id=27
Also, Walmart has the best price for the Sanyo CG65– $300.
ricland
Yet more deeper research has revealed another alternative.
Unless you have specific underwater requirements, forget about the E1 completely.
The Sanyo Xacti VPC-HD2 High-Definition Digital Moive Camera (7.1 MP) packs far more power and is actually cheaper here: http://warehouse123.com/ProductInfo.php?pid=SANVPCHD2-GRY
ricland
Oh, and did I say, the Xacti VPC-HD2 has external mic input!!!
ricland
i actually do not recommend the HD series from xacti.
as you can tell from this review (half of which was taped on an HD xacti) the sound is really terrible. the good thing, as was mentioned, that they do have an external mic jack. though there is no mic shoe to attach it which is a bummer.
as for the tripod mounts, this is the first time in 10 years of recommending video cameras that anyone has asked me if a camera can be used on a tripod, so i didn’t bother mentioning it. in fact i’ve never come across a camera that does not have a tripod mount. even the toy cameras we brought for donation in cambodia, http://ryanedit.blogspot.com/2007/07/were-going-to-thailand-and-cambodia.html have tripod mounts. so i think it’s safe to assume that any camera you get will have one.
cheers!
Hmm, this is the second time someone with an HD thought the sound wasn’t right, where I thought it was perfect.
But let me tell you the mistake I almost made, Ryanne.
After watching your video I assumed there were no other Xacti choices, and began Marshalling my resources to buy the E1.
I was annoyed that Sanyo didn’t come out with the same thing without water-proofing which is to say, I just assumed you’d have mentioned anything else along the line of the E1.
Worse still, everywhere I went for a review of the E1, they linked back to your website. Then — by chance! — I found Steve’s cam site and begin reading about all the other xactis. Suffice to say, I was happy that I had curbed my enthusiasm and not bought the E1.
But it took me two days of research to find out about the existence of the HD.
ricland
I am really wanting to see your review on this camera but for the life of me, I cannot play it in either windows or quicktime. I am trying to download the quicktime file directly to my computer to watch.
I’m rather upset because when I left my computer on to download the windows version yesterday which was taking forever because I have a low speed dsl download, I left my laptop unattended while downloading to attend a meeting and my lover went in and read some juicy emails that were for my eyes only.
Not that I’m blaming you but if I could have a direct link so I can access this e-1 review at least it would make up for some of the chaos I have to now deal with my lover.
Warmly,
Laurie
Okay, I just watched the downloaded version. Nice job. One question though…when she is talking about the good sound quality in the low light test you can audibly hear the mechanisms recording on the film. I couldn’t hear it in the other tests so I’m wondering why this would be occuring and if there is a setting that could stop that noise.
And it would be great if someone could give the camera a one hour underwater test and post the film to see if it stands up to it’s specs. I’d be especially interested if after the camera is wiped off if there is any water droplets in the battery housing when you open it like I find when I use my pentax w30 underwater camera.
Thanx!
Well, at the very least, this review is a thing that makes me go “Hmmm…” in a good way. I just might be tempted to do a bit more research into the cameras.
One comment, just slightly off the topic of the video: If you personally have control of the text in the Store, please check the part which says this camera records “30 frames per minute”…Do you really mean full-frame (640×480 resolution), full-motion (30 frames per SECOND) video? With just a quick look over there, I think that typo showed up at least twice.
Just checkin’ chicken!
So . . . if you had a choice, and I was paying, would you take this camera, or the HD2?
The underwater footage looks great! I wouldn’t want to buy an mp4 camera, but I’m still impressed with this.
[…] is not. Despite the ease and affordability of things like the Pure Digital FlipVideo camera, or Sanyo’s Xacti series, or many others, without having quality audio, thinking about whether you have adequate light, and […]
I’ve been reading different reviews of this camera and some say it’s good underwater up to 5 feet for only 30 minutes which is the spec for it’s rating just like the pentax w20 but in sanyo’s promotional material it says it’s good for 60 minutes.
In the field that is a significant difference so which is it?
Once again I would love it if someone would give the E1 a vigorous underwater testing. Isn’t someone able to take this little beauty snorkeling??
Thanks….Laurie
Laurie: Why not you? The people with the most obvious need should be the ones to do the test.
I drove mine from about 60′ at maybe 30mph into the water attached to a kite - no problems. I don’t expect anyone else to have that specific need but I’m happy to report the results; either way.
j i m
WEll Jim,
I’d love to if I had the camera but I don’t and I don’t want to buy it if it doesn’t hold up under snorkeling conditions. I did that with the Pentax w20 and lived to regret it when it died right before my feeding the sharks expedition.
If circuit city ever has a open box where there is no penalty in returning it, I will do an in depth review and post it all over the web.
Yet until then…is there any way you could tell me if you’ve used yours underwater for an hour or more because I’m confused as to if it can safely be used for 30 minutes or 60.
Also, after you’ve used it in the water is there any indication of water getting into the battery compartment when you open it up. On the pentax this is a problem and I wouldn’t want to buy another camera that suffers from that.
Thanx Jim!!
Warmly,
Laurie
hey laurie
i have not used it underwater for this long. though the specs say 30 minutes under 5 feet of water.
http://us.sanyo.com/entertainment/cameracorder/index.cfm?productID=1495
i bet you could push it and it would be ok, but i’m sure sanyo says 30 min at 5 feet to cover themselves.
i was warned not to open the camera up after i got it wet, but if you don’t do that then you should be fine.
i’ve been playing with mine everytime we’re near a pool or the beach and it’s been great.
-ryanne
Laurie: …it’s back to risks to advance your personal needs in life.
Sorry for the repeat ..part of my reply got clipped. I’ve only walked around in shallow water with my camera attached to my leg. I don’t dive. So you may be the first one to hang over that ledge. I am continuing to fiddle however, and if someone has a specifc mounting need - I’d like to hear about it. See: wetstuff.com
Great Stuff Jim on your website. I liked the shade for the camera yet wouldn’t it be great if you could just devise some kind of clip on shade that would just cover the viewscreen instead of the entire camera to make it less bulky.
It looks like my lover made a major faux pax as well and will be making amends by buying this camcorder for me today. It was that or a Hobie Revolution Kayak which is about a grand more!! So I will be able to do my own tests and I will report back.
I was just wondering in the mean time when you are walking around in ankle deep water what is the longest you have kept the camera submerged 30 minutes, 60, 15? And once you dried off the camera and opened up the sd compartment were there any moisture drops inside? This is my biggest concern because my pentax w20 failed because of this issue so I would rather avoid that.
Thanx,
Laurie
Laurie: I kept the new version (posted) on for about 3hrs today (Sat 18 Aug) ..schlepped around the shallows all afternoon because the air was too light to really make it much fun - but I had to try the new rig.
I agree about the shade - I have an idea but won’t have time to mess with it for a couple of days.. The tincan shade does work. I made a large one for my Canon SLR which I use on a tripod when shooting around water/Sun.
Got a little water inside the case today. Can’t tell if I opened it too soon - maybe 45min. after being wet? …but I suspect I contamindated the seal with sand. There were more than a few grains in/around the seal. A little mosture was noted along the battery and SD card - not much. It’s all a learning process… I’ll know more next week. I expect wind mid-week. Cheers
j i m
http://delkin.com/products/popupshades/mini/
Hey Jim, Here is a site that makes popushades for cameras and camcorders. I’m not sure if any of there products would be adaptable to the e1 because of the way the screen closes but it would work on my Pentax w20.
Thanks so much for the field test for the camera. So as I understand it you got some water in the battery compartment but the camera still works?
I’m wondering if water will always migrate into the top of the battery compartment even if you just use it for ten minutes like my pentax w20 does. It forms near the sear but doesn’t seem to sink down where the battery contacts would be to jeopardize the camera.
It would be interested to see if you are getting water in there no mater what once you dry off the camera.
I was eager to purchase this camera today yet your comments are motivating me to do some more research. I’m now looking at cameras and housings because I really need an underwater camera I can rely on. I really, really wish I could trust the pentax because for the price and functionality that would really be the ticket for me. But I don’t want to ruin one more once in a lifetime snorkeling trip because of a camera fails at the most inopportune time!
I appreciate your help and keep me posted.
Warmly,
Laurie
Hi, I just got the Sanyo E1. Can someone tell me if i can watch these clips on my iphone? And how? Settings, etc…
Laurie: Day two of schlepping around in the water. Dry this time. I’m pretty sure it was either the sand in the seal ..or I didn’t pay attention (I did not) to the lock position. No worries - it fired up and I took about a 1/2hr in the water. Here’s about 4min of it:http://wetstuff.com/movie/4min%20Sunday%2019%20Aug.mov Note anyone: you better have cable. I don’t do any of that compression stuff. You either come to play or get left out..
I need to move the camera again - it doesn’t take enough of a wide angle for me, so I’ll make another mounting system for later in the week. Got some ideas…
James …lucky bugger. As a Macuser I’m in envy..but only use a cel about 10min a month. ..and live in an area where No Signal is as common as 5 bars in downtown L.A.
j i m
Hey Jim,
Thank you and I’m eager to see your video but the page won’t come up. I’m glad you didn’t compress it at all so I can see the quality.
Now I have about $550.00 to spend because of my partners faux pax and I was just about to buy a small sailboat because I figured the e1 wouldn’t hold up under use. But now I’m hopeful.
So I hope you can let me know how to view your video.
Thanx,
Laurie
Wonderful review!
Simple straight to the point but with that homemade feel.
I just bought this from amazon last night for $350.
What program did you use for your video editing? The one supplied with the camera?
Great vlog;)
Laurie: http://wetstuff.com/movie/4min%20Sunday%2019%20Aug.mov …and here’s a 1min: http://wetstuff.com/camera/light_air.mov ….those were pure copy/paste. They both come up on my Mac. There are links to them on the last page in the series I did about the camera holders. I used to work for SAIL Magazine …$550 won’t get you much!
Jim
Hey Jim,
I want to thank you for all your help. I had to leap to purchase this camera over the small sailboat I was considering purchasing because yesterday for a short period of time, Amazon was selling the camera for: Shipping Method: One-Day Shipping
Shipping Preference: Group my items into as few shipments as possible
Subtotal of Items: $349.99
Shipping & Handling: $19.97
——
Total for this Order: $369.96
Shipping estimate for these items: August 21, 2007
Delivery estimate: August 22, 2007 1 “Sanyo Xacti VPC-E1 6MP Waterproof MPEG4 Camcorder with 5x Optical Zoom (Blue)”
Electronics; $349.99
Sold by: Amazon.com
I looked today and it is no longer that price. I don’t know if that price was because I had put the camera in my cart for a few days and didn’t buy it so they lowered it or if it was a short price break or price mistake. Yet, let’s just say I’m thrilled even after splurging on one day shipping so I can begin testing the camera as soon as possible.
I had a budget of about $500 which after buying a spare battery leaves me about 100 bucks for any other toy I might want. I’m pondering adapting a magnetic wide angle lens to it for landscapes and indoor photography.
I’m pleased with the deal I got and I will be testing it to compare it to my pentax w20.
Warmly,
Laurie
Okay Jim I was able to download your video file and watch it in windows media player which was odd because I also downloaded the free vlog review on the camera and was unable to play that in windows media.
So great video and it seems like your camera is holding up under the wear and tear of your exhilarating activities.
Please post any new inventions you devise for your camera.
Until then…celebrate life!
Okay I just received the camera and booked a flight to hawaii to check it out. But I can tell you right now I believe it will be going back because of the mechanism noise that is recorded on all video while focusing.
Is there a focus setting that you can set it on that can stop this. On the pentax w20 you can set it to pan focus to stop that. But with the mechanism noise both when it is focusing and zooming, I feel this camera is pretty much unusable except for home use.
I will wait and see how it performs underwater but more and more it looks like I’m going to need to find another solution for snorkeling.
I noticed that tape noise when Ryanne’s reveiw when she was testing the low light. I could hear it because it wasn’t a noisy setting and asked about it on this forum. I figured it was just a low light occurence but it is NOT and the focusing mechanism is heard in all video where as in the Pentax w20 you do not hear any noise unless you are zooming.
As a side note the instruction book that comes with the camera says you can use it up to an hour in the water opposed to what there website says which is 30 minutes.
Also, this camera is suppose to be able to take photos while video taping and I tested this yesterday and it stops the tape for 2 seconds on recording and playback when you use this function which totally ruins what you are video tapeing and the photos taken in this manner are more likely to be blurred then if you shut off the video and take a dedicated photo.
Initially, I must admit I am disappointed and feel the camera is not ready for prime time because it doesn’t live up to what sanyo says it can do.
Hi, your site is nice and good. I have a query,at the end of every post you placed ” share this post , and some and kept digg, technorati,.. icons” can you say me how to keep them. I too want to place like that in my blgo, thanks.
Ryanne,
Any advice on how to get the Xacti’s MP4 files into FCP? I’m running FCP 4.5, which I believe does not allow native editing of MP4 files. I’m having a terrible time trying to figure this out.
Thanks.
Ryn
P.S.
I loved your Cambodia footage.