Sanyo Xacti VPC-HD2

The VPC-HD2 did a better job as a digital still camera. It earned the highest overall score for still-photo quality among the four high-def camcorders, and it earned the highest score for color accuracy, sharpness, and lack of distortion. Its battery performed adequately, lasting for 85 minutes in our test.

The VPC-HD2 comes with a docking station for charging the battery and for hooking the camcorder up to a PC or TV; the dock supplies USB, AV, component, and HDMI outputs. Also included are a soft-shell case and a basic remote control for initiating playback--and for performing basic editing, such as deleting footage and combining files. Because the remote is so small--about the size of a USB key--manipulating its four-way control button is a little cumbersome.

Operating the VPC-HD2 itself is straightforward, especially because it has relatively few controls. On the back you'll find a joystick, a menu button, a record/play switch, a zoom lever, and buttons for selecting video or photo recording mode. A panel situated beneath the place where the LCD folds against the body holds the power button, a button for selecting high-definition or standard-definition video recording, and a high-sensitivity button for shooting in low light. Unfortunately, video shot in high-sensitivity mode looked quite pixelated.

Considering this Sony's marginal video quality, you might do just as well to spend $200 less on the similarly pocketable Xacti VPC-CG65, which records video in standard definition.

Eric Butterfield