Sanyo VPC-HD2000
Selling points: pocket size, 1080P@60FPS, $600
Disadvantage: electronic stabalization, slower auto-focus, 3 lux

Canon HF200
Selling points: 15x optical zoom, optical image stabalization, remote
Disadvantage: $750, not pocket size, only 1080i

Canon HF-S100
Selling points: Largest sensor of the 3, O.I.S, remote
Disadvantage: $1100, not pocket size, only 1080i, 10x optical zoom

Sony XR500
Selliing Point: best low light, better O.I.S(maybe), 120GB, GPS(not needed)
Disadvantage: $1300, not pocket size, only 16Mbps max??(outdoor scene not as sharp as S100)

I'll probably get either the cheapest(sanyo) and be done with it, or spend almost twice as much on S100, but my concern is if the extra quality is really worth that extra bucks?

simply: yes

not so simply: There's a reason the canon's are the reigning kings (or queens if you will) of consumer HD camcorders. It's mostly due to the quality of the video that they produce (color, resolution, sharpness, etc.). With that said, the Sanyo has a big thing going for it with the 1080-60p and the lower price, but what good are extra frames per second if the quality of the frames is subpar? (note: you can do worse than the sanyo as far as image quality, but compared to the canons it's no contest)

Since you're considering the Sanyo, I'm guessing you're not out to make the next indie blockbuster. In which case, to you, the larger sensor and other benefits of the HFS100 will probably get muddled by the higher price tag. As such, I'd think the HF200 would be a perfect fit. What might be even better is an HF100 (not S). They can be found for around $500 now and have a larger (but slightly lower resolution) sensor than the 200, however, it is yet to be seen what difference it'll make.

I've read quite a few reviews on HD2000, the quality is ok as long as there is sufficient light, I am a bit disappointed with its slow auto-focus though, and I am not sure about it's I.S. performance.

I really want to get S100 but the price is just a bit beyond my reach.

If HF100 is indeed better than HF200, I will go for HF100.

What might be even better is an HF100 (not S). They can be found for around $500 now and have a larger (but slightly lower resolution) sensor than the 200, however, it is yet to be seen what difference it'll make.

After recently using a camcorder that has a smaller sensor than the HF10/100; I'm thinking this might be a very important factor. The camcorder I used, the indoor quality was so dark. I even put a couple of 100-watt lamps and it hardly made a difference.

I know it's a bit soon to judge the HF20/200, but I personally am narrowing it down to HF10, HF11 (provided the price drops a bit) and the HF S100 (ditto). I've also experimented with both an HG20 and HF100 in the same environment and the low light performance is really good.

CKS,

You forgot to add 16x zoom to the advantages of the HD2000.
Also, the FH1 is $100 less than the HD2000.

CKS,

You forgot to add 16x zoom to the advantages of the HD2000.
Also, the FH1 is $100 less than the HD2000.

is it really 16x zoom? I didnt list it because I thought it's 10x true optical zoom plus some kind of trick to make it 16x, I am not sure how they did it and I don't know if it degrades quality, that's why I didn't list it.

I do know FH1 is 100 bucks cheaper, but it's not pocket size and it doesn't have external mic connection(which is not important to me at all), but pocket size is one of the selling point, to me anyway.

thanks for pointing that out though.

After recently using a camcorder that has a smaller sensor than the HF10/100; I'm thinking this might be a very important factor. The camcorder I used, the indoor quality was so dark. I even put a couple of 100-watt lamps and it hardly made a difference.

I know it's a bit soon to judge the HF20/200, but I personally am narrowing it down to HF10, HF11 (provided the price drops a bit) and the HF S100 (ditto). I've also experimented with both an HG20 and HF100 in the same environment and the low light performance is really good.

I'll wait for more review on S100 before I make my final judgement then.

It’s 10x for the photos because the whole chip is used but because it’s loaded with more pixels than usual, the camera can use less area of the chip for video to allow greater zoom. The HF200 works almost the same way because the chip is only ¼”.

It’s 10x for the photos because the whole chip is used but because it’s loaded with more pixels than usual, the camera can use less area of the chip for video to allow greater zoom. The HF200 works almost the same way because the chip is only ¼”.

I see, so quality remains the same even at 16x.

I'll wait for more review on S100 before I make my final judgement then.

Wait for the review of the HF20/200 also. That's just my opinion, we don't know yet.

There's been so much time between the announcement of the new cams and the actual release dates, that there is nothing left to do but speculate on what might be.

I posted samples videos of the HF20 in this thread, that I found mostly on YouTube..
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=16021317#post16021317


Doesn't look that much different than the HF11, but I guess some of the new features might be good to have. The price for the HF20 wil start @ $899 and the card-only HF200 for $749..

I was playing with the HF S10 at a Pro video show today and remembered something I’ve read. It has a mode while enabled, users a smaller area of the chip to achieve 1.7x extra zoom for a total of 17x. The picture quality will be slightly worse because its using much less pixels but it wont look too different to the HF200. I cant believe I forgot about that!

Yup, its 16X optical zoom and 160x digital zoom. I am a newbie with the camcorder thing. Just had a new born, so went out to get it.

I am personally a Canon fan...camera. I use D5 and L lens. The Sanyo, my price that i paid was equivalent to USD493. Nothing even comes close to that price.

No its not perfect. Wide angle is too narrow, and over lens quality to be average. But then i found this with Sony, Canon, Panasonic. Then again i am spoiled with the L lens. But ultimately, these products (unlike cameras) are like PCs, they get outdated with software, hardware designs at extremely quick rate. I believe it will be outdated in 6mths. I believe the Canon, loses out because it is just half a generation slower with 1080i. My rule of thumb for fast changing products, is always to get the latest. It was very hard for me to buy a 1080i at double the price of a newer 1080P machine. While I am sure Canon has a spectacular 1080P coming out, but then at what price? Though money may be doubled, is the quality doubled? Can your viewing device support and show the quality difference?

As for the slow focus, i found it to be partly operator driven. When i used it, it was ok, but my less experience friends were much slower. At the store, the sales guy showed me canon; it was faster, but the guy kept on focusing (unintentionally)on the wrong subject in the picture. I found it acceptable, but in low light condition, it was a bit awkward (i am talking about outdoors, at moon light level). Then again, i can't compare about Canons. Didn't get a chance to use it like that.

For my purpose, it was light and convenient. Just a side note, i was at one party and a fellow just got this super small sony (HDR-CX100), use memory stick. Played it back on the spot on a 50inch 1080P TV. Sanyo blew it away. Even the complete lay man can see the difference. btw, still pic for the sony was only 4M, sanyo is 8M. Also the sony cost more.

Does Sanyo have any model that use optical image stabalization?
Why do they keep using Electronic I.S.? to cut cost?

the new panasonic SD camcorder comes with 70x zoom, and has advanced O.I.S. which can detect around 4000 movements per second, I suppose electronic can do better than that?

What is the software package that came with the Sanyo? Are you able to edit?

It comes with one CD. Xacti Software CD1.0

Nero 8 Essentials for Sanyo

Xacti Screen Capture 1.1

Instruction manual

Its basically a strip down Nero. Overall, no major editing software included.

I added Sony XR500 into consideration because I am impressed by it's low light performance, beats S100 easily, and the new OIS is suppose to be 10x better than the previous model, so I assume it's better than S100 as well.

steadyshot test:
http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2009/03/guy_tests_out_sonys_new_optical_steadyshot_active_feature_on _homemade_wobble_board.html

Low light: S10 vs XR520
http://www.vimeo.com/groups/hfs/videos/3890854

I am kinda disappointed with it's lower bitrate though, only 16 or 17Mbps max, while Sony shines indoor, Canon obviously has the upper hand outdoor.
http://www.vimeo.com/groups/hfs/videos/3903041

NightVision(infrared) and GPS are useless to me, I wish they made a model without those features and make it 200 bucks cheaper.

I am pulling my hair out trying to decide which one I should bet my money on.

I may even buy Sanyo FH1 which is only $499, and it's suppose to be a little bit better than HD2000 in terms of quality.