Sanyo Xacti WH1
The basics
Waterproof to a depth of three metres (10ft), the WH1 is both an HD camcorder and a digital still camera. Its 1280x720 movies and 2MP stills are recorded to SD or SDHC card, and USB and HDMI outputs allow it to be connected to a computer or a high-definition TV. If you’ve got a Windows PC the WH1 can also be used as a webcam.
The good
The WH1 makes good on its waterproof promise: surviving a complete dunking and a trip out in a heavy downpour. After use in water it needs washing with fresh water, and to dry completely. The 30x optical zoom is effective without compromising picture quality, while the menu buttons are, in the main, responsive. PC users get the bonus of free editing software but as the WH1 uses an AVCHD codec it creates .mp4 files, which are also Mac-friendly.
The bad
Just who needs a 1500x digital zoom is a mystery to us, so there seems no practical purpose for this feature. Also, while the zoom itself is great, controlling it can be difficult, as the lever used is far from smooth. The 2MP stills resolution is disappointing, and in reality is only as good as a large number of mobile phones.
The bottom line
The Sanyo WH1 delivers good quality video in a rugged and affordable (sub-£300) package but it could be even more attractive with a better photo resolution.
User comments (22)
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Mitch_110309 November 2009
Where is the best/cheapest place to buy this from?
Report as inappropriateross863609 November 2009
cool
Report as inappropriateIain Dean09 November 2009
would love to know where ortis found this for £165, best I can get online is around £280!
Report as inappropriateRoy Halliwell10 November 2009
You did not try very hard, this was on page one of google search. Plemix.com camera in white £177.16p
Report as inappropriateStuart10 November 2009
Gadg show say £161.31 best price! Where? whish they would say where they could be purchased from at that price, so we could get one!
Report as inappropriatecorey10 November 2009
where the hell for £165
Report as inappropriateAl10 November 2009
I need to buy one of these for work and would love to know where their £162 deal can be found..... I've no idea where these "Best Prices" are found!!! Please help..............
Report as inappropriateSally11 November 2009
was going to purchase this camcorder for christmas, when it came on your show where can i get this at £165 please help
Report as inappropriatesally11 November 2009
i was going to buy the sanyo camcorder on your show for my husband for christmas but £165 is the best price can you help me where to get it at that price
Report as inappropriateIan Jordan12 November 2009
I have been looking at this camera for the last 6 months. The cheapest places are ebay, but the prices are from £165 but most are from Hongkong. You will need to pay import Taxes if stopped, and you will not be Guarenteed it will be uk model. Cheapest found UK from repuible source is around £270...... be safe or rolll the dice
Report as inappropriatecrosslands200913 November 2009
Like the other comments, I would like to know how or where you get this great camcorder for the £163 shown on the most recent broadcast otherwise it must make a huge difference to the comparison/reviews(G rating) done on the show.
Report as inappropriateSharron Henretty13 November 2009
I watched the show and would love to get this camcorder for my husbands christmas but woud love to know where you got it for £163 because the cheapest I have seen is £280. Please help!!!
Report as inappropriate*Claire*13 November 2009
I too completely agree with the above comments! £165 where??? I noticed someone had mentioned going on Plemix.com however when adding on all the p&p and making sure it actually gets to your address the price ends up at around £210!!! The show should state where they are buying items from otherwise whats the point in reviewing them if the viewers cant get there hands on them for the same price??? Reeaaallly wanted to surprise my boyf for xmas- looks like i'm back to the drawing board! What a let down!
Report as inappropriateSteve13 November 2009
With Plemix.com they add £9 when you go to checkout, want £16 for delivery and strangely ask for £25 or so for 12 month warrenty. Not sure how legal that is but I would not touch them. Still leaves us looking for this magical figure of £165 doesnt it. Even the review says sub £300 so I'm guessing its a mistake.
Report as inappropriateMike14 November 2009
I went through price runner. FIZI.com have it for £180.99 (+ 9.99 P&P), a total of £190.98, not the price quoted on the gadget show but the cheapest i could find. Says it is in uk format and company is UK based.............i have bought it so fingers crossed it turns up.
Report as inappropriateGraham Anderson23 November 2009
I too would like to know where Ortis was finding the camera @ £163 as per show, please advise ?, I do lov ethe show and have bought their recommendations B4 and found them to be fab' , so whats the crack with this latest camera price ?, where can we all buy one for "even" sub £200 ish ?, cheers GA
Report as inappropriateMike23 November 2009
Update from my entry on 14/11/09. Camcorder has arrived from FIZI.com, no issues at all. Compact light weight unit, with loads of functions, i'm looking forward to using it, a total including P&P was £190.98 It came from Hong Kong and was well packaged and with a UK based supplier it made contact easier. In UK format with english instructions. recommended
Report as inappropriatechris kjenstad07 December 2009
hi there im wanting a sanyo xacti wh1 and i would like to know were you got the best price for it was . i had a go at winning one from the show but didnt win
Report as inappropriateracoonboy07 December 2009
get it from flemix.com or if you don't want it from the usa get it from amozone
Report as inappropriatefreewheel06 February 2010
After a false start, (got ripped of by electronicmegastore.com who took my money and never delivered) I got one of these from PANAMOZ.COM. With the postage it cost £192.99. A few test showed up some disadvantages, first of all its marketed as a dual stills and video camera, however the stills are so bad as to be useless, worse than a basic camera phone! The Video on the other hand does fair better, giving good results in good light. However on a direct comparison with a non HD Panasonic DV camcorder with 3CCD’s (charged coupled device), the picture was better on the 3 CCD (none HD) Panasonic than the single CCD (HD) Sanyo; so for pure image quality, the HD dose not necessarily mean better. Where the video image quality really suffers, is in low light getting very grainy. I suspect this is due to packing so many more (HD) pixels on a smaller CCD to produce a very small camera; as the pixels become small their ability to absorb light diminishes and so “gain” is required causing “noise” However I suspect anyone buying this camera, like me will be buying it for its party trick of using it in water, when I have tried it out on my holidays I will try and update my review. Lastly usability, I must admit it easy to use, my wife who refuses to even pick up my any other cameras or camcorders, fids it easy to use and as the hole camcorder is nearly half the size of just the body of my Canon 450D SLR its easy to carry round.
Report as inappropriatecarl13 March 2010
bought this last year for a trip to mexico for the underwater use.underwater i couldnt fault this and the battery life is over 3 hours you can video and take stills at the same time
Report as inappropriateTony01 June 2010
I have just purchased one and on the whole I am pleased with it. Although it doesn't explain what the different output connections are (So how do I get HD on my HD ready TV? The still picture quality in not very good but you can take still pictures while you are shouting video. The video quality could be better but at under £200 its good. My only real gripe is that there's no lens cap and with a glass plate over the lens to stop the water getting in I think that it could get scratched easily. So Please Sanyo lets have a plastic lens cover at least.
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