H
ybrid digital camera/video recorders have historically let us down.
They tend to be slow performers that fulfill neither role well. We did,
however, think that Sanyo was on to something with its original C1 hybrid,
released in the U.S. by Fisher as the FVD-C1. The second-generation Xacti
C5 proves our hunch was right.
The C1’s video suffered from severe grain in anything approaching even
moderate lighting, and overexposure was a problem in bright sunlight. The
C5’s video, however, captured at the same VGA resolution (640x480, 30fps),
is dramatically improved in both conditions. (While better, noise is still an
issue in low-light scenarios.) The C5 also sports wind-noise-reduction and
image-stabilization technology, which help deliver a better video-viewing
experience. A 1GB SD card holds 60 minutes of video shot at the highest
resolution, which conveniently is about the length of one battery charge.
The boost in video performance comes courtesy of a new 5x optical
zoom lens and 5.1-megapixel CCD. This combo also produces crisp, well-
saturated stills—particularly outdoors. (Plus, the zoom is much quieter than
with the C1, so you can use it freely when shooting video.)
The C5 shouldn’t be confused with a full-featured point-and-shoot
camera, however: It doesn’t offer a burst mode, for example, and shot-to-
shot performance is a bit slow at two seconds (without flash). Plus, its flash
range is extremely limited. The C5 boasts the ability to capture stills while
shooting video, but using this “feature” results in noticeable pauses in your
video when stills are shot at the highest resolution.The Xacti sports a slimmer formfactor that makes the C1 look anti-
quated, and the bright, 2-inch LCD displays sharp video playback and is
serviceable for composition—even in direct sunlight.
Like the C1, this camera talks to you, which is a little creepy, but the C5
is the best compact hybrid digital camera/video recorder we’ve
tested yet.
—STEVE KLETTSanyo Xacti C5
An ultra-compact, flash-memory camera that doesn’t suck
T
he X1 makes it clear that Konica is well aware of our penchant to gravi-
tate toward, hold, and purchase shiny objects. However, unless you care
little about performance and getting the highest-quality images possible for
your dollar, there are better options available.
The X1 looks great on paper—it’s the first compact camera with
folded optics to sport an 8-megapixel CCD and anti-shake technology. The
anti-shake mode kicks in automatically when hand movement is detected,
adjusting the lens accordingly. It’s effective; we’d rather have it than not.
It’s particularly useful in low light and when shooting video—a slick indica-
tor light comes on to let you know when anti-shake is on. The smooth,
metallic body is comfortable to hold, and the buttons are well-placed for
easy use. We especially like that you can customize the functions of the
four-way controller on the back of the camera.
Unfortunately, while the body finish looks nice, it’s impractical. It’s
prone to fingerprints, and is highly reflective—so much so that shots
can be difficult to compose outdoors in direct sunlight (there’s no optical
viewfinder, so you must use the LCD). To make matters worse, the LCD
display is very grainy, which makes it hard to tell if your snaps are cor-
rectly exposed in the field.
All of this might be forgivable if the X1’s image quality was tip-top,
but it’s average at best. Noise was more prevalent overall than with other
competitive cameras we’ve tested—and its fastest ISO speed is a lowly- Outdoor shots tended to be well-exposed with good color saturation,
but just not as sharp or vibrant as other compacts we’ve tested lately,
such as Canon’s SD500.
Also, the X1’s a pretty sluggish performer: Lag time between shots at
the highest resolution was a bit more than three seconds, which is below
average. Video quality was also average and capped at 20fps—30fps is
becoming the norm these days.
Indeed, once you get past the X1’s looks, there’s not much to warrant a rec-
ommendation, given the perfor-
mance of its competitors.
—STEVE KLETTKonica Minolta Dimage X1
All flash and little substance
Sanyo’s Xacti C5 is one hybrid camera/vidcam that lets
you have your cake and eat it too.The Dimage X1’s photo-taking performance doesn’t
measure up to its looks.5
KONICA MINOLTA DIMAGE
$400, http://www.konicaminolta.us8
SANYO XACTI C5
$700, http://www.sanyodigital.comWe tested the
C5 using a 1GB
SanDisk Ultra II
SD memory card
with the image
quality set at 5MP
High in Program
Auto mode,
Preview off, and
all other settings
at default.4.25"(^2). 67
"
We tested the
X1 at the highest
resolution set-
ting using a 1GB
SanDisk Ultra II
SD memory card
in Program Auto
mode, Preview
off, and all other
settings at
default.
3.7"
2 .7
"
78 MA XIMUMPC MARCH 2006
reviews TESTED. REVIEWED. VERDICTIZED