My digital Cameras

[JJW]

Hello,
This Christmas I was given a new camera, a Sanyo VPC-C4 CameraCorder.
It's a small camera that will just fit in my dungaree pockets.
Quick specs are: 4 mega pixel still images, 5.8x optical zoom, 3/4 of an inch macro focus and it will shoot mpeg-4 movies.
I have printed one 11x17 print, and I was very pleased with the detail.
The short movies I have taken, looked very good on a 27" TV.

I can't wait to take the camera out hiking and see how it works out.


I had been (and still will be) using a Minolta "Xi" digital camera.
Its a 3 mega pixel, 3x optical zoom, pocket sized camera.
I have taken more outdoor pictures with it,
than any of my previous film cameras.
I really liked its ease of use and its pocket-able take anywhere size.

I hope to be able to post some of my pictures soon from both cameras.

C-Ya,
John

PS:Minolta-Konica has upgraded their "X" series camera to 5 mega pixels but reduced the zoom to a 2.8x optical zoom.

[Wildernessphoto]

Hi John,
I'm looking forward to the shots!
And welcome to the forum!
-Gary-

[Kevin]

http://www.infosyncworld.com/news/n/5680.html

SCHWEET! EXACTLY what I'm looking for, a 3.2+ MP still with mpeg-4 capturing.

There's a few places selling them for around $400, ebay is around $500 after shipping, but that includes a 1 GB SD card. I'd like to hear more before buying, and the size is going to be the determining factor. I'm trying to find a review that shows it side-by-side with something I can relate to (like steve's digicam's site takes a photo of the camera with a CD for reference).

[Kevin]

Well, the reviews are so-so for the Sanyo, but aparently this Panasonic does a better job for about the same money (but slightly larger):

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000DCXJJ/002-5554906-5158444?v=glance

The SV-AV100 can record MPEG4 moving images and 340,000-pixel still images suitable for posting on Web pages

Isn't that less than 1MP?? That's horrible!



The Pentax MX4 looks promising, though a tad larger than I'm looking to carry hiking...

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0002TXNHQ/002-5554906-5158444?v=glance

I'm going to keep looking, but it's good to know there's better technology then what I saw at Circuit City and best Buy recently (the best I could find was 2MP for stills in a bulky digicorder).

[JJW]

If you are still comparing SANYO cameras be careful, There is a huge difference between the Sanyo C1 and C4.
4 megapixel to 3.2, focusing speed, anti shake in movie mode etc....

There is also a big difference between early Sanyo VPC-C4 models and the current Sanyo VPC-C4.

Some Sanyo VPC-C4 reviews on the web, are with early release models.

One way to tell is by how many languages the camera lists.
If you see 11 languages you have the latest firmwear/camera release.

On the DVDs that I have burned with my VPC-C4 mpeg4 footage,
the quality has been outstanding.

I just recorded some sledding and tobagganing and some indoor park lodge footage. It was relativly dark inside, but the camera did great.

If you have any Sanyo VPC-C4 questions just ask.

See-Ya,
John

[Kevin]

If you have any Sanyo VPC-C4 questions just ask.

It's a bit challenging to find a USA supplier. The two I've found are 'sketchy'. I'll be charging it on my credit card, so I can reverse if it comes down to that...

Looks like $500 or so. I'll double sheck the languages thing too. The reviews are fine and I'm 'sold' on the camera, how's it compare to say the size of a cd? I need the smallest possible package as I will be reselling my current Kodak digital camera in lieu of using this while hiking.

[JJW]

Size-Compare

Kevin,

Here is the Sanyo Xacti VPC-C4 up to a music CD.



It is small and pocket-able.

I liked the Minolta Xi for winter use because there was nothing to fold out or lens that needed to extend.
With the Sanyo you have to flip out the LCD screen, but the lens is totally contained.
I did feel I needed to be more careful in snowstorm than I would have with the Minolta Xi.
(I took a few pictures and movies while snowshoeing and sledding at a party 1/22/05)
I'm probably just being overly cautious because it's so new.

My wife ordered my camera over the internet and it took a 12 days for delivery.
She ordered from www.plemix.com
It's a Hong Kong (plus US) based site, warranty was send it back to Sanyo in Japan if I had trouble.
I think Plemix is now selling it for $390.00 plus Fedex Shipping

Good Luck,
John

[Kevin]

Yeah, plemix was one of the sites I was eyeing. [from my favorites:]

http://plemix.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=P&Product_Code=47002&Category_Code=SAN

Thank you VERY MUCH for the CD shot . It's just small enough!

Now I need the courage to spend more money .

[Kevin]

Unfortunately plemix only accepts paypal (????). Kevin don't do paypal.

[redhawk]

Unfortunately plemix only accepts paypal (????). Kevin don't do paypal.

Shouldn't be any big deal Kevin. I've used Paypal buying and selling for about four years and have never had a problem. If you are the buyer, there is no fee either. I had one "incident" with a purchase I made and Paypal took care of it for me.

So if that's all that's stopping you and the price is better there, I feel comfortable telling you to go for it.

[sacco]

i can understand kevin's reservations about using paypal.

last year there was a security break and thousands of people's bank accounts were comprimised. my friend was one of those people.

paypal did a very good job at keeping the whole thing from getting too much press.

they did admit all this though in a written letter to my friend and others who went through this mess.

[redhawk]

Thats happened to just about every financial institution, it just doesn't get out! Anytime you do something electronically, there is always the risk. Since I don't have a pot to pi$$ in, I don't care if someone steals the pot!!

Look at what happened on AOL. For that matter look at what is taking place in many of the financial institutions that used to be bastions of integrety, they're all beehives of thieves.

I also have a separate bank account, just for my online stuff, and I keep a minimum in there, electroniacally transferring money to that account when I want to purchase on-line.

Paypal is now owned by Ebay so I imagine the secutiry has gotten tighter.

Not trying to start one of our legendary debates here, just pointing out that the risk is equal anywhere with online stuff. The second bank account is about the only sure way to prevent yourself from being burnt (although there have been errors a couple of times which were straightened out I have never been the victim of fraud or identity theft).

Come to think of it, what idiot would want to steal MY identity anyway?

[sacco]

lol, no debate here.
i completely agree w/ you - though i admit my own steps at security are lacking.
i was just suggesting/guessing why kevin felt reservations about using paypal.



besides, no way could this become a "legendary debate"

christ's sake, it's only fraud and theft we're talking about here - no way it can compare to the importance of elway vs. marino or knee braces!

[protocoldroid]

i can understand kevin's reservations about using paypal.

last year there was a security break and thousands of people's bank accounts were comprimised. my friend was one of those people.

I rely on paypal to conduct business.... so I can tell you all about paypal's problems, especially what Sacco is talking about, which I'm going to assume is phishing scams (always comes back to fishing on this forum with me ). My girlfriend was also fooled by a phishing scam and entered her information, luckily... she told me about it minutes after (I was alarmed when she said she had to give her debit card's PIN number!!!), luckily... She was able to report her card as stolen, and also change her paypal / ebay password before any damage could be done.

The good thing is that it's really easy to protect yourself from these scams, the main advice I'd give to anyone is... Learn to read your address bar. If there isn't a paypal.com or ebay.com before the third "/" -- look out!

Also... I'd have to say that I really do like paypal. It's ultra convenient, and it's a helluva lot more accepted than say, Neteller. Paypal may not be perfect, but, all around, definitely decent.

[sacco]

again, i agree w/ you PD, but this was not a phishing scam. they were actually hacked into and thousands of individuals' personal and banking info was stolen before they caught the breach.