Sanyo Xacti VPC-CG6 Digital Camcorder
Manufacturer: Sanyo Part number: VPC-CG6
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CNET Editor rating:
Not yet rated
- Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 9 reviews
- More product information:
- Product brief
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Manufacturer info
- Description:
- Small and light enough to slip into your pocket or purse, the Xacti VPC-CG6 is built for active lifestyles. The VPC-CG6 is the portable digital video camera you can take with you everywhere, every day. Thanks to its slim, vertical and ergonomic design, it's also super easy to grip. Say goodbye to sore wrists and shaky movies. Beautiful, high-sensitivity ... Read more
Where to buy
| store | customer rating | inventory | tax & shipping | price |
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| Amazon.com Marketplace |
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In stock
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Enter zip code to get total price: Price +Tax +Shipping =Total price |
as of 07/05/2009 |
Product brief
Intro: The Sanyo Xacti VPC-CG6 is a flash card-based, ultra-compact camcorder.Compared to other ultra-compact camcorders on the market, it is expensive at around $480.
Noteworthy Features: Supports manual focus, which helps savvy users to tape in hard-to-focus situations.
Weaker Features: Has only a 5x optical zoom, which is considerably less favorable than some similarly priced camcorders.Also, this camcorder has only a 2.5-inch viewscreen, which is smaller than some similarly priced camcorders.
Suitability: An ultra-compact camcorder, suited for on-the-fly shooting.This camcorder is quite small, even for a compact.That makes it ideal when portability is paramount.This model can take 2 megapixel photos, which may adequately substitute for a dedicated camera.
Value: Overall, this camcorder's features are in line with its price.
Suggestions: For more help selecting the right digital camcorder, visit CNET Reviews' buying guide.
User reviews
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Unbelieveable quality for a compact Video and Still camera for the price!
by shooter45acp on June 28, 2007
Pros: Video Quality is amazing. The 6.36 megapixel still is unbelieveable and user controls are where they need to logically be located
Cons: Zoom button a less tactile and stiffer then I would like.... But I had to think for awhle before I even found something I didn't find perfect!
Summary: As a 24+ year working professional photographer and avid amateur videographer with access to pro video gear. I am used to using Hasselblad still equipment and Canon video cameras. While ...
Summary: As a 24+ year working professional photographer and avid amateur videographer with access to pro video gear. I am used to using Hasselblad still equipment and Canon video cameras. While this is not exactly on par with those cameras, to have the capability of having a 6.36 MP still and superior consumer/prosumer video camera in a single package is amazing. Believe me when I say that I am rarely impressed with my gadget purchases, but when I saw the Sanyo CG6 at my local department store I thought "for $299.00 if it's junk, I'm not out a fortune". Well let me tell you.... I was blown away by the quality of both still and video images from this tiny little unit! I took it to a music concert the very first night I had it and it was so easy to use while capturing the performance as well as my friends enjoying the show that nobody noticed I was taking video and still images. When I got home and downloaded it to my MacBook Pro (more on this in a second) I couldn't believe the quality of the video and still images. There was a wide variety of lighting during the show (daylight, night time, stage) that all of the examples I had captured were (again) amazingly good. The image stabalizer funtion worked pretty well, enough so that the low light situations were sharp. I hadn't had enough time to thoroughly read the manual, so I did a quick MENU check, and simply set everything to auto and it did a great job under all the different lighting situations. Another point of amazement, it even has an audio out jack for headphones so you know excactly what you are capturing on the audio side. Some "so called" prosumer cameras don't even offer that capability. Now on to the real surprise. Being someone who lives in both the MAC and WINDOWS world because of my work, I always have a frustrating time getting things to work cross platform. It can usually happen, but takes some time to figure out the WINDOWS side of Codec?s, importing drivers into software (as usually the native software that is supplied with a particular gadget or device prefers one platform over another but NEVER both. Well here's the kicker! This thing captures video in MP4 format and stills in JPEG...... WooooHooooo! And was immediately able to be recognized simply as FOLDERS on both my MAC OSX systems and my Dell desktop and Sony Vaio laptop. All you have to do is select a file, or drop and drag into ANY software platform that recognizes these universal file formats. CRAZY KEWL!!!!! No proprietary files crap, no conversion from some weird or unheard of file formats. IT JUST WORKED ON EVERYTHING I DUMPED IT INTO!! I took it to my office, went to my Director of our local Government TV channel and he couldn't believe it when I showed him what the stills and video came from. He thought I was joking! He commented that the STEREO audio quality that was recorded during video capture was better then some Canon prosumer cameras he uses still today. He was so impressed that he immediately went out and bought 1 for himself and1 for his assistant to carry as "pocket video and still cameras". The SD memory card capture media is just as easily recognized in ANY media reader, and with the price of memory cards dropping, a heck of a lot cheaper then buying Hi8 tapes!!! And this model is NOT limited to a specific size memory card. You can get about 45 minutes of recoring time per MB of memory. I was using a 4GB card and recording in the highest quality and had plenty of space for the conecrt. I never had to get the other $GB cards I had popped into my pocket. Now this camera isn't going to replace my Hasselblad still cameras, or the Canon GL2's we use, but at less than $300.00 unit and the ease of which these little cameras can be tucked into a jacket or shirt pocket to produce such terrific results, I will never leave the house without my Xacti CG6. And you can bet I will be checking out the next version of this little powerhouse of a camera (that is if it can ever be improved upon). My suggestion........ If you are going on vacation, your kids school play or recital or simply wanting to capture a memory of that special moment, this is the camera to buy for anything close to the price and size. You WILL NOT be disappointed. And for the cynic?s out their, NO I do not work or have ANY vested interested in Sanyo or their affiliates..... This is one of those rare times that something is worth a whole lot more then you pay for it and I think that kind of incident deserves credit!!
6 out of 6 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Excellent travel video
by drbob54 on May 24, 2007
Pros: Size, weight, picture quality, price
Cons: clumsy battery charger
Summary: Unbelievable value at $299 for the amateur videographer. A 1 gig SD chip takes about 42 minutes of highest quality video. Although it accepts up to 4 gigabyte chips, I ...
Summary: Unbelievable value at $299 for the amateur videographer. A 1 gig SD chip takes about 42 minutes of highest quality video. Although it accepts up to 4 gigabyte chips, I found that several 1 gig chips were a better approach. Literally fits in your pants pocket. Although it takes good quality 6 megapixel stills, it is much better used as a camcorder. The reaction time for stills was rather slow and you have to be very careful to not introduce camera shake. At 30fps 640 x 480 pixels the typical home videos are excellent except in the very lowest of light conditions. Sanyo makes an HD model that is similar for double the price. However, the typical amateur would get no benefit from this addition. The 5 times optical zoom could be greater, but combined with the digital zoom still yielded quality home video up to 10 times. It is far better to zoom in on an object before filming rather than trying to zoom while filming. Of course, this is good advice for any camcorder because the typical home movies make the viewer dizzy from overuseing the zoom feature. The battery charger has a thick cord and is inconsistent with the incredible portability of the camera, but that is a minor issue. A direct plug charger would be much better. If still shots are the primary use, many ultra compacts would be better. Used primarily as a video camcorder, this is an exceptional device.
Updated
Available currently from Sanyo direct or at Walmart or Walmart online.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Good buy for practicality
by rrbarcarse on July 26, 2007
Pros: small size, portability, can take both good pictures and videos, SD card memory, MPEG4
Cons: red-eyes on night shots, wind noise on outdoor shots,
Summary: I've had this for 4 months now, bought it at Walmart for $299 just in time for my daugther's birthday. Video is good but ofcourse not that good ...
Summary: I've had this for 4 months now, bought it at Walmart for $299 just in time for my daugther's birthday. Video is good but ofcourse not that good compared to miniDV camera (comparing it to Canon Elura 100 which i've used before). So if for me Elura is rated at 8 in terms of video quality, the
Sanyo will be at 6 when viewing both on standard television. I was able to quickly make a DVD after my daughter's birthday and was able to post right away videos on Youtube for friends and family to see. My only gripe is that red-eye is so bad especially on night/low light pictures. I know there is an auto-red eye correction feature but it doesn't always work. Overall, this is a very nice gadget to bring along. I was able to capture on video nice moments with my family.1 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Too Small for my hands.
by jhewell on November 30, 2008
Pros: Great at most all camcorder features, for the price.
Cons: It's just too small for my hands. Difficult to hold steady and use the buttons.
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Best of the Standard Def Palmcorders!
by sborenstein on April 8, 2008
Pros: Mac/PC Friendly; Good Picture; Removable Battery and Sd. Small
Cons: Minimal: would prefer built in lens cap; still pic's not outstanding
Summary: I highly recommend this camera for the family enthusiast wanting to capture moments with a decent picture quality, but without the need of DV or HD quality video.
We did ...Summary: I highly recommend this camera for the family enthusiast wanting to capture moments with a decent picture quality, but without the need of DV or HD quality video.
We did a lot of research on cameras before purchasing the Sanyo Xacti CG6 and I remain surprised that this camera is not more popular. Of all the palmcorders, this one is by far the most well rounded. For starters, it has a decent picture (for a palmcorder), the image stabilization is ok (not super, but noticeably working), and it's MP4 format is easy to work with. Major bonus points go to this camera for the decent size and camcorder like view screen, removable SD media and removable battery. For shooting the baby, we find the pivoting/rotating and big screen really nice. Unlike other palmcorders, you can carry extra SD cards and batteries, which is a huge benefit. I also like the the amount of manual control available, and the menu system is comprehensive and easy to navigate. Finally, being a Mac OSX guy, this camera mounts like a drive and the MP4 format imports seamlessly into Mac apps, particularly iMovie. The USB 2.0 port is easily accessed and files transfer VERY fast to the computer. I use a 4GB SDHC card and the highest video setting (640x480, 30fsp, 3Mbps), which stores 2:45 of video, and a spare card in the camera bag. I also have spare battery, but have not yet needed it (I rarely shoot more than an hour between transfers to the computer).
There are only a couple of things that I think could be improved on this camera (and I really have to dig to think them up):
- it would be nice if there was an internal lens cap, but the one it's got is ok
- The 6MP stills are mediocre in quality. But, that's why we have a digital camera and this is a video camera.
- we found a case that really protects the controls well, they seem a little vulnerable to damage.
I think that if CNET editors were to evaluate this camera, it would earn a high rating relative to the other palmcorders. -
Dont try to find a spare battery.
by Redwoodman on March 26, 2008
Pros: Small, light, shirt packet size
Cons: battery type, no editing software, wobbly tripod mount
Summary: Great little camera but battery type Sanyo DB-L20 is not carried by most camera sellers or chain stores. Sanyo wants about $50 for one, another net store $8.95. Come ...
Summary: Great little camera but battery type Sanyo DB-L20 is not carried by most camera sellers or chain stores. Sanyo wants about $50 for one, another net store $8.95. Come on Sanyo, get real! The tripod mount hole needs a firm rubber washer to avoid wobbling when driving or walking. Small size leads to creative uses when driving, walking, boating. This camera will take a 4 GB Sandisk SDHC card but needs a special SDHC card reader at $9.95 from some stores.
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truly amazing!
by fitt on September 9, 2007
Pros: amazing macro funtion, easy recording and capturing still image, slim and smart in design
Cons: sound of clicking
Summary: i just bought the camera last week and haven't really explore it well yet. but i do impresses with its macro function, and still image while recording video... but ...
Summary: i just bought the camera last week and haven't really explore it well yet. but i do impresses with its macro function, and still image while recording video... but still, i wonder, why is there is a sound of clicking when i playback the video? the sound is when i capturing the still image while recording video...overall, awesome... can wait to expore it more!
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BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK!
by jkimbo on July 18, 2007
Pros: Excellent picture quality, and build quality, lots of features!
Cons: volume very low even at high
Summary: I tried a few similar palmcorders from a very cheap 3MP no name brand for $60, then the Aiptek 5MP for $150. Both left me very disapointed, but after reading ...
Summary: I tried a few similar palmcorders from a very cheap 3MP no name brand for $60, then the Aiptek 5MP for $150. Both left me very disapointed, but after reading good reviews for the C6 I decided to give it a try. What a difference in the quality! I can tell you now that I will stick with Sanyo! I love the compact size, ease of use, and the technology of these super small digital recorders, and love the flash card media! The quality is at least as good as current DVD camcorders, and I dare say even some HD recorders! It comes very close to my miniDV quality! I love it!
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SANYO VPC-CG6EX GOOD
by rahmadbadri on May 2, 2007
Pros: LIGHT AND EASE OF USE
Cons: NO AC INPUT, RUNS ON BATTERY ONLY, LCD DISPLAY OFF WHEN CONNECTED TO TV OUTPUT
Summary: I feel the thing lacking is its alternating current input socket.
The lcd display is off when you connect to the tv. So if you shoot and connect to a ...Summary: I feel the thing lacking is its alternating current input socket.
The lcd display is off when you connect to the tv. So if you shoot and connect to a tv you must be beside the tv.
Good for outside photo taking and the output is clear.
I tried filming a lesson in class and the video is good.1 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Sanyo
- Part number: VPC-CG6
- Description: Small and light enough to slip into your pocket or purse, the Xacti VPC-CG6 is built for active lifestyles. The VPC-CG6 is the portable digital video camera you can take with you everywhere, every day. Thanks to its slim, vertical and ergonomic design, it's also super easy to grip. Say goodbye to sore wrists and shaky movies. Beautiful, high-sensitivity movies are the Xacti VPC-CG6's forte. With its 6.37-megapixel CCD and 5.0x optical zoom, the VPC-CG6 captures all the action as it happens. An automatic frame-rate adjustment feature lets you record more detail in low light conditions. And, since movies are recorded in the highly compressed MPEG-4 format, you can fit more of them onto a memory card. The Xacti VPC-CG6 features a blur-correction system with a gyro sensor, which detects and compensates for camera shake. Your still images will be sharper than ever. Advanced 9-pixel mixture technology helps the Xacti VPC-CG6 capture increased levels of detail in still images, while real time interpolation digitally enhances images for enlargement or printing. Using the supplied cables, you can play back captured stills and video clips on your TV, PC or video-enabled iPod. Edit them at your leisure on your PC, send them as e-mail attachments or post them on a website. Or expand the fun of Xacti by transferring movie files through iTunes and onto your iPod, where you can watch them anytime. When it comes to printing, simply connect the camera directly to a PictBridge-compatible printer, and you can print out selected snapshots from the printer, with no need for a PC. Meanwhile, compatibility with Exif Print and PIM III preserves the effects of the camera's original settings.
General
- Product Type Camcorder
- Digital Zoom 12 x
- Optical Sensor Size 1/2.5"
- Optical Sensor Type CCD
- Min Illumination 2 lux
- Digital Video Format MPEG-4
- Special Effects Sepia, Cosmetic, Monochrome
- Image Stabilizer Electronic
- Min Shutter Speed 1/2 sec
- Max Shutter Speed 1/10000 sec
- Shooting Modes Digital photo mode
- Shooting Programs Lamp, Fireworks, Landscape, Beach/snow, Sports mode, Portrait mode, Night portrait
- White Balance Custom, Presets, Automatic
- White Balance Presets Overcast, Sunlight, Fluorescent, Incandescent
- Exposure Modes Program, Automatic
- Exposure Metering Spot, Multi-segment, Center-weighted
- Camera Flash Built-in flash
- Flash Modes Auto mode, Fill-in mode, Flash OFF mode
Main Features
- Camcorder Sensor Resolution 6 megapixels
- Color Support Color
- Light Sensitivity ISO 50, ISO 100, ISO 200, ISO 400, ISO 450, ISO 800, ISO 900, ISO 1600, ISO 1800, ISO 3600, ISO auto
- Exposure Compensation ?1.8 EV range, in 1/3 EV steps
- Still Image Format JPEG
- Remote Control Remote control - Infrared
- TV Tuner None
- Video Capture MPEG-4 - 640 x 480 - 66 sec - With 19MB built-in memory, MPEG-4 - 320 x 240 - 177 sec - With 19MB built-in memory, MPEG-4 - 320 x 240 - 253 sec - With 19MB built-in memory, MPEG-4 - 176 x 144 - 326 sec - With 19MB built-in memory
Memory / Storage
- Supported Flash Memory MultiMediaCard, SD Memory Card
- Integrated Memory 19 MB
- Image Storage JPEG 3680 x 2760 : 5 - With 19MB built-in memory, Fine JPEG 2816 x 2112 : 6 - With 19MB built-in memory, Standard JPEG 2816 x 2112 : 9 - With 19MB built-in memory, JPEG 2816 x 1584 : 12 - With 19MB built-in memory, JPEG 2048 x 1536 : 17 - With 19MB built-in memory, JPEG 1600 x 1200 : 27 - With 19MB built-in memory, JPEG 640 x 480 : 142 - With 19MB built-in memory
- Media Type Flash card
Camera Flash
- Guide Number (m / ISO 100) 3
- Effective Flash Range 4 in - 5.6 ft
Lens System
- Type Zoom lens - 6.3 mm - 31.7 mm - F/3.5-4.7
- Focal Length 6.3 mm - 31.7 mm
- Lens Aperture F/3.5-4.7
- Auto Focus Points (Zones) 9
- Optical Zoom 5 x
- Lens system type Zoom lens
- Lens Construction 9 group(s) / 12 element(s)
- Min focal length 6.3 mm
- Max focal length 31.7 mm
- Auto Focus TTL contrast detection
- Features Aspherical lens, Built-in neutral density filter
- Focal Length Equivalent to 35mm Camera 38 - 190 mm
- Focus Adjustment Manual, Automatic
- Min Focus Range 3.9 in
- Macro Focus Range 1cm
- Zoom Adjustment Motorized drive
Additional Features
- Self Timer Yes
- Self Timer Delay 2 sec, 10 sec
- Digital Still Camera Function Yes
- Additional Features DPOF support, Direct print, Auto power save, Date/time stamp, Built-in speaker, Resizing an image, Sharpness control, PictBridge support, Saturation control, USB 2.0 compatibility, Digital image rotation, Digital noise reduction, In-camera movie editing, In-camera red-eye removal, Display brightness control, Digital image stabilization, Takes photos while movie recording, Digital image stabilization (video mode)
- Remote control Remote control - Infrared
- Software Drivers & Utilities
- Included Accessories Lens cap, Carrying pouch, Carrying strap, Docking station
Viewfinder
- Viewfinder Type None
Display
- Type LCD display - TFT active matrix - 2.5 in - Color
Digital Player (Recorder)
- Type Digital player/voice recorder
- Sample Rate 48 KHz
Microphone
- Type Microphone - Built-in
- Microphone Features Wind noise reduction
Connections
- Connector Type 1 x USB, 1 x Composite video/audio output, 1 x Headphones
- Expansion Slot(s) 1 x SD Memory Card
Audio Input
- Audio input type Microphone
- Microphone type Built-in
- Microphone Operation Mode Stereo
Miscellaneous
- Cables Included USB cable, A/V cable
Power
- Power Device Battery charger - External
Battery
- Supported Battery Sanyo DB-L20
- Supported Battery 1 x Li-ion rechargeable battery - 720 mAh ( Included )
Viewfinder / Display
- Display Form Factor Rotating
- Display Format 110,000 pixels
Environmental Parameters
- Min Operating Temperature 32 ?F
- Max Operating Temperature 104 ?F
Physical Characteristics
- Width 2.7 in
- Depth 1.4 in
- Height 3.9 in
- Weight 5.3 oz
- Available Body Colors Blue, silver, pink
Manufacturer info
- Sanyo
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Sanyo products on Shopper.com
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- Website: http://www.sanyo.com/
- Address:
2001 Sanyo Ave.
San Diego, CA 92173 - Phone: 818-998-7322 Ext. 464
