Sanyo Xacti VPC-E2 - camcorder - flash card

• Average user rating: 2.5 stars out of 5 reviews
• My rating: 0 stars

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• 2 stars

  1 week and it stopped working. 366$ for repair!

  by camilla8888 on February 13, 2009

  Pros: I really liked the waterproof feature and good reviews. This is why i bought it.

  Cons: not waterproof and not covered under warranty.

  Summary: I bougth it at Amazon January 2009. I was happy at the beginning. It seemed a good product. However, after just one week, it stopped working completely. We were filming ...

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  Summary: I bougth it at Amazon January 2009. I was happy at the beginning. It seemed a good product. However, after just one week, it stopped working completely. We were filming in the pool. It was in the middle of my vacation so I was not very happy.
  
  
  
  When i came back from my vacation, i called Sanyo. They finally asked me to send it for repair to a company called Skokie, which i did. About a week later, Skokie called me and said that water got inside. Unfortunately, it is not covered under warranty!!! I was shocked. It does not make sense. This is supposed to be a waterproof camera. I spoke with a supervisor at Skokie. I also called back Sanyo and spoke to a couple of persons including a supervisor called Dan. They all said that they can not do nothing. It passed their waterproof tests they said, so they assume i must have done something wrong (which i did not) and won't repair it under warranty. In fact, they are quoting 366$ for repair! Almost twice the value of the camera...
  
  
  
  I am extremely disapointed by the camera, but a lot more by the service i received. I bought the camera because of the good reviews and because i did not want any problems.
  
  
  
  I will probably have to throw it away and buy another one, for sure not a Sanyo.
  
  
  
  Think again before purchasing it.

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  1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.

• 8 stars

  Good camera, very easy.

  by karlkrist on December 17, 2008

  Pros: Easy to use. Easy to carry. Pretty good quality.

  Cons: Battery life and card size

  Summary: I've had this camera for a few weeks, and so far everything has been great. The videos are actually better quality that I was expecting.
  
  The camera is very ...

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  Summary: I've had this camera for a few weeks, and so far everything has been great. The videos are actually better quality that I was expecting.
  
  The camera is very easy to use. Many people mention the joystick button that controls the menus. Well it may not be the best, but I think the only time I've used it was when I first started messing around with the camera.
  
  My whole purpose for this camera is to have something quick and easy to use, that will give me decent quality video. This camera does that very well.

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  1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.

• 8 stars

  Not bad for the price

  by ninjustin on December 4, 2008

  Pros: Waterproof, decent still pictures for a camcorder, can take stills while filming video. Lots of computer options. Can edit video and pictures and either print with just camcorder or watch on TV. Built in Flash.

  Cons: Standard definition. Not as many options as a high end camcorder. Picture quality only average.

  Summary: I'm pleased with my purchase. For $200 I got what I consider a decent digital camera that takes decent video in any weather condition.
  Manually changing the ISO greatly ...

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  Summary: I'm pleased with my purchase. For $200 I got what I consider a decent digital camera that takes decent video in any weather condition.
  Manually changing the ISO greatly improves noise reduction and has enough options to get better shots if you want to get into them. There is a normal and simple mode for those that don't know anything about cameras and I could see how that would be nice. Being able to edit and delete pictures from the camera is nice if your using a smaller sd card. There is a 12mp setting on the camera don't really know what that is about considering is says 8mp on the side and that's what its rated for. With an 8gb card I can take 2024 pics at 8mp High quality and video for 5:32.16 on 640x480 30fps super high quality and a little less than 3 at 60fps. At night it works fairly well as long as there is decent light or your close enough to use the flash with still shots.
  Has standard settings for most camcorders and digital cameras such as scene selection for night shots, sport shots. Also has filters for black and white, sepia tone, and a cosmetic filter for close ups and skin but those are the only three. Not that that's a problem for me that's all i really need I'll post anything else. Everything else is fairly standard for a digital camera like, focus modes, and separate settings for the digital stabilizer for stills v.s video. The other things that stood out were a face chaser video setting and a weird one being software to record what is on your computer screen to the camcorder. I don't know why that would be used ever but it's there. I haven't dunked it in water yet but I sure wasn't afraid to take it our in the rain earlier. So far I'm pretty pleased with it. I knew the quality of the pictures wasn't going to be stellar but they're certainly good enough for me and I like how I can get it wet. The aesthetics are nice and it's easy to hold. As far as physically the only thing I don't like about it is the Button in the center of the zoom circle button is a bit squishy or rubbery, I'm certain because its due to the waterproofing but at the same time all the other buttons feel like they would on anything else. I do wish there was a lens cap or something to cover the lens with but I guess I'll be keeping it in the soft case it came with anyway so I guess that's not a huge deal either but it would be nice , Over all I'm pretty pleased if I wanted fantastic quality I would have gone for a Hi def camera or a Cannon D something. But for the price range they are in the make a great hybrid or back up camera especially with the waterproof option and the compact size. I don't see my girlfriend letting me take her d80 in the water under any circumstances.

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  1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.

• 2 stars

  Terrible warranty and customer service

  by connpress on August 19, 2009

  Pros: Its a good camera feature-wise

  Cons: Very flaky design. Very short useless warranty.

  Summary: Design is too flaky. The zoom button broke during normal use immediately after the service warranty was over. Service warranty is only for 90 days -- too short. Now I ...

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  Summary: Design is too flaky. The zoom button broke during normal use immediately after the service warranty was over. Service warranty is only for 90 days -- too short. Now I have to shell out about $200 (50% of the purchase price) to fix the camera. They have only two service locations in the ENTIRE USA. I have to send my camera to a remote location in Illinois to get it fixed. Will NEVER buy SANYO again -- too bad they have a good product, but terrible service. If you buy this camera, make sure you handle it like a newborn baby and never mishandle it!! The design is toooo flaky.

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• 7 stars

  Fun second camera

  by Lernerville on August 6, 2009

  Pros: Waterproof, still photos during video, good quality pictures, gets some looks

  Cons: Auto ISO gives poor quality photos, only good for five feet underwater, a lot of redeye, not quick to take photos

  Summary: I own another digital camera that always seems to take great pictures, but with two cruises on the agenda this year, I wanted a camera that would go where my ...

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  Summary: I own another digital camera that always seems to take great pictures, but with two cruises on the agenda this year, I wanted a camera that would go where my other camera won't; underwater.
  
  Pros first: Yes, it's waterproof! No longer do I have to stand at waters' edge to take photos! I can take close up shots of the action and fun that weren't possible before.
  While shooting videos, you can also take still photos without having to stop, snap, and resume. I'm not sure, but I think photo megapixel drops to 6, but I'm not sure.
  With it's odd, but I find comfortable, pistol-grip design and picture-taking-in-water ability, this camera will get noticed.
  
  The cons: The ISO quality is poor compared to my other camera, but since most water activities are done during the day, it's not a big deal to me.
  Although the camera is only good to five feet for an hour, it's still more than my other camera can handle and since I don't do SCUBA, it's fine for me.
  The camera seems to take awhile to snap photos, and since I like to randomly point and shoot - I don't like having people pose for pictures often, usually looks unnatural - this is one of the biggest drawbacks for me.
  And the last, and most annoying con, the flash almost always gives redeye. This happens because the flash is so close to the lens. But since pretty much every photo program on the market has some sort of red-eye removal tool, this again, isn't a big deal to me. But to Sanyo, perhaps a flash on the other side of the LCD screen would be a better design.
  
  So overall:
  This camera meets all of my needs. I love it. I am looking forward to taking it on my cruise, parasailing in particular, I wouldn't recommend this to someone looking for a single camera, seeing as it has mixed results, but if you have a decent camera already and, like me, are looking to take some water shots, this is for you.

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