reprinted from a Sanyo press release:
First SANYO Digital Video Camera to Use Next-Generation AVC/H.264
Video Technology Will Have April U.S. Debut
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SANYO Xacti CG65 Features Superior Video Quality and 25% Smaller File Size for Faster Sharing of Clips on Web Pages, Video Blogs and Popular Video Websites
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   CHATSWORTH, Calif., March 20 /PRNewswire/ — Set for an April U.S. debut, the pocket-sized Xacti CG65 is SANYO’s first digital video camera to feature next-generation Advanced Video Codec H.264 (MPEG-4 AVC/H.264) video compression technology, designed to produce excellent video quality while reducing MPEG-4 file size approximately 25%. The slim and stylish CG65 ($399.99 MSRP(*1)) is an ideal video camera for people who want to easily upload and share video clips with friends and the world at large via web pages, vlogs, podcasts and popular video sharing websites. The CG65 is an
eye-catching choice in available colors of black, silver and green.
   (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070320/LATU047 )
   The SANYO Xacti VPC-CG65 features a built-in Gyro Sensor shake-resistant system for correcting unintentional camera shake during photo taking. In addition, high-speed video-processing using 9-pixel mixture technology makes recording of both movies and stills possible even in semi-dark or under lit environments of approximately 2 lux.
   “The SANYO Xacti CG65 is an advanced video camera and 6-megapixel still camera that is designed for today’s generation of video sharing enthusiasts,” said John Lamb, Senior Marketing Manager of SANYO Fisher Company’s Audio Video Division. “The Advanced Video Codec H.264 used in the Xacti CG65 provides an optimal combination of high-quality video and ultra-compact file size that’s ideally suited for uploading videos to friends, family and the world.”
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   Advanced H.264 compression: High-quality videos with internet portable file sizes
   The Xacti CG65 makes posting movies on the internet or e-mailing them to friends and family easier by reducing the file size. In fact, the file size can be reduced by up to 25% over typical MPEG-4 cameras. To accomplish the complexity of encoding AVC/H.264 in real-time on the CG65, a dedicated Qpixel brand H.264 video compression IC was incorporated into the camera that was designed specifically for portable consumer devices to achieve high video quality while simultaneously reducing the system power consumption. The result is high-quality video recoding up to a total of 10 hours(*2) with an
8 GB SDHC memory card. The CG65 can also record up to a total of 5 hours of video with a 4 GB SDHC memory card, up to 2.5 hours with a standard 2 GB SD card, and up to 1.25 hours with a standard 1 GB SD card.
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   Ergonomic one-hand design
   The ergonomic, vertical design of the compact camera allows natural body posture when shooting VGA-quality (640 x480 pixels) movies and 6.0-megapixel high-resolution stills.  You can even capture 6-megapixel still photos simultaneously while recording movies.  Use just one thumb to easily operate the camera and effortlessly choose video or still image on the fly.
   Video files can be handled just like photo files, because the image and sound data for each video clip are combined in a single file.  Saving recorded movies and photos on a computer is as easy as copying a file.
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   High-sensitivity
   The high-speed video-processing makes high-sensitivity recording of both movies and stills possible.  For movies, the 9-pixel mixture technology accommodates shooting in dark environments.  When the Scene Select function’s lamp mode is selected, the frame rate is automatically adjusted, making it possible to capture even under lit subjects of approximately 2 lux(*3).  Movies recorded even in a dimly lit restaurant or outside at twilight(*4) look remarkable. For stills, the ISO 1600 sensitivity setting produces
high-resolution 6-megapixel images. Â You can get natural colors and sharply focused faces even without using a tripod or in places you might not want to use the flash, such as when shooting indoors or for night scenes.
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   Shake-resistant stills and video
   The VPC-CG65 incorporates a novel “digital camera-shake-resistant” system(*5) utilizing the most advanced digital processing technologies. A built-in gyro sensor detects the direction and amount of camera shake during photo-taking and, based on that data, a digital filter cancels the camera shake component of the captured image. This anti-shake system is integrated into the camera without sacrificing the CG65’s stylish slim and light design. Because the VPC-CG65 also offers conventional digital camera shake correction for movie recording, you can both take photos and record movies without worrying about camera shake.
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   Other SANYO Xacti CG65 Features include:
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   - USB battery charging(*6) by simply connecting the unit to your
     computer’s USB port
   - “Screen capture function” to record the screen image from your computer
     monitor
   - 6.0-megapixel high-resolution photos can be captured during movie
     recording(*7)
   - Easy movie/photography operations using just your thumb
   - BGM slideshow for sequentially showing photos with background music
   - Easy in-camera movie editing(*8)
   - Real-Time Interpolation for 10-megapixel (3680×2760) high-resolution
     recording
   - Audio Guide announces camera modes and alerts by voice
   - Programmable “operation shortcuts” to quickly access the most-used
     functions (collective settings possible)
   - Portrait mode for taking vertical photos without rotating the camera
     body
   - Digital red-eye correction
     Repair the “red eye” effect that sometimes occurs when using a flash at
     night. With the digital red-eye correction feature, the camera
     automatically detects and digitally corrects red eyes in the photo.
   - 9-point range finder AF for highly focused precision photography
   - Up to 1 cm close-up photos with the Super Macro Focus (wide setting)
   - Scene Select feature and digital filters for shooting under various
     conditions
   - Wind Noise Reduction to reduce wind noise sensed by the microphone
   - Quick Standby to start recording/playback as soon as the LCD monitor is
     opened
   - Voice recorder for up to 12 hours of continuous audio recording
   - Supports High-Speed USB (USB 2.0) for quick data transfer
   - Compatible with Exif Print(*9) and PRINT Image Matching III(*10) for
     displaying image data in the printer output
   - Supports PictBridge for direct photo printing without a computer
   - Comes with a computer kit with abundant movie application software
   - Ulead DVD MovieWriter 4.0SE for creating original DVDs with MPEG-4
     movies and photos
   - Ulead Photo Explorer 8.5 SE Basic to easily manage photos and MPEG-4
     movies
   - Motion Director SE 1.1 for correcting camera shake and combining images
     to create panorama shots
   - Windows Vista compatible
We’re hosting another Basics of Video Production Workshop here in our home town. There is a bit of mystery and danger in this workshop’s production. This shot, using a handheld shooting technique, will certainly help build the suspense in their story. It takes good planning and some hard work to put together a short video using the techniques covered in the previous day’s lectures. In the end, the trials and errors while working on a full production (planning, shooting, editing) proves to be the most educational. Here’s another shot of the team preparing for a special in-camera effect.
We of course would like to thank our sponsors this year: Sony and Adobe. Sony has provided us with several HDR-FX7 HDV camcorders. Once again this weekend we realized just how well these camcorders can hold detail in the highlights. We shot in some high-contrast wooded areas in broad daylight and didn’t have to compromise the exposure as much as we had expected. And, Adobe has provided us with their Production Suite software to edit this story in such little time, which speaks to it’s stability and functionality.
It’s ripe time to hold back that antsy mouse-clickin’-auto-software-updatin’ trigger finger of yours.