Wootalyzer's Pricing Post! - The price of today's woot item is saved here for future reference
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Sanyo Xacti 1080p Full-HD Camcorder with 3x Optical Zoom
$119.99 + $5 Shipping
Condition: New

Product List:
- 1 Sanyo VPC-PD2BK 1080p HD Digital Camcorder w/10MP Digital Photos and 3x Optical Zoom

*DISCLAIMER* Wootalyzer! is in no way affiliated with Woot!, and this post may not always be here!

Product Website

Amazon has on 2 star review.
http://www.amazon.com/Sanyo-VPC-PD2BK-Pocket-Digital-Optical/

If I had some extra cash this month, I would probably buy this and play around with it. Still looking for a decent 1080p camcorder.

this doesnt look like it has a good place to hold it.
anyone have one that can comment?

Video: Approx. 8.3 megapixels (in Full HD/HD mode), Approx. 10.0 megapixels (in SD)

Okay... so it records more pixels in SD? :-/

Here is a ZDnet review.

Is this a Woot product launch, along with other locations?

I say this because isn't this a brand new model?

http://tinyurl.com/SanyoCamcorder

The main feature of this is that it is also supposed to be a great still camera.

jessiebyrd004 wrote:Amazon has on 2 star review.
http://www.amazon.com/Sanyo-VPC-PD2BK-Pocket-Digital-Optical/

This rating is based on one review, one person's opinion.

I wonder why the optical zoom doesn't work in video mode. Sure, it'd get the shakes something awful, but I'd like to at least have the option.

jaamzw wrote:this doesnt look like it has a good place to hold it.
anyone have one that can comment?

I duct tape it my forehead. Looks silly but works good.

New models of the xacti were just announced today:

http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/22/sanyo-debuts-e1500tp-point-and-shoot-alongside-xacti-cg21-pd1-a/

EDIT: I stand corrected, this is a new model woot is selling, kudos woot.

My issue is that I want to know how this compares to a flipcam, because its already more expensive...

tomcom002 wrote:This rating is based on one review, one person's opinion.

According to that review it has an easy opening "buttery compartment". Maybe for topping your popcorn when viewing the movies you recorded?

Nom nom nom.

Clold wrote:I wonder why the optical zoom doesn't work in video mode. Sure, it'd get the shakes something awful, but I'd like to at least have the option.

Where do you see that it doesn't?

And before you ask, yes it's Mac compatible

Look here under specs

tomcom002 wrote:This rating is based on one review, one person's opinion.

He did do a side-by-side with the Kodak. More real-world info than most people here have to offer.

i just recently bought a flip minoHD. i have to say a 3x optical zoom would've been otterific. especially since this DOES have the image stabilizing, which flip also does not have. i've already learned that with these type of camcorders the image stabilizing is a must have. i'd rather give a little on the image quality to get the stabilizing. but both would be nice too. i shoulda looked into them more before i pulled the trigger on that minoHD i probably would've picked up something more like this.

sunbc wrote:New models of the xacti were just announced today:

http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/22/sanyo-debuts-e1500tp-point-and-shoot-alongside-xacti-cg21-pd1-a/

Looks like old model is being liquidated by woot.

You sure about that? Both Engadget AND ZDNet announced this exact model last month, to debut this month.

And this is NEW on Woot, not a refurb, and Woot is limiting each member to ONE at this price.

So I don't think this is an old model.

Check out these videos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oLZvsyacoI
This guy gives a pretty good look at it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWhF6Z9nVno
I gotta say I'm impressed with it.

Here is a good sample video on YouTube. Yes, you too can become the next Double Rainbow guy! More seriously, the ability to capture the rainbow is impressive. Note how the blue/violet end is distinct from the blue sky, meaning that it can capture subtle variations in color.

Here are other YouTube videos, including reviews.

The OPTICAL zoom is great. Too bad the stabilization is only electronic, and not optical.

sunbc wrote:New models of the xacti were just announced today:

http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/22/sanyo-debuts-e1500tp-point-and-shoot-alongside-xacti-cg21-pd1-a/

Looks like old model is being liquidated by woot.

Those are different models, here is engadget's announcement of THIS Woot model, August 2010.

Perhaps you should edit your post to take out the liquidated accusation.

http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/20/sanyo-xacti-vpc-pd2bk-1080p-pocket-camcorder-with-3x-optical-zoo/

darkxsun wrote:Where do you see that it's not?

Optical zoom will not work in video mode ifyou are filming at 1080p. The reason being that is the MAX resolution. In order to zoom, the camera must increase resolution as it zooms. Therefore filming at 1080p is the max it can render. It is unable to produce focused enlarged image beyond that.

In for one because.... that's all Woot will let me buy. LOL.

anyone know if this can be used as a webcam?

Clold wrote:I wonder why the optical zoom doesn't work in video mode. Sure, it'd get the shakes something awful, but I'd like to at least have the option.

Optical zoom will not work in video mode ifyou are filming at 1080p. The reason being that is the MAX resolution. In order to zoom, the camera must increase resolution as it zooms. Therefore filming at 1080p is the max it can render. It is unable to produce focused enlarged image beyond that.

Can it be used also as a Webcam?. I couldn't find any mention to that.

I'm quite impressed with this video done with this camera

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWhF6Z9nVno

corsair27 wrote:Optical zoom will not work in video mode ifyou are filming at 1080p. The reason being that is the MAX resolution. In order to zoom, the camera must increase resolution as it zooms. Therefore filming at 1080p is the max it can render. It is unable to produce focused enlarged image beyond that.

The clips on YouTube are using zoom so I' have to call shenanigans here!

corsair27 wrote:Optical zoom will not work in video mode ifyou are filming at 1080p. The reason being that is the MAX resolution. In order to zoom, the camera must increase resolution as it zooms. Therefore filming at 1080p is the max it can render. It is unable to produce focused enlarged image beyond that.

Why would it need to increase resolution at Optical Zoom? The number of pixels remain the same. Optical zooming involves lens focusing in on the middle, bending the light outward to make the image larger. The area outside the zoom is gone, so extra pixels aren't needed.

corsair27 wrote:Optical zoom will not work in video mode ifyou are filming at 1080p. The reason being that is the MAX resolution. In order to zoom, the camera must increase resolution as it zooms. Therefore filming at 1080p is the max it can render. It is unable to produce focused enlarged image beyond that.

an optical zoom does not change the resolution of an image. when you're looking through a telescope, for example, you're still seeing with all the rods and cones in your eye.

a *digital* zoom is different.

corsair27 wrote:Optical zoom will not work in video mode ifyou are filming at 1080p. The reason being that is the MAX resolution. In order to zoom, the camera must increase resolution as it zooms. Therefore filming at 1080p is the max it can render. It is unable to produce focused enlarged image beyond that.

What you describe sounds like "digital" zoom, not optical. Optical zoom is accomplished with a physical moving of lenses. Being at max resolution should not matter. The youtube links posted above have 1080P as a viewing option and the zoom is clearly used throughout the recording. Unless they were recorded at a lower res and then upconverted, but that's just me being cynical.

cheroke55 wrote:I'm quite impressed with this video done with this camera

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWhF6Z9nVno

According to the comments on Engadget, where this was announced last month, it can be used as a webcam.

Maybe the manual link in here (Did Nightghost post a link to the manual LOL) mentions it.

Nice, looks vintage, like an old leica would be in 2010.

OH THANK GOD!!!! I never thought I'd be happy to see a woot off end but now I & my credit card (both exhausted)
can get some much needed rest! Lol This looks like a better camera. I got the i-flip
for around $70 on here or my hubby did as a bday gift.
It works great but doesn't capture as much area so
You have to be standing just so & have it zoomed just right to get a decent video. I'm happy With the size software & that it can send directly to Facebook Flickr etc...but this looks like more
Bang for the Buck. I have a full size camcorder but its over 5 yrs requires FireWire etc to get it digital. Uses mini tapes anyone have one of these???? Ah my bed is calling. It was fun & I got a lot of my Christmas list checked off. A few REALLY great deals and only a few wootgrets...lol. Night all 8-)

By the way Woot... I bought a refurb Kodak Zi6 on here, about 18 months ago.

It stopped working. (It starts to record then just freezes. Tried swapping chips and everything.)

Can you apply the price I paid for it against what I just paid for this one?

Please simply PayPal the refund to my PayPal account. Include shipping too, please.

sdc100 wrote:Why would it need to increase resolution at Optical Zoom? The number of pixels remain the same. Optical zooming involves lens focusing in on the middle, bending the light outward to make the image larger. The area outside the zoom is gone, so extra pixels aren't needed.

You're absolutely right SDC. Optical zoom has NOTHING to do with the number of pixels. Besides, even if this was a digital (only) zoom camera - there are 10 Megapixels. 1008p is only about 2, so a 3.2x digital zoom is still possible in 1080p

Yes, it is highly Mac-compatible. Here is the word from Sanyo's website:

"iMovie Compatible
SANYO's PD2 is certified Works with iMovie compatible. This means that the PD2 will be automatically recognized when it is connected to a Mac and videos can be imported quickly and easily into iMovie. Because it is based on standard technologies such as H.264, AAC, MP4 and QuickTime, the PD2 makes importing, editing and sharing videos easier than ever."

Oh... Woot... can you also PayPal me $100,000 because I lost out on a once-in-a-lifetime video opportunity. So I figure you owe me that too.

(I was in the Las Vegas room with OJ. Would have had the whole thing on that little Zi6. But no... the Woot refurb went kapoot. So I am out that $100k too.)