Sanyo Digital on Monday announced its Xacti HD2, a small high-definition digital video camera that also takes still images — at 7.1 megapixels. The Xacti HD2 is coming in March, 2007 for $699.99.
The Xacti HD2, like it HD1 predecessor, doesn’t use DV tape or mini DVDs to record video. Instead, it uses SDHC flash media cards. As a result, the camera is tiny, measuring 3.1 x 4.7 x 1.4 inches and weighing 8.3 ounces, including the battery. The camera incorporates a pistol grip-style design and blue graphite body.
A single 8GB card can store up to three hours of HD video, up to eight hours of SD video or thousands of digital still images, according to Sanyo. The Xacti HD2 also features better low light sensitivity. It also features a High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) port, a digital interface that enables you to output directly to HDTVs, high-def video recorders and other sources equipped with HDMI.
The Xacti HD2 also features a 10x optical zoom, digital image stabilization, 1280 x 720 progressive (720p) HD video scanning at 30 frames per second, and MPEG-4 support. It sports a 2.2-inch LCD display that flips out and rotates to 285 degrees.
You can capture video in 16:9 format for record in “Web-SHQ” mode to capture at 320 x 240 pixels and 30 frames per second — a mode optimized for video playback intended for video iPods and other media players.
Sanyo’s Web site had not been updated with information on the Xacti HD2 as Macworld posted this article.