Rating

+ Solidly constructed camera and my first underwater camcorder, the challenges of all underwater devices is adequately fitting rubber gaskets and seals to metal and this camera did just fine even down to 25 ft when I took out on bone idle beach day.

+ The menus are well laid out to quickly reach every function category and drill down only or two levels to change anything else. This is very vital when considering it is designed to be used underwater where the operators senses are afflicted and it can be challenging for most people to perform tasks underwater. Audio cues even a curt female voice is helpful underwater and out for prompts.

+ Decent flash, bright LCD for a camcorder in this price range and even two camcorder record buttons, one for the thumb the other is close to the lens and simple to click. The 45MB of internal storage isn’t advertised on the box in an age of GB+ camcorders but it surprisingly stores a decent amount of video before maxing out, so far we’ve never inserted an SD card and found the built in storage adequate.

+ Battery charges quickly and briskly, haven’t worn it down yet but also haven’t tried to really pace it out either.

– But, the 2MP still camera is rather useless, even $10 prepaid cellphones have better cameras and we can’t remember images this hideous since the turn of the century. understandably Sanyo had to include some type of still photo capacity with a digital camcorder but the poor quality does more harm than excellent.

The USB connector is nearly a Mini B plug but Sanyo did something weird and flared out the edges to ensure you’ll only use their cable on the side of the corder, more annoying and pointless since it was nearly identical in size and pins to standard USB MiniB plugs.

We had it setup and out of the box in less than five minutes because it seems Sanyo has place effort into the layout of the controls and menus, the impressive construction never gave us concern about seepage and it held up at 20+ ft in saltwater without stress or hurt.

Rating

Took this to Casas Playa Saladita Mexico, and got fantastic footage of long left point break. Needed extra strap to secure around wrist and another to store behind neck in rashguard when not recording. Small enough to comfortably strap behind neck and duck dive, and stay in place if you tumble while riding wave. Start and stop controls located conveniently on rear of camcorder. Editing and deleting better done on land as many menus to click thru to delete, which assures no accidental footage disappearances. Fantastic zooming and with HD even not zoomed, images can be zoomed during viewing and seen clearly. My daughter loved the ability to make clear photo images, either during shooting or later when viewing, by simply pressing photo button.

Bought a 16GB SDHC card and had about 3 hours of time to video, dumped images to computer with simple USB stick card reader, and ready for more. After each use in ocean, per instructions, I set camera in a bowl of freshwater for 5 min. and then opened, closed, and turned the viewfinder to rinse off saltwater.

On land able to choose the more advanced features with lighting and iso options. Incredible HD clarity, small and simple to use and at a price that is comparable to a regular camera that does about the same, except this is VIDEO and CAN HANDLE BEING IN WATER.

Rating

This is my first waterproof camcorder that I ever had and it’s really off the hook! This camcorder has fantastic features with HD quality video functions. I had a lot of fun using this camcorder when I went to Bahamas with my friends during spring break. It was really awesome to able to film underwater. I highly recommend to use this camcorder when you’re going on a trip or vacation.

Rating

My camera arrived two days ago. It was very simple to use and know. The manual really goes indepth but most of the info is obvious when using the camera. I spent a whole day and a half being frustrated about the software. Nero is terrible and wouldn’t even open my video, just played audio, and said i had to buy a blu-ray/hd plug-in but on their website it said no longer available. I felt so frustrated at not being able to view my videos in HD and make them onto a dvd. Sanyo’s customer service suggested i use Quick Time, which played the video in very low quality and still i wasnt able to burn. I spent a long time researching many different software programs to buy, all of which had terrible reviews. I then noticed an icon for total media extreme, like it shows in the manual (it doesnt even mention Nero in the manual but that is what i got when i installed the software), on my desktop. Well, today i opened it up and it was the program mentioned in the manual and it made the dvd quick and simple!! I was thrilled! I dont know why when installing the software it comes up as Nero which is USELESS and doesnt even mention the right software to use TME. I had to luckily notice the new icon on my desktop for the right software. I’m so pleased that nightmare is over! The right software was simple to use and i just used a regular dvd-r from Fujifilm that i previously had, played it in my PS3 and the quality is in HD!!! There was a lot of editing options too, yet simple enough to make a dvd quickly. That was the main thing i wanted to do, burn my home movies to dvd and i finally got it. I also place the videos on youtube very easily and they come on their in HD, and the picture is soooo amazingly crisp and clear! The audio is so excellent too! I was upstairs in my bedroom watching my youtube video i just posted earlier and i heard the oven preheat sound, it’s 3 beeps. Me and my husband both thought we heard the actual oven noise, but it was in the video!

I place other video footage on the same dvd with my new HD camera footage to compare it on my HDTV. I had the video from my regular waterproof camera and my older regular digital camera. WOW the quality is amazingly higher and i thought that the video on my waterproof camera was excellent!! IT was but this quality is incredible! I wish i had this camera sooner, i just went on vacation!

There are a lot of youtube videos like mine, that are taken with this camera, so you can search this camera and see people’s actual footage.

Another tip is to get a class 6 memory card, speed is vital!

The footage doesn’t play in window’s media player because it doesnt know MP4 format. But now that i can use the right software it’s not a problem.

The camera is very light weight, simple to use, oh, you also need to buy the mini hdmi to hdmi cable because it is not included… that is if you want to hook up the camera directly to your HDTV.

I can’t wait to take it on vacation!! -and underwater in the Bahamas! HD is so awesome!

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Rating

First let me say I like toys, especially fantastic ones.

As a previous owner of SANYO’s underwater cameras I was very pleased when my new WH1 arrived. The first thing I noticed when holding the WH1, is how well it fits in your hand. It’s lightweight, and the simple controls are very well laid out. After skimming through manual, and charging the battery, I loaded it up with an SD card. I then went out to see what it can do. First off was taking still photos in various lighting conditions. Then I took several different videos in my pool. The WH1 is very simple to use, and I didn’t need to refer back to the manual for anything during my first outing with the camera.

After playing with it for about an hour, I downloaded all the pictures to my computer. The still photos were very excellent. I was especially surprised how well the photos were underwater. The results were very close a top stand alone digital point and shoot might take, the pictures were perfectly fine for viewing on a screen or printing at 4×6 or 8×10. I shot the test videos at 640×480, 30fps, high bit rate, using all “Auto” settings. Again the results were very excellent. The videos were clear and the sound was excellent. The camera focused well under all conditions. All in all, Sanyo has a winner here. If you like the outdoors, water, snow or rain. This is the best camera on the market hands down!

I’ve been a loyal Amazon customer for many years. You can’t beat the price, shipping and service you receive. Don’t buy from anyone else online, you never know who they really are.

Rating

“Every critisism of this camera you must follow up with the statement “but it goes underwater and shoots HD” For this amount of money your not going to do any better. Most any camcorder your going to need a tripod, and this one is no exception. The features including the talking menu and simple to navigate menus are fantastic. The picture is excellent.. not fantastic, but then again.. IT GOES UNDERWATER… The image can become shaky eventhough the zoom is quite smooth. The still pictures are worthless, but still IT GOES UNDERWATER… It is a nice color, (I got yellow) and using SD cards is the way of the future. HD 720 Video is awesome. You will need to weigh the pro of being able to shoot underwater with other factors, but, your not going to do any bettr in HD video even if it doesnt go underwater for this price. So you might as well get the one THAT you guessed it GOES UNDERWATER. If your considering any camcorder in this price range, I would recommend this, for having all the right features and underwater HD video is just unreal!! A Fantastic deal, glad I bought it, Everyone likes it and everyone can use it. It has not only an simple mode but the settings most wanna be pro videographers want as well. I SAY place it on auto and go, but I have friends who just insist on using manual settings because it makes them feel more like a pro. Gettng the shot makes me feel like a pro and within a second of turning it on your ready to go. Did I mention the battery lasts an incredible three hours?? It is truly solid and the waterproof feature makes it a solidly built piece of equipment. I recommend this for anyone who wants something that is #1 going to last and #2 is very trendsetting nd unique. Not like the other Sanyo “gun” models, this one can sit on a table. It will also shoot pictures quick. I am glad I bought it and reckon it is worth beyond the price. Even if your not going underwater, shooting in the rain, water rafting or even snow, you should get this for piece of mind!

If your even considering an HD camera or a SD camera or an underwater camera or even just a yellow camera. THIS IS THE ONE TO BUY!”

Rating

I have used this camera in areas where I didn’t want to risk a more expensive unit, and I have been blown away by the quality of the video. It’s a fantastic unit for around the pool or the boat, and I have used it underwater in the pool to a depth of eight feet with fantastic success. The camera is simple to use and works as advertised.

Some may call it a toy, but I call it the right tool for the job. I just like it.

Rating

Bought this for our holiday in USA and Canada – We saw Niagara falls (very wet!), we jet boated (extremely wet!), we jet skiied (and fell in!), we white water rafted (and the force of the wave shut the door of the camera so it turned off!). All in all perfect for what we wanted it for – a family holiday with lots of water involved. The small bit of night recording we did (Niagara by night) is excellent as well. We would very much recommend this product for families looking for simple recording (even our 6 year ancient can do it) and is very resistant to knocks and water etc. Fits well in your pocket. Recommend getting the velcro water leash as it is much more reassuring in boats etc. The battery needed to be recharged twice in three weeks!!!! Brilliant!!