World's smallest and lightest High-Def Digital Video Camera takes 7.1-Megapixel still images too

January Packed with performance upgrades including a new 7.38-megapixel CCD image sensor that dramatically improves low-light sensitivity, the new SANYO Xacti HD2 is the world's smallest and lightest high-definition digital video camera. The SANYO Xacti HD2 will be available in March for around US$700, combining the functionality of a 720p high-definition digital camcorder and 7.1-megapixel digital still camera into one ergonomic, pocket-sized device.

For optimized performance, a new HDMI digital interface, built into the HD2's multifunction docking station, provides an all-digital output to HDTVs and high-definition video recorders.

Featuring a unique pistol-grip and thumb-operable design, the HD2 can record up to 21 minutes of high-definition video (or up to one hour of standard-definition video) per gigabyte of available memory on any standard SD or high-capacity SDHC card (memory cards sold separately). Using a single 8-gigabyte SDHC card, HD2 users can easily and spontaneously shoot nearly three hours of high-definition video, up to eight hours of standard-definition video or thousands of 7.1- megapixel digital still images.

The Xacti HD2 responds to light as low as 12.5 lux in auto mode. This represents an up to 75% increase in low-light sensitivity when compared to the 50 lux auto mode capability of the previous models, the HD1 and HD1a. The HD2 responds to light as low as 6 lux, in lamp mode, representing an up to 76% increase in low-light sensitivity when compared to the 25 lux capability of the HD1 and HD1a. The HD2 features a special "High Sensitivity" button, allowing users to quickly switch from standard sensitivity mode and shoot in a wide variety of low-light situations.

The Xacti HD2 high-definition video camera is designed for super fast start-up and shooting. With no tape to queue up, simply open the display and the HD2 automatically powers up and is ready to record in as little as 1.7 seconds.

The SANYO Xacti HD2 features a digital image stabilization that works across the full shooting range from wide-angle to telephoto. Using an original corrective algorithm developed by SANYO, the HD2 is able to distinguish between "trembling hands" and "camera work" such as panning and tilting.

Thanks to highly efficient MPEG-4 technology, the HD2 is able to create richly detailed high-definition 720p (1280 x 720 pixels) videos at 30 frames per second. That's up to three times more pixels than standard conventional video cameras.

The SANYO Xacti HD2 is powered by high-precision LSI (large-scale integration) circuitry for advanced, high-definition image processing. This powerful "high-definition engine" processes a vast number of calculations and enables the HD2 to realize image processing functions such as high-definition 720p processing, real-time MPEG-4 compression and noise reduction.

The SANYO HD2 high-definition digital video camera features an accelerated frame rate in the HD mode that is more than four times faster than earlier digital cameras. Transmitting data at 9 megabits per seconds ensures that camera and subject motion are smooth and natural, without the image lag or distortion that might occur in slower-responding systems.

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