Sanyo Xacti VPC SH1 HD Camcorder Revealed [New Xacti To Feature Narrow-Body, Wide Lens, 1080p]

New Panasonic subsidiary Sanyo showed off plenty of new cameras at CES earlier this month (including the Xacti CS1), but one of their cameras, the Xacti VPC-SH1, features a narrow-body design, but has a 35mm-wide angle lens. In addition to the wide angle lens, Sanyo has pulled out all the stops and this camera can shoot “Full HD” (1080p).

Sanyo has included a 2-megapixel sensor for capturing the video, and the device sports a 30x optical zoom. The zoom is thanks to Sanyo’s exclusive “Advanced Zoom” technology. With the wide-angle 35mm lens, you can shoot your own movie studio-style widescreen HD video, as the 35mm lens (according to Sayno) is the equivalent to the 35mm film reels used by movie studios

The SH1 has what Sanyo claims is the “Industry’s smallest, lightest and thinnest body” and comes in at only 7.2 ounces. It’s definitely a thin camcorder for that wide lens and full HD video. The camcorder includes a “Double Sub” mode where you can take digital photos while recording video. A more tech savy user probably could just take screenshots from the video he’s recorded, but that can be time consuming, and not everybody knows how to do something like that.

At any rate, the SH1 will record in H.264, which is compatible with Mac and Windows. Sanyo has also applied for the SH1 to support Apple’s new iFrame video format, which is a variation of the original H.264 format. For other features, it’ll have a SD card slot, an HDMI-out port for viewing your HD content on a big screen, and Image Stabilization for shaky hands. The SH1 will start shipping next month, and will cost $400.