Sanyo Canada has added five new HD Dual Cameras, all with high-definition video recording and bodies that are significantly slimmer than last year's models. Like all past Sanyo Dual Cameras, the new models employ the MPEG-4 video format, which is easier to edit on a computer than AVCHD.

All models feature "Face Chaser" face-detection autofocus, and "Target a Subject" tracking autofocus. The new cameras can record onto ultra-high-capacity SDXC memory cards, as well as SD and SDHC cards. They are all certified to work with Microsoft Windows 7. Video can be played directly with Windows Media Player and edited in Windows Live Movie Maker.

Another new feature for 2010 is Photo Stabilizer. When this feature is activated, the camera records two images of the subject: one at a slow shutter speed and low ISO, and another at a fast shutter speed with higher ISO. It then blends the two files into a single image to minimize both noise and motion blur.

Like previous Sanyo Dual Cameras, the new models let users capture stills while recording video.

Priced at $299 MSRP, the entry-level VPC-CG20 can shoot 1080 60i HD video and 10-megapixel (MP) stills. Finished in black, the CG20 has a vertical layout, 2.7" LCD and 5x zoom lens.

The VPC-CG102 ($329 MSRP) can record 14MP stills and 1080 60i HD video. It has a Dual Range zoom function that lets users choose between two different 6x zoom ranges: 40-240mm or 80-4800mm (35mm equivalent) when shooting video. For photo capture, it has 5x optical zoom. It's available in black.

The VPC-CGGH2 has the same features and MSRP at the CG102, but has a horizontal rather than vertical layout, and has a silver finish.

The VPC-SH1 horizontal Dual Camera is available in black and red finishes, and adds some advanced features, including "Sound Zoom," which lets users record audio with wide stereo separation, focus on the sound coming from the front, or change the audio-recording pattern based on the zoom-lens setting. Priced at $549 (MPSR), it can record 1080p 60fps HD video at 10MP stills.

Sound Zoom is also offered on the VPC-CS1 ($439 MSRP, shown here) vertical Dual Camera. The super-slim model is just over an inch wide. It can record 1080p high-definition video and 8MP stills. The optical zoom range is 9x with photos and 10x with video. It's available in silver and pink.

Note that the native resolution of the CS1's image sensor is 3.3MP; when the 8MP photo setting is selected, the camera upsamples the file to 8MP. Similarly, the SH1 has native resolution of 4MP, and the camera upsamples to 10MP when that setting is selected.

Article Tags:  sanyo, dual camera, CG102 CS1, cg20, SH1, GH2, MPEG-4, HD, video, Xacti