The Sanyo Xacti E1 is the world’s first waterproof camcorder. The E1 can record video and 6 megapixel stills under water to a depth of five feet for up to one hour at a time. The Sanyo E1 will be available in the USA in blue, yellow and white in mid-June 2007 for $499.99.

Sanyo Press Release

SANYO DEBUTS THE WORLD’S FIRST WATERPROOF CAMCORDER BUILT FOR FAMILY FUN ABOVE AND BELOW WATER

Ideal for the Beach or Backyard Pool and Perfect for Vacationers, SANYO’s Submersible Xacti E1 is the Must-Have Camcorder for Active Lifestyles

CHATSWORTH, CA, May 22, 2007 – SANYO has introduced the world’s first*1 waterproof*2 camcorder, the SANYO Xacti E1. Ideal for active families, vacationers and water sports enthusiasts, the ultra-compact E1 can record high-quality video and 6-megapixel stills under water*3 to a depth of five feet for up to one hour at a time.

Designed for year-round use, the stylish SANYO Xacti E1 is the pocket-sized, “grab and go” solution for capturing special moments everywhere, every time – whenever inspiration strikes. Completely self-contained, the E1 requires no bulky, separate underwater housing.

Easy to operate with only one hand, it’s an ideal camcorder to take to the beach or lake for activities such as swimming, snorkeling, surfing and water-skiing, or for use in and around the backyard pool or water park. Compact and easy to grip, the E1 is also great for skiers and snowboarders*4. Away from water, the versatile E1 is a perfect choice for shooting video and still images of the new baby or recording all the fun at parties, children’s school or sports events and family outings.

The SANYO Xacti E1 will be available in the U.S.A. in eye-catching blue, yellow and white in mid-June 2007 at $499.99 MSRP*5. Consumers can visit www.sanyodigital.com for information regarding major online retailers accepting pre-orders for the E1.

The E1 shoots TV-quality MPEG-4 video and utilizes the state-of-the-art Advanced Video Codec AVC/H.264. Incorporating a special Qpixel brand H.264 chipset, the E1 delivers a significant 25 percent reduction in video file size, along with improved video quality versus traditional MPEG-4 recordings. Completely “tapeless,” the device records both video and still images to a standard SD memory card or high-capacity SDHC card. Users can record a phenomenal 10 hours of full-motion 640 x 480 pixel, 30 frames-per-second video on a single 8-gigabyte SDHC memory card (not included)*6. Once recorded, both video and still images can be easily uploaded and viewed on a PC or Mac, personal media player such as the iPod®, or shared on the internet via a video or photo sharing Website.

“More than just the world’s first waterproof camcorder, the SANYO Xacti E1 is really four cameras in one,” said John Lamb, Senior Marketing Manager, Audio Video Division of SANYO Fisher Company. “It’s both a video and still camera above water and a video and still camera below water. SANYO has created a stunning, exceptionally versatile camcorder that can be used virtually everywhere – including at the beach, in the pool and in rain or snow – while providing the high level of video and still image performance that today’s consumers demand. The E1 makes it fun and easy to record life’s special moments spontaneously both in and out of the water.”

Improved 9 pixel-mixing technology allows video to be shot even in darker places, such as indoors during a party. When using the “Automatic” setting, subjects may be recorded in light as low as 7 lux, and when using the “Lamp Mode” setting found in the “Scene Select” function menu, the frame rate will be automatically adjusted, enabling subjects to be recorded even in 2 lux low-light environments*7.

The included CD-ROM Software Pack features Adobe Premiere Elements 3.0 for Windows XP/Vista, Adobe Photoshop Album starter edition, QuickTime 7.1, iTunes 7.1 and Xacti Screen Capture for Windows. For Mac OS X customers, SANYO recommends using iMovie and iPhoto.

Regarding the agreement to distribute Adobe’s software with the Xacti camera, Garrett J. Ilg, president of Adobe Systems Japan, commented, “Adobe’s video editing software, ‘Adobe Premiere Elements’, through being bundled with SANYO’s new Xacti product, will provide users with new added value. The H.264 format which Adobe Premiere Elements is compatible with and that Xacti has adopted will hereafter be a mainstream format. In cooperation with SANYO, Adobe Systems will continue to provide solutions enhancing users’ personal movie experiences by using Adobe Premiere Elements in combination with Xacti.”

Included accessories are a USB Cable, AV Cable, Battery Charger, Li-ion Battery Pack, Soft Case and Hand Strap. Optional accessories include a specially designed “surf-style” camera leash (VCP-STB1 - $19.99*5) made by a leading surf gear maker, Surf More XM, that safely and securely tethers the E1 to the user’s wrist. A protective waterproof camera case (VCP-HCX2 - $19.99*5) is also available.

SANYO Xacti E1 Key Features:

  * Waterproof: submersible to a depth of five feet for 60 minutes
  * No separate, bulky underwater housing required
  * Shoots high-quality video (advanced MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 at 640 x 480 pixels/30fps)
  * Takes 6-megapixel stills (JPEG format)
  * Records onto an SD memory card or high-capacity SDHC card (not included)
  * Bright, 2.5-inch LCD color display flips out and rotates for easy viewing
  * 5x optical zoom for great close-ups
  * Anti-shake digital image stabilizer*8
  * Easy, one-handed operation
  * While recording video, 6-megapixel still images may also be taken simultaneously
  * Utilizing the 16:9 widescreen (4.4M: 2816 x 1584 pixel) photo setting, users can enjoy their high resolution photos on their high-definition televisions in full screen mode
  * In “Portrait Mode” pictures can be taken in portrait style without manually rotating the camera to its side
  * Set focal distance to one of 16 steps with “Manual Focus”
  * Super-macro function able to zoom in up to 1cm (when using wide-angle)
  * “Digital Red-eye reduction” function automatically reduces red-eye from images
  * Easily upload video and images to a PC or Mac for playback or share online with friends
  * Smooth playback on television with 60 frames per second
  * “Quick stand-by” makes it possible to start recording or playback immediately after the monitor is flipped open
  * Dimensions: 2.8 x 4.4 x 1.6 (W x H x D, in inches)
  * Weight: 8.3 oz. with battery and SD or SDHC memory card
  * Comes in a choice of Blue, Yellow or White

Specifications
Effective pixel count Approx. 6.0-Megapixels
CCD 1/2.5 inch, approx. 6.37-Megapixel CCD (total)
Recording Media SD Memory Card (Up to 8GB SDHC memory card*16) Internal Memory (Approx 18 mb)
Recording file formats Still pictures: JPEG (DCF*9 DPOF*10, Exif Ver2.2*11) Movie clips: ISO standard MPEG-4 AVC H.264 (.MP4) Audio: 48kHz sampling, 16 bit, 2ch, AAC
Resolution (pixels) Still shots: 10M: 3680x2760, 6M-H: 2816x2112 (low compression) 6M-S: 2816x2112 (standard compression) 16:9: 2816x1584 3M: 1536x2048 2M: 1600x1200 0.3M: 640x480 Movie clips*12 TV-SHQ:640x480 (30fps 3Mbps), TV-HQ:640x480 (30fps 1.5Mbps), Web-SHQ:320x240 (30fps)?Web-HQ:320x240 (15fps)
Lens f = 6.3-31.7mm (38-190mm on a 35mm camera), 5x optical zoom lens F: 3.5 (W) - 4.7 (T), galvanometer method structure, Auto Focus: 9 groups, 12 elements, (3 aspheric elements 5 aspheric surfaces) lens built-in neutral density filter
Shutter speed Still pictures: 1/2 ~ 1/2000 sec. (Flash: 1/30 ~ 1/2000 sec., Lamp mode: max. 4 sec) Movies: 1/30 ~ 1/10000 sec.
Sensitivity Auto (ISO 50-400), Manual (ISO 50/100/200/400/800/1600)
Video correction function On-board Anti-Shake Movie Digital Image Stabilizer (electronic sensor)
Other correction function Anti-Shake Digital Image Stabilizer/Flicker Reduction/Wind Noise Reduction
Low-light sensitivity 7 lux (AUTO mode, 1/30 sec.) 2 lux (Lamp mode 1/15)
Flash Auto/Forced/Off (Slow, synchro mode possible in Night View mode)
Audio Microphone: Built-in stereo, Speaker: Built-in mono (L/R mixed output)
LCD monitor 110,000-pixel, 2.5 inch, Amorphous Silicon TFT LCD display, 1.5-Megapixel (Coverage 100%, 7-level brightness)
Interface AV output (Video: Composite video, NTSC/PAL, Audio: Stereo sound) AV output for multi-type headphones(f3.5mm compatible with Stereo mini-plug 16O~32O) USB 2.0 (in high-speed mode: PC camera video class mode)
Power source Lithium-ion battery (DB-L20, included: 720mAH)
Power Output When using battery: 3.2W (using movie mode)
Approx. battery life Still shooting: approx. 160 stills (CIPA standard), Video clips and continuous shooting mode: approx. 80 min./Playback: approx. 190 min.
Dimensions 70.4 (W) x 40.5 (D) x 111.4 (H) mm (maximum dimensions, excluding protruding parts) (192 cc)
Weight 217g approx. (main unit only), 236g approx. (including battery and SD card)

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