The New Frontier: High Definition Video Comes to Digital Cameras. We Pick The Best Buy.

Canon's Powershot TX1 is the latest in a series of cameras that combine high megapixel still cameras with HD video capabilities. See how the various models stack up.

From DCHQ - Feb 23, 2007

Our Top Pick: The Sanyo Xacti HD2

The Sanyo Xacti HD2 clearly surpasses the competition with its high recording capacity (84 minutes of HD video on a 4GB Secure Digital Card). Sanyo's previous experiences with camera/camcorder hybrids and responsiveness to consumer feedback also give it a leg up on pioneering first-generation models from Canon and Panasonic. Click here to find the best prices and user reviews on the Sanyo Xacti HD2, or continue reading to see why we're so enthusiastic about this remarkable gadget.

True Hybrid Camera/Camcorders: What Took So Long?

It's only right and natural that we would get to this point. Digital cameras have featured fairly decent, if limited, video modes for quite some time, and camcorders have been slowly inching away from outmoded physical formats like tape and DVD toward memory cards. With so much overlap, at what point does a camera stop being a camera and become a camcorder? Or vice versa? More and more, it seems as if the two products will eventually merge, becoming indistinguishable from one another, and camera manufacturers are already laying the groundwork for an exciting, innovative "hybrid" camera/camcorder.

Just this week, Canon announced the TX1, and while it is not the first product to combine a high-megapixel still camera with high-definition video recording, the very fact that it bears the name Canon means that it could have the potential to really break open this new frontier. But just because it features such a great brand name doesn't mean you shouldn't consider the alternatives. We at DCHQ want to give you the lay of the land for digital cameras featuring high-definition video; the pros, the cons, the confusing little minutiae that may make the difference between a pleasant experience and a frustrating disaster.

The Current Lineup

Right now, you have a couple of options for picking up a gadget that can function as both a good digital camera and a HD camcorder. The aforementioned Canon Powershot TX1 and Sanyo Xacti HD2 both have 7-megapixel sensors, making them superlative still cameras in addition to their 720p video recording. The slightly older Sanyo Xacti HD1a is equipped with a satisfactory 5MP sensor, while the Panasonic LX2 doubles that with an overwhelming 10MP sensor. The long and short of it is: any of these would be good digital cameras. What we really want to know is if they've got the chops to take good videos. For that, we'll need to compare some specs. Don't worry—we'll walk you through it so you don't get too lost.

How They Match Up

Here's a quick rundown of the relevant video specifications for each camera:

Before we start bashing cameras and making other nasty, derisive comments, let's get familiar with a few terms and concepts.

Resolution: You'll notice that all of these cameras take videos at 1280 x 720. This is commonly referred to as "720p," a high-definition specification that means the video uses 720 lines of vertical resolution. The "p" stands for "progressive," indicating that the video image is drawn line by line in one pass, rather than every-other line in two passes. To simplify things: more lines equals better image quality. DVD video only uses 480 lines of vertical resolution, about the same as standard television. With these cameras, you'll be taking true high-definition videos.

Frame Rate: Video, when you come right down to it, is just a series of still images played in quick succession. The speed is what tricks the eye into believing the image is moving, and in order to move smoothly, you need to cram in at least 24 frames per second. That's the standard frame rate for a motion picture. For a TV show, the standard frame rate is 30 frames per second. It's a subtle, perhaps imperceptible difference. Three of these cameras will provide you with "TV quality" video. Only the Panasonic LX2 lags behind with a startlingly slow 15 frames per second.

Recording Time: We've calculated how long you'll be able to shoot video on these cameras if you're using a 4GB Secure Digital memory card. You'll notice that the Canon Powershot TX1 will not allow individual videos longer than 13 minutes. If you have an 8GB SD card, you can take two 13 minute videos, but not one 26 minute video. If you are looking for continuous, non-stop recording past the 13-minute mark, the TX1 can't help you. In that respect, the Sanyo models far outpace the TX1, each capable of filling a 4GB card with 86 minutes of video. The major difference in recording time between the two brands has a lot to do with our next item, format.

Format: When your camera captures video, it is turning the information coming through the lens into little 1s and 0s, and the format essentially determines how those 1s and 0s are sorted and stored as a digital video file. Different formats offer different benefits, as can clearly be seen on the table above. The Canon TX1 trades capacity for quality by using the M-JPEG format, which uses minimal compression (meaning it retains more of the original image information) and typically results excellent videos. The Panasonic LX2 also uses M-JPEG, but by cutting the frame rate in half, they've more than doubled the length of their videos. The Sanyo cameras use the MPEG-4 format, which you might recognize as the format that iPod videos utilize. It uses more compression than M-JPEG, but is generally considered to be of very good quality, and clearly wins hands down in the duration department.

Conclusions: Time Heals All Wounds

By this point, you should realize that we're not going to recommend the Panasonic LX2. At least not for video. While it's a great camera, it's just a camera, and the HD video is more of an afterthought. 15fps will result in jumpy, jerky videos.

The Sanyo Xacti HD1a looks good on paper, but actual user reports complain about poor low-light performance and sub-par image quality. Things look good for the HD2, though, and Sanyo has been very forthcoming about their efforts to respond to complaints about the HD1a. They're also cutting the price, down from the HD1a's initial $800 to $700 for the HD2.

The Canon Powershot TX1 is a good choice, but clearly you'll need to make sure you're shooting what counts, because recording time is limited. With a decent sized memory card (at least 8GB), however, the TX1 could be a great hybrid camera/camcorder, perfect for people who'd like to have the option of HD video without investing tons of money into a separate, less-compact device. Size and cost are definitely two things in the TX1's favor, with a body slightly bigger than canon's compact ELPH line and a remarkably sensible $499 price tag. More than any of the other cameras, the TX1 really looks like it could be the one that's going to bring HD video to the mainstream.

Even so, the sheer capacity of the Sanyo Xacti HD2 (84 minutes @ 4GB!) really makes it stand out from the pack. As far as we're concerned, this is where the smart consumer would put their money. Sanyo has had an opportunity to learn from the HD1a, to see what needs to be tweaked and improved, and it really seems that they've taken user feedback to heart. The TX1 is Canon's first foray into the HD video/digital camera hybrid market, and could very well be as unpolished as the HD1a seemed to be. For good quality, long recording times, and best bang for the buck, we recommend the Sanyo Xacti HD2. Keep an eye out for more information on this camera/camcorder as we get closer to its March release date.