Hello,

As Sanyo Xacti HD1000 is getting hot by some people that seeks an underwater small package to shoot video i am concerned with the REAL PERFORMANCE in low light at the bottom, sun or surface light in the image, etc. Some people i know is getting quite bad results in surface shoots in low light (for the specs of the camera) while waiting for the underwater housing to use it in the “real thing”. My video is used for broadcast purposes and last Xactis did not perform very well in the past.

Has anybody first hand experience with this new model and its performance UNDERWATER? 

Unfortunately, I cannot add first hand experience, but I have studied many forums and tests before I recently bought a HD camcorder and I surely came across the XACTI due to its size, price and small and affordable housing. Finally, I was really concerned by the XACTI picture quality. The major problems I found were a) the optical system b) the used ACVHD compression used to store on SD cards c) the poor stabilizer d) the low light quality. I read tests saying “excellent on a tripod in the sub, but the rest...”. That all scared me, and considering that you need it for professional use, I have a big question mark. Take this only as a recommendation to continue to look for tests and experiences - I have no reason and also not enough detailed knowledge for substantial advice against a XACTI at all, and it’s surely a lovely device, but I cannot imagine that it can play in the league which you need.

I have heard some really good things about these .. especially the top of the range ones ...

obviously there will be better out there ... but at that price and at that size .. i doubt it.

Please, I have no intention to say anything against a XACTI - as I wrote, I have no first-hand experience. Based on what I found when I considered it, my suggestion is just to carefully study tests before making a decision.

I can second Greg. As the XACTI is marketed as a High Definition System, the
expectations of many people are way to high. The uw-footage you find on the
net with this unit it cannot be compared to normal HDV or AVCHD camcorders
from Sony, Canon or Panasonic.

Low-Light performance is not very good and causing a lot of noise underwater.

If you just want an affordable video-system to play with, go for it.
But if you want High Definition Quality that is ready for 50” Plasma
Screens you should look for alternatives.

I do not think that Xacti issues for underwater filming are video quality, low light conditions or that kind of stuff.

The real problem of Xacti HD1000, is something more basic, its Epoque Housing. A case with a doubtful reliability, that are provoking dozens of camera floodings in the first uses. You can check the reports in several Diving Forums.

The camera do not fit closely in the Epoque housing, and if the camera is not perflectly centered manually, the smallest deviation, can cause the flooding occurs. So you are gambling with your camera in each dive. And be sure it is no easy to detect the deviation because all buttons works, and the case can be closed without any problem at all (apparently).

When these occurs Epoque pretends not to know about this problem, although they are collecting claims from vendors and their customers, and you lose the money of your new recently buyed camera.

That is my first-hand opinion.

I never really got to test the camera because my housing flooded after only a few dives.  The previous post is correct regarding the placement problems in the housing.  It is very easy to have the camera misalligned and not realize it.  At this point it doesn’t appear Epoque is going to do anything.  They don’t consider it a design problem and say that with proper instruction it become an easy process to properly align the camera????  Check out other sites such as scubaboard or wetpixel for addtional stories.