Sanyo Xacti VPC-CG10

Playback (4.00)

Playback on the Sanyo VPC-CG10 is very similar to the vast majority of traditional digital cameras and camcorders. Pressing the Playback button will bring you to a thumbnail display, where each clip or photo is represented by a single image. Since there is no dedicated still photo mode, photos and videos are mixed together in a single list of thumbnails. The playback screen displays eight thumbnails at a time; there is no alternate view offering more or fewer than eight.

Videos are displayed in a simple thumbnail array.		Still playback is integrated with video playback

If you'd like to view a photo or a video, simply click the 'Set' button (pushing in the joystick). A video will begin playing immediately. Pushing in the joystick will pause/play the video. While the clip is playing, left and right act as fast-forward and rewind buttons; while paused, they cycle between next and previous clips. The CG10 doesn't offer much flexibility in playback options, but you can capture a still photo during playback—a feature that's convenient and easy to use. The stills captured from playback will only be 1280 x 720, but at least Sanyo makes this an easy process for the most inexperienced beginner.

The playback menu is only slightly simpler than the full menu available while in record mode.		There is a simple version, if you prefer

For those who want to do a little in-camera production, the CG10 allows you to rotate and resize photos and cut and join video clips. This is really the bare minimum when it comes to internal editing. If you want to make any serious changes to your footage, you should stick to post-production editing software.

Connectivity (0.75)

As a small camcorder in the sub-£300 price range, it comes as no surprise that the CG10 offers very little in the way of connectivity. The sole output is a proprietary connection compatible only with Sanyo's cables. The CG10 ships with USB and composite AV cables, but you can purchase component cables separately from the manufacturer. Unfortunately, you can't just use standard cables you might have lying around. It also means that you should be careful that you don't lose the cables that come in the box—replacements cost money and you'll have to get the special Sanyo cables.

You might also notice a startling lack of high definition video cables in the box: there is no HDMI or component AV cable for watching your high definition footage on an HDTV. Of course, the CG10 only records 1280 x 720 footage, but that's no reason to prevent consumers from watching their footage in high definition. Many budget camcorders today have some kind of HD output right out of the box: either a standard jack so you can use cables you might already own, or proprietary cables that come with the camcorder.

The proprietary USB/AV jack.		The SD/SDHC memory card slot.

There is one other port on the CG10 worth mentioning: the SD/SDHC memory card slot located on the back of the camcorder. The CG10 doesn't really have any internal memory to speak of, so videos and photos will be captured primarily on memory cards. This makes file transfer easy—you won't need that USB cable if your computer can read SD cards with an internal slot or external card reader—and lets you expand the memory capacity ad infinitum. However, if you don't already own some memory cards, you'll have to spend some extra cash to to buy one or two. The CG10 does not come with a memory card.