The Sanyo Xacti VPC-HD1010 ($799 MSRP) is an ultra-compact HD camcorder packed with an abundance of features and controls. While its irregular shape makes it slightly less compact than the Sony HDR-TG1, the two are direct competitors as far as video performance is concerned. In our testing, the Sanyo HD1010 put on an impressive show—capturing deep colors at low light and producing crisp images in bright light. Unfortunately, these benefits seem to come at the cost of a terrible control system and uncomfortably cheap design. Sanyo clearly didn't work out all the kinks before bringing the VPC-HD1010 to the table—if it had, this could have been one spectacular camcorder.

Take one look at the VPC-HD1010's thick instruction manual and you'll quickly realize how many features and options this little camcorder has. There are eight separate recording qualities, nine still image modes, independent aperture and shutter control, ISO sensitivity, three image settings, manual white balance, and a high sensitivity setting. If you love playing around with settings and controls, the VPC-HD1010 will definitely entertain you for quite some time.

If you aren't familiar with any of those terms, this may not be the camcorder for you. It gets worse – even if you do consider yourself video-savvy, manipulating these controls is confusing and tedious. Sanyo relies on a small, lousy joystick to make all manual adjustments—something that will surely irk anyone who's accustomed to using a lens ring or control dial to fine-tune an image. Also, it's impossible to make any manual adjustments once the camcorder begins recording. This means if you were planning to do focus or exposure changes, you'll be out of luck once you press the record button.

On the surface, the Sanyo HD1010 may look simple enough, but it really isn't designed for newcomers. There is a "simple menu" mode (very similar to Sony's "easy" mode), which dwindles the confusing menu down to three uncomplicated options. The problem is, even in "simple menu" mode, the camcorder is always difficult to handle. Most of the automated controls are shoddy or insufficient—we even heard the autofocus making a low crackling noise at times, though rarely was it loud enough to get picked up by the built-in microphone.

The auto exposure system may produce the most annoying problem of all. The camcorder automatically drops to a 1/30 of a second shutter speed in any low light situations (even in moderately low light). This slow shutter speed boosts exposure, but it drastically distorts motion – creating a stilted look. Most manufacturers set a minimum shutter speed of 1/60 of a second and will have special night modes that allow for slower speeds. For some reason, Sanyo does it backwards—the only way to turn off the automatic slow shutter is to manually set the shutter speed to another speed.

The VPC-HD1010 doesn't feel solid or well-built—its plastic body scratches easily, gets warm after long periods of filming, and the button placement is awkward. The port covers on the Sanyo HD1010 are some of the worst we've seen, with all of them feeling capable of snapping off or cracking in half at any moment. To keep prices reasonable, and still be able to provide powerful video quality and lots of controls, it seems Sanyo cut corners on design, layout, and durability.

Performance (read in-depth lab performance at CamcorderInfo.com)
The Sanyo VPC-HD1010 has a large, 1/2.5-inch CMOS sensor and an effective pixel count of 3,560,000. This is huge for an ultra-compact HD camcorder, and it's double the size of the chip found in the Sony HDR-TG1. Now, sensor size doesn't account for everything when it comes to video performance, but the large one here definitely gave Sanyo an advantage in low light situations.

Overall, the Sanyo HD1010 produced a good image in all kinds of light. Recording at 60i, the VPC-HD1010 faired slightly worse than the Sony HDR-TG1 in video quality. Images were solid, but areas of fine detail weren't sharp enough, even in bright light.

The Sanyo HD1010 requires some skill to capture a perfect image. Using the camcorder's automatic controls won't yield the best results. Fiddling with shutter speeds, using manual white balance, and playing with the 30P frame rate option can produce wonderful images—better than any video footage we've seen from an ultra-compact HD camcorder, so don't be afraid to experiment.

Comparisons (read in depth comparisons at CamcorderInfo.com)
The Sanyo Xacti VPC-HD1010 is designed for a niche market. It should appeal to manual control enthusiasts looking for a compact HD camcorder. It's not an ideal device for making polished films as the controls don't allow for smooth adjustment or precise control. While the controls are plentiful, their implementation is far from acceptable.

The Sony HDR-TG1, while comparable in weight and size to the Sanyo HD1010, is a far more portable product. Both camcorders are uncomfortable in pockets, but the HD1010's odd, hair-dryer-like shape makes it nearly impossible for most pockets to handle. The Sony, on the other hand, is a smooth, perpendicular rectangle, and its body is far more suited to the wear and tear an ultra-portable device undergoes. If you want access to manual controls, however, you have to go with the Sanyo HD1010—the HDR-TG1 is clearly designed for beginners.

As far as larger camcorders go, the Panasonic HDC-HS100 is an interesting choice if manual controls are your thing. The camcorder has a lens ring that allows control over zoom, focus, gain, aperture, shutter, and white balance. It doesn't have quite as many controls as the VPC-HD1010, but it has a far better system for making adjustments. If all you want is control, and you don't care about size, Panasonic is probably the way to go.