Sanyo Fisher Intros Eco-Friendly Dual Cameras

In a global announcement made in New York Wednesday, Sanyo Fisher Co. said it would release at the end of March a half-dozen products in the “Dual Camera” product category – defined as combination camcorders and digital still cameras. Sanyo North America Corp. president Masami “Sam” Murata said the introductions are part of a broader corporate strategy that will help the company move forward toward its pro-environmental agenda, in the aftermath of the recent news that Panasonic would acquire Sanyo.

Tom Van Voy, marketing vice president for Sanyo Fisher Co., noted that the roster of energy-saving features in the new Xacti Dual Camera line was topped by the fact that “with these products, you don’t have to carry two products for video and still photography. One is all you need.”

The models, all of which record to SD/SDHC media cards, have separate video and photo buttons, and the line has horizontal and vertical configurations of the world’s first 1080p Full HD 60 frames per second (fps) Dual Cameras (VPC-FH1; $499.99 and VPC-HD2000; $599.99) and of the world’s first HD waterproof Dual Cameras (VPC-WH1; $399.99 and VPC-CA9; $349.99).  Two compact models (VPC-TH1; $299.99 and VPC-CG10; $199.99) also made their debut.  The horizontal body style is new to the Xacti line.

All models carry the EV3H Engine with fast-readout CMOS sensor and offer low power consumption via rechargeable lithium-ion battery systems; the VH1 and TH1, in fact, can record video for three hours, 20 minutes without needing to be recharged.  All also offer 3D digital noise reduction and digital image stabilization when shooting still images. Some models are compatible with optional lenses. The top two models (FH1 and HD2000) feature 16X advanced optical zoom for videography which expands the field of view to record more image area.  Another feature, high-speed recording/super-slow-motion video, enables stable slow-motion playback. Moment Sensing Sequential Shooting, found on all models as well, records video into a buffer as long as the shutter is held down, and permits simultaneous shooting of still photos and videos and later, sequential viewing of both within a slideshow. The WH1 and CA9, which record in 720p high-definition resolution, are waterproof to 10 feet and five feet depth, respectively, for up to one hour, says Sanyo. HDMI output is found on all models except for the entry-level CG10.

Murata took the occasion of the product introduction to amplify on the recently announced Sanyo-Panasonic alliance, which he said would bring $1 billion in support to Sanyo for additional business investment and would help Sanyo accomplish its mid-term marketing plan “with the alliance as a driving force.

 “We felt that Panasonic was the best partner for Sanyo,” Murata said, adding that the alliance would include sharing know-how and resources that would aid Sanyo in maximizing its corporate value.

Sanyo’s overriding strategy, crystallized in the “Challenge 1000” plan outlined by Murata, aims to make all Sanyo businesses profitable at the completion of three years (1,000 days), through the launch of pro-environmental products and the expansion of sales channels and markets.