VPC-SX500: While Sanyo prepares their first iD Photo supporting digital camera for later in the year, they're moving ahead with plans to introduce a novel new high-end digital camera early this spring.
The new camera, named "VPC-SX500", is unique because of a few different reasons.
First, it's compatible with both standard Compact Flash memory cards, and the previously mentioned 340MB IBM micro-hard drive (optional).
When used with the small IBM hard drive, the VPC-SX500 can store over 800 pictures taken at the VPC-SX500's maximum still photo resolution of 1360x1024x32bpp.
Another feature that makes the VPC-SX500 unique is its ability to record video movie clips at a resolution of 640x480 at 30 frames per second, along with full audio.
By using the Motion-JPEG compression standard, the VPC-SX500 is able to hold approximately 20 minutes of full motion video when used with the optional IBM micro-drive at 640x480, which is slightly better than normal VHS tape quality.
The VPC-SX500 supports multiple video resolutions should the user need more recording length, at a lower resolution of 160x120 the camera can record over an hour of video with sound.
These "multi-role" digital cameras are an early look at what the future holds. While they're nowhere near ready to replace your family's dedicated camcorder due to technology and storage limitations, they do show that eventually we'll be using devices that record audio, video, still shots, and include built in editing features, all in a device the size of a small music Walkman.
The VPC-SX500 isn't the size of small Walkman, but it is smaller than the average medium-size digital camera. Weight with battery is 7.4 oz.
The VPC-SX500 fits easily within the average person's hand.
The VPC-SX500 is due on the market by March, at an MSRP of $699.