As you can see, the CG6 is about the same size as my Logitech MX Revolution Mouse. It is even smaller than I anticipated from looking at photos online. This allows me to easily slip it into my jeans pocket and take it with me anytime I go out.
One of the great things about this camcorder is that it can be easily used by both left and right-handed people. I am right-handed but for these photos, I had to hold the camcorder with my left hand and my digital camera with the right hand to snap these pictures.
Above are two quick photos of the CG6 in action. The first is of the live display in record mode. The second image is of a recorded video in playback mode.
Here are some sample photos that I shot using the CG6 at the 6 MP standard compression quality level (2816 x 2112). I was pretty pleased with the quality of the photos taken outdoors. I use a Nikon D80 as my primary camera, so I am a bit spoiled in terms of quality, etc. But, as an extremely portable digital camera, the CG6 definitely fit the bill.
Next up are a few video clips taken with the camera. Each of these clips was shot using SHQ recording mode. The sample files are zipped in .ZIP format for easier downloading.
Fun in the car
Eli Manning and Patrick Willis interview
Spring football game
As you can see, the quality of the video is really good. The first two videos were shot by holding the camera (meaning, no tripod to steady it). The final video was shot with me propping the camera against a rail.
Overall, the Sanyo CG6 was extremely easy and fun to work with. In the new multimedia world that we recently entered, it's nice to have a compact device that can record quality video at any time. Operating the camera is fairly idiot-proof, but if you run into any questions, you can always consult the instruction manual.
The size of the CG6 is perfect. It is small enough to fit into a purse or pocket, yet large enough that you don't feel like you are going to break or drop it during use. The camera uses a pistol-grip style which works perfectly for both left and right-handed users. The fact that the camera is so small also means it is extremely lightweight. My last camcorder was a Sony Hi-8. It was nice for its time, but it was a bit too heavy for my liking and its sheer size meant that I only took it with me on special occasions.
The fact that the CG6 is tapeless is great in my opinion. Tapes are a thing of the past, as they are proprietary and can be expensive to purchase. I still have a handful of videos that I recorded using my old Sony camcorder, but since I no longer have that camcorder, I have no way to watch these videos. With a digital medium, you don't have to buy expensive tapes or DVD discs, which will certainly save you money over time. Also, with the digital format, it is extremely easy to transfer video to your computer.
The CG6 records in MPEG-4 format, which is a pretty common format these days. You can use the included software bundle to edit your movie files, or hop online and find your own editing programs. The .MP4 format means you can directly upload your videos to your iPod or iPhone (except when using the SHQ mode) and also allows for quick and painless uploading to YouTube.
Since the unit is so small, I am not surprised that battery life is less than stellar. You can expect about 70 minutes of recording from a full battery. The battery is removable and can be charged using the external charger, or you can charge it in-camera using the USB cable. I would recommend picking up a spare (or two) battery so you will always have power on tap.
The included neck strap and lens cover are nice additions. This will ensure you always have quick access to your camera and your lens will not get scratched. Just be sure to remove the lens cap before shooting. A set of RCA wires is also provided, so you can connect the camera to your TV for easy video and photo viewing.
The wind reduction and vibration reduction features seemed to work decently, but really, they aren't anything to write home about. Some people will appreciate the in-camera editing and printing features, but these are really just filler in my opinion. I can't think of a single time where I would want to print a photo without first looking at it on a large screen and cropping / editing it.
At the end of the day, I think this is a great portable camera that will give you decent quality videos. Of course, it is not comparable to HD video cameras, but then again, the price difference certainly reflects that as well.
The Sanyo Xacti CG6 is available in three stylish colors: Silver, Pink and Blue. As of writing, the CG6 can be had over at Geeks.com for only $179.99.
OCIA.net has awarded the Sanyo Xacti CG6 our Seal of Approval.
