Sanyo Xacti C4
Review Date: April 28th 2005
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Conclusion
(out of 5 stars)
The Sanyo Xacti C4 adds very little in the way of new features when compared to its predecessor, the Xacti C1, and some of what it does add actually makes it a worse camera. The new 4 megapixel sensor may give you slightly bigger images, but it also introduces a host of problems including noisy images, obvious chromatic aberrations and soft images, all things that were present on the older C1 but to a much lesser degree. In my opinion the extra pixels that the Sanyo Xacti C4 offers just aren't worth it when you consider the problems that go with them. I also wouldn't bother using the interpolated 8M image quality setting, as the quality does not compare well to the true 4 megapixel images. The only other changes are the slightly larger 1.8 inch LCD screen, which just about keeps the Sanyo Xacti C4 in line with other 4 megapixel digital cameras, and the welcome addition of built-in image stabilisation.
As with the C1, however, the Sanyo Xacti C4's price-tag is once again prohibitive when compared to the competition. A street price of around £400 / $600 is simply too high for a 4 megapixel camera, even if it does have the excellent advanced video capabilities of the Sanyo Xacti C4. This is especially true when cheaper digicams are offering comparative video performance to the C4. The Sanyo Xacti C4 is not a bad camera, providing a combination of ease of use and video performance in a stylishly designed body that is both well-made and portable. If MPEG-4 quality video is a must-have for you, then the Sanyo Xacti C1 is worth a look. Otherwise I would look elsewhere and buy a 4 megapixel camera that delivers better image quality, whilst saving yourself a substantial amount of money, or try to find the older but still very capable 3 megapixel Xacti C1.
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PhotographyBLOG is a member of the DIWA organisation. Our test results for the Sanyo Xacti C4 have been submitted to DIWA for comparison with test results for different samples of the same camera model supplied by other DIWA member sites.