It caused a bit of a stir when first revealed at CES last month and now Sanyo has confirmed its launch plans for what it describes as the smallest, thinnest and lightest full HD camera ever – its Xacti VPC-CS1 Dual Camera.

The tiny Dual Camera shoots both full 1080i HD footage and 8 megapixel still shots, despite having a body thickness of a mere one inch (2.7cm). Available in two colours, metallic silver and magenta, both models will be available throughout the UK from Friday, March 5, with a street price in the region of £249.

Image showing two colour options of Sanyo's Xacti VPC-CS1 Full-HD Camera

Available in 2 colours - the world's smallest, thinnest full-HD camera

Dominic Jones, Marketing Manager for Sanyo UK is confident that the new models will meet the needs of a growing sector of the camcorder market: “The Xacti VPC-CS1 combines Sanyo’s unique technological capabilities with a level of style, simplicity and elegance never before seen in the pocket camera marketplace. We believe this is a watershed product that will prove popular across a broad range of audiences, from teens to grandparents.”

Capture everything wherever you are

The company has given the CS1 a redesigned pistol grip chassis that not only makes it the smallest and most slender full HD camera available but, combined with its 285-degree tilting screen designed to capture any angle, makes it fun and simple to use. We’re reminded that the concept of pocket camcorders is that you should be able to carry your camera with you everywhere, ready to capture the moment wherever you are.

The camera has a 10x Advanced Zoom lens, which Sanyo describes as being “perfect” for snapping the action from a distance and automatic adjustments are made to ensure the best possible image quality whether shooting on a beach or a nightclub. The adjustable, fold out 2.7inch TFT LCD screen is designed to display the action clearly at all times from any angle and in a variety of light conditions. The camera features a mini HDMI port which enables direct connection to a HDTV for full HD playback.

Perfect for Facebook, YouTube and MySpace

Sharing footage taken with the Xacti CS1 is as easy as shooting it and the camera is compatible with Eye-Fi SD cards to allow wireless transfer to the web. Footage is shot in the YouTube-compatible MPEG4 format and can be uploaded easily to any of the major social networks or blogging platforms.

The Sanyo Xacti is available in the UK from 5th March 2010.

Words by Colin Barrett, SimplyDV, from information kindly supplied by Sanyo UK. Picture supplied by Sanyo UK and used by permission.