Sanyo Xacti VPC-CA8

The basics

This is an 8MP hybrid camera-camcorder with 2.5-inch LCD and 5x zoom lens. Movies are recorded as 640x480-pixel H.264 files at 60fps, with stereo sound. Waterproof to 1.5m.

The good

It’s a widely accepted scientific fact that when you go on holiday, your IQ drops by around 30 points. Chips taste better, drinking seven pints at lunch-time seems like a good idea and it’s all too easy to attempt sporting activities that end in a complicated international insurance claim. In which case, the CA8 is your perfect partner in crime. It’s water- and sand-proof for the beach, comes with one-touch movie/stills buttons for instant recording and packs both face detection and auto-everything simplicity. Still photos are excellent and the VGA movies aren’t too shabby either.

The bad

Careful with this bad boy through the X-ray machines – its ray-gun styling could have you mistaken for a time-travelling terrorist from the future. If that gets you nervous, buy a tripod, as the Xacti’s electronic stabilisation isn’t much cop at steadying shaking hands.

The bottom line

It’s not as Tonka toy-sturdy as Olympus’s Tough range of cameras, but the Sanyo is smoother and simpler to use, pumping out solid standard def movies and decent stills, whatever the weather.