The Xacti CA8 adopts the MPEG-4 AVC (Advanced Video Coding)/H.264 high compression and recording format, which compresses 60 VGA (640 x 480) frames into each second. The smaller files it generates are easy to handle and enable many hours of high-quality recording at the same quality as earlier DVD (MPEG-2) formats, but with about half the amount of data. Your video clips will even look good on big-screen TVs. When it comes to audio, the CA8 uses the AAC-LC (MPEG-4 Audio) file format. This delivers higher compression rates than MP3 and other earlier formats, again helping to keep the files smaller. The CA8 records high-quality, 16-bit stereo audio at 48 kHz. And, thanks to its SDHC support, it lets you record 4 hours of footage onto a 4 GB SDHC card (in TV-HQ mode).
Even under compromised lighting conditions—say, underwater or at sunset—the CA8 can capture bright and sharp images in Auto mode with minimal noise. When you engage the High-sensitivity mode* or Lamp mode, you can take videos down to a minimum lighting requirement of approximately 4 lux. This means you can capture all the atmosphere of a candlelit dinner, for example.
*In TV-SHQ mode.
You can take still pictures while recording video footage by simply pressing the shutter button. The CA8 can simultaneously record VGA (640 x 480) video and 2M stills*. This way, you won’t have to miss that golden photo opportunity just because you’re recording a video clip.
*In TV-HR mode, 0.3M stills.
Note: The angle of view may change when shooting video clips while using the Digital Image Stabilizer.
Note: The angle of view may change when shooting video clips while using the Digital Image Stabilizer.
A new shake control mechanism for still pictures cancels both rotational blurring that cannot be corrected by optical systems and blurring caused by moving subjects. The CA8 also incorporates a digital image stabilizer for videos, which accurately distinguishes between unintentional trembling and intentional camera work such as panning and tilting—a distinction that some systems have difficulty making—so that shaking is corrected without sacrificing the natural look of your actual camera work.
Note (1): The blur-resistant system cannot correct shaking in images with a high degree of shaking.
Note (2): Turning the Digital Image Stabilizer on or off may change the angle of view slightly.
The CA8 incorporates a high performance F3.5, 5x optical zoom lens. Subjects and far-away people can be captured with beautiful quality. And if you incorporate the 12x digital zoom, you can capitalize on a maximum of up to 60x zooming.
Using the 20-Image Display function, you can quickly search for a specific image. The Slideshow feature, meanwhile, lets you play back images continuously. A further convenience offered by the CA8 is the ability to edit videos on the camera itself. You can easily splice multiple clips into a single video or cut unwanted footage by visually selecting clips on the time bar. This function helps you to use your SD memory card capacity more effectively.
In Simple mode, only the most basic information is displayed on the LCD monitor. This easy-to-see, easy-to-understand graphical user interface is simple enough for even first-time users to operate.
