Sanyo Xacti

The progress that image capture technology has made over the last decade is quite phenomenal. Only 10 years ago a 1.3 mega-pixel static camera would set you back over £300, whereas for the same money now you could pick up one of the new Sanyo Xacti range such as the CG10, a video camera capable of recording in 720p high definition and take static images up to 10 mega-pixels in size. This is an incredible increase in performance that wasn't even open to professional camera men at the start of the decade, let alone available in a Christmas gift price bracket.

Apart from the Sanyo Xacti range there are all manner of digital image capture solutions available to people today, ranging from around £30 all the way up to the usual upper reaches of the professional market where prices spiral in to thousands of pounds.

As a consumer it is easy to get confused by all the technical jargon surrounding electronic devices. Take, for example, the above specifications of the Sanyo Xacti camera I mentioned above – a lot of people might have an idea what those terms mean, but not enough so as to make a meaningful comparison between products. This is why it is always important to do your research before setting off to buy your camera, otherwise an unscrupulous sales-person could convince you in to buying an expensive Sanyo Xacti when all you want is something for your daughter to use on nights out.