Sanyo Xacti E2 features same awkward design as E1, but more megapixels
(Credit:
Sanyo)
We had mixed feelings about Sanyo's first-gen underwater Xacti, the E1. While it showed some promise with its 5x optical zoom and occasionally good photo results, the overall performance was sluggish and the pistol-grip design wasn't ideal. Sadly, it looks like the newly announced followup, the Xacti E2, doesn't offer much of an improvement.
The E2 is still only good down to 5 feet and for only an hour at a time. It also has the same design and again records in MPEG-4 AVC/H.264. In fact the only really new bits are that it records at 60 frames per second, can now capture 8-megapixel still photos (up from 6) with 10fps sequential shooting capability (5fps), and it has face detection/tracking.
It's available now in brilliant blue or pearlescent white at $399.99, just in time for the summer beach season winter sports season.
Josh Goldman is a senior editor for CNET Reviews, covering digital cameras, camcorders, and related bits and pieces, along with writing the occasional laptop or software review. He doesn't have a podcast, newsletter, or CNET TV show, but you can follow him on Twitter if that's something you do. E-mail Josh. 
