What is it?

Sanyo Xacti VPC-E1.

How much will it cost me?

$499.99.

Who makes it?

Sanyo.

Why should I care?

When trying to capture those special underwater moments on video, Sanyo’s Xacti VPC-E1 camcorder lets you focus on the action, not on keeping the camera dry.

How would you describe it?

Whether your summer vacation calls for you to trek through the wilds of the Amazon rainforest, ride the whitewater rapids of Colorado, or just head to the nearest Six Flags Water Park, you’re going to need a camcorder that can get as wet as the action around you. The Sanyo Xacti VPC-E1 will let you get up close on the action, and you can take it where you’d otherwise fear to tread with more expensive camcorders. This first waterproof camcorder on the market isn’t exactly meant for deep sea diving or marine exploration documentaries, but it can handle depths of up to five feet without any worry at the lake house or in a pool. Available in three colors--hey, style does matter at the beach--this is easy to operate, and it is small enough that you can tout it around without feeling burdened by all that "camera gear." Nor is it short on features. It can run for about an hour on a single battery charge, and with an 8 gigabyte memory card (sold separately) it can record up to 10 hours of 640 x 480 video. It features a 5x optical zoom as well as 12x digital zoom, and even doubles as a 6 megapixel still camera, with the ability to take pictures while shooting video.

When can I get my hands on it?

Now.

Where can I find it?

Amazon.com.

What's your verdict?

Buy.