It's typhoon season in Hong Kong, which means it's usually either hot, raining or both - perfect conditions for the Sanyo Xacti VPC-CA9 portable camcorder. Waterproof still cameras are not uncommon, and now, if you want to take video in less-than-dry conditions, the VPC-CA9 lets you do it in the pool, in the rain and snow, or at the beach. According to Sanyo, the CA9 is certified with the highest possible IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) 60529 specifications for waterproof devices, and is operable down to a depth of 1.5m under water. The VPC-CA9 features 9 megapixel image resolution for still photos and 7.31 megapixel supporting high-definition video at 1280 x 720 pixels. It also comes with a 5x optical zoom lens, built-in stereo microphone, and a 6.3cm flip-open screen. Memory for photos and videos is stored via SDHC cards (up to 32GB is supported). The basic specifications should be enough for most daytime environments, but the CA9's maximum aperture of F3.5 will limit its ability to shoot in dim settings without degrading the quality of shots or video. The battery will last for 170 shots and about 70 minutes of continuous video recording, which might be enough in the city, but is a bit limiting if you're on an outing or snorkelling. Still, it's would be pretty cool the next time you met your friends at the pool to dive in with your camcorder. The Sanyo Xacti VPC-CA9 sells for HK$3,380. Pros: waterproof up to 1.5m, supports HD video Cons: F3.5 aperture may limit performance in dim settings