(Sanyo) Fisher FVD-V1 (1998)

The (Sanyo) Fisher FVD-V1. The only Fisher digital camera known to exist. Now this is a strange one, many digital camera enthusiasts believed that this camera was either a prototype or a footnote in a magazine or never existed. It did. How this camera came to life beats me. I know that Fisher was a subsidiary of Sanyo Electronics. What's so strange about this camera? For one, it's the only digital camera ever marketed under the brand Fisher and secondly it is not just a simple OEM model but in fact two. The front of this camera is clearly taken from the 1999 Sanyo VPC-Z380 whereas the back is taken from the 1997 Sanyo VPC-G200/(DSC-V1). Also the finish of the camera body is darker than the other two cameras.

The Fisher FVD-V1 was marketed in the US only. Earliest information I could find dates back to the year 1998 when I came across a review by Gary Dion, he wrote for instance that he snatched one on an auction site for $180. So, I believe the camera was marketed in 1998. Most likely manufactured in 1997. So how did it end up with a 1999 camera front?

Sanyo-Fisher announced a follow-up digital camera to this one in 1998. Called VPL-X300. It featured a 2" TFT screen and SmartMedia slot. Nothing else is known and the camera was never marketed.