Digital Trends

Hitachi DZ-HS300A April 16th, 2007 | by David Elrich

Features and Design

The DZ-HS300A is hardly a beauty; it’s a boxy, silver-bodied camcorder that looks like almost all the other DVD-based camcorders available. When you have to stick a DVD drive into a camcorder, it’s definitely going to be much taller than a purely HDD model like the JVC Everio. Also, it’s not as slick as the recently reviewed SD card-based high-def Panasonic HDC-SD1. The camcorder measures 2.4 x 3.54 x 5.3 (WHD, in inches) and weighs 17 ounces including battery, card, and strap. Slim and sleek it isn’t, but as noted, you really can’t expect it to be.

As a hybrid, this 680K CCD camcorder lets you record video to either the 8GB hard drive or a blank DVD disk. An SD card handles the extremely low-quality 640 x 480 pixel stills. The HDD holds 110 minutes in the XTRA highest-quality mode, compared to 18 minutes on a blank, single-sided DVD. This storage capability puts any HDD miles ahead of disks. And close to two hours at best quality is plenty for most camcorder users. If you want more, the Hitachi DZ-HS500A ($799 USD) has a 30 gig drive that holds 400 minutes (almost 7 hours). It also has a 30x optical zoom, compared to the 25x of the DZ-HS300A.

2007 Hitachi DVD camcorders (hybrid or not) handle a variety of disk formats including DVD-RAM, DVD-R/-RW and DVD+RW. This means you should have no problems finding one that’s compatible with your gear.

The front of the DZ-HS300A is dominated by the 25x optical zoom that has a ridiculous 1200x digital zoom. I say “ridiculous” because the image at such severe digital zooms is a pixilated mess; this holds true for any manufacturer. That’s why you should never enable the digital zoom when you set up your camcorder. And this camcorder has one of my least favorite features — a snap-on lens cap that’s tethered to the body by a string. Why can’t Hitachi engineers design a camcorder with a built-in lens covering? Sheesh. Also on the front are a stereo mic (the sound is quite good) and a compartment covering the USB and A/V out jacks.

The left side is emblazoned with the “Hybrid Camcorder DVD-HDD” logo. You’ll also find most of the controls, along with the fold-out 2.7-inch LCD monitor (rated a sub-par 120K pixels). Controls on the top right include Menu, Stop/Exit, Disc Navigation, and Dubbing, along with a four-way controller with a center Play/Set button. Flip out the widescreen LCD monitor and you’ll find the speaker, along with seven buttons that handle most of your basic functions. There’s Full Auto for the typical point-and-shoot setting, Focus (for manual adjustments), Exposure Control, BLC (Back Light Compensation), Display, Quick Menu, and Finalize. There’s also access to the SD card slot.

The top has a wide-tele toggle switch, a Sleep/Restart button with a flashing blue light when the camcorder takes a snooze to save power, and a shutter button for taking snapshots when you’re in the Card mode. There’s no shoe (hot or cold) for lights, flashes, or mics.

On the rear, you’ll find a pull-out color viewfinder with diopter control, the disc eject button, and the main mode dial. You’ll also find a comfortable Velcro strap that’s easy to adjust. You can record video to either the 8GB HDD or a blank DVD and take photos on the SD card. The battery fits on the back and it’s not too obtrusive. Although rated for 210 minutes, ours gave up the ghost long before that. The right side has the DVD compartment — Hitachi plastered it with DVD-HDD again and four logos touting the fact the camcorder is RAM and +RW compatible (and need we remind you it has a HDD)? Hitachi should lose this clutter the next go-round. I don’t know many people who would be impressed that you’re using a camcorder that can handle a variety of DVDs.

The DZ-HS300A has the typical camcorder kit: the body, battery, and charger, along with an invaluable DC power cord, USB and A/V cables (with S-video), a disc-cleaning cloth, and software CD-ROM with ImageMixer 3 for PC and Pixe VRF Browser EX and ImageMixer VCD/DVD2 for Mac. Surprisingly, there isn’t a single blank DVD in the box; make sure you pick some up if you decide to buy this camcorder, as well as an SD card. And then there’s a telephone book-sized Owner’s Manual that could scare a brainiac from Stanford. Not only is it one of those combo manuals for more than one product, it’s in three languages; talk about intimidating. Even better yet, the other camcorder used as the main focal point in many of the illustrations is the DZ-HS303A, a model not available in the U.S. Gotta love it!

After charging the battery, it was time to take this Hybrid for a drive.

Image Courtesy of Hitachi