Hitachi 30x Optical Zoom DVD Camcorder

Hitachi introduced their seventh generation of DVD camcorders that included two new models, the DZ-GX5080A ($349 MSRP) and the DZ-GX5020A (MSRP to be determined). Few changes have been made since last year from the company that first developed the DVD camcorder concept. Both 2007 models now offer a 30x optical zoom and a 1-second Quick Start feature.

The DZ-GX5020A comes equipped with a 1/6” CCD with 680K gross pixels, the same imager found on all Hitachi models this year. The chip allows for still photos up to 640 x 480, a rather small size by today’s camcorder standards. Stills can either be saved to DVD-RAM or to a SD card. A widescreen 2.7” LCD and 0.2” EVF come included, as well as a f/2.0 – 4.1 lens with a 34mm filter diameter. The 30x optical zoom can be extended to a 1500x digital zoom. The sole data transfer port is an analog AV/S-Video output.

The DZ-GX5080A does not upgrade the imager, but it does include a USB 2.0 port for video and still transfer. The body is also upgraded to include a built-in video light.

Key Features

7th-Generation Camcorder from the Inventor of DVD-Camcorder Technology
30x Optical Zoom, 1500x Digital Zoom
680K Pixel CCD
Hitachi Exclusive Advanced Image Processing
Photo Frame Grab Tool
Sleep/Restart Battery Save Tool: 1 Second Record on Restart
Finalize Button - Finalize recorded DVD-R/-RW/+RW
Quick Menu Button - Shortcut to Simplified Menu System
Quick Start - Short Start Time from Power-on to First Recording
Disc Navigation - Instant Access to Selected Scenes and In-Camera Editing Features
Widescreen 2.7” LCD Monitor
2.7” LCD Monitor can operate as a Light
16:9 Widescreen Recording for all DVD formats