If you can't decide whether a hard drive or DVD camcorder is right for you, consider the hybrid Hitachi DZHS300A ($570 as of April 24, 2007). This camcorder comes with both a Mini DVD drive capable of recording in all the now-standard formats (-R, -RW, -RAM, and +RW) and a built-in 8GB hard drive. That combination gives you a number of interesting options for managing your video. At the camcorder's highest quality setting, the hard drive can store 3 hours of video, but it can fit only about 18 minutes of footage on a single Mini DVD disc (the DZHS300A does not support dual-layer discs). Moreover, you can copy video files saved on the hard drive to Mini DVD, in camera, for instant archiving. A hybrid camcorder sounds as though it might be an expensive proposition, but the price is competitive with single-format models.
Hitachi DZHS300A DVD-HDD 8GB Hybrid Digital Camcorder (25x Opt, 1200x Dig, 2.7

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| Video image quality | Good |
| Still image quality | Poor |
| Battery lifeTime for the camcorder's battery to go from fully charged to exhausted while recording to tape or disc with the LCD active. | Fair (92 minutes) |
| Overall design | Good |
| Video/still image recording media types | 8GB hard drive, Mini DVD-RAM/-R/-RW, SD Card |
| Image stabilization type | Electronic |
| Electric viewfinder | Yes |
| Manual focus | Yes |
| Remote | No |
| Flash shoe | No |
| Inputs/outputs | A/V out, S-Video out, USB |
| Weight (ounces) | 15 |
| Dimensions (inches) | 2.4 by 3.6 by 5.3 |
Pros
Records to hard drive and DVD discs
Supports Mini DVD-RAM
Cons
Lacks a macro mode
Can't use dual-layer discs
Hitachi DZHS300A
DZHS300A DVD-HDD 8GB Hybrid Digital Camcorder (25x Opt, 1200x Dig, 2.7 Review, by Tracey Capen May 19, 2007
Hitachi's hybrid may lack sophisticated styling, but it is quite functional. The main power switch lets you select video recording to either the hard drive or a DVD disc, or you can choose to take photos destined for storage on an SD Card. Unfortunately, it's capable of just 640-by-480-resolution still images--which is roughly camera phone quality.
The variable-speed switch for the camera's 25X optical zoom fits comfortably under your forefinger, and next to it is a small still-shot trigger. Viewing options include a bright eye-level viewfinder and a wide-format (16:9) 2.7-inch LCD that's easy to use even in bright sunlight.
This hybrid has more dedicated buttons than most camcorders we've looked at recently. All buttons are relatively large and easy to press. The one awkward aspect of using this camera involves having the four-way menu navigation button on the same side of the body as the LCD; with the LCD folded out at a right angle to the thumbwheel, working the control and reading the on-screen menus at the same time can be a bit tough. (It works better if you flip the LCD around and fold it back against the camera, screen out. But then you have to rotate the screen back when you're ready to record video.)
PC World's Test Center rated the DZHS300A's video quality as Fair overall, with below-average scores for video shot indoors under standard lighting and in low light. Though it wasn't outstanding, video captured informally in an outdoor setting looked attractive enough. Colors seemed a bit oversaturated, and images weren't as sharp as those produced by competing camcorders, but exposure accuracy was quite good.
Dubbing videos from the hard drive to a Mini DVD disc was easy, though hardly speedy--the unit took about 7 minutes to transfer approximately 5 minutes of video. The dedicated dubbing button on the side of the camera only allows you to transfer all of the clips from the hard drive; if you want to limit the transfer to selected clips, you have to work through the main menu system.
Hitachi provides video software suitable for both PCs and Macs. For Windows systems, you get ImageMixer 3, a basic video editor; for Macs, the choice is Pixe VRF Browers EX and ImageMixer VCD/DVD2--two rudimentary apps for downloading and burning video DVDs. The only drawback to using ImageMixer is that you must finalize the Mini DVD in the camcorder before the software will import the video. This step was not necessary with Sony's DVD408 and Canon's DC50.
In the field of bargain camcorders, the DXHS300A may be worth a look--not so much for its dual media support as for its 25X optical zoom and bright, wide-format LCD.
Tracey Capen
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Review Now! Already own it? Tell us What You Think
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Reviewed by: a_l_a
Strengths: Simple access to basic functions, hybrid DVD/HD feature, good optical zoom.
Weaknesses: Poor image quality in dark environment and in still mode. No way to copy raw movie file to your PC directly.
Overall: Camera was easy to use right out-of-the-box. Basic operations do not require opening the manual. Some advanced feature are buried deep in the menu and could be pain to access at recording time. Ability to record on hard drive (HD) and burn on a mini DVD "in the field" is handy, but cannot be accomplished on battery power. Thus "in the field" is not working unless you are at least closew to the car with a power inverter! Picture quality in low light (commonly indoors) is very poor. Outdoor filming, on the other hand, produces pretty good colors. HD recording cannot be copied directly to your PC and requires enclosed software, which forces you to go through disk authoring! What if you need just a raw movie file

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