Product Description

Only proprietary 6th Generation Hitachi technology delivers unmatched performance and convenience to the home movie experience. The four formats of DVD recording and playback offers greater format flexibility than ever before. A 25x optical and 1200x digital zoom provide exceptional clarity while the Photo Frame Grab technology gives you the power to select individual video frames from your movie to capture and export as still images. The cinematic 16: 9 recording matches the widescreen format of HDTV's to deliver the most detailed cinematic performance and realistic picture. The ultimate home theater experience is achieved through the most refined and advanced DVD technology ever created.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3298 in Camera & Photo
• Color: Silver / Black
• Brand: Hitachi
• Model: DZBX35A
• Dimensions: 3.50" h x 1.88" w x 5.40" l, 4.00 pounds
• Display size: 2.7

Features

• Records video and still images
• 16:9 recording mode for DVD-RAM, DVD-R, and DVD-RW formats
• 2.7-inch LCD display; 25x optical, 1200x super digital lens
• Video-to-Photo Frame Grab Tool allows you to pull photo stills to an SD card
• CinemaRes uses entire CCD to capture both video and still images before converting to DVD format

From the Manufacturer
From the Manufacturer Hitachi's new DZBX35A DVD Camcorder with 25x optical zoom provides media format versatility to support the most popular and widely available DVD formats, including DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD-RAM, and DVD+RW discs as well as SD cards for digital stills. This industry leading format compatibility allows users to choose the DVD format which best suits their individual needs. Other user-friendly features include a One Touch finalization button for quick and easy access to this essential last step, and a sleep/restart battery saver function that puts the camcorder in hibernation to save battery power between recordings and enables users to begin recording within one second of activation to ensure no action is missed.

The DZBX35A also includes the new Video-to-Photo Frame Grab Tool, which allows users to pull a photo still from video and route to SD memory card. This prevents taking video without switching to "still mode" on and off and enables users to easily create the photo image of any desired scene after recording onto DVD. Additionally, the DZBX35A offers enhanced Super Digital Zoom, a large 2.7-inch 16:9 widescreen LCD, and a "Quick Mode" Menu System that features Hitachi Disc Navigation to instantly access desired scenes via thumbnail images without having to fast forward or rewind.

Superior imaging is made possible with the company's new CinemaRes Advanced Image Processing with "Oversampling" high resolution capture, an exclusive technology that uses the entire CCD to capture both video and still images before converting to DVD format, utilizing the camcorder's entire capacity to create a sharper, more detailed picture.

With 680K pixel resolution at 640 x 480 and a 25x optical/1200x super digital lens, the UltraVision DZBX35A is one more excellent model in Hitachi's DVD camcorder product line.

DZ-BX35A Highlights

Hitachi DVD camcorders can record on and play back from a wide range of disc and memory formats.

5 formats of compatibility
Industry-leading compatibility assures that the right media can be found at any retail outlet. Choose from four choices of disc media: DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, DVD-RAM, or choose SD memory cards for photos.

Hitachi Advanced Image Processing
Delivering the most vivid and detailed picture through processing each individual incoming frame.

Photo Frame Grab
Select and store individual video frames as photos without interrupting recording.

Widescreen video recording
Record in a 16:9 aspect ratio that matches the true 16:9 widescreen format of HDTV's.

Widescreen 2.7-inch LCD
Large display enables easy monitoring of picture during recording.

One-touch finalize button
Easily finalize discs with a single button to be played immediately in DVD player.

Sleep/restart battery saver
Efficiently conserve battery in standby mode then with a single button restart recording in less than a second.

What's in the Box
DZ-BX35A DVD camcorder, 700ML 1-hour battery, AC adapter/charger, special S-video and composite A/V cable, shoulder strap, lens cap

More About Hitachi's DVD Camcorder Lineup*

What is DVD-Camcorder?
Hitachi has forever changed the direction of camcorder technology with the introduction of the DVD-Camcorder. This Emmy-winning innovation allows you to record home movies directly to DVD and play them back on your home DVD player. Explore the many options and performance features that Hitachi has pioneered with these remarkable products.

Hitachi innovation with five generations of refinement
Five years of perfecting this breakthrough Hitachi technology delivers the most refined and fully-featured line of DVD-Camcorders available. Quick Start in only 7 seconds and capture high quality video directly to DVD for instant playback. Dramatically improved power efficiency and a more streamlined design means it's more flexible and easier to use. Hitachi DVD-Camcorders are designed to accept discs directly into the Camcorder for the most compact and durable design ever.

Enhanced connectivity
Record from VHS or tape-based camcorders- then playback directly to TV, from DVD-R to DVD player.

DVD-RAM recording
DVD-RAM is a rewritable format that allows for recording and re-recording of movies and still photos up to 100,000 times per disc. Data is written in a non-linear pattern, much like a computer hard disk. When recording, information is only written to blank areas of the disc, eliminating accidental erasure of previously recorded material. The DVD-RAM Disc Navigation system provides a wealth of in-camera editing, playlist options and still photo capability.

DVD-R recording
DVD-R is a record-once format that has the highest compatibility for playback in home DVD players (requires in-camera finalizing of the disc before it can be played on DVD player). Data is recorded in a linear manner and users can directly access any previously recorded clip using the on-screen Disc Navigation feature.

DVD-RW recording
DVD-R is a rewritable format that can be played back on most home DVD players (requires in-camera finalizing of the disc before it can be played on DVD player). A benefit to DVD-RW over DVD-R is that a disc can be unfinalized to record over if needed.

Camcorder-to-PC-and-back
Hitachi HDTV tuner technology brings viewers a unique blend of convenience and performance. Conventional HDTV tuners require start-up time to scan for channels and require switching between antenna inputs when selecting analog or digital programming. Hitachi HDTV tuner technology delivers the picture instantly with seamless access to all available channels.

Disc navigation
Direct digital access to DVD footage requires none of the rewinding or fast-forwarding necessary with tape formats. Each movie clip or still photo (DVD-RAM only) is presented as a thumbnail on the LCD panel. Simply cursor to the desired clip and select it for instant playback. With DVD-RAM discs, one can perform a host of in-camera editing features including fading, moving, dividing, deleting and combining of clips. Create up to 99 playlists for custom playback of movie clips.

MegaPixel CCD and lens
The resolution of the MegaPixel CCD sensor found on select models far exceeds that required for high-quality video, enabling high-resolution, 1280 x 960 pixel photos. Precision-grade optics of the aspherical lens reduces aberrations and distortions that may occur at the perimeter of lens surfaces in less advanced systems.

Magic LSI
Our proprietary Magic LSI combines an enhanced MPEG-2 encoder/decoder (CODEC), the Interface Processor, and Digital Signal Processor (DSP) into a single, compact LSI (Large Scale Integration) chip. This integrated design improves resolution and efficiency, reduces power consumption and minimizes space required on the circuit board.

Constant & Variable Bit Rate recording
Bit rate is the measurement of how much digital information can be streamed over time. Higher bit rates move more data per second. The process the MPEG-2 format uses for compressing video requires a higher bit rate for rapid motion sequences. Static scenes need a much lower bit rate. Variable Bit Rate (VBR) recording dynamically varies the bit rates relative to video content. This process optimizes compression, resulting in higher picture quality and reduced file sizes.

8cm DVD drive
The Hitachi DVD Camcorder features the world's first ultra-compact 8cm DVD-RAM/DVD-R drive. The advanced double-speed drive and single-beam laser provide extremely smooth real-time recording and playback of data. Rugged construction and robust error-correction circuits ensure precise operation even under demanding operating conditions.

* Not all Hitachi DVD Camcorders feature all DVD cam technologies listed in this section. Please refer to product Specification Sheet for complete details.

Customer Reviews

If you're as overwhelmed as I was when choosing a camera, read this.
My brother asked me to help him pick the best camcorder for under $400. After doing extensive research and seeing how time-consuming it is (not to mention the hassle it can be) I decided to post part of my "research" in hopes of avoiding others the trouble.
About DVD-based camcorders:
-Tend to be the most expensive.
-Most use small 8cm DVDs that record 30 minutes only. Mini-DVs can record 60 and even 90.
-DVDs are not re-recordable, Mini-DVs are.
-DVDs are cheaper than Mini-DV tapes though.
-Can get DVD-Ram which are re-recordable but these are not common, so many players and computer drives are incompatible.
-Can get DVD-RW which are also re-recordable but the cameras that support those are the most expensive. A DVD-RW is more expensive than a normal DVD (but it is totally worth it). Some incompatibility issues exist but to a much lesser degree.
-DVD cameras record using video compression therefore the quality is not necessarily good, results vary according to the camera you choose but in general video compression causes decrease of image quality. Mini-DV is arguably better.
A DVD-based camera allows you to view your DVD directly on a player, whereas with Mini-DV you have to connect the camera to a TV or through something else like a VCR and use IT for playback which causes wear on the mechanism.
Editing is a hassle with both formats and unless you are still using VCRs, you are gonna have to use your computer, special software, Firewire cables, etc.
As far as features goes, you gotta look for what you will be needing, many cameras come with a lot of stuff that one ends up never using, so don't get suckered by does. But what I will provide here is some general info about the main brands that you are probably gonna be looking at:
Canon: tend to have noisy playback because the microphone picks up the sound made by the camera's mechanism as it records. Otherwise they have very good reviews.
Sony: this is overpriced crap. Look around at Sony product reviews and for most you'll find at least one person saying something like "I am surprised at how bad Sony's quality has gotten..." then look at the dates on those reviews and you'll see that this is not a random occurrence, it has been going on for years and yet people still believe that this is a good brand.
Negatives: a) Quality-wise, all but one of the current Mini-DV models have terrible reviews.
b) They use touch-screen technology for the controls which might sound cool to have and even might be cool to use, BUT fingers on an LCD screen are NOT a good idea.
Positives: a) Have the Night-Shot technology which basically is infrared technology which allows you to record with absolutely no light.
JVC: some models have had problems where the camera will show error messages and stop working for no apparent reasons. Do a basic google search for "JVC lens cap error" to find out more. Same noise problem as the Canon brand. Otherwise very good reviews all over.
Hitachi: it's the only brand with DVD-based technology that's any good that's under $400. In fact I don't think there's any other DVD-based camera under $400 period.

No other brands are worth it. Sharp made good cameras, but are not making any right now. Panasonics surprisingly suck.

Here's what I lookd at specifically:
DVD:
Hitachi: DZ-BX35A: The previous model has good reviews, but only supports DVD-Ram. This newer model will have the same price, has way better specs and will support DVD-RW.

Mini-DV:
Sony DCR-HC36: just two reviews for this one, but they are both good. Has nightshot (the infrared thing), has a very good stabilization system. It's too expensive (not a very good value). All in all, the only reason why I would consider this is for the nightshot thing, the rest of the specs are on par with other less expensive cameras. It you do consider this one, then may I humbly suggest getting the Sony DCR-TRV280 which is a Digital8 format (whose main problem is that only Sony supports that format).
Canon:
The ZR line is very good. The older models are the ZR100, ZR200, ZR300 and ZR400. Out of those the best value would be the ZR400. The battery is long lasting, they have a good stabilization system, but the specs are a bit dated by now.
Then there are the new models that just came out/will be coming out soon: ZR500, ZR600, ZR700. They are cheaper than the older models and the specs are much better, the problem with this ones is that there are no reviews yet.

JVC:
Same deal as with the Canons: there are two older models with good reviews: JVC GRD230 (very hard to find it nowadays) and JVC GRD270. Both however have very dated specs.
Then there are the new models: JVC GRD350, JVC GRD370, JVC GRD395. Again, there is no info about the quality yet, and considering how JVC has had some serious quality issues in the past, it is wise to wait (or get an extended service plan).

So why, you must wonder, did I write this review under this Hitachi product: simple, because this camera has to be the best value I've seen in a long while. If I had to buy a camera today, this is the one I would pick, as it has amazing features and specs at a tremendously accesible price. Many people are probably gonna end up in this page looking at it, so again I wanna save you the trouble I had to go through to make a choice. However, as good as it looks on paper, the real test comes from actual usage, so hopefully in a short amount of time we are gonna start looking at some actual working reviews for it (at which time I'll probably delete this one). My rating BTW is based on price\features (value).

No Major Problems So Far
I waited for awhile before writing a review of this camcorder because I felt that it wouldn't be fair to use it once and then write a review based on that single experience. Instead, I've used the camera on a number of occasions since Easter. These included Easter egg hunts, birthday parties, pool parties, and general video work just to test it out. So far I've had no problems with the camera.

It is very handy and its compact size makes it easy to haul around. Using the smaller discs has not been a problem so far. In fact, I haven't had any problems with playback, recording, editing, or picture quality. The only problem that I've noticed is that the mic works almost too good, catching the rustling of the wind in many of the videos I've shot. However, my old VHS camcorder did the same thing, even with a sound buffer attached to it.

The only times that I've run into problems have been due to operator error. My wife forgot to finalize one of the discs and it did not work properly. However, after we talked about it and read through the manual, we pinpointed the problem and she hasn't had any trouble since. Operator error seems to be the primary culprit in most of the negative reviews that I've read here. I've been guilty of doing the same thing that many other people have done with this product. We toss the instructions to the wayside and decide that we can figure out how to operate the device on our own. This can sometimes be a costly mistake. Luckily, I haven't had to pay too much for what I've done with any of my toys....yet.

This is a great camera for beginners to learn the ins-and-outs of DVD camcorders. Granted, it isn't very forgiving when you make a mistake, but more expensive (and more complicated) models are just as ruthless. Just read the manual and you shouldn't have any problems.

This Model Gets 5 Stars (For Our Use)!
We love this camcorder! For us, convenience is absolutely key, as our goal is simply to record family memories (mostly of our children); not to edit or make feature films or even to have need to transfer from tape to DVD. Accordingly, we have no desire for anything particularly complicated, cumbersome, or expensive, and this low-end DVD model does the trick.

First, it is the lowest price (by far) of all the DVD models we reviewed.

Second, it is extremely small for maximum portability (very nearly as small as my 35mm camera). It is easy to use, and rather self-explanatory. In fact, we took it straight out of the box, and filmed our youngest son's first birthday party, and our girls' gymnastics recitals without so much as a glance to the manual. Then, of course, we inserted the mini-DVD into our DVD-player. Again, very easy to use. Quality of video was more than sufficient.

For us, battery life was fine, as we had lot of start and stop filming. The battery lasted us through the birthday party and a 3-hour Gymfest (although, again, we stopped and started a lot). WE understand that the battery is supposed to last an hour or so on a constant run.

A few words of note: If you want to put the DVD into your PC, make sure you have a DVD drive. In addition, the still picture function is not particularly good; of course, we bought this to record video. We have cameras for still pictures. Finally, there is no light on the camcorder; however, we tend not to video in the dark.

If you are looking for high quality video and photo stills, this is likely not your camcorder. However, if you are looking for a relatively inexpensive; hassle-free; family moment camcorder, we can't recommend this model enough. And yes, for our purposes, we give it five stars.