SlashGear Japan
This camera can record on one of three things, the 60GB hard drive, an 8 centimeter Blu-Ray disc, or an 8cm DVD. Sadly the resolutions and bit rates get so high that about 720×480, the camera’s lowest setting, DVD isn’t even an option, and even at that lowest setting, you only get 20-30 minutes of recording on a DVD.
With the HDD built in, Blu-Ray isn’t all that cost effective either considering that little 10-20 dollar 7.5GB Blu-Ray disc will only net you, at best, “about 2 hours” of recording time. The hard drive on the other hand, gets you a minimum of 9 hours of recording time at the highest resolution (1920×1080) and the highest bit rate of 15Mbps.
The recording formats are MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 and MPEG-2 for the lower quality settings. There are HDMI, AV, and USB ports allowing you to play direct from the camera or connect it to your PC to empty that huge 60GB HDD. For now its Japan only, and won’t even hit shelves there until February, and its starting price is $1700, with the option of the DZ-HD90 HDD-only camcorder for $1300. However, it is headed to the US, and word is those prices should drop by the time they hit the states.
[via Wired]
4 Responses to “Hitachi releasing new Blu-Ray/HDD camcorder DZ-BD9H”
Denis Bergeron January 23, 2008
Is this the last nail in the coffin of HD-DVD ?
+1Ewdison Then January 23, 2008
[quote comment="35553"]Is this the last nail in the coffin of HD-DVD ?[/quote]
Seems like it, HD-DVD takes a lot of punch lately
+1Superdynamite January 23, 2008
HiDef Digital Download vs. Blu-ray
http://www.epinions.com/content_5157331076
NeutralNHLMetalhead January 23, 2008
Neither Nail nor Coffin can be supplied by Hitachi when it comes to camcorders – these camcorders stink (I work @ B&H Photo) The first generation was a pathetic excuse for a camcorder and these I know will be no different. The quality is horriffic so definitly don’t look into hitachi’s dive into blu-ray camcorders as anything good for the blu-ray format :)
Neutral