Hitachi DZ-BX35A DVD Camcorder with 25x Optical Zoom
List Price: $399.95
Details
- CinemaRes uses absolute CCD to capture both video and still images before converting to DVD format
- 16:9 recording vogue for DVD-RAM, DVD-R, and DVD-RW formats
- 2.7-inch LCD presentation; 25x optical, 1200x super digital lens
Description
Only proprietary 6th Formation Hitachi technology delivers unmatched performance and convenience to the home silver screen experience. The four formats of DVD recording and playback offers greater constitution flexibility than ever before. A 25x optical and 1200x digital zoom provide ESN ='educationally subnormal' clarity while the Photo Frame Grab technology gives you the power to limited individual video frames from your movie to capture and export as still images. The cinematic 16: 9 recording matches the widescreen appearance of HDTV's to deliver the most detailed cinematic performance and realistic impression. The ultimate home theater experience is achieved through the most refined and modern DVD technology ever created.Customer Reviews
No Problems with this PieceI got this camcorder a few years ago and have never had a riddle...in fact, I'm quite surprised at all the negative reviews and bad experiences.
Perhaps I'm just naive, as this was my first and only DVD camcorder so far. I'm not sure about all the features on other products, but I've gotten so hardened to this camera that it has never been a problem (however, after reading these reviews, I'm knocking on wood!).
Exactly, the DVD recording time is not long. True, you have to finalize discs before you take them out. Correct, you can only finalize through an AC outlet. But for the most part, this camera has served my needs. I guess if you are looking for something more enhance, you can get something else. But this item works well and serves its purpose.
Hitachi DZ-BX35A DVD Video Camera and Recorder
Be careful! BEWARE! BEWARE! This recorder work great for a few days but gave me a disk by mistake on the 4th day. I lost everything from that day because it would not finalize the disk. So maybe it was the disk (trying good of the doubt). However now it stays stuck on `DISS ACCESS'. I called Hitachi and was told I have to go to St Louis to get it habitual. I live in Kansas. I ask to make a complaint and was given the run around. They need to unfastened a file, they asked A LOT of questions regarding my address, full name, numbers, etc (not all in point of fact needed to get an address so I can write a complaint letter. Then I get transferred to a uncouth woman (I wasn't even told I was getting transferred) who tells me there are only 6 certified businesses who can work on the camera because they go through intensive training. This does not variation anything about me trying to make a complaint. She said she would make a note of this. HA! I then asked for a verification number, she went crazy - assuring me the complaint would be taken be fond of of. (Sure!). She finally gave me a case horde. I told her I was going to call back to check if it was really a case number engaged to this situation. This pushed her over the edge. The call did not end well and I did call back to find Hitachi's notes on this situation were few and more about me being a problem in lieu of of the camera. BEWARE!
YOU WILL Overcome PRECIOUS MOMENTS!!!!!!!!!!
I have had off and on again problems with hitachi combination, and now the dvd will not eject disc and i can't access dvd mode. I have many discs that were not finalized(which means no playback!!!!!) Coupled with almost every time I recorded onto disc, I had disc error, and had to stop recording and fix up, and missed many special moments. DO NOT BUY!!!!!
UPDATE: Recieved new hitachi hybrid, and STILL SAME Difficulty!!!!!!At first it worked, and I thought maybe first camcorder was a lemon, but here we go again!!!!!! I wanton the 2nd half of my kids birthday party, the best parts, the commencement of gifts, the pinata, the cousins all playing together, some very funny, great moments, ALL Helpless because halfway through recording onto HDD mode, I get a message "repair data now or images will be deleted". By the lifetime I repair the dang thing, the moment is gone.........SO Failed. Sending back. I've learned the hard way, 2 things.....#1always have back up for those "high-priced" moments......and #2 Its better to not even bother with an unreliable camcorder/camera during those peculiar moments, because you'll become so distracted with the camcorder/camera, that you'll miss out on just ENJOYING and enchanting in the moment.
Buy deliberately -- this camera may be TROUBLE!
I can't assume this camera has been so highly-rated. This camera wasted lots of my while recording important events and then was unable to reliably "finalize" my discs for make visible on my DVD players. I recorded 5 brand-new discs at an event last night, everything seemed select, and then later that night two of the five discs failed to finalize and gave messages about the discs being ruined or unreadable. The only options were to fix the problems by re-formatting the discs and permanently unsuccessful contents of two of the discs. (That's a 40% rate of loss!) I old the recommended Maxell DVD-RW discs to avoid exactly this sort of fine kettle of fish and still got very poor results. In advance of a big vacation in two weeks I'm going out to look for for another camera tonight. DON'T BUY THIS CAMERA unless you TEST THOROUGHLY in in front of of your vacation or special event. I may have a lemon, but this could be the current state of Hitachi superiority and performance. It may also be a problem inherent in recording to mini-DVDs. All I be acquainted with is that I am very frustrated after following all directions and instructions carefully. I lost some impressive video memories when I used this camera and I'm not letting it happen on my big vacation in two weeks.
A tyro's view: Having a great experience with this camcorder so far
I purchased this Hitachi DZ-BX35A DVD Camcorder at a hole price on the spur-of-the-moment one day prior to my departure to Egypt for a 2 week Leave of absence. The clearance price was $149 and I figured the worst case was that I'd get some video images from our blunder and I'd learn a bit about camcorders and be better educated for a future purchase when the prices reject for the HD flash memory models. Despite the quick purchase purpose, I did attempt a bit of background research on DVD camcorders and this Hitachi model in particular. Because we would not have entry to a computer during our travels, the DVD models seemed a good bet as I could take along a supply of discs and do the transfers later on replacing home. On checking reviews of this model at some of the online camcorder sites I saw several reviewers who completely panned this model giving it very low ratings across all aspects of its performance. This almost disuaded me from buying but then I noticed one comment on one of the reviews noting that the reviewers were comparing this to $500-800 models. He notorious that he was a beginner and was happy so far. The $149 price was too much to resist so I went back and bought the Hitachi and 6 DVD+RW discs the day erstwhile to my departure. I could not find the highly rated Maxell disks and bought Sony as an alternative. They have worked fine. They play on my computer DVD player as well as on my home theatre DVD performer.
So with that prelude, how has it worked? I am totally satisfied so far (but recognize this is my first experiecne recording any variety of video). I suspect some of my quibbles are common to many camcorders - for benchmark, the 100x zoom is great (even astonishing) but you have to learn to control the further of the zoom and a tripod or some camera support is almost essential at the longer central lengths. In the bright sun wearing sunglasses, I found the view finder more impossible to use; the LCD display was usable but very hard to see any detail. The focus seems to lag a bit sometimes while panning on objects at discrete distances. Battery life seemed adequate and the ability to run the camera in the motel off the DC cord was helpful for reviewing the prior day's shooting, formatting disks, etc. The AC adapeter worked striking on either 110 or 220V. Again, speaking as a beginner with nothing else to compare it to the image blue blood seems fine for a 640x480 resolution and played on my 42" plasma with fair to middling resolution. Some of clips I shot seemed to be a bit off on the color rendition and some in the Egyptian lonely sun were kind of wahsed out (but then again it was incredibly bright out there).
My only complaint at this point is with the power birch - its too easy to accidentally turn on or off. There is supposedly a lock button but on my likeness it does not seem to work. This is mainly worrisome regarding the time it take the camera to note the images just shot onto the disk.
Some minor stuff: the menus seem a bit sticky to use and the still photo option records only to an SD card at only 1.3 megapixzels but this is not in perfect accord to Hitachi models. Overall, I am delighted with this camera so far and have found a an excellent learning judgement.
