Hitachi DZ-BD7HA

Comparison
Hitachi DZ-BD70HA
The DZ-BD70HA ($1,350 MSRP) is identical to the DZ-BD7HA, except that it lacks a 30 GB HDD and records exclusively to DVD. In Hitachi’s world, it costs $250 to become a hybrid, but neither of these camcorders are worth even half their respective price tags. With deplorable video quality and limited manual controls, no camcorder within this price range could be proud.

Panasonic HDC-SX5
While the Panasonic HDC-SX5 ($899 MSRP) is not a handling champ, it churns out admirable video quality. This is thanks to its three 1/6-inch CCDs, each with a 560,000 gross pixel count. The DZ-BD7HA's 1/2.8-inch CMOS chip just couldn’t cut it in bright or even low light, displaying an image pelted with noise and artifacts. The HDC-SX5 also has optical image stabilization, aperture control, shutter speed control, gain, audio level control, and more still features. The HDC-SX5 is also a hybrid, recording to DVD and SD/SDHC. Since there is no reason to buy the DZ-BD7HA, the HDC-SX5 is the clear winner. It’s also $700 less expensive. However, read the next comparison before you settle on the SX5.

Canon HR10
Canon imaging this year has been the horse to beat, and the HR10 ($1,199 MSRP) keeps a swift pace with the HG10 and HV20. The HR10’s video performance is the best in its class. Like the HG10, the HR10’s 24P mode does not work as advertised, but the HR10 will give you the best video performance a high definition DVD camcorder has to offer. On the downside, the HR10 is fairly stripped down in terms of handling and connectivity. The HR10 lacks an accessory shoe, mic jack, and headphone jack. While these flaws will stunt the shooting experience, the HR10 offers a wealth of manual controls and a rear-mounted joystick. Besides, its video quality alone is enough to blow the DZ-BD7HA out of the water. At $400 less, it would be a joke to opt for the DZ-BD7HA. For the best of Canon, skip the DVD medium all together and look at the HDD-based MG10, or better still, the HV20, an HDV camcorder.

Sony HDR-UX7
We crowned the HDR-UX7 ($1,199.99 MSRP) as 2007's Best High-End DVD camcorder for a reason. The HDR-UX7 exhibits an excellent video performance, stellar handling, and classic Sony ease-of-use. The HDR-UX7 features a Cam Control dial that dictates up to four different manual controls. You also get a whopping 3.5-inch LCD screen, mic and headphone jacks, a hot accessory shoe, and optical image stabilization as part of the deal. Unfortunately, a typical DVD will only hold up to 15 minutes in the highest quality. The DZ-BD7HA offers longer recording times but lacks what all three of its competitors excel in: top-notch video quality. Who wants more than 500 minutes of blocky, maladjusted footage? Save $400 and spring for the HDR-UX7.

Who It’s For
Point-and-Shooters
Blu-ray and HDD combined!? The DZ-BD7HA seems like a Point-and-Shooter paradise — if you can look beyond its severely lacking video quality, stubborn Blu-ray format, and foreboding price tag.

Budget Consumers
The Hitachi DZ-BD7HA is by no means a budget camcorder. At $1,600, the DZ-BD7HA doesn’t even offer half the features its competitors offer, and produces truly dreadful video. You could buy four high-end MiniDV camcorders for less than $1,600.

Still Photo / Video Camera Hybrid
Still features are exceedingly lacking.

Gadget Freaks
From the exterior, the DZ-BD7HA is a geek’s dream — a camcorder that records to Blu-ray and HDD! Ooh, and check out that futuristic style! Unfortunately, what you’ll find under the DZ-BD7HA’s hood is quite the opposite.

Manual Control Freaks
The DZ-BD7HA includes focus, exposure, and white balance. Shutter speed, gain, and any other form of manual control is nowhere to be found. Even consumer-driven Sonys feature some sort of Shutter control.

Pros / Serious Hobbyists
The video quality alone will scare away any pro. Those left standing will bolt when they learn of the DZ-BD7HA’s convoluted compression.

Conclusion
So here it is, the world’s first Blu-ray camcorder. The Hitachi DZ-BD7HA proves that being the first at something does not necessarily warrant you pulling out your wallet to reward it. While Hitachi has surely overcome some technical hurdles to bring the DZ-BD7HA into existence, it’s riddled with so many problems that have been solvable for years that we wonder how gullible or fad-hungry it thought the public would be. Sixteen-hundred dollars for a camcorder that has virtually no manual controls, electronic rather than optical image stabilization, a poor auto response system, and, above all, terrible image quality – that’s a raw deal.