Hitachi DZ-BD7HA Camcorder Review

by David Kender
Published on Nov 7, 2007 2:15 AM

 
Intro Performance
Format Auto / Manual Controls
Still Features
 Handling and Use
Audio / Playback / Connectivity Other Features
Comparisons / Conclusion Photo Gallery
Specs and Ratings


Still Features (4.5)
 
 

The SD/SDHC card slot is located inconveniently on the bottom of the camcorder
   
The DZ-BD7HA offers one of the most sparse sets of still features on the market, and for a $1,600 camcorder with three different forms of recording media, this is a shame. The DZ-BD7HA can only record still images to an SD/SDHC card in one size, 2400 x 1800. There is no quality setting and images cannot be saved to the HDD. We’re not entirely sure what Hitachi was thinking here. The Sony HDR-UX7 and Canon HR10 offer a slew of still feature options and retail for significantly lower prices. You can save a frame from a recorded video clip at 1920 x 1080 on the DZ-BD7HA, but the quality will be questionable because the video doesn’t typically look that good.

The DZ-BD7HA does offer a flash, which can be set to Auto, On, or Off, and a 10-second Self-Timer, but that’s it. Poor form.

 

In Photo mode, the menu offers the following options:

Photo (SD) Menu
Camera Functions Setup Program AE, White Balance, Flash, Auxiliary Line
Record Functions Setup Self Timer
Output Functions Setup Component Output
LCD/EVF Setup LCD/EVF Adjust, EVF Display
Date Setup Date Set, Date Mode
Initial Setup Beep, Power Save, Record LED, Language, Demo Mode, Reset

In Photo Playback mode, the menu offers the following options:

Photo (SD) Playback
Scene Delete, Lock, Detail, Go To, Select
Date Select All Scenes, Date
Format Card Format Card, Capacity
Slide Show Slide Show

Still Performance (9.2)
The still photos of the Hitachi DZ-BD7HA were tested by shooting a GretagMacBeth Color Checker chart at a bright, even light, then running the photos through Imatest imaging software. At best, the camcorder was able to produce a color error of 6.52, on par with other camcorders in its class. The noise levels measured 1.175 percent, also average. The saturation was 107.6 percent.

Typically, a camcorder slightly overexposes its stills, which negatively skews the color accuracy. The Hitachi did so more than usual. To get this best score, we lowered the exposure by three increments. As is common, the camcorder does not tell you what the aperture, shutter speed, or EV values actually are. What’s less normal is that the camcorder does not export any relevant EXIF data along with the stills – you’ll never know what settings the camcorder used.

In practical shooting, the DZ-BD7HA produced noisy stills. We frequently saw ghosting along high contrast areas, both on the charts and out of the labs. Like the video, shooting in anything but strong light resulted in a lot of noise. The camcorder is not a strong still performer.

Still Resolution (22.33)
The still resolution of the Hitachi DZ-BD7HA was tested by shooting an Applied Image ISO 12233 resolution chart and running the stills through Imatest imaging software. At best, the camcorder was able to produce an approximate horizontal resolution of 1294 line widths per picture height (lw/ph), with a 1.94 percent clipping and an oversharpening of 11.3 percent - and an approximate vertical resolution of 972.4 lw/ph, with a 2.30 percent clipping and an undersharpening of 6.43 percent.

In order to get this best score, we raised the exposure by two increments. As stated previously, the DZ-BD7HA does not offer any EXIF data as to what those increments mean.

 

 

 

 



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