Hitachi DZ-HS300A Camcorder Review

by John Neely
Published on May 2, 2007 4:00 PM

Intro Performance
Format Auto / Manual Controls
Still Features Handling and Use
Audio / Playback / Connectivity
Other Features
Comparisons / Conclusion Specs and Ratings
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What’s in the Box?
Hitachi includes a well-rounded list of goods in the HS300A’s box:
- DZ-BP07PW battery pack
- DZ-ACS3 AC adapter/charger
- Power cable
- AV/S-Video output cable
- Shoulder strap
- Lens cap and lens cap string
- Software CD-ROM
- USB 2.0
- Disc cleaning cloth

The supplied AV/S output cable is thicker and more durable than most camcorders’, and the disc cleaning cloth can also function as a lens wipe. The shoulder strap relieves fatigue on long days, but you’ll have to buy a surplus of DVD discs in order to fill the time. A backup battery would also be a good idea, seeing as how the HS300A’s battery will not ante up on long vacations.

Other Features (2.0)
HDD/DVD Hybrid Recording Capability - The biggest selling point of the DZ- HS300A is its ability to record video to either DVD or onboard HDD and its ability to dub footage from the hard drive to disc. This is a convenience-oriented model that is a great idea in theory, but the camcorder’s performance and handling flaws outweigh the potential benefits of “hybrid” functionality.






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