Hitachi Expands Hybrid DVD HDD Camcorder Line with DZ-HS301

by David Kender
Published on Sep 4, 2006 3:00 PM



September 4, 2006 - Today Hitachi expanded on their late-season additions with the DZ-HS301. The new camcorder is one-step down from the DZ-HS303, announced in early August. Both feature hybrid recording, and can capture video to DVD or to an internal hard disk drive (HDD).

The DZ-HS301 offers an 8BG HDD, 15x optical zoom, and a 2.7” widescreen LCD, as well as a 1/5” CCD with 1.3 gross MP. The step-up model DZ-HS303 has a larger imager, 1/3”, and can shoot stills up to 3MP (versus 1MP on the DZ-HS301). Zoom is reduced to 10x, but the camcorder features a longer-life battery and hot accessory shoe.

Both camcorders accept DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, and DVD-RAM, and are slated for November release. The DZ-HS303 is expected to have an MSRP of about $1200; the DZ-HS301, about $900.

The official product pages can be seen here (pages are in German).