Hitachi Unveils First Blu-Ray Disc Camcorder

Hitachi, the company that produced the World's first Hard Disk Drive camcorder, DVD camcorder and world's first DVD+HDD hybrid camcorder is at it again by producing the world's first Blu-ray Disc camcorder. Hitachi's Blu-ray disc camcorder can record 1920 x 1080 of full high definition video onto a single side, single layer Blu-ray disc.

Not a novice when it comes to innovation, Hitachi in 2000 launched the very first DVD camera and has kept up as DVD evolved by launching several new camcorders to meet new DVD formats. In 2006, Hitachi brought customers the best of both worlds as it launched the first DVD and Hard Disc Drive hybrid camcorder which delivers longer shooting times to answer demands of home video enthusiasts.

Hitachi's Blu-ray camcorders comes in two models, the DZ-BD7H which is a Blu-ray disc and hard disc drive hybrid camcorder and the DZ-BD70, a single drive Blu-ray disc camcorder. An 8cm Blu-ray disc can record up to one hour of 1920 x 1080 full high-definition video or two hours of 1440 x 1080 high definition video onto. The 8cm Blu-ray disc has five times the capacity of an ordinary 8cm DVD while the hard drive of the DZ-BD7H hybrid has a 30 GB capacity which can record up to four hours of full high definition video. Both camcorders have a 10x optical zoom and 2.7 widescreen LCD but only the DZ-BD7H has built-in dubbing.

Hitachi's latest Blu-ray camcorders also has a full high-definition lens, 5.3 mega pixels CMOS image sensor with an effective 2.07 mega pixels for videos and 4.32 mega pixels for still photo. It also incorporates the newly developed full high definition signal processor called "Picture Master Full HD", incorporates the Adaptive Dynamic Noise Reduction Technology (ADNR), which analyzes and encodes video while reducing noise while the Advanced Correlative Coefficient Multiplication Method (ACCMM) technology reduces false colors to reproduce clearer images with more natural colors. All these technologies make it possible to capture, record and store full high definition videos.

Both camcorders have HDMI ports so you can connect it to an HDMI compatible large screen TV to fully appreciate full high definition videos. The camcorder's LCD monitor lets you review recorded video and display 12 thumbnails, for easy scene navigation. Incidentally, the camcorder's Blu-ray disc drive is also compatible for use with an 8cm DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, DVD-R or DVD+RW.

Hitachi's new Blu-ray camcorders will start selling on August 2, 2007 in Japan and would eventually market their product overseas starting October. As of writing, Hitachi still hasn't announced a price.

SOURCE:

Hitachi, Hitachi Unveils The World's First Blu-Ray Disc Camcorder. URL: (http://www.hitachi.com/New/cnews/070802.html)