Hitachi reveals Blu-ray / HDD / SDHC DZ-BD10HA high-def camcorder

Far from being the first Blu-ray hybrid camcorder from Hitachi, the DZ-BD10HA ups the ante even further by tossing in a third format. Yep, this Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) camcorder can record to BD, SDHC or the 30GB hard drive. Additionally, you'll find a 7-megapixel CMOS sensor, push-of-a-button dubbing from HDD / SDHC to Blu-ray, a host of editing functions, a transcoding feature to transfer HD videos to vanilla DVDs, face detection and optical image stabilization for good measure. The pain? $1,099 when it lands in North America next month.

[vdogg89 @ Aug 11th 2008 10:49AM]

when will they ever understand? discs and camcorders don't mix

[Rob @ Aug 11th 2008 11:06AM]

My guess is that they won't. I know people who own cameras with dvd-recorders. Although I agree with you, the sad truth is that people still buy them.

[tekdroid @ Aug 11th 2008 12:42PM]

reasons?

[Free ps3 @ Aug 11th 2008 10:59AM]

So when it reaches UK its goin to be around £700 then?

[Free ps3 @ Aug 11th 2008 10:59AM]

So it will be about £699 when it reaches the UK?

[Erwos @ Aug 11th 2008 11:12AM]

$999 seems like a reasonable price for the features it's bringing.

[Reneme @ Aug 11th 2008 11:17AM]

I think more like £999

[why not the LS2LS7? @ Aug 11th 2008 4:29PM]

You can take an AVCHD file (as the SDHC camcorders produce) and burn it to a regular DVD-R (just get the folder structure right) and then put that in your PS3 or other HD players and play it. No need for a burner right on the camcorder. No need for a BluRay burner at all as long as you can live with only about an hour per disc (30 mins on single layer). Of course, if you get a BluRay burner (perhaps later), you then can store more.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AVCHD

[inteller @ Aug 11th 2008 11:50AM]

screw all of this junk....give me a SD card unit that can write mpeg 4 1080 24fps and has an optical zoom.

[why not the LS2LS7? @ Aug 11th 2008 12:33PM]

There are several of these units on the market. Engadgethd linked to one last week.

[E71 @ Aug 11th 2008 12:52PM]

Even though I really like Blu-ray, I'd sacrifice it any day if it means this video camera gets a better shape. It looks really odd with that blu-ray reader "stuck" on the side. 120GB HDD + SDHC FTW!

[couchpundit @ Aug 11th 2008 1:10PM]

Just attach something like this to your HD camcorder:

http://www.focusinfo.com/solutions/fs-5.asp

There are a few other devices with similar function and a few other formats out there.

One day, this stuff will already be in the camera but probably not at the consumer level until the tech gets way cheap or something newer and more expensive comes around.

[Scott Neary @ Aug 11th 2008 3:01PM]

Canon VIXIA HF100 - $645
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16830120239

16GB SDHC - $46
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211300

[joe @ Aug 11th 2008 12:02PM]

My interest is peaked, but I still would need to edit my home movies to make them reasonably pallatable. But this is definitely worth keeping an eye on.

[why not the LS2LS7? @ Aug 11th 2008 4:25PM]

"my interest is piqued"

[striggity @ Aug 11th 2008 12:36PM]

Why do we need HD camcorders again? "Oh quick...our newborn is taking his first steps...grab the camcorder so we can show our friends/family this awesome occasion on our 61 inch HD tube". :-/

[tekdroid @ Aug 11th 2008 2:05PM]

quite simply because TV has gone that way. Though frankly I am more content with my SD camcorders (AG-DVX100B and 'consumer' miniDV model until hidef grows up).

[couchpundit @ Aug 11th 2008 1:05PM]

I guess if you're happy giving someone raw video from your camera on BR disc, this is a nice product.

But, if like most people, you want to actually edit the video down into something more presentable, the BR burner might come in handy if you can record from the computer. If it doesn't support that, I'd rather have 1080i on MiniDV than deal with BR media costs, acquiring data for capture, or any of those other hurdles.

Hard disk media or flash memory is a better way to go for the full HD 1080p (1920x1080 progressive). As a second choice, MiniDV tapes are cheap and a great way to store data on the shelf.

For my Canon XH-A1, I use a DTE solution and MiniDV for backup. Nothing like copying the files off the drive and into the editor instead of real-time capture!

These optical media cameras are not even on my short list as video solutions.

[tekdroid @ Aug 11th 2008 2:02PM]

the device records on SD and HD too.

[Chicksta @ Aug 11th 2008 3:03PM]

DTE solutions used to be nice, but quite frankly, at their price/capacity, On Location is a much better choice. Granted, it means having to ensure that my MBP's drive has room, but I'd need to make room for it anyways, right?
And as for the need for consumer-level or less-than-pro level HD, it's great for blogs, corporate videos, and so on.

[bandigolo @ Aug 11th 2008 2:03PM]

Will anyone share their experience with the SC-HMX20C with me? I found it for under $600 and can't shake the feeling that it's a must buy at that price.

Comments? Advice?

[Tom N. @ Aug 11th 2008 5:05PM]

I'll wait for the scarlet in February, A real lens thats F/2.8 all through the 8x zoom and film like image, Dual CF slots, and finally gets away from these stupid 'prosumer' form factors.

[solarbuddy @ Aug 11th 2008 5:36PM]

There's been no comment on the massive current this puppy is certain to draw when busily burning coasters. I would imagine that the battery is absolutely massive, yet provide a truly miserable amount of recording time.

[toshiba @ Aug 11th 2008 6:56PM]

HD-DVD FTW!!