Hitachi DZHS500A
Hitachi DZHS500A
Hitachi DZHS500A
Editor's Review
A true hybrid camera, the Hitachi DZ HS300A can record either to DVD, or the larger, built in 30GB hard drive. DVD transfer of hard drive based video clips happens with a touch of a button. Hitachis patented "Advanced drop-proofing" feature can save the camera should it be accidentally dropped by taping thanks to Zero G sensors that automatically detect the fall and suspends read/write activity, thereby cushioning the hard drive for impact.
Editor's Review
A true hybrid camera, the Hitachi DZ HS300A can record either to DVD, or the larger, built in 30GB hard drive. DVD transfer of hard drive based video clips happens with a touch of a button. Hitachis patented "Advanced drop-proofing" feature can save the camera should it be accidentally dropped by taping thanks to Zero G sensors that automatically detect the fall and suspends read/write activity, thereby cushioning the hard drive for impact.
Specifications
- 30GB hard drive
- Multiformat DVD capability
- Optical Sensor Resolution: 680000 Pixels
- 30x optical zoom
- 2.7 LCD screen
- USB 2.0 connectivity
- Part Number: DZHS500A
- UPC: 050585223943
- Release Date: Mar 01, 2007
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Hitachi DZHS500A Comments & Questions (write your own!)
Video Transfer to Facebook (Jeff — 02/23/2011)
What is the easiest way to download video clips from the harddrive to Facebook?
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by James DeRuvo (03/08/2011)
Your hard drive camcorder should've come with a software disc that has Pixela Image Mixer on it. This is the software that can import your video. But probably the easiest way is to transfer your video the DVD, finalize it. And then use something like Handbrake or DVD Decrypter (for PC) or Mac the Ripper (for Mac) to rip the files to your computer. From there, you can import them into an editor to clean them up. Then upload them via Facebook.
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Unable to download DVD recording (Thomas Tamlyn — 10/11/2010)
I have a hitachi dz-hs500a camcorder that I recorded material to a Maxell DVD-R Rerecordable 30 min. disk. During the record process everything seemed to be working normal and I eventually recived a disk full message. Now when I try to view what is on the disk I receive the following error message:
"Cannot read DVD. Check dirt/crack/both-sides contrary/inserted correctly.
Is there any other way to read the disk other than in the camcorder? Do I have any other alternatives?
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"Cannot read DVD. Check dirt/crack/both-sides contrary/inserted correctly.
Is there any other way to read the disk other than in the camcorder? Do I have any other alternatives?
by James DeRuvo (10/13/2010)
You need to finalize the disk before you can play it in something other than your camera.
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Thomas Tamlyn (10/14/2010)
I should be able to see the scene thumbnails on the camera but can't because the disk cannot be read, at leas by the camera. Therefore, I can't even get to the finalize option.
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Recorded without initializing and now can't playback (Ilkamug — 11/14/2008)
Hi, we are inexperienced camcorder users (!) and have a Canon Camcorder DC210. We recorded a DVD without first initializing the disk and now can only view the footage on the camcorder itself - it won't play on a PC or TV. Is there any way to view or retrieve this footage? We'd appreciate any tips!
reply to this comment
by James DeRuvo (11/17/2008)
Unfortunately, no. The reason you need to initialize or format the disc is to lay out the structure of the disc in order to record on it. It's kinda like plowing the fields before planting seeds. You just toss the seeds on the field, you won't get a crop. Same thing here.
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Ilkamug (11/19/2008)
Thanks James for the bad news! I'm assuming therefore we can only now play the footage on the camera itself or link and playback on a TV screen... sigh.. I don't understand why the camera lets us record on the DVD without initialising.. We'll just have to be more vigilant next time.
Thanks again :)
reply to this comment
Thanks again :)
by James DeRuvo (11/24/2008)
Just get yourself in the habit of formatting that DVD in the future and you'll be able to do whatever you want with it (after finalizing it, that is). You did finalize the disc, didn't you? This is what you do after you're done recording on the disc to close out the disc so that no more recording can be done. That will enable you to play it on a DVD player. So, if you forgot to do that, you may not be in as bad a condition as you may have thought.
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Ilkamug (11/25/2008)
Hi james, no we didn't finalise the disk, but when we try to finalise it, the option to do so on the menu is greyed out so we can't do it....
reply to this comment
by James DeRuvo (11/25/2008)
If you didn't plug it into the AC adapter, it will be grayed out. This is a design safety feature to ensure that a battery doesn't die on your during finalizing and ruining the disk. It's a one shot thing afterall. Plug your camera into the AC adapter and you'll see it appear.
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I don't understand terminology: VF or VR mode, initialize, format, finalize DVD and how this impacts recordings. (joy100 — 06/24/2008)
The manual is confusing me regarding the DVD recording. I don't understand how initializing, formating or finalizing DVD affects the recording and play back of the DVD in a PC or what the 'VF mode' or 'VR mode' means. Can I change the initializing or mode of a DVD-RW after the initial use?
reply to this comment
by James DeRuvo (06/25/2008)
You can't record and keep your videos unless you format the DVD disc. Think of it like a field. If you just toss out the seeds onto the ground, there's a very good chance you won't get anything from it. But if you PLOW the field, you end up having a good crop to harvest. Same with formatting the DVD.
As for finalizing, it essentially closes off the DVD so no more recording can be done to it. This is a necessary step if you want to play your DVDs in a DVD player. You must finalize, otherwise it won't play. But it also prevents any future recording on that disc and is used as a write once feature.
But if you're using an RW or rewritable disc, it is possible to unlock the DVD to add more recordings to it. But only if you record that RW disc and video in VR mode. But with that mode, users can unlock the finalized disc and either delete movies to record new ones or add to it later. Make sense?
reply to this comment
As for finalizing, it essentially closes off the DVD so no more recording can be done to it. This is a necessary step if you want to play your DVDs in a DVD player. You must finalize, otherwise it won't play. But it also prevents any future recording on that disc and is used as a write once feature.
But if you're using an RW or rewritable disc, it is possible to unlock the DVD to add more recordings to it. But only if you record that RW disc and video in VR mode. But with that mode, users can unlock the finalized disc and either delete movies to record new ones or add to it later. Make sense?
joy100 (07/04/2008)
Thank you, this was helpful. The VR mode seems to be the better for versatility.
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How can movies on the HDD be xfered to a PC? The manual doesn't appear to give clear directions about this. (joy100 — 06/24/2008)
reply to this comment
by James DeRuvo (06/25/2008)
Check your software disk for an application called PIXELA MOTION IMAGE BROWSER. It's usually included and will serve as the interface to upload your video to your PC.
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joy100 (07/04/2008)
Thank you for your response. I will have to look for that.
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How can I xfer the files off the camcorder hd to my PC without using Pixela's sw that comes with the camcorder? (dbarde — 05/06/2008)
I bought the camcorder because I thought it would be a good value and easy to use. I have had good luck recording but when I went to copy the files to my PC using the ImageMixer3 software that comes with it, it won't work. I called both Hitachi and Pixela and had no luck. Pixela says ImageMixer3 doesn't support a Duo Core computer which is pretty standard today. I tried using Movie Maker but it can't read the proprietary files. Does anyone have any advice or had this problem and resolved it?
reply to this comment
by James DeRuvo (05/08/2008)
Try MPEG STREAMCLIP ( squared5.com/svideo/mpeg-st... ) by squared 5. It can handle transport streams from your camcorder. Re encode it into an AVI file for Movie maker and you're on your way.
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Hitachi DZHS500A Reviews
Hitachi DZHS500A Reviews by Camcorder HQ Users
- 4.0 out of 5
hitachi DZHS500A DVD hibrid camcorder
(j.p. lopz — 04/13/2008)
I have this camcorder for a month. The camera is very easy to use, the buttons are well located,great optical zoom(30 x)sleek design.The convenience of having a camcorder with 30 GB hard drive and DVD format is what caught my attention.You can burn movies saved on the hard drive to dvd with the simple touch of the button.The camera also use a sd memory card to storage still pictures.
cons:Grainy video in low light enviroments even with the low light feature (camera does not have video light,something that I don't understand why), mediocre audio . Overall, good camera for the money
- 2.0 out of 5
Hitachi DZHS500A
(Sue Doe — 12/26/2007)
I have had 2 of these camcorders within the last month, and at first glance it is OK for price, I have consisently had trouble with power on/off. Not just sloppy dial, but I keep blowing fusses (according to repair shop). I do not recommend.
