The DZ-MV780A DVD camcorder is an updated version of Hitachi's DZ-MV580A, and it features a redesigned body and several extra features as well as a lower MSRP.

The new design is smaller and lighter, yet it still retains the previous model's ease of handling. While the CCD is also smaller on the DZ-MV780A, it does offer a higher pixel count (690,000 effective pixels for video and 1.1 megapixels for stills) and an overall improved video performance. The resulting images in normal lighting conditions are excellent. Colors are deep with good saturation, and the video displays clean lines with impressive definition and sharpness.

The DZ-MV780A records directly to either DVD-RAM or DVD-R. Recording to DVD-RAM enables discs to be rerecorded 100,000 times without any image degradation, and it provides instant access to any scene. Recording to DVD-R, on the other hand, will let the recorded footage be played back on virtually any PC or home DVD player.

This DVD camcorder offers a 10X optical/240X digital zoom function as well as a digital image stabilization system and a 16:9 widescreen recording. The DZ-MV780A provides automatic controls for exposure, shutter speed, white balance, and focus, all of which make adjustments quickly and accurately. While this camcorder also has a number of manual controls, it is aimed strictly for point-and-shoot enthusiasts seeking to remove the guesswork from recording home movies.

The DZ-MV780A also performs strongly as a hybrid. As a digital stills camera the unit can capture stills to either disc or SD memory card at a maximum resolution of 1,280X960. A double-side DVD-RAM can hold up to 2,000 stills, and the quality of the images is noticeably better than most other camcorders in this price range. The unit also sports a USB 2.0 interface for the quick and direct transfer of video and stills to a computer for editing.

The Hitachi DZ-MV780A is a portable, good-value DVD camcorder that is highly portable and handles well.

Warranty
90 days labor, 1 year parts