Hitachi DZ-MV580A DV Camcorder

MV580 DVD-Camcorder

By c4791p  Dec 22, 2004 | 7 out of 7 found this Hitachi DZ-MV580A review helpful

Pros: DVD-R, size, low light, image quality, controls, thumbnail menu

Cons: software, user manual, finder

Purchased 11/28/04 in preparation for anniversary cruise. Really, really happy with my choice. Took video in all sorts of daylight in dark churches, etc., superior images and color rendition. Really like the thumbnail presentation of the first fra...me of each scene recorded and the use of "joystick" to select the frame to start and play or otherwise manipulate.Manual is a problem in that cautions about use are not really emphasized. For example, there is a little slide switch built into the cover for the DVD holder with the label "lock" at one end, but nowhere is it obvious what that switch locks. You have to really look to find out that, if you're using a DVD-R and not a DVD-RAM to record your movies, you should put the switch in the "lock" position so you don't inadvertently try to record still photos to the DVD-R. There is an inocuous comment warning against inadvertently trying to do that because of data error. But I learned the hard way. I am convinced I can't recover images from one DVD-R because I accidentally rotated the "video-on switch" to the wrong position and corrupted the data recorded earlier on the DVD-R. This is a failing shared with the Panasonic MV 50 and 70 and the Hitachi DV550a.Software is only good for capturing image from DVD-RAM to your home computer and then moving that data to a DVD for viewing on a consumer DVD. It will not allow you to combine data from a DVD-RAM and a DVD-R. Hitachi's web site does a poor job of recommending after market software to use. Personally, I picked up a copy of Pinnacle Video Studio via EBAY and am really happy with it.As with all the camcorders having lcd screens, battery life is really short if you use the lcd. The viewfinder gives a really crisp, clear picture with adjustment to compensate for wearing glasses; however, it's viewfinder is rather inconvenient since it slides only straight back with the battery getting in the way of your face, and doesn't swivel like some on mini-DV cameras. The Panasonic and Hitachi models all share this same design. I didn't look at the Sony, so I can't commend on design of the 101, 201 or 301.Zoom. The 10X optical zoom is sufficient, but I can't understand why Hitachi and Panasonic offer a 15X optical zoom on the 550A and the V50, but only a 10X optical zoom on the 580A and the V70. Read more Less