Record DVDs that are Viewable on Home DVD Player

Author's Rating:

Pros: Records to DVD-R, Relatively Small Size, Sharp Picture

Cons: Slow startup, DVD Media is a little more expensive and not as readily available

The Bottom Line: 
If you want a camera that records DVDs, this camcorder is the best available as of 5-2003. Sony and Panasonic are introducing new cameras during Summer 2003

Author's Review
I bought the Hitachi DZMV350A two months ago. It is a quality unit of small size and weight. The outside panels are made of either stainless steel or tight fitting plastic. The unit fits in my hand comfortably with controls easily accessible with your thumb. I've recorded in various lighting conditions with excellent results. Colors are bright and correct in good lighting and in dark lighting there is little graininess as found in some other camcorders. I purchased this camcorder because I wanted to be able to view the recorded DVDs on my home DVD player. This feature works good. I verified that the small DVD-R discs play on over 20 different home DVD players and computers (verified at Fry's Electronics). I'm happy with this camcorder and recommend it to anyone who wants a camcorder that records on DVDs. There are few detractions that a buyer should be aware of:
1. Before you can play a recorded DVD-R disc on a player other than the camera, you must finalize the disc. Once the disc is finalized you can not add to it. This means you can not just drop the partially filled DVD disc into a DVD player to watch it.
2. DVD-R discs hold 30 minutes and the DVD-RAM discs hold 60 minutes and are erasable. The DVD-RAM would appear to be a better value except that very few if any home DVD decks will play a DVD-RAM disc. I find that the DVD-R discs are more useful and that 30 minutes is a long time if you use it carefully.
3. The only really annoying feature of this camcorder is that it takes about 20 seconds for it to come on from complete off.

Some good Points:
1. Battery performance is good for a small lithium-ion battery. Around 45 minutes to an hour.
2. The DVD-RAM discs do have the advantage that you can erase sections of the disc and you can do simple editing in the camera.
3. One of the nicest features is the thumbnail viewer which allows you to jump to anyplace on the disc and begin viewing.

My opinion is that the picture quality of this camera is s better than mini-DV tapes. Most people that I've showed recordings to have commented onhow sharp the picture is. Some other reviewers (other site)claim to see pixalation. I have not experienced this.

I like this camera a lot and find the ability to record DVDs and then loan them to my family for viewing on their home DVD players a wonderful capability. I can't comment much more than I have on the use of DVD-RAM because I have been using the DVD-R discs exclusively.