Hitachi DZ-MV780A DVD Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom review:
5 stars (Great product - better than Sony and more reliable too.) - This camcorder is awesome. It is easy to use, has solid video and sound, and is from Hitachi - the firm that invented the DVD camcorder. Actually, consumer reports has been very favorable towards Hitachi camcorders in general.



Basically, Hitachi has been doing this longer than anybody else, and so the end product is a bit better. They also don't nickel and dime you. This camcorder not only comes with plenty of cables and a remote and stuff like that, but it also comes with the battery for the remote.



The camcorders battery last quite a while, while I find it convenient to use DVD-R discs. I haven't bothered with the DVD-RAM discs since they don't seem worth the extra cost to me.



I should add that the single advantage that the Sony models have has over the Hitachi models is that Sonys can use DVD-RW discs which give you much of the DVD-RAM advantages at a lower cost. The Hitachi's are better in that they typically come with higher resolution and better reliability. Also, with some Sony models the users complain that they can hear the sound of the DVD spinning in the background of their videos. Such sounds can not be heard on my Hitachi.



I can't tell you much about the Panasonic models, except the features and ratings didn't seem as good.

Hitachi DZ-MV780A DVD Camcorder w-10x Optical Zoom is the Electronics version. The full version can be purchased by clicking on the "CLICK HERE TO ORDER" button below for around  Too Low ToUSD.