Hands-on the Hitachi DZ-HV564: HD on SD

The camcorder market is like a big bag that the fine folks at Flip Video have picked up and shaken about. In the current economic climate, we're still waiting to see how everything will fall out; but one of the results has been the arrival of high definition in the lower reaches of the market. We've got the Kodak Zi6, we're getting the Flip Mino HD, and in our hands this very moment we hold the Hitachi DZ-HV564.

It shoots 1,440x1,080-pixel resolution video, so is technically high definition. But like m'learned friend the right honorable Ian Morris loves to say, HD is an experience. We'll take the HV564 for a spin around the block to see if it lives up to the experience in a forthcoming full review.

First impressions are that it's rather plasticky, with some flex in the frame. But you get the pistol-grip form factor of a 'proper' camcorder, with a flip-out tiltable screen. In that sense, the HV564 represents the middle ground between the budget candybar cams -- ooh, candycams, we might use that -- and more sophisticated mid-range models such as the Sony TG3.

Hit 'Continue' to see more of the HV564, and details on pricing and availability.

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• Hitachi,
• Hitachi DZ-HV564,
• capacity,
• optical zoom,
• high definition