Hitachi DZ-MV100A

Hitachi CM643ET

Hitachi pioneered the idea of consumer cameras capable of recording video direct to DVD. The early models were large and relatively expensive but high quality. It has taken a while for the idea to take off but it is certainly gaining momentum with a number of competitors now coming into the market. Hitachi has responded by progressively making its cameras more compact and adding extra features such as a SD memory card for storing still images or compressed video clips.

This Hitachi monitor features IPS TFT, a pre-cursor to the latest Super-IPS technology used in the superb Eizo unit.

Hitachi VM-D965LE Video

Hitachi’s ingeniously hinged screwdriver is your flexible friend when it comes to awkward screws and looks remarkably like a Halo 3 gun

Good colour reproduction at a bargain price.

Huge capacity, but not very quiet or good value

Hitachi pioneered the concept of recording digital video direct to DVD . Now into its third generation of DVD cameras, a few competitors have appeared on the horizon with its first generation models

HITACHI DZ-MV208E

Hitachi DZ-MV100E

One of the most barren models feature-wise that we looked at (and only dubiously beating the Sony VPL-ES1 and the Sanyo PLC-SW30 which took the bottom honours), the Hitachi CPS210 certainly made up for it when it came time to undergo our strenuous testing regime.

Hitachi’s PJ-TX10 is the monster of the group – in that it’s by far the biggest and the heaviest projector.

Inconsistent results kept the Hitachi's score low – especially as it was unable to provide decent real-world performance.

DVD is said to be to movies what CD was to music. Well-filmed DVD movies are better in all respects than those recorded on VHS, so the idea of a digital video camera recording direct to DVD disc would appear sound.

HITACHI PD32-A2100

Hitachi CM771

Hitachi PCX-DT3141

There is not a huge difference between this and the MV550E. In fact, if you put them side by side you have to look closely to see the difference in looks, which is model number in small print on one side.

At almost double the capacity of the other products in our roundup, this 400GB disk is big and fast, but unfortunately comes with an equally sized price tag.