Although the most expensive camera we reviewed, the Hitachi DZ-MV100E sits at the novel end of the spectrum. However, it is the only camera to use optical DVD-RAM media rather than tape media. The main benefits of DVD-RAM are non-degradable storage, improved seek-time and on-the-fly editing. Furthermore, data is compressed into the MPEG-2 format and allows Dolby Digital AC3 audio encoding rather than the more common PCM.

The DZ-MV100E has a 1.16-megapixel CCD with optical 12x zoom. The supplied 8cm DVD-RAM disc is a 2.8GB double-sided cartridge that conforms to DVD RAM Book 2.1. The DZ-MV100E is the only camera in the line-up that doesnt include an i.LINK output, but it does include a standard USB port. This is disappointing, as the large video files could benefit from the higher FireWire speeds. Other ports include S-Video output, A/V output and a microphone jack.

As mentioned previously, not only is the DZ-MV100E the most expensive camera we saw, it is also one of the largest. The size of the LCD screen reflects the feature-packed menu system, which although not user-friendly, performs well considering its size.

DVD-RAM drastically improves seek time and with non-sequential storage, editing is made easy. Scenes and images are displayed almost instantaneously and dont suffer a loss in quality inherent in tape-based media. Although PC connection is limited to a standard USB connection, the inclusion of a simple editing interface via the LCD screen almost removes the need for a PC altogether.
Standard DVDs use a Variable Bit Rate (VBR) and can alter bit rate depending on the amount of action being encoded. The MV100E features a Constant Bit Rate (CBR) and thus uses the same amount of information to encode both low and high motion scenes. This means that low motion scenes will look great while high motion scenes typically suffer a loss in quality, as they generally require higher bit rates. This camera is not recommended for those who want to film high action or panning scenes.

With the cam connected to a PC, the DVD-RAM drive is accessed through Windows Explorer as a removable drive. With a strict directory structure, images and sequences can be viewed as their .vro (for video sequences) and jpeg file format, similar to digital still cams with much more versatility. In itself, this is a highly functional feature that gives the unit the ability to work beyond its role as a digital camera.

As a digital video camera, this creates some difficulty with file management. Without FireWire support large file transfers are limited to 12 Mbit/sec maximum through the USB port resulting in very long transfer times for even small video sequences. Also, to view files in their .vro format requires a software DVD player which is then further complicated by having all video sequences stored as one single .vro file. Due to the seemingly complex task of PC video editing, Hitachi have concentrated its efforts in providing a featured editing package on the camera itself, complete with thumbnails and drop-down menus.

The results showed little advantage over the other models in the line-up. While detail and resolution were average, the image was very dark, resulting in relatively poor contrast and colour. Motion was captured well, however due to limitations in MPEG-2 encoding, large panning shots may suffer from the constant bit rate feature.

The DZ-MV100E represents a large break in tradition from standard tape-based models. Utilising DVD-RAM storage overcomes many of the problems found with tape-based media that weve become so accustomed to, namely poor seek-time and generation loss but also creates new problems with limited PC editing options. This camera is the most expensive in the roundup and with little visual improvement over the tape-based models, the deciding factor rests on the balance between the technological leap in features and the contents of your wallet.