Hitachi Z-HD5000

Published On: 02/16/12 06:02:58 PM

Docks to optical fiber, triax, or RF wireless adapter, or a P2 HD recorder for standalone recording. Price: TBA

The economic downturn makes a difficult environment for major Japanese manufacturers who happen to be introducing new gear. Take Hitachi. At the end of March, Hitachi reported a loss of around $4 billion for the quarter, the second worst deficit in Japanese corporate history. The company confirmed that it expects its worst ever full-year loss to follow.

But Las Vegas is for gamblers, and at NAB Show 2009, Hitachi debuted the Z-HD5000

, the first HD camera in the company''s popular, lower-cost Z series product line. The portable, dockable HDTV studio and EFP camera records at 1080/59.94i or 1080/50i, yielding results that
Sean Moran, Hitachi''s national sales manager for broadcast and professional products, described as a “satisfying compromise” between the performance of high-priced HD cameras and the limited functionality of inexpensive, low-end HD camcorders.