Non-Sony D8 cameras

[Brian Ellis]

Hi, guys

Strangely, no-one seems to have posted (or at least I missed it) that there is now a second source of D8 cameras, Hitachi:
http://www.hitachi.com/products/cons...al8/index.html

On paper (or CRT phosphors?), these may be OK, but I'm rather surprised to see no specific mention of IEEE-1394 or Firewire or DV in/out although this may be what they mean by 'DV terminal'.

Has anyone seen these beasts? If so, how do they compare with the Sony ones in price, as well as technical performance?

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Brian (the terrible)

PS They seem to use the same photo for all their recent cameras, analogue and digital!!!



[This message has been edited by Brian Ellis (edited 21 June 2000).]

[Patrick]

I had heard that Hitachi was going to market Digital8 camcorders a few months ago, but I was waiting until I actually saw one before I wanted to say anything. As far as I'm concerned, it's an extremely positive step to have another company enter the D8 marketplace. As much as I've always praised the D8 format in this forum, I'm no lover of Sony in general. Having a little competition within the D8 market can only benefit the buying public. It's also a sign that the format has become even more widely accepted.

I just hope that Hitachi is really going it alone in the manufacturing of their D8 units. In the past there has been "collaboration" between Hitachi and Sony. One example of this was the fact that Hitachi produced the first VHS VCRs for Sony. It's possible that Sony is now returning the "favour".

[mynx]

I haven't seen anything yet. I like the Sony D8's. And like Patrick I have no love for Sony. Hitachi also makes RCA camcorders, therefore I would expect to see ones from RCA also.
I wouldn't expect a collaboration, Hitachi hasen't in the past. Sony has with many other manufacturers. I've seen Sony vcrs with Fisher and Shintom mechanisms.
DV-terminal would be IEEE-1394.
"Firewire" is registered to Apple
"I-link" is registered to Sony

[This message has been edited by mynx (edited 22 June 2000).]

[Brian Ellis]

Patrick,

I expect you are waiting for me to say that it is an extremely negative step Well, it is, as it gives added credibility to a commercial enterprise which should never have happened, in the first place However, I suppose thare will always be Rolls-Royce owners who also have Ford Fiestas???

PS Just to provoke you

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Brian (the terrible)

[Patrick]

Yeah, we've had our fun in the past over this issue, haven't we Brian?

However, I think we've both matured over time, like a fine wine, and we can now agree to disagree.

Geez, I hope we're not getting old and boring...

[Brian Ellis]

Hey, Patrick, don't you ever sleep in Canuckland?

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Brian (the terrible)

[Patrick]

Heh, heh, well keep in mind that I'm on the west coast. We get to drag the days out a bit longer here compared to the rest of the country. It's probably time for me to pack it in though so I can dream about acquiring a 3-chip Digital8 camcorder...

[Brian Ellis]

What, talking of putting an F1 engine in your Fiesta?

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Brian (the terrible)

[Patrick]

Good-night!