Hitachi's Expanded Line-Up of DVD Camcorders Boasts Slim New Design a

    Business Editors/Consumer Products Writers/High-Tech Editors
    2005 International CES

    LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 6, 2005--The Home Electronics Division of Hitachi America, Ltd., a subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd. (NYSE:HIT), www.hitachi.us/tv, today introduced three new DVD camcorders for its fifth generation product line-up. The latest models offer a host of improvements, including a new imaging engine for a 20 percent improvement in noise reduction and 20 percent longer battery life. A new DVD drive has also reduced the product size by 15 percent and a bare DVD load creates a sleeker, more compact design overall. The new Hitachi UltraVision(R) DZGX20A, DZMV780A and DZMV750A DVD Camcorders are designed to meet different consumer needs and all feature a 50 percent faster start time and improvements in overall image quality.
    In addition to the numerous technical enhancements based on the new imaging engine and DVD drive, the DZGX20A, DZMV780A and DZMV750A feature an SD(TM) or MMC(TM) memory card to make sharing still photos even easier with other electronic devices, such as photo printers, digital print stations and SD-compatible PCs, TVs and DVD recorders. All of the 2005 Hitachi DVD Camcorder models also feature a dedicated photo button for ease of use, as well as a "ready-when-you-are" record start time of only seven seconds. This is an improvement of more than 50 percent over previous generation products from Hitachi, enabling consumers to always be ready to record.
    "Hitachi was the first to manufacture a DVD Camcorder, anticipating the market trends and the needs of our customers," said Jeff Fochtman, Product Manager for Hitachi America, Ltd., Home Electronics Division. "We continue that dedication to users by constantly improving our products based on their feedback and the latest engineering innovations. This commitment is clearly demonstrated in the new 2005 Hitachi DVD Camcorders -- a more precise picture, more intuitive functions, longer battery -- the ultimate in design and versatility for today's user."

    DVD-RAM PUTS USERS IN THE DIRECTOR'S CHAIR

    In addition to extending the 16x9 widescreen recording feature across the entire line of 2005 products, extensive in-camera editing can be conducted on DVD-RAM recordings. Each movie clip or still photo is presented as a thumbnail on the LCD panel, which can be selected for instant playback. The sophisticated system allows users to fade, move, divide, delete and combine clips without the need for a computer, and also create up to 99 playlists for custom playback of movie clips.
    With the USB 2.0 connection, video can be uploaded to a PC and edited with the included PC software. After editing, the video can be transferred back to the camcorder and burned onto a DVD-R for playback on most DVD players(1). If the PC has a compatible 4.7G byte DVD-RAM drive the user can simply place the DVD-RAM disc in the drive and download the information directly to a PC. For the ultimate in convenience, the user can take a DVD-RAM or DVD-R disc directly out of the Hitachi DVD camcorder and play it back in select Hitachi DVD players/recorders.

    VIDEO AND PHOTO RECORDING YOUR WAY

    The DZGX20A, DZMV780A and DZMV750A camcorders utilize high-quality and high-efficiency MPEG2 video recording technology. Users can select between increased recording quality or extended recording time. When using a DVD-RAM disc, the camcorder utilizes either variable bit rate (VBR) or constant bit rate (CBR) recording formats. With a double-sided DVD-RAM disc inserted, the camcorders record nearly 40 minutes of video in extra-fine mode (640x480, 3-6Mbps VBR), 60 minutes in fine mode (640x480, 6Mbps CBR) or 120 minutes in standard mode (352x480, 3Mbps CBR). The double-sided DVD-RAM disc can also hold 1,998 still images recorded at high resolution (1600x1200 for DZGX20A, 1280x960 for DZ-MV780A and 640x480 for DZ-MV750A).
    The camcorders can also record digital still photos directly to the DVD-RAM disc or to a SD or MMC flash memory card. Depending on the compression and the selected resolution, the camcorders can record 220-880 JPEG images on a 32MB memory card or 45-190 on 8MB of memory.

    DZGX20A DVD CAMCORDER -- BIG RESOLUTION IN SMALL PACKAGE

    The Hitachi DZGX20A offers the fullest feature set in the 2005 line-up, with a 2.1 Mega pixel 1/3.6-inch CCD for advanced image quality. The unit's 2.5-inch 200K pixel color LCD monitor also works as light for "0 Lux" operation, a new feature for this product generation. The DZGX20A also features a new ergonomic and compact design and comes standard with a 10x optical zoom lens and 240x digital zoom expander, Electronic Image Stabilizer, Quick Mode simple menu for easy navigation, six-mode auto exposure, auto and manual white balance, and full auto and manual focus. It provides a 16x9 recording mode when recording to DVD-RAM or DVD-R discs and offers a USB 2.0 connection, S-video input recording and output and a microphone jack. The unit also comes equipped with a Li-ion battery, remote control and advanced editing software, among other accessories.
    The DZGX20A measures approximately 2" x 4" x 5" inches and weighs approximately 1.5 pounds. The retail price of the DZGX20A is $999.99 and will be available in April 2005.

    DZMV780A AND DZMV750A DVD CAMCORDERS -- MORE FEATURES, LOWER PRICE

    Hitachi's DZMV780A features a 1.3 Mega Pixel 1/4.5-inch CCD which increases the resolution of still pictures to 1280x960. Additionally, the DZ-MV780A offers a 10x optical zoom lens with 240x digital zoom expander and a powered accessory port for flash. Most other specs and accessories match the Hitachi DZGX20A.
    The DZMV750A features a 680k pixel 1/6-inch CCD and 16x optical zoom lens with 240x digital zoom expander. Most other specs match the DZGX20A and DZMV780A.
    The DZMV780A and DZMV750A measure approximately 2" x 4" x 5" inches and weigh approximately 1.5 pounds. The retail price of the DZMV780A is $799.99 and will be available in March 2005. The DZMV750A will retail for $699.99 and will be available in April 2005.

    ABOUT HITACHI AMERICA, LTD., HOME ELECTRONICS DIVISION

    Hitachi America, Ltd. Home Electronics Division produces and markets a wide variety of consumer electronics products including high definition CRT and LCD rear projection and direct view televisions, plasma televisions and monitors, DVD camcorders and DVD players. In addition to consumer products, Hitachi also markets professional plasma monitors for business applications as well as security and observation system products.
    Hitachi has a unique position in the marketplace manufacturing and developing its own core technologies to provide consumers and businesses with optimal product performance in each of Hitachi's product categories.
    Hitachi America, Ltd., a subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd., markets and manufactures a broad range of electronics, computer systems and products, and consumer electronics, and provides industrial equipment and services throughout North America. For more information, visit http://www.hitachi.us.
    Hitachi, Ltd. (NYSE:HIT), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a leading global electronics company, with approximately 326,000 employees worldwide. Fiscal 2003 (ended March 31, 2004) consolidated sales totaled 8,632.4 billion Yen ($81.4 billion). The company offers a wide range of systems, products and services in market sectors, including information systems, electronic devices, power and industrial systems, consumer products, materials and financial services. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company's Web site at http://www.hitachi.com.

    (C) 2005, Hitachi Ltd.

    UltraVision is a registered trademark of Hitachi America, Ltd., Home Electronics Division

    All trademarks are property of their respective owners.

    (1) DVD-R discs may not be compatible with some DVD players.

--30--MGO/sf*

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KEYWORD: NEVADA JAPAN INTERNATIONAL ASIA PACIFIC TRACK INDUSTRY KEYWORD: MOTION PICTURES SOFTWARE HARDWARE COMPUTERS/ELECTRONICS ENTERTAINMENT TRADESHOW PRODUCT SOURCE: Hitachi America, Ltd.

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