Hitachi VME555LA Hi8 Camcorder

The Hitachi VME555LA 8mm camcorder shares many characteristics with the VME545LAVP model, but includes improved zoom capabilities, better low-light capabilities, a more advanced signal processor, and more. Weighing in at around 2 pounds, Hitachi's VME555LA comes equipped with a host of features and options that belie its size. Its 0.25-inch CCD records your videos with up to 270,000-pixel precision. You also have the option of using either a 0.55-inch black-and-white eyepiece viewfinder or a 2.5-inch fold-out/rotatable LCD screen. Zoom capabilities range from 22x optical to 400x digital. It is designed with a built-in lens cap as well as automatic tile-date options.

With the VME555LA's 0.3 LUX illumination, you can film in light much lower than that from a single candle. Many exposure controls come preset, such as auto backlight, auto white balance, and auto shutter, but you do have the option of focusing automatically or manually. Along with the exposure modes, the Hitachi VME555LA features Cool Shots, a package of built-in special effects including mosaic, mirror, negative-positive, and panoramic shots. You can fade in and out with one of six programmed fades. This model also includes flying erase heads to keep transitions between shots smooth.

With the Hitachi VME555LA's multisystem playback, you can view your videos not only on standard U.S. players, but also on some international models. This model comes equipped with a Perfect Power battery system (lithium battery) and an 11-key remote control.