Smooth, Sleek, Easy On the Eyes and Good to Hold. (Hitachi HDC-551E)

Member Name: debmercury

Product:	Hitachi HDC-551E
Date:	27/05/08 (316 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Easy To Use

Disadvantages: Normal Batteries Run Out Quickly

Smooth, Sleek, Easy On the Eyes and Good to Hold
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Product
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The HITACHI HDC-55lE camera comes in a black, orange and silver box, inside the box you will find:

1. Digital Camera, silver in colour, good looking, smooth, sleek compact and light weight making it very easy to hold.

2. User's Manual, an 81 page booklet explaining how to use and get the best results from your camera.

3. Software CD-ROM, you can enhance and retouch your images on your computer by using the provided editing software.

4. Camera Strap, attaches to right side of camera making it easy to carry.

5. Camera Pouch, to protect your camera.

6. AV Cable

7. USB Cable, to connect to your computer.

8. Batteries, I would recommend buying rechargeable batteries as this camera does use a lot(I went through about four packs of Duracell batteries on the first day).

9. SD memory card. This is an optional extra which you have to pay more for.

The camera is equipped with a 5.0 Mega pixels CCD sensor, and delivers high quality, 2560 x 1920 resolution images. Other features are:

USB connection
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Images that you have taken with your camera can be downloaded to your computer using the USB cable. I found this feature easy to use even though I am not very technically minded. You just plug it into your camera and computer and photos load on to your computer automatically.

DPOF
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DPOF can be used to print your images on a DPOF compatible printer by simply inserting the SD memory card.

Auto flash
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An auto flash sensor will automatically detect the lighting conditions and decide whether the flash is needed.


Internal built in memory
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8MB built in memory which means images can be captured without using an SD memory card.

2.4" TFT colour image LCD monitor
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Optical zoom
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1x~3x

Digital zoom
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1x~4x
Support for SD memory card
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To expand the memory capacity (up to 1GB) you can add on an SD memory card.

Power supply
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2xAA (alkaline or Ni-MH rechargeable) batteries.

Dimensions of camera
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Approx. 88x60x25.5mm (without protruding parts)

Weight of camera
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130g approx without battery and SD memory card.

Mode Dial
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Allows you to choose from eight shooting modes:

Auto Mode, this mode is the simplest mode, the camera sets the optimal focusing and exposure for you. All you have to do is press the shutter release button to capture your image.Program, this mode allows shutter speed and aperture to be set manually.

Portrait, this mode makes people stand out with the background out-of-focus.

Landscape, this mode allows you to take photographs of distant scenery.

Sports, this mode allows you to take photos of fast moving objects.

Night, this mode allows you to take photo's of people against a night-time background.

Setup, this mode allows you to adjust camera settings.

Video, this mode allows you to record short video clips.

Auto, this mode is used to adjust point-and -shoot action.

Shooting Images
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Turn the mode dial to the setting you want. Press the shutter release button down halfway to focus your image. This automatically focuses the image and the focus frame turns green if subject is in focus. Press shutter release button down the rest of way to capture your image.

Using the Zoom function
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Press zoom button to get closer to subject. You can enlarge to a maximum magnification equivalent to 12 times. To exit zoom press and hold zoom button.

Movie Clips
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This allows you to record short movie clips with sound via built-in microphone. Move the dial to movie setting and press shutter release button to start recording. To stop recording, press the shuter release button again.

Price
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I bought mine from Argos last May for £89.99 but should be available from most photography shops for a similar price (you may be able to get it cheaper now, mine was bought 12 months ago).

My View of this Camera Overall
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I am very fond of my Hitachi HDC camera and although I'm not technically minded I find it very easy to use. Before going digital I had a Canon Sure Shot Triple X, which was good but if you are like me and chop people's heads or bodies off photo's or take your photo's upside down lol, then it works out very expensive for film and printing. Digital cameras are great because you can delete then retake any images you don't like. I have also found it easy to use the USB connection and after loading pictures onto computer you can order prints online, print them off yourself you can also share recorded images or video clips with your family and friends via e-mail or put them on your web.

The camera itself is smooth, sleek, good looking, light and easy to hold. The photographs are of a very high quality and very sharp. The camera itself is very easy to use, with a little practise.
I would highly recommend this camera but would advise anyone buying it to consider rechargeable batteries as it does go through normal batteries very quickly making it expensive to use and when it is linked to your computer (via usb linkage) it still draw's power from your batteries also you can not use your camera as a webcam when it is connected like you can with some cameras ( these are the only downsides I can name with this camera).

Thanks for reading may also be posted on other review sites.

Summary: Smooth, Sleek, Easy On the Eyes and Good to Hold.

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