To maintain quality recording while minimising cost, Panasonic has gone back to the drawing board with its DIGA engine to introduce a new Virtual Multi Encode system which promises near-SP picture quality with LP recording.
Panasonic's DMR-EX85 is crammed with more recording and playback features than you can imagine, including an enormous 250GB hard drive, universal disc compatibility and integrated video scaling.
Hitachi's DV-RX7000A would have been a more compelling recorder twelve months ago, but up against the current crop of recorders, even in the entry level space, it ends up just being an average player.