| HITACHI HOME | UP | SEARCH |

November 19, 1997

Hitachi Releases New MPEG Camera with Enhanced Presentations Features

- Capture function converts standard-format video data to MPEG-1 data -

In February this year Hitachi released the first MPEG camera, the MP-EG1. With its ability to provide realtime compression and storage of motion video recorded by the camera, the MP-EG1 made it possible for PC users to inexpensively produce, edit and view high-quality movies on a PC. The MP-EG1 is used mainly for business applications, such as the preparation of presentation materials and reports as well as for promotions and gathering information.

Among such business users, there is a growing need for comprehensive functionality for presentations. At the same time, as PCs continue to become more fully featured and powerful, increasingly they are being used for Internet based applications and for presentations, in addition to their more traditional uses, such as word processing. Business presentations is a field that is growing particularly rapidly, as users take advantage of the tremendous amount of information that can be visually conveyed using a PC connected to an LCD projector.

To meet such needs the MP-EG10 includes new functions and applications for more effective presentations, and for enhanced usability via the Internet and e-mail. There is, for example, a capture function that enables standard-format motion video recorded using a conventional video camera or video recorder to be stored on the MP-EG10 as MPEG-1 data. Existing video data can therefore be easily edited for presentation purposes.

The MP-EG10 comes with software that enables data in PowerPoint(R)(*1) format to be converted to JPEG data. Data thus converted can be stored in the camera and used alongside MPEG data included on slides. This eliminates the need to tote a PC around, since a presentation can readily provided simply by hooking the camera up to a TV or LCD projector. Also included is an MPEG conversion program, which is used to compress motion-video data recorded with the camera. In its compressed form, such video data is much easier to transmit via e-mail or over the Internet, using the public telephone system.

On-board software allows motion-video files recorded on the camera to be split into smaller files and/or erased. There are two recording modes, standard and fine. In standard mode the camera can record up to about 27 minutes of video, while recording time in fine mode is about 20 minutes(*2). Other features include a macro function that allows recording as close as 8 cm to an object, a backlighting compensation function, and "Media Navigation II" file management software that can display files in up to nine screen windows.

<Notes>
*1 PowerPoint(R)95, PowerPoint(R)97.
*2 When using a 260-MB PC-card (TypeIII) hard disk.

Product details and prices

Product /Model	MPEG Camera (with accessory kit)/MP-EG10
Price (ex.tax)	158,000 yen
Availability	December 15, 1997
Initial production	5,000 units/month
Product /Model	PC card (Type III) hard disk (260 MB)/MP-HD 260)
Price (ex.tax)	75,000 yen
Availability	Available now
Product /Model	PC card (Type III) hard disk (170 MB)/MP- HD170
Price (ex. tax)	60,000 yen
Availability	Available now
Product /Model	ISA interface kit (DOS/V) /MP-ADI1
Price (ex. tax)	25,000 yen
Availability	Available now
Product /Model	ECP interface kit (DOS/V) /MP-ADE1
Price (ex.tax)	45,000 yen
Availability	Available now
Product /Model	SCSI interface kit (Macintosh)/MP- ADS1
Price (ex. tax)	45,000 yen
Availability	Available now
Product /Model	Battery /MP-BP1 Price (ex.tax)
Price (ex. tax)	7,500 yen
Availability	Available now
Product /Model	Soft carrying case /MP-CB2S
Price (ex. tax)	5,600 yen
Availability	Available now

MP-EG10 Main Specifications

Compression format	MPEG-1, JPEG, MPEG Audio(monaural, layer 2)
Recording media	260-MB/170-MB PC card (Type III)hard disk (Hitachi specification)
Recording modes	Full-motion, Still images,Still images w/sound Multiple-segment images, Time lapse interval exposures
Motion video recording time	Max. 27 min. in standard mode and 20 min. in fine mode (in motion mode, with 260-MB hard disk)
Recording capacity:
Still pictures	Approx. 3,000 (in non-audio still mode, with 260-MB hard disk)
Audio	Approx. 4 hrs max. (1 still with audio, using 260-MB hard disk)
Lens / Zoom ratio	f2.4 - 3.5, f3.6 - 10.8 (mm)/ x6(and digital x2)/ macro
Imager	1/4-inch 390,000-pixel CCD sensor
Exposure setting	Automatic (with backlighting compensation button)
White balance	Automatic
Focus	Pan-focus (in macro mode, about 8 cm)
I/O jacks	Video I/O (NTSC), Audio I/O (monaural), PC serial connector, microphone in
Power supply / consumption	DC 7.2 V/ 6.5 W
Battery	Rechargeable lithium-ion battery (650 mAh)
Size (mm)	83 wide, 143 high, 56 deep
Weight (g)	385
Weight when filming (g)	540
Accessories	AC adapter, DC cord, action grip, LCD hood (sun shade), AV I/O cables, remote control, lithium battery (for remote control), battery, CD-ROM (hybrid version), wrist strap

Compatible PCs
DOS/V or NEC PC-9821 PCs

• In the case of an NEC PC-9821, the computer needs to be able to use a PC card (PCMCIA Type III).

OS	:Windows(R)95 Japanese version.commended.)
Display	:640-by-480 minimum, with at least 65,536-color capability.
Other	:16-MB RAM (at least 32 MB is recommended), at least 80 MB hard disk space.

Macintosh

• Power Macintosh with PowerPC, Performa, PowerBook.
• The separate SCSI interface kit is required.

OS	:Kanji Talk 7.5 or later or Mac OS 7.6 (Japanese version) or later.
CPU	:PowerPC
Display	:640-by-480 minimum, with at least 32,000-color capability.
Other	:At least 10-MB available RAM, 10-MB hard disk space, SCSI-2 interface.

Trademarks and Registered Trademarks

• Microsof(R), Windows(R) and PowerPoint(R) are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
• The full name of Windows(R)95 is Microsoft(R) Windows(R)95 Operating System.
• DOS/V is a registered trademark of IBM Japan.
• Pentium(R) is a registered trademark of Intel Corporation.
• Macintosh, Power Macintosh, Performa, PowerBook, Mac OS and Kanji Talk 7 and QuickTime are trademarks or registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. in the United States and other countries.
• PowerPC is a trademark or a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation.
• Other company and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of the respective companies.

top of this page