Test Bench:
Panasonic AG-DVC30 Mini DV Camcorder (page 2)

Other pro features include a color bar generator. When a tape is paused just press the Stop/Bars button and roll. The large eyepiece slides on track to the rear and maintains a very positive feel. The 3.5-inch LCD display is very bright and provides user selectable feedback with a variety of key camera data including a responsive two-color audio level indicator.

Panasonic's implementation of 16:9 anamorphic widescreen doesn't add any actual width to the frame, but it does do the proper electronic squeezing of the pixels. The LCD does not compensate for this and the picture is distorted while you shoot.

Of course, as with all proper anamorphic shooting, you should have a clear idea of how you are going to edit and distribute the footage (e.g. DVD) before you start shooting.

The only cons are the lack of simultaneous direct access to some key controls like iris and audio levels, some of the buttons are too small or too recessed for large fingers and adding the very desirable optional accessories will get pricey. Still, if you are thinking about upgrading your camcorder, and have the budget, this should be a serious consideration. Out of the box it is an excellent feature-packed professional tool that will give you nearly the same control of A/V settings as pro cameras three times the price.

It is a relatively small camera, with smaller CCDs and a smaller lens, that is densely packed with professional features. Like its bigger siblings (the DVX100 and the DVC80), perhaps the best aspect of this camera is the beautiful imaging and picture customization options.

Overall, we found Panasonic AG-DVC30 to be an excellent value and we highly recommend it.

Format: Mini DV
Lens: F1.6, f=4.1-65.6, 16:1 optical zoom, 43mm filter diameter
Image Sensor: 3 x 1/4-inch CCDs, 410,000 pixels
Video Effective Pixels: 380,000
Viewfinder: 0.44-inch color/BW switchable LCD, 180,000 pixels
LCD Monitor: 3.5-inch color, 200,000 pixels
Focus: auto, manual
Anamorphic 16:9: no (has squeeze mode)
Image stabilization: Optical
Exposure: auto, manual
Minimum shutter speed: 1/4
Maximum shutter speed: 1/8,000
Iris: manual
Electronic Gain: +18 (in +3 increments)
ND Filter: yes (automatic)
Zebra Stripes: yes
Night Mode: infrared, slow shutter
White balance: auto, manual, 2 presets
Audio: 12-bit, 16-bit
Manual Audio Levels: 2 channels
Audio Meters: yes
Microphone input: 1/8-inch stereo mini plug, XLR adapter
Headphone output: 1/8-inch stereo mini plug
Inputs: FireWire, S-video, RCA-style composite video, stereo audio
Outputs: FireWire, S-video, RCA-style composite video, stereo audio
Edit interface: FireWire
Other features: 60i and 30p record modes, 3 user presets, scene presets
Dimensions (w x h x d): 4-3/8 x 4-5/8 x 10 inches
Weight: 2.3 lbs (sans tape and battery)

Horizontal Resolution: 520 lines
Field of View (4:3 and 16:9): 45-degrees

• Quality imaging
• Flexible customization, controls

• Audio gain controls on a menu
• No button access to iris, focus and zoom simultaneously

Image quality and flexible features make this a compact camera worthy of its the Panasonic PROLINE heritage.

Brian Peterson is a Communications Director with the American Lung Association and has more than 14 years of broadcast video production experience.

$2,595
Panasonic
One Panasonic Way
Secaucus, NJ 07094
(800) 211-PANA
www.panasonic.com/pbds

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