Robin,

Good review and thanks.

I am puzzled a bit by one of your comments though..

"When compared to the DCR-VX2100, the AG-DVC30 produces better images overall, but this is to be expected because those cameras feature 1/3 inch CCDs whereas the AG-DVC30 has ¼ inch CCDs. "

Here you indicate that better images should emanate from a smaller CCD? In the past you have written, countless times, that smaller CCD's are the bane of modern times? What did you mean here?

__________________
Sony DCR-TRV950 [Mini-DV Vid](2003)
Canon ES-970 [8mm Video] (1998)
Canon Z135 [35mm] (1995)
Yashica Mat-124G [2/14x2/14] (1994)
Canon Elan [35mm (1994)]
Canon AE-1 [35mm] (1981)

Great camera, Pana halve the price, it is too much compared to a VX2000. Would be good with a 35mm adaptor.

When you say that it is better than the TVR950 but worse than a VX21000 in low light, how much worse is it then the VX2000? What about links to pictures of the vx2100, TVR950, and GL-2 charts for compaison? As a DV camera to consider, this is quiet interesting.

I haven't read it completely but I don't see any mention of an true 16:9 mode.

CineGamma review, anything that gives extra performance, compared to competitors, to us would be good to be reveiwed.

waynemm, The DVC30 will lack a quality 16:9 mode due to its relatively low pixel count per CCD. Its a trade-off for better low light performance but I would rather have PDX10 superior widescreen.

I do not know how the shooting under low light was done, but I would have to say that the low-light performance of the new DVC30 appears to be much better than either VX2100 or GL2, judging from the 15-lux clips posted in this review and the other review of 3CCD camcorder shoot-out comparison. Am I right? Hope somebody gets a first hand on this new toy and see how it stack up against the vx2100 under low-light condition.

Don't be fooled by this, I think the JVC GR DV3000 had the same feature, it looks terrible (with a big T). It works by slowing down the shutter, so every movment starts to blur out. So you have to look at unslowed performance to get an idea, because if it is not good then it will have to slow the shutter too much to compete with a Sony VX.

So it is useless, except for night time scenery photography (there's a unique niche, I might give that a go . Say, if you are an alien chaser and you find one out in the middle of nowhere and want video evidence, you would have to tell him/her/it????, hold it, before you shoot me, hold perfectly still, so I can video you, now no blinking, if thats actually an eye, or waving that tennacle thing... look your whiskers moved are you sure that there isn't some pose you can hold.

I forgot to mention that it does have IR mode, but this is only monochrome.

DV3000U owner: yeah, there is a night mode which slows the shutter down to a variation switch between probably 10 and then a 4pfs mode...very blurry --i'd only use it for the effect, and the image is always yellow. then again, better to have than not...but nightmode features usually suck...be warned!

__________________
JVC DV3000U - 30P Capture on a budget - tests @ http://robvideo.netfirms.com

Robin did not write this review, Tony Fonseca did. Another useful review, Tony, thanks. Interesting camcorder! I too am curious about the IR feature.
PDX10 remains 16:9 king.

__________________
Breakthrough In Grey Room


DSR PD170
DSR PDX10
PowerMac G5
Final Cut Express

The AG-DVC30 brochure shows two 16:9 modes; letterbox and squeeze.

Can anyone clarify how much better the PDX10 16:9 mode is than the squeeze mode on the DVC30 (if any)?

Is it a wider angle of view or more lines/pixels of resolution in the same view box?

I'm not certain that I understand this as I think that "true" 16:9 is 853 x 480 which would be 409,440 pixels. This is at the DVC30 CCD rating of 410k pixels but above the 380k pixels rated effective.

Thanks
Don

donleung,
I think squeeze mode just means electronic ananmorphic mode.
(for more info: http://videosystems.com/ar/video_wa...ine_2/index.htm )

dvc30 looks pretty good,
but the current price at B&H
$2300 + $230(for AG-MYA30G - XLR Microphone Adapter)=$2530.00 + tax !!!
I think it is waaaaaaay too expensive.
I'd rather spend another 900 dollars and buy DVX100A

__________________
Crush your enemies, see them driven before you, hear the lamentation of their women

There is a HUGE difference in widescreen between the DVC30 and PDX10. The PDX10 is of much higher resolution and also widens the angle of view.

Maybe these links will be of help.

http://www.maxent.org/video/16x9.html

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-5/74415/PDX10.jpg

If you need an online manual for the PDX10 just let me know as you won't find one on the Sony site.

I would buy this cam for the zoom and cine/gamma features. I love these tight and smart little cams! Can't wait to hear actual user feedback.

__________________
Breakthrough In Grey Room


DSR PD170
DSR PDX10
PowerMac G5
Final Cut Express

to the person that wrote the "im confused" comment-

ok boss, take a peice of paper, devide one by three, and then one by four. Tell me which produces the larger number. 1/3 is larger than 1/4. Have a good day.

Did I read that an accessory needs to be purchased to plug an external mike into this camera? Anyone know how much that costs?

jeff
http://www.grahamandgrahamphotography.com

Does anyone know of a site where there is sample footage of camcorders? I am looking at buying a prosumer camcorder and would like to see some footage from

AG - DVC-30 / 60
AG-DVC7
Sony HC1

I am a still photographer with some videography background as well. Looking to make independant films that can be broadcast on TV later.
I prefer a 'film look' compared to most consumer level camcorders.

I would spend up to 1500, 2000.00 for one.
I do like the 16x9 look and b&w. (bars are ok - does not neccessarily have to be true 16x9) I don't have a HD tv.

I am also open to suggestions of other cameras.

If you want to see sample video please go to the message forum and click on the "DVC Users" area under "Panasonic Camcorders"

I'll have to say I've had this camcorder for almost a year and I'm really impressed. It was a hard decision between the PDX10 and the DVC30. The more I asked people about the PDX10 and low light I got the same answer about it not being as good as the DVC30 and the vertical smearing issues. I gave up the high resolution 16:9 for the manual control, greater optical zoom, scene file adjustments (chroma, detail, ...), and better low light performance. The best part is that its still about $200 dollars cheaper than the Sony PDX10 at B&H Photovideo. You can get yourself a DVC30 for $1600 after mail in rebate and under $2000 if you opt for the XLR adapter and Mic. I'm glad I went with the DVC30.