Panasonic Shows off AG-DVC20 at NAB

by Guy Bruner
Published on Apr 25, 2006 8:00 AM



Las Vegas, NAB, April 25, 2006 - This week at NAB, Panasonic announced the AG-DVC20 shoulder mounted, standard definition 3CCD camcorder to its Proline set of professional camcorders. The AG-DVC20 3-CCD mini-DV camcorder is designed with an enriched feature set for educators and entry-level shooters ranging from event and wedding videographers to student videographers and sports coaches. Features in this new model include high picture quality afforded by 3-1/6 inch CCD imagers and one-touch controls for ease of use.

The AG-DVC20 is equipped with three 460,000-pixel CCDs and has an optical 10x zoom with Electric Image Stabilizer to compensate for jitter and vibration. Other key features include an IEEE 1394 DV interface for PC-based NLE systems, “Color Night View” that permits shooting in low light with motion blur, and a six-language menu.

The AG-DVC20 delivers stability, security, and the “on the job” respect of shoulder-style shooting. Weighing just 4.4 pounds in full operating condition, the camcorder is light in weight but sports a size over twice that of a DVX100 and about 4X the size of a DVC30.

This cam is 4:3 only (it has Cinema mode for fake widescreen). It has no XLR inputs, but does offer S-video, composite video, left/right RCA audio and a headphone jack. The focus ring feels and operates nicely (soft knurled rubber). One zoom rocker is located on the camcorder's front grip, and another one is on the handle. The AG-DVC20 is capable of pulling a very slow zoom with ease, but fast zooms are only at moderate speed.

The camcorder’s new One-Touch Navigation facilitates the control of all basic operations with one hand, allowing the shooter to handle a number of tasks quickly and easily without taking their eyes off the subject. With a touch of a button, the Power LCD function brightens up the backlight for shooting in bright sunlight.

Features include an 8-bit digital recording system and 16-bit digital audio system (48-kHz/16-bit, 2-channel recording); Cinema (Letter box), tele-macro, and soft skin shooting modes; five program AE settings (sports, portrait, spotlight, surf and snow, and low light) that optimize shutter speed and iris; 14 shutter speeds (from 1/60 to 1/8,000 sec.); digital gain selection (0 to +18dB); 2.5-inch color LCD monitor; color electronic viewfinder; composite video, S-video and audio outs, mic in; IEEE 1394 in/out; auto/manual focus and iris; White Balance and White Balance Selection (indoor, outdoor, set) as well as Auto Tracking White Balance.

Standard accessories include an AC adaptor, two 1350 mAH battery packs (four hours) and a wireless remote control.

The AG-DVC20 will be available in June at a suggested list price of $1,850.