Customer Reviews

Panasonic Pro AG-DVC20 3CCD MiniDV Proline Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Okay, first and foremost, this seems to be the camera everyone forgot, including Panasonic. Go to their website and venture to the comparison page, and it's like no one bothered to fill out the spec sheet. For weight, dimensions and pick-up device it has "N/A."

If you go online and search for reviews of this camera there is no shortage of criticism from the pro set, faulting it for not having this feature or that, but once you do the research the cameras that have those features cost about a grand to two grand more!

Ironically, this undeserved disdain and neglect seems to have resulted in a real deal, both affordable and versatile. It has less features than some professional cameras and more than most consumer cameras. It works great with iMovie on my MacBook Apple MacBook MA701LL/A 13.3" Notebook PC (2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 1 GB RAM, 120 GB Hard Drive, DVD/CD SuperDrive) - Black and has been a great way for me to familiarize myself with shooting in general. All you need is a firewire cord like this one and you're good to go.Belkin F3N401-06-ICE IEEE 1394 4-Pin/6-Pin 400 Mbps FireWire Cable (6 Feet)

It is not HD, but neither are 99.9% of the places it will be played.

Maybe as I learn more I'll become more aware of its limitations and my opinion will change and, yes, the lens is smaller than I'd like, but the 3CCD makes a huge difference in the colors and contrast.

One thing to bear in mind, this is a great piece of equipment for someone who works with professional directors and videographers, but in no way a replacement for such skilled and outstanding professionals. Basically, if you're a director or videographer you'll want a far more serious piece of equipment, but if you're a writer or art director who just wants a firmer grasp of the shooting process this is the camera for you!

All in all, it's a great to learn on and great for the price. Not a bad combination at all.

Here's the kit I've put together to go with it:
Case - Panasonic Pro Soft Carrying Case for DV60 & DVC7 Camcorders

Wide Angle Lens - Panasonic Pro AG-LW4307 Wide Angle Lens Adaptor 7x for AG-DVC7/30/60 Camcorders

Tripod - Sunpak UltraPro 757 Full-Size Tripod with Extra Quick-Release Plate (Satin Silver)

Tripod Case - Sunpak 620-770-AZ Unpadded Tripod Carrying Case

Microphone System - Azden WMS-PRO Wireless Microphone System

Camcorder Light - Sima SL-10LX Universal LED Camcorder Light

Studio Light -Photography Studio Continuous Umbrella Light Kit with Free 26w 5500k Fluorescent Photo Light Bulb

I had three must-haves for a video camera:

- three ccds
- record to miniDV
- audio-out port

Most of the cameras with these three features are up in the $3000 range, essentially going for the low-end professional market. All the cameras currently selling for around $600-$700 skimp on some aspect of performance. If all you care about is making home movies to keep and share memories of kids' birthday parties, by all means, go for a HDD camera, or just hope that your sound will turn out okay. But if you want to put together footage that has real production value, shell out the extra few hundred for this model. It will really show in the finished product.

Length:: 7:09 Mins

My name is Sandor ....or DJ SANDOORS .This is a video of RC Formula 1 racing in Savannah, GA. I have other videos on You Tube, look for DJ Sandoors movies. I've had this camera for six months and bought on Amazon. For a lightweight camera of plastic material, it can be a good buddy for me. It's good for action footage and I could call this a semi-professional level. I'm an independent camera man with short films of nature, music, sports and portraits. It might make a high level movie maker angry, but for the price, it's working well.

I love this camera- it has a total pro look, great picture and awesome sound. I purchased an external mic and still haven't had to use it, the built in mic is that good. It looks heavy but it's very light and comfortable to use, I was surprised as to how light it was, it must be mostly hollow- either way, it's a good weight for me for me, because I'm very petite, which makes it all the more impressive!lol! I'm using FCP2 and everything is coming out beautifully! So far, I am very happy & pleased with this purchased.

It's supposed to be entry level but so far it's turned out first class footage for everything.. Of course, I do know how to shoot..but it will work for anybody..and don't let the gripes about the menu discourage you. It's a simple menu and easy to use. I use a battery powered sound board to mix sound before I send it to the cam..but this AG 20 records sound better than any other I've ever used.

This is the first pro video camcorder that I have owned. Before I was doing still photograph.
I like the camcorder a lot as a matter of fact I use it right out of the box sight unseen and had no problem what so ever. Was the best decesion I made. I would give it thumbs up! I had read a lot about it in the reviews before it was purchased. I shoot freelance for the local news stations.

I baught this camera and must say the video quality is awsome.Just got my first wedding job w/ this camera and it works great.This camera is loaded with features and does great in low light setting situations as well as outdoor video.So unless your in the market to spend $5000 for hvx200 p2 camcorder this is by far your best bet!!

The Panasonic AG-DVC20 is probably the best (if not only) "Pro-sumer" MiniDV camera in its price range. The DVX100 (and now the HVX) is the staple of the low budget filmmaker. But if you want a professional look at a lower cost the AG-DVC20 is the way to go. Here's why it's still better than anything you can get at BestBuy or Wal-mart.

These cameras were the workhorse of our College TV station. They were great for on location, news packages, interviews, sports etc. They toughed out freezing temperatures, snow, rain you name it. We used them during live broadcasts of sporting events. They surprisingly held up with our PRO $10,000 cameras. We couldn't tell the difference from the control room. Plus the camera ops always wanted to use them, because they were so light and had good auto-focus.

It's MiniDV- still the media used by professionals. No one uses DVD recorders or HD camcorders that only record compressed video files (that probably won't be compatible with your editor). You can always get a hardrive to record the video using the DV out, so you won't have to capture tapes, if you don't want.

Shouldermount- obviously for functionality and professional look, being shouldermount is one of the best features of this camera. It also has a handle on the top with a record button and zoom controls, so you can hold it low or in front of you. You can also hold the camera over your head or flip the LCD all the way around, to watch as you record a blog. It even folds closed with the screen facing out. The remote also comes in handy when recording yourself.

Has a mini microphone input, so you'll need to use an XLR adapter for your professional mics. But these days most consumer cameras don't have mic inputs at all. And more and more prosumer mics are made for mini, since it's becoming popular with this range of camera.

Has two shoes for mounting a light and a shotgun microphone at the same time. There's also room on the body for you to Velcro a wireless mic receiver, light battery pack or hard drive.

There is no ND filter built in, but you can buy one that screws on, as well as polarizer filters and the like. You will definitely need an ND filter in direct sunlight.

I would not say it is good in low light. I would try not to use the "gain" (as with any consumer camera). Instead make an effort to supply ample light, buy an onboard light, or sharpen your skills in finding the best available lighting on your shoot.

Also, it is interlaced, which looks great if you watch the video from the camera on an analogue TV. But if your output is going to be for Web or Progressive DVD, you'll need to check the de-interlace or interpolate fields box in your editor. But you'll get a crisp image that easily.

All in all, this camera has many pro features, at en extremely low cost. It's designed for professional use. If a DVX is not in your price range, this will make an excellent first camera.

This is my very first camcorder. I actually researched and bought a Canon GL2 two years ago for my elementary schools newscast. This is quite a bit bulkier, but was significantly less expensive. My concerns were to make sure I got good sound and good low-light results. The low-light results are there and with the external mic I picked up it satisfies my other concern. I am very pleased with the product for the price.

This camcorder never ceases to amaze me.

It is relatively easy to use right out of the box, and the menu system does take some time to get familiar with (which in and of itself is not a complaint). I don't need XLR input as I run everything through a small studio mixer straight into the 3.5mm input.

I wish I could adapt the camcorder to use 6x6 filters though (not that I am pitching Colkin filters). But, I do use 43mm glass filters which is fine (mostly as warming filter and a polarizing) .....

I produce outdoor videos for the infirmed people in our nursing homes who cannot get out through no fault of their own. I use this camcorder extensively in such harsh conditions as a minus 15 degrees on the shores of Lake Superior to Minnesota's Serengeti summer temps which can hit over 90 degrees (in the shade). I have not been disappointed.

For the price I paid, and all things considered, the DVC-20 is a work horse. I do recommend getting the longer lasting battery though - the two that come with the camcorder should be used for backup only due to limited usage.

I also found that the Audio-Techniqa shotgun mic is very helpful too in nature settings.